Recap Book Chat

“That’s one more thing I detest about war. It’s not over when it ends.” Lady Rowan Join Maisie Dobbs as she takes on a challenging case when she is hired by Mr. Waite, an august person who strives to control everything and everyone in his circle. He has met his match with Maisie who works in her own time and in her own way. She knows the value of letting fact, thoughts, observations, and feelings simmer whereas ‘Mr. Gungho’ is full steam ahead. Jacqueline Winspear masterfully weaves mystery with history in this sequel. Readers are invited to solve who’s behind 3 murders and how they are connected, while at the same time readers discover a well hidden piece from the past, The Order of the White Feather. Maisie is simultaneously searching for Mr. Waite’s missing daughter, Charlotte Waite, and struggling to help bridge the growing chasm between her and her father, while also helping Billy overcome his precarious method of coping with his injured leg before it injures his family. (And we thought we had a full plate!) Inspector Stratton returns and readers learn that he is a widower with a young son. Dr. Dene, the witty and kind doctor that worked his way across the tracks, is eager to help our hard- working heroine. (Miss Dobbs doubtlessly has sparked their interest.) Join us in solving these murders before Inspector Stratton and company send the wrong guy up the river. What an amazing job Winspear does of showing both sides of the situation! In a male dominated profession, Maisie excels not by complaining and pointing out injustices, but by action. Actions that are well-thought out and executed with the precision of a surgeon. She plans her day and works toward that end but is not frazzled when a curve ball is thrown her way. We could learn much from Maisie! Let us slow down and strive to thrive and help others to do likewise. “May I not sit in judgment. May my decisions be for the good of all concerned. May my work bring peace.”  Maisie’s silent prayer reminds me of the street sweeper quote by Martin Luther King,Jr. May we always do our best in the plethora of endeavors that lie before us.. Let mediocrity be ousted by excellence!

Recipe for The Hungry Place Recap   Ingredients: 1 horse lovin’ girl without a mom aka Rae 1 hard working creative dad  1 wise grandma aka Gammer 1 beautiful pony - Princess 1 kind hearted sickly owner - Roland 2 unsavory hired hands - Charlie, the trainer & his wife, Darlene 2 encouraging friends - Tully & Sam 1 concerned owner of pony camp - Tish Mix together a girl who yearns for a pony and Princess, the pony who loses the charmed life she’s always known for an enduring story of hardship, resilience, patience and persistence.     The Hungry Place takes readers on a journey of hope. Gammer tells Rae, “I don’t see you as someone who doesn’t have a pony. You’re someone who’s going to have a pony. Focus your mind on it…eyes wide open for opportunities.”    Add in wise advice from Gammer who tells Rae not to ask ‘will I have a pony? but instead ask, ‘How will I get a pony?’ When Rae decides to earn money to go to Pony Camp, Gammer tells her, “Money is useful. Don’t fall in love with it though. It’s like junk food, tastes good going down, ½ hour later you’re hungry again.”    Blend in Roland being taken away in the ambulance, Charlie and Darlene cleaning him out. Ponies being left to fend for themselves for so long they ate the bark off the trees. Sadly, Roland had trusted the wrong people and his ponies had to pay the price.    Stir in the meeting of an observant guy on a motorcycle and a brave pony that had never asked a human for anything in all her life.    Princess is taken to Tish’s pony camp, where the vet doctors her wound and Tish is given strict instructions on how to feed the starved pony.    The only pony Rae’s been riding is the metal one her dad created out of garbage he’d collected. She named him Rusty. Rae tells Tully and Sam that “ponies don’t panic. They think.They live longer than ponies. They have a different mind.”    What has life given you? That’s what you have to work with. Rae uses what she has to move forward, “Without struggle, there is no progress”,  Frederick Douglass once said. Gammer calls these unexpected details ‘spice in the pie’.     Variation: “When Princess was abandoned she could be with the other ponies at last but…There were fences here too, invisible, but very real.” Do we put up fences unknowingly? When we, like Roland, choose the easy way for our loved ones, we can inadvertently bring them pain. He kept Princess isolated for her safety but her isolation made her life harder when everything went south.     Enjoy an unforgettable book uniting a girl with a dream and a pony with a powerful purpose.        

