In Pursuit of Jefferson by Derek Baxter

 In the early 2000's Derek Baxter was feeling stifled by his job as a lawyer. He had been interested in American History as a student, and was intrigued when he found out about a short book by Thomas Jefferson that was a travel guide for Americans in Europe.  Over the course of 8 years, he and his young family endeavor to recreate some of Jefferson's experiences in Europe by visiting places he went and trying things he did. At first it is fun to go to France's wine country and sample fine wines, or go to England and visit famous gardens, but as Baxter continued to try to better understand Jefferson, he kept running into the fact that, although Jefferson was a champion of liberty, he depended on enslaved workers to maintain his lifestyle. This book is a record of the Baxter families effort to not only come to know Jefferson, but also learn more about the people who were robbed of their freedom so that Jefferson could become a famous founding father. 

Here is another book on the America 250 list.  I enjoyed it quite a bit.  The writing is candid and engaging. Some of Baxter's adventures in Europe are fun and funny. When he has to wrestle with the stark reality of Jefferson's shortcomings, instead of flinching, he leans into it and accepts the challenge of taking on tough issues. I love that he includes his children in his wrestle as they visit the slave quarters at Monticello and learn about Jefferson's children with Sally Hemmings. I think the book is a good model for white people to start to be aware--and help their children be aware--of the role that enslaved workers played in the early history of the United States. (416 p. 2022) 

A Full Life by Jimmy Carter

 Jimmy Carter was born in 1924 in Plains Georgia.  His parents were poor land owners and he grew up in a small community where most of his neighbors were black sharecroppers. They lived humbly without either running water or electricity.  From those humble beginnings Carter's intelligence and work ethics helped him attend college and later be appointed to the United States Naval Academy. After graduation he went through specialized training to serve on submarines, and eventually rose to become a major player in the development and testing of the first nuclear submarines.  When his father died, he left the military and took his young family back to Georgia to take over the running of his father's interests which included both farming, and the distribution of farming supplies and seed to other farmers. He got involved with politics as a champion of civil rights, and eventually was elected of Governor of Georgia. He was so successful in cleaning waist and corruption in Georgia that leaders of the Democratic Party urged him to run for President. He won the election and served for one term.  After being defeated by Ronald Regan in 1981, he spent the rest of his life working for political causes through the Carter  Foundation which sought world wide democracy and improvement of civil rights and economic equity.  

Here is another book from the US 250 celebration list.  I enjoyed it immensely.  It is read by the author and listening the the book felt like I had been invited to his home and allowed to sit while he told stories about his life. I have kept journals since I was 12 years old and the first entry in my very first journal stated that Jimmy Carter had won the election, and that my mother said, because of that, we should get our food storage up to date since there was likely to be a war. My parents were staunch Republicans, so I didn't really have a great opinion of his presidency.  Listening to the stories in the book, however, I feel like he was one of the most moral of the US presidents. He was devoutly Christian and let his religious faith guide his decisions in office. His presidency has not been seen as one of the best in history, but the way he comported himself is so strikingly different from some current politicians, it made me nostalgic for days gone by.  This book is a good choice for those in my demographic who are interested in US political history, but also for those who want to read about someone who tried his whole life to do the right thing. (2015, 272 p) 

Triumph by Jeremy Schaap

When Jesse Owens was 13 years old the track coach at his new school, Charles Riley, saw his legs and knew he had the potential to be a great runner. He started coaching him and by the time Jesse was in high school he was breaking world records for his age group. This biography tracks Owens running career, with focus on his performance at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.  Schapp spends almost the whole second half of the book talking about the controversies of that event, focusing on Hitler's attempt to use the games to promote his belief in Aryan superiority, which was totally thwarted by the amazing performances of Owens and his teammates. Owen's life after the Olympics is only covered briefly in an afterward. 

