Citizen Soldiers by Stephen Ambrose
Written in the late 1990’s, Stephen Ambrose’s “Citizen Soldiers” draws upon oral histories, memoirs, and letters of Allied and German World War II combat veterans to write an engaging narrative that follows U.S. combat soldiers from the D-Day landings at Normandy to the surrender of Germany in 1945, inviting the reader to join his harrowing and inspirational account of the final eleven months of the war. Best known for his book-turned-TV-miniseries, “Band of Brothers”, Ambrose writes in a straightforward and readable manner, accessible to all who are interested in history and the strength of human character found in the common and everyday citizens who enlisted and were drafted into war. Following the timeline from the day after D-Day, the book includes three sections of contemporary black and white photographs that follow the chronological order of the chapters. Other features of the book include detailed maps showing battlefronts and army progress, meticulous footnotes from each chapter, an exhaustive bibliography, a comprehensive index, and a complete list of the full names of U.S. and German veterans whose letters, memoirs and oral histories were used in the crafting of this account. While the content is serious, mature grade 11 and 12 students can handle the material, and while the language used by soldiers in war can be punctuated with cursing, the direct quotes of combat veterans included by the author are never used in a gratuitous or entertaining manner. Please note that there is a brief reference to how leadership in different armies would respond to reports of soldiers assaulting local women (Russian and German Army leadership encouraged it, US Army court-martialled and sometimes executed offenders from its own ranks). This book can accompany and complement a homeschool curriculum of 20th Century World History. At just under 500 pages, a student, with regular reading, will be able to fully understand the material, enabling them to speak with intelligence on an important event from our recent past. Students can use the strategic maps to further explore the geography of the surrounding areas in Europe. Most importantly, young people reading a first-hand account can be shown extraordinary examples of character. Finding ways for older students to demonstrate their understanding through essays, paragraphs, creative writing, artwork, discussions and dioramas will not be difficult, as there are many topics that can be gleaned from the material. Citizen Soldiers is an excellent account of a very specific time period of a war in which common men and women displayed uncommon bravery not to conquer but to liberate. Jeffrey Curwen, BA, Certificate in Liberal Arts, Professional Teaching Certificate, M.Ed Jeff is a Canadian homeschool dad of seven kids, and husband to one amazing woman. He has worked as a public school teacher, independent DL school teacher, and secondary school administrator. He enjoys coffee, jazz and almost anything written on 20th Century History, US Foreign Policy and JFK. He’s grateful everyday for his wife, children and his Lord and Saviour, Jesus.
The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be (Book Review)
Here’s an honest review of the book The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be. “The prairies could be only half real to a boy without a dog.” ~ Farley Mowat When I randomly picked up Mowat’s memoir about his dog Mutt, “The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be“, little did I know that our family would be engaging with one of our favorite read-alouds of 2021. We immensely enjoyed Farley Mowat’s more well-known book, “Owls in the Family”, years prior. The author described his childhood, caring for two wild owls who each had such distinct personalities and quirks. When I found out Mowat had a story similar, but about his childhood dog, I was all in! I love dogs, and so do my children, but that’s not a requirement to enjoy the story. The qualities of this book are many, starting with Mowat’s strength as a writer; his vocabulary is more vigorous than books published today. His sentences are a joy to read! Mowat always has a strong sense of place in whatever he is writing, and the audience gets a clear picture of both the landscape and also the regional culture of the area he lands himself in. In The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, he writes about his childhood in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but also small towns and villages nearby. I have looked up a lot of his books to see if this atmospheric and geographical language continues, and I’m happy to say that it appears it does, and he has lived all over Canada. I can’t wait to learn about some of the provinces I’ve never (yet!) been able to visit, through his words and descriptive setting. With Mowat’s youthful narration, the reader is absolutely delighted with the hilarity, escapades, and downright orneriness this boy and his dog can get into. He is perhaps eight years old when the book starts, and the book ends when he’s nearing adulthood. Each chapter is usually tied to something the family does frequently (hunting, sailing, etc.) and how Mutt gets himself involved…for better or worse. Mutt has an almost human-like personality, and there is one section about him trying to round up ducks in a small pond that is quite memorable. The three of us reading together were crying and endured stomach aches from laughing so hard at this dog’s determination and ingenuity throughout the chapter. Mowat takes his precise writing skills and humour, his passion for nature and place, and his deep love for his childhood dog, Mutt, and has written a simply superb book that will entertain everyone in the family. _________________________________________________________________________ My name is Sarah Mast and I homeschool my two kids in Ft. Langley, BC. One of my favorite aspects of homeschooling is the community gained, and I volunteer with a local support group to help foster that and connect others. My family loves the outdoors and travelling, and our weekends include skiing, swimming, hiking, or biking depending on the season. I found Classical Education Books at a conference and noticed their well-curated selection of children’s books. I kept tabs on their collection of the classics and hard-to-find books and reached out. Now I get to help customers hone their collections, and work on the ever-growing inventory here at CEB!
