Author Archives: Simon H.

The Golden Key by George MacDonald

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The Golden Key is a short novel by George MacDonald. The story takes place in a mystical forest called Fairyland. Mossy is a young boy who learns from his great-aunt about a golden key hidden at the end of the rainbow. Mossy does not know what the key would unlock, but he feels a strong desire to obtain it. One evening, while Mossy is looking out of his window, a rainbow suddenly flashes across the sky.  This reminds Mossy of the golden key, so he darts out of the cottage to get closer to the rainbow. To his delight, he reaches the end of the rainbow and finds the golden key.

Meanwhile, not far away, a young girl named Tangle is chased out of her home by fairies. She is led by a strange creature known as an air-fish to the cottage of an old woman named Grandmother. Grandmother then sends out an air-fish to look for someone else. That person turns out to be Mossy. The air-fish returns with Mossy, who has the golden key in his hand.  The two children then embark on a journey to discover what the golden key will unlock.

This book is difficult to describe. It seems like a magical fairytale, but the imagery feels more intense than most children’s stories. The story is extremely mysterious and fantastical, and it seems to have profound spiritual significance. I sense that this book is intended to be an allegory, but I am not sure about its overall meaning. The main themes seem to relate to the journeys of life and death, as well as a hope in life after death. I found this book to be charming and delightful, even though I was baffled at times by its symbolism. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a dreamlike story that is deeply mystical and imaginative.

Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop

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Twenty and Ten is a short novel written by Claire Huchet Bishop and illustrated by William Pène du Bois. This book is based on a true story. The setting is Beauvallon, Rhône, France, at the time of the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. Twenty children are living in a boarding school in the mountains. The head of the school is a wise and kindhearted nun named Sister Gabriel. One day, a young man arrives at the school and asks Sister Gabriel if she would permit ten additional children to join the school. The man explains that the ten children are Jewish refugees who have been running and hiding from the Nazis. He warns Sister Gabriel and her students that if they take in these ten children and are discovered by the Nazis, they could be killed.

Sister Gabriel explains to her students that they would be obligated to protect the refugees, if they accept this responsibility. She says, “The Nazis are looking for those children. If we take them we must never let on that they are here. Never. Even if we are questioned. We can never betray them, no matter what they do to us. Do you understand?” The children realize that they are taking an extreme risk, but they promise to hide the refugees. When the Nazi soldiers arrive, the courage and loyalty of the children is put to the test.

I knew that I would enjoy this book from the moment I began reading the first chapter. The book is very well-written, and the characters are full of personality and charm. I enjoyed reading about the cunning and creativity of the children as they try to hide the refugees. The story is suspenseful and engaging. I love the themes of this book, which include courage, charity, and faith in God. Also, as always, the illustrations by William Pène Du Bois are excellent. The only thing that disappointed me about this book is that it is quite short. However, this is a very accessible book for young and old readers alike. I would highly recommend it.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

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Dear Mr. Henshaw is a short novel by Beverly Cleary. An eleven-year-old boy named Leigh Botts lives with his mother in a tiny house that used to be someone’s summer cottage. Ever since second grade, Leigh had written letters to an author named Mr. Henshaw every year. Finally, Mr. Henshaw writes back to Leigh and asks him a series of questions. This book is a compilation of Leigh’s letters to Mr. Henshaw, along with excerpts from Leigh’s personal journal.

Leigh’s letters to Mr. Henshaw reveal many personal challenges. Leigh’s parents are divorced, and his father is negligent. Leigh is also struggling to fit in at his new school. Among other problems, someone is stealing Leigh’s school lunch. To make matters even worse, Leigh finds out that his dog had disappeared during a snowstorm. Leigh blames his father for this loss, and does not know if he can ever forgive his father for his negligence.

This book deals with many difficult topics. I was surprised by the subject matter of this book because Beverly Cleary’s books usually have a light-hearted and playful storyline and tone. On the other hand, this book has a somber tone overall. It deals with weighty issues that may be difficult for some people to read about. However, I feel that the author dealt with these issues very well. This book is very realistic and well-written. Many people can relate to the challenges that Leigh is coping with, and I appreciate the tender and bittersweet emotions that are conveyed in this book. The book is well-deserving of the Newbery Award and I would recommend it to almost anyone, with a warning that it deals with sensitive issues.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

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From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a short novel by E. L. Konigsburg. This book won the Newbery Medal in 1968. The main character of the story is a girl named Claudia Kincaid, who lives in Connecticut. Claudia is the eldest of four children. She does not feel like she is treated fairly at home, so she decides to run away. She carefully plans the best way to run away from home. She selects her younger brother, Jamie, to go along with her. After several weeks of preparation, the two siblings finally put their plan into action. They travel to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, intending to secretly live inside the museum.