Join us as we discuss Little Pilgrim on his arduous trip to the Celestial City. Will he be able to navigate through the many dangers that thwart his forward progress? This beautifully illustrated allegory was derived from John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, but Helen L. Taylor’s use of anthropomorphism makes Bunyan’s amazing story easily understood by children. Animals that are characters make the book not only interesting to kids but also add a degree of emotional distance for young readers, which can be important with a message as personal and powerful as this one. Christian is a young rabbit living in a city called Destruction. After losing his mother, finding an old Book, and hearing the Evangelist, Christian wants to make his way to the Celestial City where a wise King rules that loves little creatures. He asks his friends to make the journey with him, they all laugh at him except his friend Christiana. She’s unable to go because she’s caring for younger siblings so Christian bravely decides to embark on the journey all by himself. He feels his heavy burdens slowing him down but he plods forward, meeting: Simple, Sloth, Presumption, Passion, Patience, Hypocrisy, Mistrust, Faithful, Hopeful and a host of others. Some seek to stop him, while some help and encourage him. “Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” What doors do you want to open in this life? Follow Christian to discover how to wisely navigate the worldly dangers as Helen Taylor along with Joe Sutphin’s amazing illustrations take readers on this unforgettable journey!

Travel back in time with us as we discuss Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. This book has more plot twists than a roller coaster. It begins in the year 1961 as 16 year old Laurel is watching from her treehouse not wanting to join the family in her little brother’s birthday picnic. Her mother returns to the house with the birthday boy on her hip to get the special birthday knife to cut Gerry’s cake. Laurel is in a ‘woe is me’ mood as many teenagers go through, when adulthood is just beyond their grasp and childhood is clearly behind them. Laurel thinks no one understands how she’s feeling. “Youth is an arrogant place…” Suddenly the… “Certainties of a lifetime turned to smoke and blew away.” …when Laurel witnessed a stranger approach her mother. Her mother put a crying Gerry on the ground. Unbelievably, her mother stabbed the stranger with the birthday knife. Unbeknownst to Laurel’s three sisters who were at the picnic site, Laurel must carry this secret for 50 years before she attempts to resolve her unasked questions. Her mother never explained anything except she was protecting her family from harm, stranger danger has always been a worry for mothers. The rest of the book is told in 2011 and 1941. When Laurel’s mom, Dorothy aka Dolly, gets sick, Laurel returns to her family homeplace while putting her actress life on hold. Her thoughts return to a time when Laurel, Rose, Iris, Daphne were referred to as their father’s garden of daughters.. Most memories of her childhood are sweet but the nagging memory of her mom killing the stranger overshadows the rest. On a visit to the hospital Dorothy weakly says that she’s thankful for a second chance. The fact that “People who led dull and blameless lives did not give thanks for second chances,” prayed on Laurel’s mind and spurred her into action. She discovers Dorothy aka Dolly lost her family in WW2 and that she was once in love with a young photographer, Jimmy Metcaff. She had been given the book, Peter Pan, by someone named Vivian. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. She discovered Vivan was a well to do lady that her mother tried very hard to befriend but her plan backfired. What was living in London like during this horrific time? Many children were evacuated but many were in the hospital. The Blitz lasted for 8 months and killed over 13,000 civilians. When the pieces of the puzzling past do not come together as quickly as expected, Laurel enlists the help of her younger brainiac brother, Gerry. Dorothy is getting weaker and weaker and can’t offer much help. Will Laurel and Gerry be able to discover the secret their mother kept for 50 years? Read this amazing book to journey with Laurel as she ‘goes’ back to 1941 London. Can dogged persistence put the pieces of the past into place letting peace prevail?

In this podcast episode, we open up our Kid Lit Locker delve into the world of Ted Hughes' classic novel, The Iron Giant. With our special kid guest we explore the themes of environmentalism, friendship, and the power of imagination through the story of a giant metal robot who arrives on Earth. Join us as we discuss the significance of the Iron Man's most memorable moments, from his fiery battles with a dragon to his transformation into a protector of the planet. Along the way, we analyze the similarities and differences with the 1999 movie. Whether you're a fan of sci-fi or just looking for a thought-provoking read, The Iron Giant is a must-read that will leave you questioning the nature of humanity and the world around us. Also mentioned in the episode for young readers who are not quiet able to tackle The Iron Giant on their own, is a series call Hey Jack. ======================================================================================================================= Be sure to let us know if you have read this novel or if you have books you would like to recommend.   You can join our Facebook Group, Recap Book Chat or leave us a voice memo. Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Connect with Kate and Sheila online at www.recapbookchat.com My current my go to beverage is an iced decaf coffee with ⁠Earth Echo's Cacao Bliss⁠ blended in. Ten powerful, organic superfoods that help with relaxation, joint pain, weight goals, and mental focus. Use my coupon code KATEM10 to get 10% off your order when you try their products. Note that some of the links above are affiliate links to books and brands we love and ones we think you will too! Keep those pages turning and those book lights burning!