Here is another book offered through Libby for the 250th anniversary of the country. It is an interesting and well written biography of a person who broke race barriers just by being mild mannered while also being the best in the world at what he did.  Schaap's writing style is engaging, even as he uses and refers to a lot of sources, like newspaper articles and letters to carefully document Owen's story. Owen's comes across as an admirable and likeable person. Schapp mentions but doesn't dwell too much on the prejudice Owen had to face to achieve what he did.  It seems like the message is that if you are good enough, almost everyone will focus on what you can do rather than on your race. (304 p. 2008)

James Madison by Richard Brookhiser

 James Madison was a founding father, a brilliant politician and the fourth president of the United States.  This is primarily a political biography of Madison following his career from the early days of the American Revolution to his death in 1836.  He was deeply involved with the crafting of the Constitution, and the fight for its ratification.  He helped form the (then called) Republican Party and was a supporter and protege of Thomas Jefferson. While president, he had to deal with the War of 1812. He was also a mentor to James Monroe, who succeeded him in the presidency.

As promised, a more substantial read this week.  This is a very interesting biography of one of early America's brightest political theorists. Brookhiser has clearly spent a lot of time researching the ins and outs of politics during the country's first 30 years.  It is interesting to see how much of the political machinations that we observe today existed in our government from the very beginning of the republic. Brookhiser even suggests that Madison and his compatriots were not above calling in shady characters to accomplish the "greater good." I was a little disappointed that the author focuses exclusively on Madison's public life, and only mentions his childhood and his marriage as it relates to his political activity.  It makes me want to find a biography Dolley Madison to get a more personal view of the man as a husband, step father, and extended family member. (304 p. 2011)

The Catalog of Shipwrecked Books by Edward Wilson-Lee

 Everyone has heard of Christopher Columbus, but how many of heard of his sons, Diego and Ferdinand?  This book tells the story of Columbus' family from the point of view of Ferdinand who traveled with his father on some of his voyages, but later made a name for himself as a scholar and voracious collector of books and other print material. Ferdinand was too young to accompany his father on his early voyages, but served as a page in the court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella where he gained a good education. He accompanied his father on his fourth voyage, but when Columbus died in 1505, Ferdinand began his life long quest to gather and catalog all the books, pamphlets, and printed pictures he could find.  Unlike other scholars of his age, he didn't focus on the classics or religious texts. Instead, he delighted to find lesser known texts, including printed newspapers, handbills, and writings from marginalized groups like the Moors and others. As his collection grew, he developed systems of organizing and cataloging the material that was ahead of his time.  He also became important in politics, since his study had given him a broad understanding the the workings of the world. Constantly fighting to keep the memory of his father alive, he wrote a biography of Columbus that became one of the most important sources for modern understandings of his life and accomplishments.

This is another book that was available on Libby as a celebration of the 250 anniversary of the founding of America. As a librarian, I found the story of Ferdinand's bibliophilia and innovative cataloging system very interesting. If the author is to be believed, Ferdinand's library was the forerunner of such library staples as card catalogs, indexes arranged by topic, and even placing books vertically instead of laying them down horizontally on shelves. I was also interested to hear how Ferdinand interacted with other famous people of the Renaissance and had a front row seat to important events like the opening of the Sistine Chapel fresco by Michelangelo, and the formation of the Protestant reformation. That being said, the writing of this book is very academically dense, and I admit that at times I found myself tuning out. I am not sure how interesting this book would be to the general public, but it should be required reading for anyone studying the history of libraries. (416 p. 2019)

A Sure Way: Following Truth in a World on Fire by Edith Stein, with editorial notes by Carolyn Beard

 Edith Stein was born to a Jewish family in Poland in 1891.  She was very bright and was able to study philosophy in Poland in a time when very few women were in the field. While in college she for a time became an atheist, but was later introduced to some Christian students and professors and eventually converted to Catholicism. When Hitler rose to power and invaded Poland, Stein lost her teaching position at a public university because she was born Jewish, and decided to enter a monastic order and become a nun.  She continued to write essays and poems about the Catholic faith. As conditions for Jews worsened, her friends urged her to leave Poland and join a different monastery in the Netherlands.  Eventually, however, she was captured and taken to Auschwitz, where she died in 1942. This book is a collection of excepts from talks, essays, and poems that Stein wrote after her conversion. The book starts with a long biographical introduction, and then each except has a short paragraph by Beard explaining the context and importance of the passage. 

