The Christmas Saint

 Merry Christmas to all of my readers! Because we're in the season of Christmas, I thought I'd introduce you to a special Christmas saint, whom I learned more about thanks to the author, Susan Peek. 

A Special Saint: 

Christians around the world know that Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Our Lord. In the Catholic Church, there are many feast days celebrated leading up to Christmas and during the Christmas Season, but many haven't heard of the saint whose feast is on Christmas day. St. Nicholas is a common Christmas saint, as well as St. Stephen and St. Lucia. 

This saint is one of the female saints commemorated in the Canon of the Mass too. Any guesses?

• St. Felicity
• St. Perpetua
• St. Agatha
• St. Lucia
• St. Agnes
• St. Cecilia
• St. Anastasia

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The answer is... (drumroll)... St. Anastasia of Sirmium. Because she lived so long ago (during the time of Diocletian's persecutions of Christian people), her entire life is thought to be legendary. We do know, however, that she was a martyr. 

St. Anastasia's father was a very rich pagan, but her mother was a devout Catholic and is a saint. Her father's name was Praetextatus and her mother was St. Fausta of Sirmium. Without her father's support of the Christian faith, her mother baptized her in secret and raised her as a Christian. 

After her mother's death, life only got harder; she no longer had her mother for support. Praetextatus forced her into marriage to a pagan, Publius, but she continued to live her Christian life in secret. She visited prisons and cared for the sick, until her servant found out. As you can imagine, Publius did not like this so she was locked up. She was happy to suffer for the love of Christ. She also stayed strong through her trials by writing letters to her Christian teacher, St. Chrysogonus. 

Eventually, St. Anastasia became a widow after Publius's death. Once again, she began to help the poor by giving her property to the poor and suffering and visiting prisons. She often helped those suffering from poison during her lifetime and through intercessions, giving her the name "Anastasia Deliverer from Potions". 

Many attempts were made to martyr St. Anastasia, but God protected her and set her free. Eventually, she met another widow, named Theodota. Both continued to help the poor, while spreading Christian messages. Diocletian hated the miracles and good deeds and wanted her martyred. First, Theodota was martyred, but Anastasia survived 60 days of starvation. According to the legend, St. Theodota fed St. Anastasia. Another time, Diocletian tried to drown her, but St. Theodota appeared to the prisoners and led the boat back to shore. St. Anastasia's martyrdom occurred on December 25 in 304 AD, after being burned alive on an island.  

Although her whole life is legend, much of it is believed to be true because it is all found in a "Passio" written shortly before the 6th century. Her life and faith was so great that she is not only commemorated in the Canon of the Mass, but also in the second Mass on Christmas Day. 

I encourage you to read "The Forgotten Christmas Saint: Saint Anastasia", by Susan Peek. Although it is a children's picture book, it is full of excellent information and great illustrations! 

Patron of: weavers, martyrs, widows, those suffering from poison

St. Anastasia, pray for us! 

Are you familiar with St. Anastasia? 

-Miss K

I Finally Review Some Books

Hello, readers! This post has been drafted multiple times in the past few months. It started out as "July Review" and then July was long gone. "October Book Reviews" came next and now it's December. Let's just say school anatomy and physiology has been keeping me VERY busy. In fact, so busy that I've only read a mere twelve books since July. Help! I hardly have time to read. :( 

The beautiful scenery of October! 

On the Blog:

Since July, I've written two posts on this blog and four on my letter writing blog. 

June Review

Hobbit Day!

A Graduation Gift!

I'm a Little Behind: Weeks 20 through 27

Catching Up to Week 39: 52 Letters in a Year

A Handful of Letters and Replies: 52 Letters in a Year

Books:

Although I only read twelve books in five months, they were all very good! Most of them were new to me and not surprisingly, historical fiction. I also started rereading the Chronicles of Narnia, as I've never read the last few books in the series. It's great to be back in the world of Narnia and C.S. Lewis!

A great mix of books! (Photo credits: Goodreads)

mini reviews:

I started draft posts for reviews of some of these books, but for now, you'll be getting mini reviews. 

★★★★★

The Father of the Little Flower: Celine Martin

A short, but wonderful read of St. Louis Martin! Before reading this, I didn't know much about him, but this gave me a LOT of new information. I especially enjoyed the quotations and letters from St. Louis to his daughters. They showed his personality of always showing kindness to everyone around him. Every task put forth before him was accomplished with holiness and growth in virtue. I highly recommend!

