The Scarlet Pimpernel

Connor recommended The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. It takes place during the French Revolution and is the story of a group of Englishmen (including their leader, the Scarlet Pimpernel) who secretly work to save French aristocrats from the guillotine. The book follows Marguerite, who must decide where her loyalties lie, and follows the mystery of who is the Scarlet Pimpernel.

This was a fun book to read. I had to adjust to the language at first (since I don't usually read classic literature written back in the day). I really liked the story line and the details put into the book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Sarah's Key

I read Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay for the book group I'm in. It is a fiction story based on real events that took place during the Holocaust--specifically the roundup of Jews in France. The book takes place in modern times and follows a journalist named Julia who researches those WWII events as part of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the roundups. As Julia learns more about what happened, she becomes fascinated and then discovers some secrets that will change her life forever.

This was a good book. It was very interesting and intriguing but unfortunately also kind of disturbing (which is understandable considering the Holocaust time period). It was an interesting approach to historical fiction because it took place nowadays but was very focused on a specific historical event. The problem with the book is that it had some adult language issues and such.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Penderwicks

The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall, was recommended in the Mini-Page in the Washington Post and is (as the subtitle says) "a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy." The book is about 4 girls and their father who rent a cottage to spend the summer. As you read, you follow the adventures the girls have with Jeffrey, the son of the property owner.

This is a really cute book with very well-developed characters. It was really easy to get to know the 4 sisters and enjoy their antics. It was an entertaining and quick read.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Under a War-Torn Sky

Under a War-Torn Sky by L.M. Elliott is another book that has been on my bookshelf for awhile. It is about 19-year-old Henry who is a pilot during World War II. When he gets shot down during a bombing mission, he relies on local people and the French Resistance to help him find safety.

This was a really neat story and particularly interesting because it is based on stories the author's father told of his experience as a shot-down pilot in WWII. The book gave lots of information about the war without being boring--it was all just a part of Henry's experience. The characters were realistic, and it was a good read.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Riding Freedom

After finishing Becoming Naomi Leon, I decided to read the last book I owned by Pam Munoz Ryan--Riding Freedom. This book is about an orphan named Charlotte who loves horses. She finds a way to escape from her orphanage and eventually becomes a stagecoach driver while disguised as a boy/man for years.

This book was a quick, enjoyable read. It was a fun story, and I was particularly interested when I found out in the "From the Author" at the end that the book is based on a true story--a girl in the 1800s who left her orphanage, who had a successful career in stage coach driving, and who voted in a federal election--and then later came out as being a woman. It's kind of intriguing to think about how few rights women had back then but what a woman could do with her life while pretending to be male.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Becoming Naomi Leon

Becoming Naomi Leon is another book that has been on my bookshelf for awhile. It's by Pam Munoz Ryan, and I'd enjoyed her books in the past and decided to try another one. This book is about Naomi, who lives with her great-grandmother and little brother and is a talented soap carver. One day, her mother--who hasn't been in Naomi's life since Naomi was 3--shows up, ready to be best friends with Naomi.

I really loved this book. The characters and situations seemed so real, and seeing Naomi's growth through the book was really great. It was just a precious story overall, and I loved where the twists and turns led. I also loved the little side stories, like the librarian at Naomi's school.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

I saw The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate was also recommended in "The Mini Page." (I later saw that it also was a Newbery honor book for 2010.) This book is the story of Calpurnia, an 11-year-old who is the only girl, right in the middle of 7 children. She lives in Texas in 1899, and we follow her life as she begins to develop a relationship with her grandfather, a naturalist, and realize that her true interests lie in science and the outdoors--not needlepoint and cooking.

This was a really nice story, all told from the point of view of Callie. She is just a cute and entertaining character to follow, along with the rest of her family. The author does a great job really bringing in the historical nature of the time period as well. It was just a really fun read with a sweet story that kept me interested.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)