I was asked to review this book as a galley by Plough, a small Christian publisher.  I have not read many theological philosophy books outside of my own faith tradition and I found this one very interesting and inspiring. Stein's main premise that we should seek communion with Christ by contemplating the Cross. As we take upon ourselves the burden of the Cross by obedience and total submission to God's will, we find joy the transcends anything that we might be called on to suffer. I think in much of modern Christianity, God is often seen as an overindulgent parent that is eager to send blessing regardless of our own worthiness or obedience.  It is refreshing to read of a Christian who focuses more on total submission and complete devotion as a way of finding joy and peace in Christ. The introduction to the book and of each short chapter are well written and informative. Beard has done a good job choosing excepts that are self-contained and fairly short (most are less than four pages). Like a rich food, you have to take in this book one small bite at a time to really savor it. I would recommend  it to anyone (especially any woman) who is looking for a thought provoking and inspirational devotional reading. (Coming out April 2026, 108 p.)

Proud by Ibtihaj Muhamad, and Lori Tharps

 Ibtihaj's parents are African Americans that converted to Islam before Ibtihaj was born.  Ibtihaj's parents encouraged all of their children to excel in both academics and sports.  Ibtihaj played a variety of sports with her friends as a child, but some of them became more difficult when she started to wear the hijab in high school. Her mother steered her toward fencing because the fencing uniform met the modesty requirements of a conservative Muslim and could be worn with the hijab.  Ibtihaj applied herself to the sport, hoping to get a scholarship to a top college, and her coaches realized she had talent. They put her on a track to compete nationally and, eventually internationally.  Eventually she qualified for the 2016 Olympic games where she won a team bronze metal.  This book is a memoir of her journey, and catalogs all the hurtles she faced to become the first black Muslim American to compete in the Olympics wearing the hijab in a time in American history when prejudice against Muslims was steadily climbing. 

This book got a lot of attention when it was first released in 2018.  It is an inspiring story the exposes the prejudice Muslim Americans face in sports and in the workplace. Ibtihaj tells of both subtle and overt prejudice was a constant trial in her life both on and off the fencing arena.  Her account is honest and heart wrenching, but at times I wondered what the other side of the story is.  One major struggle she had was that the other members of the American woman's fencing team were not only unwilling to befriend her, but were openly hostile to her.  She blames it on the fact on racial and religious prejudice, but could there be more going on?  We only have her side. Regardless, she clearly had admirable tenacity to stick to her goals long enough to achieve them, and then used her notoriety to advocate for inclusivity and fair treatment of all. This is a good biography for anyone who either knows what it is like, or doesn't know what it is like, to be on the outside of social norms. (228, 2018)

Sole Survivor by Norman Ollestad and Brendan Kiely

 Norman lived with his mother and step dad, but often spent weekends with his adrenaline loving father. They would go skiing or surfing and his father was always pushing him to go past his comfort zone.  He and his step father didn't get along.  He was always telling Norm that life constantly changed and he just had to adjust. When Norman was 11 years old he won a downhill skiing competition even though he was one of the younger participants.  He and his father and his father's girlfriend were in a small airplane flying to the award ceremony when their plane crashed in the San Gabriel Mountains. Norman suddenly has to use all that both of his fathers taught him about perseverance and adaptation and  to make it down the snow-covered mountain and survive. 

This is a true story of an incident that actually happened to the author when he was a boy.  It is a thrilling and heart pounding survival story that I think would appeal to a lot of young readers.  It is, at times, hyperbolically dramatic.  At first I thought that Kiely was probably the main writer, just using Ollestad's story, but when I looked up Ollestad, it turns out he is a writer, too. The book brings up a lot of questions about his two fathers' parenting styles, and also about how Norman ultimately learns to deal with the trauma of the accident.  It would be a good choice for a "boys read" book club. (272 p. 2025)