Moon Over Manifest: Clare Vanderpool 

Oh my, how do I begin to write a review? This book was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! In fact, it has moved up to my favorite historical fiction read of the year. Clare Vanderpool writes with wonderful descriptions, taking you to two time periods-1918 and 1936-with a first person point of view, old newspaper clippings, and storytelling from the townspeople. At first, I had no idea how the plots were going to connect and it all seemed random, but then I started to love it! I didn't want the stories to stop. The stories of Ned and Jinx were wonderful, as well as Abilene's mysterious background.

The Magician's Nephew: C.S. Lewis

On a second reading, this book was much more enjoyable. It has been six years since I read part of this series and honestly, I forgot about everything in this one (except the creation of the rings). Philosophical and amusing certainly describe this book. 

• Digory is such a curious little boy, yet trying his hardest to be a gentleman. There's something about his sweetness that isn't found in any of the other characters.
• Polly is another favorite character of mine. She is feminine, has a hint of being a tomboy, shows strength, is determined, and won't let unfairness get in her way. 
• My third favorite character has to be Uncle Andrew! He has his faults but what would Narnia be without him? 
• Finally, my two absolute favorite events are the creation of Narnia and the animals debating over Uncle Andrew! Amusing for sure. :)

Precious Treasure: The Story of Patrick: Elizabeth Matthews

A beautiful story about an autistic boy, Patrick, and his trials, leading his mother to see God's purpose in everything she does. The piles of laundry, the fingerprints on the walls, the screaming during the night, and everything else happening during the day led her to see why God has placed her in each situation.

"Children are a beautiful stairway to heaven. Slowly, day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute, they work with God to help us grow in virtue and to scrape away all the filth that covers us because of our sins."

I especially loved the format of each chapter- starting with a letter to Patrick from his mother!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: C.S. Lewis

The scenery while I read this book was perfect- SNOW! Once again, there were many new details that I didn't remember from my first read many years ago. This time, I saw SO many Christian elements, such as the White Witch's "always winter, never Christmas", showing a world without the celebration of Our Lord's birth. The power of Christianity against nonbelievers was also presented in a way that I loved- and in a way I didn't notice on my first reading. 

★★★★

The Ball and the Cross: G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton has an interesting and comical style of writing. I've never seen two characters oppose each other so much, yet have such a strong friendship, but that is what I loved most about it. t was amazing how passionate Evan McIan and James Turnbull are for their beliefs. I also enjoyed the character arc of McIan because although he fights for Catholicism, he has his flaws just as Turnbull has his flaws. It was also fun to see where McIan and Turnball's adventures led, as each chapter had its twists and turns.  Chesterton, I WILL be back for more!  

Yosemite Tomboy: Shirley Sargent          

A quick, one day read, reminding me of the Little House on the Prairie series. Jan and her brother are sent to live near Yosemite National Park (bonus star for extra history about Yosemite!), but it is a big test for Jan. Being only 11-years old and very dramatic, she must learn the challenges of pioneer life. 

Hattie Big Sky: Kirby Larson

Homesteading on the Western frontier in the early 1900s was difficult, right? Now, imagine being a 16-year old homesteading all alone. Hattie Brooks travels to Montana as a brave 16-year old to prove her late uncle's claim. The only problem: she has less than a year to learn the ways of homesteading. While it is historical fiction, Larson does a wonderful job of detailing the joys and hardships of homesteading. Each chapter begins with letter to her friend, who is away at war. Letters in books are always a plus for me! 

Books in Progress:

• A Place for Me: Patrick's Journey Home, Mark and Elizabeth Matthews

• Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis

• The Hobbit (on audio), J.R.R. Tolkien

That's all the reviews for now, but I'll be back soon with four more books. For now, I hope you all enjoy lots of reading for the last month of 2021! 

Have you read any of these books? What have you been reading this month? 

-Miss K

Hobbit Day!

September 22... a day that all Tolkien fans should know because it's HOBBIT DAY! To celebrate J.R.R. Tolkien and his wonderful masterpieces, this week Hamlette is hosting a Tolkien Blog Party. 