Sensing God (Book Review)
Here’s my honest review of the book “Sensing God” by author, Joel Clarkson. I have long been a listener to famed homeschool parent and author Sally Clarkson and her podcast At Home With Sally. Her words drip with encouragement for parents with children of any age (including adult children) as she shares the struggles and joys of both raising children in the Christian faith and homeschooling over many decades. Over the years, I’ve discovered that all of her four homeschool-graduated children are creative in unique ways, and I’ve gone on to follow their work as well. It is challenging, relevant, and unique within their own skill-sets and personalities. The child I “knew” the least about was Joel. He is perhaps most well-known for his narration in The Green Ember series; or even his compositions and music on Spotify, but his debut book, Sensing God, was as beautiful as his melodies, and just the right read to put me back in touch with the physical manifestations of joy and creation after a very long and draining season. Joel writes about music, story, nature, feasting, fine arts, and more, and brings in examples in every chapter of ‘high’ and ‘low’ artistry in these avenues. He points back to the Creator God, who first demonstrated beauty in the senses by creating. Joel encourages the reader to fully indulge and delight in these experiences throughout our lives as a form of worship. I am not someone who is known for ‘feeling’. I have a stiff upper lip and work through my to-do list and life as a general. My husband’s nickname for me, “Spartan wife”, can be painfully accurate. As I read through Sensing God, I know that on more than one occasion my posture relaxed. Clarkson had me looking up composers I’d never heard, just to play the song mentioned in the chapter while making breakfast. I researched art that I was given context to; grasping the visual meaning and my soul feeling richer in the meantime. My mind and my spirit were engaged and fed through each chapter. It felt joyful. I am going to read through this book again this upcoming Advent and will be pairing it with my second year of feasting on the visual images, poetry/music, and the context written by students and faculty of Biola University’s Advent Project. If you are feeling parched from this past season, and need some spiritual refreshment that is both beautiful and meaty, I strongly recommend Sensing God to help recalibrate your heart and mind; and worship God in the many ways He has gifted us through the senses. My name is Sarah Mast and I homeschool my two kids in Ft. Langley, BC. One of my favorite aspects of homeschooling is the community gained, and I volunteer with a local support group to help foster that and connect others. My family loves the outdoors and traveling, and our weekends include skiing, swimming, hiking, or biking depending on the season. I found Classical Education Books at a conference and noticed their well-curated selection of children’s books. I kept tabs on their collection of the classics and hard-to-find books and reached out. Now I get to help customers hone their collections, and work on the ever-growing inventory here at CEB!
Shadows on the Rock (Book Review)
Willa Cather’s “Shadows on the Rock” is a descriptive, gentle, immersive look at life in Quebec in the late 17th century. Twelve-year-old Cecile lives with her apothecary father, navigating life between the Upper and Lower Towns of Quebec City. Cecile takes care of the young half-orphaned Jacques, listens to stories of the woods and rivers from Pierre Charron the adventurer, and practices her faith under the careful but tender eye of Pere de Laval. She takes care of her father and their fine house and shop, and worries about what it will be like to one day return to her native France when her father’s employer must return to serve the King. Sprinkled heavily with French words and sentences, this book would be a nice stepping stone into reading longer French texts. While the reader doesn’t need to fully understand all the French to appreciate the story (my French is virtually non-existent!), it would be fun for a blossoming French student to be able to read a book that brings French and English together. If you have children who enjoyed the Dear Canada series, this book would be excellent for continued reading. Historical figures like Governor Frontenac and Sieur de la Salle are woven into the story, similar to how historical events are treated in the Dear Canada books. A head’s up to parents: while there are few mature topics, and the ones that are discussed are dealt with subtly and delicately, Shadows on the Rock may not be suitable for younger children, and may not be a good choice for a read-aloud. Young Jacques’ mother is the town prostitute, abandoning her son to the elements and good nature of her neighbors while she entertains the sailors who come and go from Quebec City. While her activities are never named explicitly, it is clear what is going on at her hotel. Mentions of torture endured by Catholic priests at the hands of some Indigenous nations are also briefly described and may be disturbing to younger children. Despite touching on heavy subject matter, this book reads like a cross between a Dear Canada novel and Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books. Descriptions are vivid and captivating, and the characters jump off the page. The ideals, values, attitudes, and hard-working character of the first generations of French settlers in Canada thread through the book, and the reader comes away with an appreciation for the hardship and an admiration for the tenacity and good nature of generations gone by. Overall, Shadows on the Rock is a lovely addition to your Canadian history bookshelf and will captivate the imagination of your children. Abigail is a Royal Conservatory of Music graduate; she completed her ARCT in Piano Pedagogy in 2020 and she teaches piano and violin. Abigail is the oldest of 7 and was homeschooled from start to finish. She likes to listen to Bach, Beethoven, and jazz. Other interests include reading, watercolours, and crochet.