The Rival Queens by Nancy Goldstone

During the 1500's Europe was ruled by several powerful women.  One was, of course, Queen Elizabeth of England. Two more were Catherine de Medici, queen of France, and her daughter, Marguerite de Valois, Queen of Navarre. This is a duo biography of Catherine de Medici and Marguerite (called Margot) and their tumultuous relationship which had ramifications all over southern Europe. Catherine was not of a royal lineage when she married Henri II of France, nor was she particularly beautiful.  What she was was rich and connected to a powerful money-lending family in Italy.  While her husband was alive, she played the part of submissive vassal to the king and generous, even lavish, hostess to the court. When her husband died she used her political savvy to get herself named regent of his under-aged heir, her oldest son, Charles IX.  Her political ambitions were unbounded and she was willing to sacrifice her family and her allies to obtain her political ends.  She was determined to have all of her children on the thrones of Europe, so she married off her youngest daughter to the king of Navarre. Marguerite followed a path similar to her mothers.  She started out docile, but then became manipulative and powerful in the court of Navarre. Mother and daughter were at times on the same side, trying to further the prospects of Margot's brothers.  At other times there were bitter opponents, especially during the religious wars between the Catholics and the Huguenots. 

I checked out this book because I wanted to learn more about the Huguenots, since I have a Huguenot ancestor.  I did learn a little about the Huguenots and their political standing in Europe, but mostly I was amazed at how much power these two women, and Elizabeth I, wielded in a time when women didn't have any legal power. In some ways this makes them admirable, but in the end they didn't have many redeeming qualities.  They were both focused on themselves and their relations, and were more than happy to tax and sacrifice in battle their poor countrymen to feed their own greed and ambition. They seemed to have no altruism or compassion, even for those near to them. When they finally died, they left in their wake debt and ruination.  That being said, the book was very interesting and well written.  I have read several histories of this time period and it was interesting to see it from a woman's perspective. Goldstone seems to be a careful researcher and often states her sources and comments on their reliability. This is a good choice for anyone interested in this time period. (448 p. 2015)

Hillbilly Elegy by J. D, Vance

 J.D Vance was raised by grandparents who were Kentucky hillbillies.  His mother moved in and out of relationships with a variety of men, and suffered from alcohol and drug addiction, so Vance relied on the stability provided by his grandmother and grandfather to get him through his teenage years, and provide the motivation and support to go to college. This memoir that launched Vance's political career looks at both the failings and the resilaincy of the working class white culture from the south, plagued with unemployment, teenage pregnancy, and drug addiction. He posits that those who make it out of the destructive cycle are those who have people in their life that keep them in line and point--or even shove-- them toward a better life. 

This book was incredibly popular when it came out in 2016.  It was published before Vance became a senator, or a the Vice President.  It shows a segment of American culture that I have not personally had much experience with.  It was interesting to me to see a portrayal of how the working poor live. Vance doesn't shy away from the messiness of their lives.  He resists showing them as merely the victims of oppression and openly admits that many of their social challenges are the result of their own poor choices.  Some critics of the book claim that Vance is, himself, guilty of stereotyping in the book, but be that as it may, I still found the book interesting and enlightening.  The reader should beware that the book is full of harsh language and behavioral elements, but I believe they are authentic and it would have been impossible to tell an accurate story without them.  (2016, 272 p)

The Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

 This is a tell-all autobiography of the second son of King Charles and Lady Diana.  It follows Harry's life from the time that his mother was killed in a car accident while being chased by paparazzi until the time of his grandmother's death in 2022.  He speaks candidly about his struggles in school, his rivalry with William, and the constant harassment he and later Meghan received from the press. 

This book was hugely popular when it came out two years ago.  I am not usually interested in celebrity biographies, but when I found it available on Libby, and because it was so popular, I decided to give it a try.  It is read by Prince Harry himself, and is very interesting.  It made me look at the royal family in a totally different way.  It does come off a little whiny, but I appreciated that it seems the whole book is written to defend his wife.  The first part tells how Harry sunk gradually into depression and anxiety because of his mother's death and into PTS after his service in Afghanistan. Then it shows how Meghan's love and strength pulled him out of his emotional pit and sets him on the track to become a responsible husband and father. The book makes me wonder how long England will keep the monarchy.  They do a lot of good through their different charities, but it is also really expensive to support the royal family. It is also a lot to ask of a family to endure such public scrutiny and media intrusion. I don't know how any family could have healthy relationships under that kind of pressure. (416, p. 2023)

And There Was Light by Jacques Lusseyran

 When Lusseyran was eight years old an accident left him blind.  As an active child in Paris, he didn't let his disability slow him down for long.  He recruited other boys to help him run and play and by the time he was 17 he was something of a leader among the young men. Then Germany invaded France, and Lusseyran knew he had to find some way to resist. He organized his friends and other young men in Paris to produce and deliver allied newsletters.  After many months of success, he was betrayed and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. There he experienced terrible conditions, and many of the young men from his group died, but in prison his disability was a blessing because it meant he wasn't sent out in the work groups.  Instead he worked as a translator and went through the camp encouraging others. 