*I know I haven't blogged in a LONG time and I just appeared from no where. :) An update will be coming soon, hopefully.*

The Tag Questions:

    1. Aragorn: Favorite Tolkien hero/heroine

We're starting out with the hardest of all...Tolkien's characters all have such great stories. My favorite will always be Sam followed by Frodo and Gandalf and Faramir and Aragorn and Eowyn and, noooo, my list could go on forever! Alright, I'll pick one favorite... Faramir! (It'd be Sam if he wasn't highlighted in another question) 

Faramir's triumphs may not be as physically great as others. BUT,  his selflessness, patience, and humility shown in every situation are equally, if not more, great. He goes through many trials, including harsh criticism from his father for not being as good as Boromir, but still shows love for those around him. In tough situations, he stays kind and becomes wise throughout by resisting temptations. True heroism! 

"But fear no more! I would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory. No, I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo."

 

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    2. Boromir: Favorite Tolkien character arc

There are so many good character arcs, but my favorite will always be the coming of age of Sam and Frodo, as well as Pippin and Merry. They undergo so many trials on their journey, never knowing if they will survive or make it back home to their cozy little hobbit holes. None have ever ventured out into the big, wide world, but all come back tougher, especially Pippin and Merry. Sam also stays loyal to Frodo by always referring to him as "Mr. Frodo", but at the same time becomes closer to him. When all four hobbits took their first step out of the Shire, they had no idea that they would come back so changed. 

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    3. Frodo: Favorite song or poem by Tolkien

Easiest question on the list: 

All that is gold does not glitter, 

Not all those who wander are lost; 

The old that is strong does not wither, 

Deep roots are not reached by the frost. 

From the ashes a fire shall be woken, 

A light from the shadows shall spring; 

Renewed shall be blade that was broken, 

The crownless again shall be king."

    4. Gandalf: Favorite wise Tolkien quotation

"Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament...There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death: by the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste (or foretaste) of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man's heart desires."

    5. Gimli: A Middle-earth location you'd like to visit

This should be so easy, yet it's so hard. Hmm, stepping foot into a hobbit hole would be awesome! I suppose the Shire would be the best place to do that, but Rivendell would be on my list too. 

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    6. Legolas: Favorite Middle-earth Weapon

Weapons aren't something that I've given much thought to...but the elves' bows are pretty cool. 

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    7. Merry: Favorite way to celebrate Tolkien's stories

Reading, of course! And watching the movies, although I've only done that once. Oh, and having a Hobbit Hole cake for my 17th birthday, made by my brother!

My favorite birthday cake by far! 

    8. Pippin: Favorite funny Tolkien quotation

My siblings and I reference this almost every time we have potatoes: 

"Po-tay-toes! Boil em, mash e, stick em in a stew. Lovely big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish."

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    9. Samwise: A Middle-earth food you'd like to try

Since it's the one food I'll never forget, I'd like to try rabbit stew. It actually sounds interesting! 

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What is your favorite J.R.R. Tolkien book or movie? How are you celebrating Hobbit Day?

 

-Miss K

June Review

July is almost half over so it's time for a review of June! Last month, I graduated from high school which was bittersweet for me. I also got a job which has given me lots of time to read during my break.

My graduation party set up- before all the rain came
and we had to quickly set up inside.

I made some graduation caps with Peanut Butter Cups,
Hersey Squares, M&M's, and embroidery thread

On the Blog:

June was a pretty busy month so I wrote zero posts. 

Books:

I had a great month of reading with a total of four books. That may seem small, but it's the most I've read in one month for 2021. My two favorites were "Flight into Spring" and "Around the World in 80 Days". (Photo credits: Goodreads)

• Flight into Spring by Bianca Bradbury
• Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
• Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai
• Flutter: The Story of Four Sisters and an Incredible Journey by Erin E. Moulton 

Other Happenings:

The biggest event this month was my high school graduation! I also celebrated with a party a few weeks later. It was planned for outside but it down poured so we quickly moved everything inside. All turned out well! The other big thing that happened was starting my first full-time job at a daycare. (Eleven kids aged 8 and under)

I also finally finished watching the Lord of the Rings with my siblings. (And before I read the last book...)

Sam and Frodo: my favorite hobbits 
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"There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo...
and it's worth fighting for." -Sam 
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July Plans:

• Finish writing thank yous to my graduation party guests
• Start celebrating the nine birthdays in our family that range from July to October 
• Continue working 
• Finish some more books on my to be read list
• Take a family trip up north

Is your summer going by fast? Have you watched the Lord of the Rings?