Claudia and Jamie manage to live in the museum for a while. During the day, they blend in with school groups of other children. At closing time, they hide as the security staff inspects the museum to make sure that all visitors have left. At night, they sleep on an antique bed in the museum.

After several days in the museum, Claudia and Jamie discover a statue of an angel. The statue is believed to have been sculpted by Michelangelo. The children are so impressed by the statue that they decide to research its origins. They learn that it had been purchased from a mysterious art collector named Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The children decide to investigate further, which leads them to an unexpected adventure that will change their lives forever.

This book is very well written. The story is quite unique and imaginative. I have never visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but the book’s description of the museum is captivating. Even though I would not generally condone the idea of children running away from home, this book includes some wise counsel at the end. I would expect that anyone who has visited this museum would especially enjoy this book. Overall, I found this book to be very original, and the ending is quite satisfying.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by Richard Powers is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson

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The Family Under the Bridge is a Newbery Honor award-winning book by Natalie Savage Carlson. The story is about an old man named Armand, who has been experiencing homelessness for many years. He enjoys a simple and carefree lifestyle dwelling under a bridge in Paris. He owns very little, so he is able to push around all of his belongings in a baby buggy. Without a family, he feels free and independent.

One cold December evening, Armand is surprised to discover three small children occupying his usual spot under the bridge. This annoys Armand, but he sees that the children are cold and hungry. His heart is softened, and he realizes that he must find a suitable home for the children. As he tries to help them to find food and a home, he quickly becomes attached to the children.

This is a short book, but I found it quite memorable. The story is sweet and charming. It also features excellent pictures by the well-known illustrator, Garth Williams. I enjoyed the character of Armand because he develops into a very kind man as he gets to know the children. I appreciate the family-centered message of this book. The main message is of the importance of families. This would also be a great book to read around Christmastime. This book is well-deserving of its award and I would highly recommend it.

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy

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The Great Fire is a novel by Jim Murphy about the Chicago fire of 1871, which destroyed most of the city. The fire was believed to have started in a barn, and eventually spread throughout Chicago. This book describes the fire from several different perspectives. These perspectives enable to reader to learn about the human impact of this devastating tragedy. The book also contains many pictures to help visualize the events.

Before reading this book, I did not know about the Great Chicago Fire. I found this book to be highly informative and engaging. The different human perspectives made it feel very personal. I was especially affected by the perspective of a thirteen-year-old girl named Claire Innes. I felt like I could relate to her because we are close in age. Claire was separated from her family during the fire as the people around her panicked as they tried to escape. Her house was burned down, just like the houses of most of the other residents of Chicago.

The fire caused major destruction, and many people died. After the fire, the people worked to rebuild the city. This book provides a realistic view of what it would be like to deal with such a disaster. The book earned many awards, including a Newbery Honor. I can understand why this book earned so many awards, because it is very well-written and compelling. I would highly recommend it.

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

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A Year Down Yonder is a novel by Richard Peck. This book won the Newbery Medal in 2001. It is the sequel to Peck’s A Long Way from Chicago, which received a Newbery Honor in 1999. This story takes place in 1938, during the Great Depression. Joey and Mary Alice are from Chicago. Joey has just left home to join the army. Mary Alice, his 15-year-old sister, is sent to stay with her grandmother in the country. This is disappointing to Mary Alice, because she does not like the idea of living in a farming community. However, her parents feel that they have no choice but to send Mary Alice away due to their financial hardship.

At first, Mary Alice struggles to get used to her new surroundings. Some of her fellow high school students are mean to her. However, Mary Alice’s grandmother comes to the rescue and turns the tables on the bullies. Her grandmother is very protective, and she finds many ways to help Mary Alice feel at home.  Mary Alice gradually becomes accustomed to country life, and after an extended stay with her grandmother, she becomes reluctant to return to Chicago. 

This book is similar in many ways to A Long Way from Chicago. Both books are very enjoyable to read. However, I found A Year Down Yonder to be even better than the first book. The grandmother is highly entertaining in this book, as always. In my opinion, this book is even more humorous and memorable than the first book. It also provides a good historical glimpse into that time period. Richard Peck won a Newbery Honor for the first book, which was quite good. He won the Newbery Medal for this sequel, which was even more impressive. Both books are well-deserving, and I would definitely recommend both of them.

