Anne of Windy Poplars

Posted on October 27, 2019July 17, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery

The Anne books are among my favorites ever! I’ve reread Anne of Green Gables and Anne of the Island too many times to count. But some of the books in the series, I’m less familiar with. I’ve only read Anne of Windy Poplars maybe three times now.

In this fourth book of the series, Anne and Gilbert are already officially engaged, but Anne is away in Summerside working for three years as a high school principal and Gilbert is a medical student in Kingsport. Although we are only hearing from Anne, much of the book is written as letters from her to Gilbert. Anne is older now, in her twenties, and so while she remains the same lovable Anne who is so genuinely and deeply alive in this world and is able to warm the hearts of even the sourest of folks, she also has the beginnings of a calmness and wisdom that isn’t present in the earlier books. I love that this book basically consists of many mini stories within Anne’s years in Summerside. It’s a wonderful part of this most magnificent series and, as with all the Anne books, has about a zillion quotes, I simply must pull from the book.

Nurse Matilda

Posted on September 12, 2019September 13, 2019 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Nurse Matilda (1964) by Christianna Brand

This was my second time reading Nurse Matilda. And while I wouldn’t put it in the same category as some of my all-time favorites (Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, The Secret Garden), I will say it is a delightful book that just begs to be read out loud to a child. It has a bit of a predictability and pattern to it as the naughty children of the Brown family learn their seven lessons, but it also offers silliness, whimsy, and of course, a little bit of magic.

(Yes, there was a movie made based on this book, but as with many movie versions of books, can it really compare?)

Ruby Holler

Posted on September 12, 2019September 14, 2022 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Ruby Holler (2002) by Sharon Creech

We’ve all read children’s stories of orphans being taken in and changing the lives of the sullen people around them, but here is a different, and probably more realistic, take. Orphan twins, Dallas and Florida, are, as one might expect, a bit untrusting, very much hurt (though they might not admit it), and extremely prone to mischief. They haven’t been dealt a great hand in life at their orphanage and haven’t learned about trust or love or respect from anyone except each other. When an older couple takes them in temporarily, the reader witnesses the changes that take place for all of them, but especially the young teen orphans.

While I wouldn’t call this one of my favorite books, it was satisfying in a quiet sort of way. To speak my truth, I didn’t always like the twins, but as the book progresses, you begin to understand why they are the way they are. And when seen through Sairy’s eyes, you can see past the childish mistakes to the true nature of these kids. In fact, several times throughout the book, I told my husband I’d like to be able to handle our child’s “mistakes,” “mischief,” “disasters” more like Sairy would.

Ch 43
“Maybe what you consider goofs aren’t what I consider goofs—it’s just stuff that happens.” (Tiller)

Ch 45
“What’s a little rain? What’s a little water? What’s a little lostness?” (Tiller)

Ch 15
“Do you think we were good parents?”

Sairy—“Of course we were, once we made our mistakes and got over worrying so much. Sometimes I think we were just getting really good at it when all of a sudden those kids were grown up and gone. Maybe that’s why it seems easier to me now, with Florida and Dallas. I figure we know what to expect and we know how to love kids.”

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Holes

Posted on September 11, 2019April 27, 2024 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Holes (1998) by Louis Sachar

I remember exactly where I was the first time I got lost in this book. I found it absolutely impossible to put down and read it all in one sitting at a quiet little park. Since then, I’ve read this book countless times. (I refuse to see the movie, of course.)

Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake for a crime he didn’t commit. At this correctional facility, the boys are expected to dig a five foot hole every day in the blistering heat. Stanley Yelnats is not your typical hero, and I love that. I love that Louis Sachar takes such a relatively short kids’ book about a kid at a correctional facility and makes it into a grand adventure, complete with plot twists, villains, and mysteries, spanning generations. This is such a clever book and such an enjoyable read. I would recommend it without hesitation to adults. For children though, I definitely hesitate. Even though the story is an enjoyable one and the text can be read by elementary-aged readers, there are some very disturbing bits. I’m constantly tempted to read this with my children, and then I remember some of the more intense parts – fist fights, a racist mob, a sexual assault, and a murder. So… as much as I love this book, it might require a pre-read before handing it off to your young child.

The Secret Garden

Posted on September 3, 2019March 12, 2021 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

The Secret Garden (1911) by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I am absolutely in love with this classic children’s story! I know many movie renditions have been made, and I’m sure they are full of lovely garden footage, but I just stick to the book and my imagination.

I’m realizing I have a theme in the books I love, whereby a young (usually orphaned) girl moves to a new place and helps others find their happiness. The big difference in this one, of course, is that Mary Lennox does not begin the story as a happy-go-lucky girl; she, too, goes through a transformation. I love watching how four of the story’s characters experience a reawakening, just as the garden is doing the same. It reaffirms life and all that is good.

When I read this book, I feel like I can actually breathe in the fresh garden air and feel the wind of the Moor on my face. This book helps me take deep, renewing breaths. It makes me want to garden and play outside more. I read this book at least once a year, and I find a deep, new appreciation for life every time I do.

Some suggested activities/further learning: (Spoilers included!)

–Draw pictures or create another form of art to show what you think the secret garden looked like before Mary’s discovery and at the end of the story.

–Use clay or other materials to create what you think the key to the “secret garden” might look like.

–Many flowers and plants are mentioned in this book. Research one of them and see if it will grow in your climate. Try growing a mini-garden.

–Martha brings Mary a skipping rope. Use a jumprope you have or make one for yourself and practice skipping rope. Do you know any songs to skip to?

–Mary is fascinated by Martha and Dickon’s “Yorkshire talk.” Research this accent and see if you can find any movies where actors speak “Yorkshire.” Try it for yourself.

–The book describes some of the rooms and hallways of Misselthwaite Manor; draw a floor plan based on what you read.

–Many of the characters in The Secret Garden change their outlooks on life. The book describes how these “inside” transformations effect the characters’ outward appearances, as well. Draw a before and after picture of either Mary, Colin, Mr. Craven, or Ben Weatherstaff.

–One of Mary’s new friends is a robin bird. Research the European robin. What does it eat? Where does it live? How is it different from the American robin?

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