-Miss K

The Little-Known Saints Author: Susan Peek

 Hello, my friends! It's been a whole two months since my last post, but now that school's done (all my writing during these last months went into a 3600-word paper) it's time for another post. This week is also Catholic Blog Week, hosted by Sam and Megan. Please enjoy learning about one of my favorite Catholic authors and her wonderful books! 

Susan Peek:

Susan Peek writes about the saints who are often forgotten, including St. Magnus, St. Camillus de Lellis, and St. Dympha. She begins each book with the quote: "In many chapels, reddened by the setting sun, the saints rest silently, waiting for someone to love them." Her stories are historical fiction, as there isn't a lot of information known about these saints. However, the information is accurate and the dialogue enriches the story and will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

The King's Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland: 

"An insane king. His fleeing daughter. Estranged brothers, with a scarred past, risking everything to save her from a fate worse than death. Toss in a holy priest and a lovable wolfhound, and get ready for a wild race across Ireland. Will Dymphna escape her deranged father and his sinful desires? For the first time ever, the story of Saint Dymphna is brought to life in this dramatic novel for adults and older teens." (Goodreads)

Saint Magnus the Last Viking: 

"Come back in time 900 years, to the fierce and desolate Northern lands, where Norsemen ruled with ax and sword. A dying king, a shocking death-wish, his heirs divided with an oath of blood... In this fast-paced new novel by the highly popular Susan Peek, the conflict unfolds between Magnus Erlendson, a heroic young prince aflame with the love of God, and his outlawed cousin Hakon, who blames Magnus for his banishment from their kingdom. What follows is a tale of betrayal and revenge, bravery and forgiveness, as Magnus seeks to restore his father's vanquished kingdom to its rightful hands. Entertaining and inspiring from start to finish." (Goodreads)

A Soldier Surrenders: The Conversion of Saint Camillus de Lellis: 

"At last... A Saint for Strugglers! Soldiering, gambling, brawling, drinking. As a young man, Saint Camillus excelled at them all. Add to that his fiery temper and innate knack for getting in trouble, and Camillus de Lellis seems the last person who could ever achieve holiness. But God had plans for the stubborn young soldier, whether Camillus liked it or not..." (Goodreads)

Crusader King: A Novel of Baldwin IV and the Crusades: 

"A new historical novel about the unusual life of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, the leper crusader king who- despite ascending to the throne at only 13, his early death at 24 and his debilitating disease- performed great and heroic deeds in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds." (Goodreads)

Each book by Susan Peek will teach you something new, while bringing exciting adventures alive. I read all of these books in less than a week, and Crusader King took me one afternoon because I could not put in down. Peek has a lovely writing style and you can never predict what she will make the characters do. I really enjoyed all four of her novels, but my absolute favorite is "A Solider Surrenders" because it shows how someone can go from having no belief in God to attempting to join an order of monks. In addition, Peek also tells how St. Cammillus started his own order and was the original founder of Red Cross, not the well known Clara Barton. There are many more facts throughout all her books, but instead of spoiling here, I encourage you to go out and become a fan of her books! 

Have you read any of Susan Peek's books? Are any of these saints familiar to you?

 

-Miss K

Reading a Book Twice: Is it Worth It?

*A month ago it was February and I started writing this post. I'm not sure how an entire month escaped, but here is the post now*

Have you ever reread a book? 

No, you haven't? 

Then, you need to get busy because some books just need to be reread!

Just kidding, you don't HAVE to reread, but it might be a good idea, especially since one of my favorite authors once said, "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once". That would be C.S. Lewis of course!

Benefits and Reasons to Reread:

When you were younger, I'm sure you had a favorite picture book that someone always read to you. I sure had plenty of those! As you grew up and learned to read chapter books, the stage of rereading faded and now your to be read list keeps growing, right? That's what happened to me, but you can still make time to reread. 

• Find details you missed: Details, details, details. Surely, you won't remember every detail of a book, even if it's your favorite. J.R.R. Tolkien was a master at putting details into his novels, but there's no way I can remember every detail. Maybe it's just me, but sometimes I just need to remember a certain detail, so a reread will fix that. 

A J.R.R. Tolkien display at a museum
(including a copy of the original Hobbit book!)

• Travel to another time period or season: Books let you travel without leaving your house. Some have wonderful descriptions and make you think that you've actually been there, such as the world of Narnia or Middle Earth. Similarly, historical fiction can bring you back in time to your favorite time period. 