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

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A Long Way from Chicago, by Richard Peck, is a Newbery Honor award-winning book. Joey and his sister, Mary Alice, are growing up in Chicago during the Great Depression. Every summer, their parents send them to the country to visit their grandmother for a week. This book is a “novel in stories,” because each chapter is about one of the annual trips to visit their grandmother. Over the course of these visits, the children gradually realize that their grandmother is a very unusual person. For example, at one point she uses her shotgun to shoot at a corpse inside a coffin. She also throws cherry bombs at kids, and she uses an illegal fish trap while fishing on a boat that she just stole, just to mention some of her zany behavior. As the years go by, the children develop an increasing level of respect and admiration for their grandmother. They come to recognize that the summers spent with their grandmother will become some of the most unforgettable experiences of their lives.

The structure of this book was new to me, because every chapter is like an entirely different story. However, the book still flowed well. It is very easy to pick up and read, and the action is fast-paced. Also, many of the stories are quite funny. Still, I was not sure what to make of the grandmother. She seems to cause quite a bit of chaos in her small community, and sometimes she lies to get out of trouble. At first, I was not sure about what the main message of this book was supposed to be. However, as I thought about it more, I realized that the charm of this book is based on the love that the grandmother has for Joey and Mary Alice. Their grandmother is very eccentric and mischievous, but she takes good care of her grandchildren and she gives them memories that they will never forget. This book is a short read, but I would recommend it to anyone.

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Middle Moffat by Eleanor Estes

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The Middle Moffat, by Eleanor Estes, is the second book in her fictional series about the Moffat family.  This book won a Newberry Honor award in 1943.  Most of the stories in this book involve Jane.  Jane is a ten-year-old girl who lives with her mother, three siblings and cat during World War I.  Her father had died a few years earlier.  The Moffats have just moved in to a new house, and Jane feels somewhat forgotten within her family because she is a middle child.  She decides to call herself “the middle Moffat” so that she can feel like an important member of the family.

While introducing herself to the town’s oldest resident, Mr. Buckle, Jane accidently refers to herself as the “mysterious” middle Moffat.  Mr. Buckle is amused by the idea that Jane is mysterious in some way, so he decides to always call her the “mysterious middle Moffat.”  Jane just plays along with this new label because she wants to make a good first impression in her new neighborhood.  Mr. Buckle is 99 years old, and Jane makes it her personal goal to ensure that he survives to the age of 100.

Mr. Buckle is an important character in this book, but Jane is the main focus.  Each chapter is a different episode in her life.  I enjoyed reading about her adventures because it reminded me of what it feels like to be a child.  The stories are all memorable in their own way.  I especially enjoyed one chapter in which the Moffats were given a small parlor organ, only to realize later that it was full of moths.

I would have preferred for this book to focus more on Jane’s siblings, but I still enjoyed this book very much.  This is a great book about childhood and about learning to become independent.  The stories are very relatable and include many humorous situations.  This is a charming book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

The Middle Moffat by Eleanor Estes is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Moffats by Eleanor Estes

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The Moffats, by Eleanor Estes, is one of the author’s most well-known books, and the first in a series of four books. This book is about a family that consists of a mother, four children and a cat, living during World War I. The father had died a few years earlier. The children’s names are, from oldest to youngest, Sylvie, Joe, Jane and Rufus. One warm day in late summer, Jane is enjoying her day outside when a man named Mr. Baxter comes up to the Moffat’s house and nails on a sign that reads “for sale.” The Moffat children, and especially Jane, are very concerned by the sign. Their mother tells the children to try and forget about it, but it is difficult at first because they keep seeing the sign whenever they go in or out of the house. To make things worse, potential buyers stop by occasionally to inquire about the house.

The Moffats are able to forget about the sign for a while, but Jane gets increasingly annoyed by the sign. She cannot imagine living anywhere else, and she does not want to sell the house. Eventually, Jane gets so angry at the sign that she starts throwing mud balls at it. Afterward, while she is cleaning up the mess, a family named the Murdocks notices the sign and begins coming to the house every other day. The Moffat children resort to locking doors, closing windows and hiding whenever they sense the presence of one of the Murdocks. Jane wonders whether her family will ever get rid of the sign.

This book is really a collection of simple childhood adventures. The events seem quite ordinary, but the book is very well-written and engaging. The for-sale sign seems to be one of the main elements of the story, but this book is really about many small events from the perspective of a child. Jane seems to be the main character, and many of her observations are humorous even though she seems to overreact to things. This book is a good reminder of what it feels like to think as a child. The author does an excellent job of portraying life from a child’s perspective. I found it enjoyable to read about what happens to the children in the Moffat family, although I would have liked to learn more about the two older children. Sylvie is usually only mentioned, so I would have liked to read more about her. However, this is a very good children’s novel and I would recommend it to anyone in the mood for reading a simple and delightful book.

The Moffats by Eleanor Estes is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.