The Beatryce Prophecy–finding home
The Beatryce Prophecy
By Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
I read The Beatryce Prophecy and then listened to the audio version; I found both delightful. A hard-headed, fearsome goat Answelica and Beatryce, a girl whose family is targeted for destruction by a king, share the protagonist role in this medieval fantasy. Strong supporting roles are found in Jack Dory, a young man who was orphaned as a child, and Brother Edik, an outcast of sorts within his own monastery. They befriend Beatryce and help her find her “voice.”
In the society of this book, women and peasants are not legally allowed to learn to read and write. Since Beatryce can do both, while she is recovering from illness and trauma in the refuge of the monastery, she is urged to disguise herself as a mute member of the order with a shaved head.
The plot of The Beatryce Prophecy centers on a prophecy received by Brother Edik and recorded by him in the Chronicles of Sorrowing. In addition to sharing the prophecies that come to him as he works, Edik’s main job is to illuminate the first letter of each page of that book. For him it is an opportunity for his creative, often fanciful, side to be displayed. Throughout this novel, name is very important as part of a person’s identity. Because the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing have the task of recording events of war and violence, there is a dark side to the book, but there are sprinklings of humor, especially through the goat, and there is a lot of positivity in many of the other characters.
The importance of various kinds of love is a strong theme throughout the book. Trust is also discussed and prized by the characters. The evils of war and of greedy rulers are apparent as is the determination of certain classes to control others by withholding literacy. These are themes that middle schoolers can understand and adults can also appreciate. Although no one can restore dead family members to Bernyce and Jack, the ending of the book shows how society can change and individuals can make good choices.
The book is well written and quite lyrical, especially when read aloud. It has beautiful descriptions and philosophical thoughts. As a storyteller, Bernyce contrives fanciful tales within her own story. The black and white illustrations are perfect to accompany this book which also starts each chapter with an illuminated letter.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Children’s Fantasy, Adventure
Notes: 1. Recommended by the publisher for ages 8 and up. Recommended by Amazon customers for ages 9-12. Amazon lists it as appropriate for grades 3-7.
2. Audio version: Finty Williams (Narrator), Listening Library (Publisher)
Publication: September 28, 2021—Candlewick Press
Memorable Lines:
They had walked through a door hewn into the side of a massive tree, and they were inside it now. For the rest of his life, Jack Dory would remember the wonder of it: what it was like to open a door and enter another world, a world hidden inside of the world he already knew—the impossibility of it, the rightness of it.
“Kings,” said Cannoc, “do not know what they want. Except for one thing, of course: they want to keep being kings.”
We shall all, in the end, be led to where we belong. We shall all, in the end, find our way home.
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels–strange mystery
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
By Janice Hallett
This work of fiction is about a true crime writer investigating a closed case that she thinks worth exploring as does her publisher. It turns out to be a complicated story that did not appeal to me for several reasons.
First, it appears to be a twenty-first version of epistolary text. Instead of traditional letters, it bounces back and forth between, text messages, transcribed interviews and phone calls, and pages torn from fictional books purportedly written about the “Alperton Angels.” This is a cult that weirdly seems to want to protect a certain baby to later sacrifice it because it is the antichrist. As I am not fond of epistolary writing, I found that aspect particularly unappealing. At 25% I almost didn’t finish, but I plugged on thinking it would get better. It didn’t.
Second, there was not a single character that I liked in The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. They were all lying and deceptive people. Full of mixed motivations, none of them were people I wanted to know, root for, or care about in any way. Perhaps for the right reader this would be appealing, but it just didn’t work for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 3/5
Category: Thriller, Crime, Fiction
Notes: Epistolary
Publication: January 23, 2024—Simon & Schuster
Memorable Lines:
“Take away talk of angels and demons and you’re left with a very depressing but nonetheless run-of-the-mill story.”
“Electrical and magnetic energy are invisible but we know they exist, right? They can be stored and released at will. Could the force of evil, of negativity, generate an energy that is similarly controlled?”
“He was a lifelong fraudster but needed someone young, pliable, and with no police record to take all the risks.”
Congratulations, Class of 2025!
Regardless of what school you attended or what level you attained, I want to congratulate you on your achievement and encourage you to do your best in all your endeavors. Be truthful, honest, and hardworking. Above all, be KIND to everyone you meet because “everyone is going through something”!
The Divine Proverb of Streusel–family roots
The Divine Proverb of Streusel
By Sara Brunsvold
My first reaction to the title of this book is “What an odd title for a book! What will it be about?” Amazingly, it is about negotiating the river rapids of dysfunctional families and relationships. It is about trusting God to bring something good out of bad things that happen. It is about love and forgiveness.
When the school year ends, high school literature teacher Nicki Werner should be riding on a high. Instead she finds herself emotionally overcome by actions of her father who leaves his family with no regard for anyone else. When Nicki finds herself driving aimlessly to escape her pain, she ends up across the state at her father’s family homestead, now occupied by his brother Wes. This uncle takes Nikki in giving her space and time to process the chaos in her life.
As she seeks distance from her father, she finds herself immersed in learning about her heritage from the people of the town and from a handwritten notebook she finds that contains proverbs and other thoughts, each section followed by a recipe reflecting her German ancestry. For example, the recipe for Scalloped Cabbage (Kohl jus Eddner) begins with “You can either look at what you don’t have and yearn, or you can look at what you do have and give thanks.” Working through the recipes, attending church, talking to her uncle, and getting acquainted with her grandmother’s sister through emails all shed light on her father’s background and gives her some understanding of why he is the way he is.