When summer comes and the snow leaves, it will be
 time to reread "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" 
so I can imagine living in this winter wonderland
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• Visit with your fictional friends: Cuddling up with your favorite book a second time (or more) allows you to visit with your fictional friends, and pick up scenes that you missed on the first read. It can remind you of your favorite friends and why it's your favorite book. 

• Become a better writer: Have you ever considered the writing techniques that your favorite author uses? On a reread, you might catch some of the techniques that makes you enjoy the book, and use them in your next piece of writing. 

If you've never reread a book, I hope you'll consider doing so after having read this list! It's always worth it. :)

 

Are you a fan of rereading? What is the biggest number of rereads you've given a book?  

-Miss K

January Review

January was a great month and since it's almost the end, it's time for a review. This month was my absolute favorite for a couple of reasons: I turned 18 and school is finally back in session (yes, I'm that unusual one that looks forward to school). 

We had a whole week with frost on the trees... beautiful!

On the Blog:

I did three posts this month on this blog and five on my other blog: 

Books of 2020

Book Review: Memories of Glass

Saints from A to Z: Letter T

Fill the World with Mail: 52 Letters in a Year

Week 2: 52 Letters in a Year

Week 3: 52 Letters in a Year

It's National Handwriting Day!

Week 4: 52 Letters in a Year

Books:

"School, why do you never allow me time to read books for fun?" 

"Because you read enough in your textbooks"

Alright, I'll keep reading my textbooks but hopefully I'll get a book or two more read next month. 

• Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson
• Crusader King: A Novel of Baldwin IV and the Crusades by Susan Peek
• The Shadow of the Bear: Snow White and Red Rose Retold by Regina Doman
• The Minnesota Driver's Manual (Does a manual count as a book? I did read it cover to cover to study for my permit test...) 

School/Other Happenings:

Spring semester started for college, which has been pretty fun and interesting. I have three classes right now, with a fourth starting in March. Interpersonal Communication, Exploring Biology, the Research Paper, and Geocaching. I also have Calculus for high school, but second semester just started so I haven't done any real work for it yet. So far Exploring Biology is my favorite class, but the Research Paper might pass to first next month when I actually start researching for the big paper. 

Something else exciting happened this month: In person band started! Band is the one class that has been affected by you know what because it's the only class I take at the high school. Virtual band just doesn't work, but most other high school classes do. It's hybrid right now so I only get to rehearse with half the class, but it's better than not rehearsing at all. We also get to have the school's first outdoor concert, so Minnesota please bring us some warm weather in May! 

The last exciting event of the month is that I turned 18 on one of the twelve days of Christmas. Officially an adult! Besides doing the normal cake celebration, I went on an 18 mile bike ride, which was totally worth it. :)

February Plans:

• Continue with school and start researching for my 3600 word research paper 
• Read more books, hopefully!
• Take down our Christmas Tree on Candlemas, which marks the official end to Christmastide 
• Begin Lent
• Survive the cold that is supposed to come (below zero weather next week)

How was your January? Am I the only one who looks forward to school? Do you have any exciting plans for next month?  

-Miss K

Saints from A to Z: Letter T

Hello! I'm back after a short break. :) My brother Esteban and I decided to do a collaboration together back in April, but I've been slacking (maybe procrastinating is a better word). Esteban has set out on a mission to draw 52 saints, one male and one female, for every letter of the alphabet. I will be writing some biographies to go along with his drawings. Be sure to check out the series here. He's already done eight drawings and I've done zero biographies, so here's to hoping I can catch up soon. :) 

If it was my choice, we'd be starting with letter "a", but according to Esteban, it is boring to do everything in line and perfect because that never happens in real life. So, if you like orderly fashions and going from a to z, be prepared because this series will be a bit out of order. 

Female Saint for T:

Before I introduce today's saint, I'll give you three clues, but if you have come from Esteban's blog, then you probably already know who I'll be writing about.

CLUE 1: The cause of my death was tuberculosis. 

CLUE 2: My father was a watchmaker and my mother was a lace maker. 

CLUE 3: My mother died during my childhood, so one of my sisters become my second mother. 

Were you successful? If you guessed Saint Therese of Lisieux, then you are correct and have a strong knowledge of her life! Along with being the patron saint of France and missionaries, she is also the patron of florists, pilots, and illnesses. 