Andy Crouch gives readers a plethora of ways to put technology in its proper place in his book, The Tech-Wise Family. "To be a child, teenager, or young adult these days is to navigate a minefield of potentially life-altering choices." His daughter wrote in the forward explaining "...the best part of tech-wise parenting is focusing on something older and better than the newest thing. The key word is better." This better way involves choosing: Character, Shape Space, and Structuring Time. Character develops slowly, daily, as we painstakingly overcome problems. Shape spaces are places in our homes that are device free and packed with supplies to create or practice a skill which could include everything from books to board games and paints to a piano. Structuring time is intentionally setting time aside to rest from devices such as spending intentional time being grateful without instantly scrolling. Change is challenging but worthwhile. "We will have to teach our children, from early on, we're not here to make their lives easier but to make them better." Andy's Ten Tech-Wise Commitments 1. We develop wisdom and courage together as a family. 2. We want to create more than we consume. Fill the center of the home with things that reward skill and active engagement. 3. We are designed for a rhythm of work and rest. 4. We wake up before our devices do and they "go to bed" before we do. 5. We aim for no screens before double digits. Avoid tethering to the glowing screen as long as you can. 6. We use screens for a purpose and we use them together. 7. Car time is conversation time. It takes 7 minutes to get a 'real' conversation going. 8. Spouses have each other's passwords. Parents have total access to kids' devices. 9. We learned to sing together. (Powerful picture book, Christmas in the Trenches, shows the power of song. A German soldier started singing Silent Night, and both sides sang together in different languages. They also shared what little treats they had been sent from home) 10. We show up IN PERSON for big events in life. (weddings, births, & funerals) Interesting point, "...the quest to cure boredom with entertainment makes the problem worse, the more you entertain kids, the more bored they will get." When we choose the easy way, we miss cultivating patience. The first people to be bored were the first people who did not do manual labor. Frederick Douglass said, "Without struggle, there is no progress." The last thing learners need is for it to be too easy. Difficulty and resistance press learners forward and make the learning stick. We hope you glean much from the pages of this little jewel to bring your precious family closer together as routines are established and memories are made. Screens are probably here to stay, but our children are with us for but a season, may we live life well preparing them for the road ahead.

Join us as we discuss a kid friendly gem similar to the classic, Robinson Crusoe. Michael Morpurgo, War Horse author, spins a tale of wonder and suspense in Kensuke's Kingdom, which is based on a true story.  After young Michael's parents simultaneously lost their jobs, his dad shocked the family by using their savings to buy a yacht. After 6 months of training, their journey around the world began! The adventure takes a surprise turn when Michael and his dog, Stella, end up overboard! Thankfully, they wash up on an island and meet a man, Kensuke, that had been living there since WWII! Michael thought  the old man wanted him for a prisoner. His assumption was proved wrong when the old man saved his life. A lesson for us all that first impressions are not always accurate. The beautiful story of how Michael and Kensuke learn from each other even though they are from different places and generations is too good to miss. When Michael told Kensuke that back home in England many things had, 'Made in Japan' on them, Kensuke replied, "I 'made in Japan' person." He laughed, "Very old machine, still good, still very strong." If you loved Kensuke's Kingdom, check out The Cay, by Theodore Taylor. Both stories tell about people making the best of things in the worst of times. Inspirational indeed! ======================================================================================================================= Be sure to let us know if you have read this novel or if you have books you would like to recommend.  You can join our Facebook Group, Recap Book Chat or leave us a voice memo. My favorite way to read is curled up with a soft blanket and a hot cozy drink in my hand. Currently my go to beverage is decaf coffee with Earth Echo's Cacao Bliss blended in. Ten powerful, organic superfoods that help with relaxation, joint pain, weight goals, and mental focus. Use my coupon code KATEM10 to get 10% off your order when you try their products. Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Connect with Kate and Sheila online at www.recapbookchat.com Note that some of the links above are affiliate links to books and brands we love and ones we think you will too! Keep those pages turning and those book lights burning!

West With Giraffes follows a 17 year old dust bowl orphan across America in the journey of a lifetime in the company of a couple of Giraffes. Based on a true story, Lynda Rutledge beautifully weaves together fact and fiction in this adventure packed story of healing, hope, perseverance and love.

A foundational and illuminating read from one of the great intellectual giants. C.S. Lewis takes us on a journey of unpacking and unlearning misconceptions we have been taught about Christianity and uncovering it’s simplicity and beauty. Lewis is an allegory master, breaking complex ideas into understandable and relatable bites.

This classic 1883 iconic pirate adventure story did not disappoint! Robert Louis Stevenson created pop cultures vision of a buccaneer with his character Long John Silver. This book was a swashbuckling fun ride full of great quotes and memorable adventures.