Novel Series Book Stack
Readers love a good novel series! This blog post is full of reviews that will guide you to the next novel series for your children. Having trouble deciding? Start Wishlist on our website. Reviews are included here for: The Green Ember Padraic Colum’s Stories from Ancient Mythology The Wilderking Trilogy Marguerite Henry Books The Wingfeather Saga Green Ember Series Heather and Pickett are two youngsters who are suddenly faced with the unimaginable reality of losing their home and their family. Faced with betrayal resulting in a life-threatening race against hungry, vicious wolves Heather and Pickett must remember, and obey, those commands given by their parents in a time of peace when no one was really paying attention. So begins the story of rabbits with swords, or courage versus cowardice. The young siblings embark on an adventure that will take them to the end of the known rabbit world, and push them beyond their own limits of strength and valor. Heather, as the older sister will learn how to love and protect while allowing freedom and growth to happen in those she tenderly cares for. Pickett will need to make decisions on whether to deal with his envy and bitterness as he begins to work with a prickly mentor. At every turn, there is suspense as victory and defeat take on different forms and have bittersweet outcomes. Morbin Blackhawk, leader of the depraved forces closes in on the beauty and bravery displayed by King Jupiter’s descendants. Each individual soldier must choose for himself who to follow as more than one leader lays claim to the throne. As Heather and Pickett get closer to the throne, and the true descendant, they find themselves in the confidence of the throne’s secret. Can they protect rabbitkind? Will Heather’s talent be the undercurrent of strength to keep the faith even in captivity? Can Pickett hold his own and fight with a resolve that’s larger than life? This series will keep you wondering at every turn. It has quiet moments of reflection interspersed with adventure. And one of my favorite things about this series is that it’s not particularly “for girls” or “for boys” but rather, for families, siblings, children, adults, or, quite simply all who love a good story. They are to be read in this order: The Green Ember – Book I The Black Star of Kingston – Tales of Old Natalia Ember Falls – Book II The Last Archer- Green Ember Archer I Ember Rising – Book III The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner – Tales of Old Natalia The First Fowler – Green Ember Archer II Ember’s End – Book IV The Archer’s Cup – Green Ember Archer III Padraic Colum’s Stories from Ancient Mythology Padraic Colum has written a trilogy of great fantastical stories to engage the imagination. While these are stories that can stand on their own, they have an added advantage to being stories based on ancient mythology. As these books are read and enjoyed, the reader will be introduced to some of the many characters in ancient mythology and enjoy an introduction to ancient literature. The Children’s Homer Based on the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer, this story tells of that great hero of Greek literature, Odysseus. His first quest, to find his father takes us to Troy and the battles fought by Achilles. As the war ends, Odysseus travels on towards home, but it’s not a quick nor easy journey. Odysseus learns to be wise and cunning, though he does not completely avoid catastrophe. We feel the weariness of travel beset by woe, and the longing of home that’s deep in our own souls. Even as home lies within our grasp we learn that it’s not the home we had in mind, nor the comfort we needed. The Golden Fleece Before Odysseus there was Jason of the Argonauts. Jason gains the favor of the Greek goddess Hera, just in time to help him face the struggle to reclaim his father’s throne. His assignment to achieve his goal seems relatively simple: retrieve the golden fleece from the kingdom of Colchis at the shores of the Black Sea. Jason’s quest is challenged, but he also finds favor with powerful allies. The question we keep asking throughout the story is, will Jason complete his quest and live happily ever after? The Children of Odin Not all mythology is from Greece. This story tells us of the northern gods and goddesses, those of the Vikings. From the beginning of time, we learn of the Norse understanding of creation and the relationship between the supernatural and human beings. We may have heard of the names Odin, Thor, and Loki. But do we know where those stories come from? If you have watched even one Marvel show, then you owe it to Loki and Thor to read this book about their real stories. These stories follow closely with the original texts written by the ancients. You may find that they only begin to spark you and your children’s interest in these ancient stories that have shaped the world as we know it. The Wilderking Trilogy The Wilderking Trilogy is a brilliant story loosely based on the life of King David of biblical fame, set in an Arthurian style legend with a feudal type of government, and a Louisiana bayou landscape. In the first book, we meet the protagonist, Aidan. He is predictably the youngest of a large family, and not necessarily the most popular when he fulfills the local seer’s prophecy. He loves his father dearly and stays close by him to care for and serve him, but Aiden longs to engage in the outside world to see what legends he can explore. His family name rises in the court when he and his brothers capture and deliver a giant alligator to the court of the king. But they are not proud of their king and his rule, a feeling exacerbated by his cruel treatment of their prize alligator, and the event does not end well. With war looming on the horizon, Aidan’s brothers are called up to the king’s army, while Aiden stays home to care for his father. But all does not give way to boredom. Aidan is called up to bring supplies to his brothers at the
