Waging Peace, the Story of Jane Addams by Peggy Caravantes

For a child with a privileged upbringing, Jane Addams grew up to provide plenty of opportunities for the poor and poverty ridden.   This biography address the how and why along with the problems she encountered along the way.

Rather than a nice child's biography that talks about Jane and all the great work she did with none of the flaws or problems she faced, this book looks at the work Jane did and the problems she faced.  Ms. Caravantes holds nothing back as she takes the reader through the struggles Jane faced throughout her life to be treated equally, help those who were struggling and provide justice. 

As a child, Jane learned her lessons well and planned to attend medical school like her step brother but when the time came,  she went to Rockford Female Seminary.  After finishing there, she spent time traveling Europe, where she saw poverty in London that startled her.  Upon returning home, she spent time visiting family and working to find a purpose for her life.  Her early childhood illness left her with permanent damage to her spine making childbearing impossible.  Helping others is not limited to family so Jane and some friends decided to take up the cause of the poor in Chicago.

Initially renting the first floor of Hull House, a nursery and training area was opened, giving the mothers and small children of the area a safe place while also providing a place for service oriented wealthier young women a place to help others.   From Hull House, Jane and her associates expanded their "nurseries", training centers and shelters through the other young women they trained.  Also spreading into the fight for women's suffrage, Jane promoted equality for women in all areas of life.

This book is well researched yet easy to read for the 10 and up age group.   Definitely a worth while read for school or fun, and provides a rich look at the full life Ms. Addams had before her death in 1935.

Age range: 10 to adult

Caravantes, P. (2004). Waging peace: the story of Jane Addams. Greensboro, N.C.: Morgan Reynolds Pub..

Our World of Water: Children and Water around the World

The pictures and information in this book provide interesting but very important information about the differences in water usage and availability around the world.   As the author stresses, in some western countries, no one thinks much about using water or where it comes from but for other people in the world, water is as precious as gold and must be thought of constantly.

A look into the world of children in Bangladesh, Peru, Mauritania, Ethopia, Tajikistan and the USA provides dramatically different perspectives on how water is used, stored and even brought into the house.  Each child presents their daily life, how water is used and respected in addition to a special activity or holiday celebrated in their life or country.  

For Barfimoh in Tajikistan, life as a farmer's family requires quite a bit of water.  But since there is no running water in her village, she and her sister must ride one of the donkeys down to the spring.   One picture shows her on the donkey with large cans for the water.    This spring water is for consumption but for the garden and crops, rain water is collected and saved for watering between rain storms.  

In contrast to Barfimoh, Lucas in Peru has a tap in his house but it is cold water only, and in the winter in Peru, cold water is COLD.  Luckily for Lucas, his mom heats up most of the bath water so they aren't forced to take cold baths.   Lucas's family has a small shop in town and a large alpaca ranch further up in the mountains where his dad spends most of his time.   Weekends are spent at the ranch helping with chores, filling water jugs from the stream and playing with the children's special pet alpacas.

This book not only presents important information about water and it's impact on our lives, it is also a fundraiser in itself.  

Age range: 8 to 12

Hollyer, B. (2009). Our world of water: children and water around the world. New York, N.Y.: Henry Holt and Co., in association with Oxfam.

Ghosts and Spirits by Rebecca Stefoff

Secrets of the supernatural is a series of books of supernatural origin.  This book focuses on the history of ghosts and poltergeists.  The author takes a look at the history of ghosts through the ages.  From ancient Greek and Roman history through to the present Ms. Stefoff looks at how stories have evolved about the look of ghosts. 

The stories include an old tale written by Roman writer Pliny the younger about a learned man named Athenodorus who rented a haunted house in a Greek city.  Rather than run away when the ghost appeared, he followed it until it disappeared.   The next day he dug up the area and found a skeleton buried in chains.  Once the skeleton was buried properly, the ghost never came back.  This is just one of the stories in the book. 

This book might be a bit intense for some tweens but for those who are interested in learning about spirits, their history, beliefs surrounding them and so on it is a good beginner fact book.   There are a lot of pictures although many are engineered (and labeled that way).  

Age range: 8 to adult

Stefoff, R. (2008). Ghosts and spirits . New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.

Going to school in 1776 by John J. Loeper

This short book outlines the various types of school buildings, methods of teachings and books used during the age of the Revolutionary War.   Using tween age children as examples, Mr. Loeper describes things like dame schools, college life at 16, one room school houses and tutors.  

But not all learning was done in a school setting.  Some children learned at home, either with a tutor hired by Dad or with Mom and Dad.  Some families lived so far from town that the children could not attend school, making their only education possible from their parents.   More important things than reading, writing and arithmetic were learned at home as well.

While not a book a tween would generally read this book for pleasure it is definitely an interesting book to read.  It definitely adds flavor to a unit on the Revolutionary War or daily life during the 18th century. 