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Marie Francoise-Therese Martin was born in Alencon, France to Louis and Zelie Martin on January 2, 1873 and baptized two days later on January 4, as Marie Frances Therese. Due to an illness, her mother passed away in 1877 and  the family moved to Lisieux. Her father was left to take care of his five girls, while teaching them to have a Catholic life. Eventually, Therese's older sister Pauline took on the role as her second mother by becoming her first teacher.  

A few years later, when Therese was nine years old, Pauline left home and entered the convent. Therese was very close to her sister, so this left her saddened and she had much to suffer. Soon, she became very ill and suffered from headaches and insomnia. However, Therese was cured by "Our Lady of the Smile" on May 13, 1883. Soon after, when she was only nine years old, she decided that she was going to enter the convent. 

After many years of prayer and suffering, Therese was given permission to enter Carmel in 1888. She became a novice at the age of 16, and made her Profession of Vows two years later. She worked very hard in the sacristy and dining room, painting many pictures, wrote poems, and had a devout spiritual life, while taking charge and leading the novices. 

She lived a very peaceful life, although she endured much. She was spared from the influenza that spread throughout the convent in 1890, but seven years later she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. On September 30, 1897, at the age of 24, she died with the last words being "My God, I love You!"

Source:

https://www.littleflower.org/therese/

Some of my favorite books about St. Therese: 

• Little Therese: The Life of St. Therese for Children by Pere Carbonel, S.J.
• Saint Therese and the Roses by Helen Walker Homan
• Olivia and the Little Way by Nancy Carabio Belanger (Isn't directly about St. Therese, but teaches about the Little Way)
• St. Theresa the Little Flower by Sr. Gesualda of the Holy Spirit
• Mornings with Saint Therese: 120 Daily Readings by St. Therese compiled by Patricia Treece

I hope you enjoyed this biography and be sure to check out Esteban's drawing of St. Therese here. Hopefully the rest of the biographies will come soon, but until then you can follow along with the drawings. 

What is your favorite book about St. Therese? 

-Miss K

Book Review: Memories of Glass

A new year calls for a year of new reading. I've got a 1,000 page book to read for an English class, but before that is required, I had to finish a book. Thankfully, my local library still has curbside pick up, so I was able to read a new book called Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson. 

"This novel draws from true accounts to shine a light of a period of Holland's darkest history and bravest heroes. 

1942. As war rips through the heart of Holland, childhood friends Josie van Rees and Eliese Linden partner with a few daring citizens to rescue Eliese's son and hundreds of other Jewish children who await deportation in a converted theater in Amsterdam. But amid their resistance work, Josie and Eliese's dangerous secrets could derail their friendship and their entire mission. When the enemy finds these women, only one will escape. 

Seventy-five years later, Ava Drake begins to suspect that her great-grandfather William Kingston was not the World War II hero he claimed to be. Her work as director of the prestigious Kingston Family Foundation leads her to Landon West's Ugandan coffee plantation, and Ava and Landon soon discover a connection between their families. As Landon's great-grandmother shares the broken pieces of her story, Ava must confront the greatest loss in her own life- and powerful members of the Kingston family who will do anything to keep the truth buried." (Photo and text credit)

My favorite books are the ones that start right with the story and leave you in suspense as to what is happening, causing you to read the whole book in just a few sittings. However, this is not one of the books. The first five chapters were a bit slow, but after that it did get suspenseful and the characters came alive. If I had to describe this book in three words it would be exciting, heartbreaking, and uplifting. A novel about any holocaust is going to have sad parts, but this one has lots of good parts too. 

 Things I Liked:

• The alternating point of views: beginning with Josie in 1942, then going to present day Ava, and then back and forth throughout the entire book.

• The mystery: Ava lives with her grandmother and uncles, and is able to connect Josie and Eliese's past with her present life. It was breathtaking at times because the mystery gets very involved and complex.

• The friendship: Josie and Eliese each get their own chapters throughout, making it interesting to read their thoughts about each other. Similarly, Ava and Landon (and eventually Faith) have a wonderful friendship that ultimately lead to the success of the mystery.

• The faith: In both plots, the characters have a strong belief in God. The author uses them to show the message of forgiveness and love among all people. 

Things I Didn't Like:

• Nothing (It's a great read!)

Favorite Quotes:

    "Hatred stops at nothing to destroy, but love can break through the root of evil."

    "God is going to use you to bring people together instead of tear them apart."

Content: 

There are details of the usual things you would expect in a holocaust novel: gas chambers, deaths, and children being separated from their families. 