There are other subplots along the way. Nikki’s sister and mom are hurting too. Nikki’s inability to open up to her boyfriend and her sudden departure cause a rift almost as big as the Grand Canyon. Uncle Wes may be a retired soldier, but fear seems to overtake him when he gets near a certain woman from his younger years. They are clearly attracted to each other, but this is one conflict Wes wants to avoid.
The Divine Proverb of Streusel is a good book to read if you enjoy a Christian book that deals with the problems people have and throws in some romance. Along the way, you get some good advice, read some Scriptures, fantasize about some great cooking, and perhaps find that you are a better person for having internalized some of the proverbs.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Christian, Women’s Fiction
Publication: January 16, 2024—Revell
Memorable Lines:
“There’s a big fat zero percent chance that her showing up at your door was a coincidence. What’s that Bible verse about God comforting us in our pain so that we can comfort others? You have been specially selected for an important role in this season of her life precisely because you understand.”
This world gives enough reasons to fret. Be not one of them. Be the help. Smile to coax a smile from others. Laugh to stoke hope. Extend a gift of butter baked in sugar to invite friendship to grab hold. As the sun melts away the storm, so shall your help bring life into the vale of grief, and warmth into the shivering sounds of the weak.
No joy could be brighter than that of forgiveness received—and given.
Caroline: Little House, Revisited
Caroline: Little House, Revisited
by Sarah Miller
The book Little House on the Prairie is part of a series of historical fiction books about the Ingalls family. Treasured by several generations of readers, it was written for children, but has also been enjoyed by adults and made into a television series. Caroline: Little House, Revisited tells the same story but from the perspective of the mother, Caroline. The original Little House on the Prairie book is written by one of the children in the story, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Both books are historical fiction with Little House on the Prairie based on Laura’s memory while Caroline is a combination of Wilder’s reminiscences, historical research, and Miller’s creativity.
Because of the source material and the intended audiences, the books are similar in most of the basic events, but quite different in a few aspects. Intending to read the two books side by side, I soon found Caroline deviating. In the book for adults, Caroline makes the long journey in a covered wagon from Wisconsin to Kansas pregnant with her third child. In Little House on the Prairie, Baby Carrie is already a part of the family and makes the trip with Pa, Ma, Mary, and Laura. Miller attributes this difference, which readers may find rather jarring at first, to Wilder’s condensing events because she had not planned on writing a series. She later continued writing about the Ingalls family because of her fans’ requests. As you might imagine, Caroline has a lot of focus on what it would be like to travel pregnant and give birth in very humble circumstances far from family support. Miller is a good writer who leads the reader to empathize with the protagonist even though her circumstances are outside the cultural norms of the twenty-first century.
Some of the disparities occur because Laura Ingalls Wilder was three years old when the family began their journeys. What impacts a child and stays with them can be quite different than what is important to an adult. Things that happen to the animals in the story are important to Laura. For example, in Wilder’s book, when they are trying to negotiate crossing a rushing creek with the wagon and ponies, their dog Jack disappears. This loss is traumatic for Laura. She recounts frequently how she tries to be as good as her older sister Mary and that sitting still is hard for her.
On several occasions, Indians came uninvited into their home and took things. This tale was a part of both books but only in Little House on the Prairie was there a description of the horrible odor in the house. It seems that the Indians were wearing skunk pelts! That would definitely make an impression on a young child.
Caroline is historical fiction that can make you feel like you are there—experiencing the jolting wagon, the terror of being a woman alone for days at a time in Indian Territory, the pain of childbirth, and the agony of malaria. The story is not all disheartening, however. Christmas is memorable, and the girls’ happiness over what we would consider a meager celebration will pull at heartstrings. The main characters are all likable. Pa is hardworking and kind. With his fiddle and the twinkle in his eye, he manages to make light of hardships. Ma (Caroline) is a strong woman who loves her husband and ever tries to smooth things over. She attempts to absorb the bad times and disappointments to protect her husband’s feelings and model strength for her daughters.
Caroline: Little House Revisited is a good work of historical fiction whether the reader is familiar with Little House on the Prairie or not. I also recommend Laura Ingalls Wilder’s original book for children. I enjoyed a reread as an adult, especially the version I chose with illustrations by Garth Williams.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Historical Fiction
Notes: The story of Little House on the Prairie told from the mother’s perspective.
Publication: 2017—Harper Collins
Memorable Lines:
“You’ll need two hands to fire it—hold your arms out straight ahead and lace your fingers around the stock, the way you do to pray.” Caroline’s tongue rose to object to the juxtaposition, then halted. If ever she had cause to fire this gun, there would indeed be a prayer behind it.
She sat down close beside Charles, too full for words, and looked out into the wide open night. It was to hard to imagine that darkness stretching all the way back across the long way they had come. And the fiddle sang, low and rich now, its melodies swaying in an easy back-and-forth rhythm until the home they had left and the home they would make seemed within reach of each other.
They would never, never forget this Christmas. None of them. Already Caroline could feel the morning embedding itself in her own memory. Her mind was a bottling it whole, so that it would remain fresh and glistening as a jar of preserves.
education pathways 