The only artwork in the book are wood cut replicas which add to the old time flavor along with providing an example of what children during the timeframe saw during their studies.

Age range: 8 to 12

Loeper, J. J. (1973). Going to school in 1776 . New York: Atheneum.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

In her 4th book about Harry Potter, J. K Rowling does a fantastic job of presenting young Harry as the under age wizard trapped in a contest that he did not enter and would prefer not to participate in. Unfortunately, who ever managed to change the rules to enter him without his permission and despite his being under age, did not forget that the magical clause includes a no "backing out" clause.  So, unfortunately for Harry, he is an unwilling participant in the Triwizard contest.

Even worse than the contest is the lack of Quiddich for the year.   The Quiddich field is being used for some part of the Triwizard contest so it is unavailable.  Harry's favorite thing about school will be missing for all of his 4th year.

Adding to the stress of being the 4th champion of 3 schools, the hatred of fellow Hogwarts students, including some of his fellow Griffindors and a few of his best mates and the year really can't get much more stressful.   Hermione, Neville, and Hagrid all try to help him prepare while the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher seems overly concerned about Harry's well being which makes him much more nervous about what trials await him in the contests.   

Can things get worse for Harry as he struggles to figure out the clues to the contest trials, keep up with school work, deal with being Harry Potter and try to stay out of trouble?  Ummm... you have to read through the book to see what happens and get to the stunning surprise ending. 

Ms. Rowling does a wonderful job as always.  Her book provides a riveting story that will pull the reader in and keep them engrossed through the entire thing.    Definitely worth reading repeatedly.

Age range: 9 to adult

Rowling, J. K.,  (2000). Harry Potter and the goblet of fire . New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.

The Bobbsey Twins and the Mystery at Snow Lodge

This series is being reprinted for the current generation and some tweens are really enjoying it despite the lack of any modern technology.   Certainly an easy read for the older tween range, these books are a good choice for the 8 to 10 crowd or even up to 12 for those struggling or voracious readers.

The Bobbsey Twins, older twins- Bert and Nan with the younger twin siblings, Freddy and Flossie are enjoying the fresh snow after school one day with their friends but upon arriving home, find that the boiler/heater has died and needs to be replaced.  Being just before Christmas, this poses a serious problem for the Bobbsey family.  Where can they celebrate Christmas other than a boring hotel?   The children are rather worried but trust that something will work out before Christmas break begins. 

In the meantime, life is chilly but livable and school is going along well with the usual pranks, bullies and such.  The older twins help an older gentleman when his horse drawn carriage runs away without him and renews a family friendship that leads to a mystery, a wonderful place to spend Christmas and the chance to spend Christmas with another branch of the Bobbsey family who suddenly find themselves "homeless" for Christmas. 

Always amateur sleuths, the older twins work to solve a family mystery involving the Snow Lodge owner and his nephew.  Can they find the missing pieces to the puzzle and bring the family back together?   And will they enjoy the old lodge during Christmas week?  

Laura Lee hope wrote wonderful Bobbsey stories and this one is no different!   The antics of the 10 year old and 5 year old twins keeps the book running along and the lack of technology take the reader back to a different time of playing outside and using imagination.

Age range- 8 to 12

Hope, L.L. (1960). The Bobbsey Twins and the Mystery at Snow Lodge. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, Publishing.

Science Fair by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

This story has so many story lines, twists and turns.   Take a bunch of middle school kids and a science fair competition, throw in a mysterious person willing to sell science fair winning projects and a strange man who owns a science store in the mall and there is a strange mix of silly happenings, consequences and mixed up happenings.  

For Toby, life is rough enough with his strange parents, the nerdy group he is part of, and the fact that he can never win a science fair competition.  He is very smart but the idiot rich kids keep winning.  Toby knows there is cheating going on but he can't figure out how.   So, he turns sleuth to figure things out.   Little does he know how zany things will get!  

Now add in a crazy man at the mall, he runs this nutty science shop that is rarely open.  Apparently he is helping the rich kids cheat but why?  And is he writing the plans and then supplying the goods?  

Hmmm..   What can Toby find out? 

But then... what is with these strange men hanging out in the hotel?  They are from a strange little country that no one can pronounce and seem very interested in the school, QVC and American food.   They pop in and out of the story and are working with some stranger in the school.

Pull together frogs, electricity, massive power sources, and the school science fair and things are going to extremely interesting!!  

This book is so engrossing that readers will be sucked in.   It does show massive amounts of disrespect for parents and other authority figures but that is not terribly unusual in this day and age. 

Age range: 9 to 14 (or adult because it is funny)

Barry, D., & Pearson, R. (2008). Science fair: a story of mystery, danger, international suspense, and a very nervous frog. New York: Disney Editions.