Age:

I recommend this book for ages 16 and up, especially those who enjoy historical fiction and reading about World War II. 

Rating:

★★★★

Do you like books that switch point of views or stay in one point of view?  

-Miss K

Books of 2020

Merry Christmas and happy new year to everyone! Another new year calls for another year of lots of reading! I didn't read as many books as I wanted to, since a college class took over my time for that (thanks World History), but I did discover some new favorites. As for 2021, we'll see how many books I find time for, but I do hope to reread some of my childhood favorites since I'll be turning 18 this year. 

List of 2020 books: 

*part of a series or has a sequel and blue links have a review

1. Saint Philomena the Wonder-Worker: by Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P.
2. Guns, Germs, and Steel: by Jared Diamond
3. Stories of Padre Pio: by Madame Katharina Tangari
4. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World: by Jack Weatherford
5. The Iron Man of China: by Dr. Paul and Robert Lavin
6. *Our Lady and the Guardian: by Fr. Stephen Gemme
7. The Silence Between Us: Alison Gervais
8. A Wilder Rose: Susan Wittig Albert
9. The Gunsery Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: by Mary Ann Shaffer
10. Book of a Thousand Days: by Shannon Hale
11. *Frozen Footprints: by Therese Heckenkamp
12. *After the Thaw: by Therese Heckenkamp
13. Shane: by Jack Shaefer 
14. A Room of My Own: by Ann Tatlock
15. Physician's Untold Stories: by Dr. Scott J. Kolbaba
16. *The Butterfly and the Violin: by Kristy Cambron 
17. *A Sparrow in Terezin: by Kristy Cambron
18. The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch: by T.M. Gaouette
19. *The Perfect Blindside: by Leslea Wahl
20. Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust: by Immaculee Ilibagiza
21. An Unexpected Role: by Leslea Wahl
22. The Weka Feather Cloak: by Leo Madigan
23. Gifts: Visible and Invisible: by 8 Catholic Teen Authors

I enjoyed all of these books and it's very hard to pick one favorite, so I'm going to list my top five favorites that will be on my to reread list. 

1. The Iron Man of China: 

This was one of the first books that I read for the year. It tells the story of Father Lavin, who was a Maryknoll priest. From 1932 to 1953, he served the people of China and became known as "Chinese Joe". He often traveled thousands of miles on foot and bicycle to help the people of China. Everyday, he worked very hard to convert as many people as possible to the Catholic faith. I enjoyed this book too because it has many historical accounts, including Father Lavin's personal letters to his family and newspaper clippings from China.

2. Frozen Footprints (and the sequel, After the Thaw):

I can't even begin to explain how wonderful this book was! I can say though, don't start it right before bed because you will have a lot of trouble stopping. If you haven't read any of Therese Heckenkamp's books, I highly recommend them. Frozen Footprints is about twins Charlene and Max Perigard, who have to deal with their rich, ruling grandfather. However, Max disappears and a ransom note is left behind. The twins must turn to God and Our Lady for help as they battle through survival, getting special help with the rosary. Once you read this one, you have to read the sequel. It puts you on the edge of your seat, if that didn't already happen in the first book. I do have to warn you about the content, as it does get a bit descriptive with violence, so I would recommend it to older teens, ages 16 and up. 

3. Physician's Untold Stories:

This book was a quick read, around 100 pages with each chapter telling a new miracle. Several doctors share their experiences of situations that have occurred in their lives that can't be explained with science. Some of the doctors themselves had no belief in God until they saw their patient be part of a miracle. 

4. Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust:

Before reading this book, I didn't know much about the Rwandan Holocaust so it was very interesting to me. This particular account is told from Immaculee Ilibagiza's point of view. She recalls her own experiences and the many things she witnessed while hiding from the killers. During these 91 days, she discovered God's many graces to her and the other women in hiding. To get the rest of the details, be sure to read this book! 

5. Gifts: Visible and Invisible: 

This was my last read of the year and it was a great one to end with, as it is a Christmas book. Susan Peek, Katy Huth Jones, Carolyn Astfalk, Theresa Linden, Leslea Wahl, Cynthia T. Toney, T.M. Gaouette, and Corinna Turner all come together to share their Catholic Christmas short stories with teens. Most of these stories took me by surprise with their endings, so it held my attention throughout. 

What was your favorite book of 2020? How many books do you hope to read this year?

-Miss K