One of my friends at work recommended this to me and I really enjoyed it.  It is the autobiography that was the inspiration for All The Light We Cannot See which I also enjoyed. Lusseyran's writing is very uplifting.  He describes how he continued to "see" the world by tuning into his other senses, and how it felt like all the world was filled with light, even when he couldn't see. His upbeat and positive attitude is an inspiration, as is his courage, not only during the war, but also as he grew up and lived an active life as a young teen. Also touching was he stories of the boys who befriended him and became very loyal to him. This is a great choice for those who like WWII history. (2014, 304p)

Who Was (personalities from the 1800's in America) (various authors)

 This week I was waiting for a book I have on hold, so I didn't want to commit to a longer book.  Instead I listened to three Who Was books for children.  I decided to pick famous American characters from the early to mid 1800's.  I thought it would be interesting to compare their lives. 

Who Was Daniel Boone by S.A. Kramer 

Daniel Boone is famous for creating a passage through the Appalachian Mountains to Kentucky.  He was an adventurer, marksman, trapper and soldier. When I was a little girl, we saw these kinds of characters as heroes of American history. Now we are a little more sensitive to the injustices of western expansion, and how unfair colonists and pioneers were to native peoples.  This book does a pretty good job of addressing the ethical issues while acknowledging that people from the time period had a different moral yardstick than we use today.  Still, I finished the book feeling embarrassed and guilty about the way my ancestors treated others, rather than proud of it. (2006, 112 p)

Who Was Johnny Appleseed by Joan Holub

I found this a rather illuminating depiction of a character who had seemed more like a folk tale to me than a real person.  I had always pictured Johnny Chapman as a kind of 19th century hippy, going around planting apple trees and talking with wild animals.  That is a little bit true, but he was also an entrepreneur that took advantage of the government's rule that homesteaders had to improve their claims in order to keep them. He collected seeds from community apple cider presses, grew seedlings and then sold them to settlers.  I didn't realize that Chapman actually, at various times, owned thousands of acers of orchards. He seemed to not be a very good businessman, though, because he always lost his land because of mismanagement. Because he was kind to native people and non-violent, he is less morally questionable than Boone. (2005, 112 p)

Who was Harriet Beecher Stowe by Diana Meachen Rau

I knew less about Stowe coming in to this biography than I knew about the other two.  I knew that Uncle Tom's Cabin was very influential in promoting abolition, but I didn't understand exactly how successful it was.  I found it interesting that Stowe was just a housewife who liked to write.  She wrote short pieces for newspapers, and one nonfiction book for her sister's school. Uncle Tom's Cabin was her first novel, and it was an instant and huge success. It made her very wealthy and famous, and she used her fame to promote freedom for enslaved peoples. It was my favorite of the three biographies, maybe because I could relate with the protagonist better. (2015, 112 p) 

One historical insight I gained from reading all three books is that the push to settle the American West was not only fueled by population growth. It was also the result of poor farming practices and over hunting that left the land depleted only a short time after the Europeans arrived. Another insight I had was that in the early 1800's almost everyone was on the edge of food insecurity.  It didn't take much--a drought, an attack from hostile natives, depleted soil--to make it so whole communities didn't have enough to eat. That is one way that life in our country has improved. 

The Essential Abraham Lincoln by Pete Whitfield

 This short audio-book gives a cursory look at Abraham Lincoln's life and legacy. It starts with a brief biography and then contains several of Lincoln's most famous speeches and a selection of his correspondence. It appears not to exist in print format and was created for the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth in 2012. 

The tone of the production is superficial and laudatory.  This is not a hard-hitting expose, but instead reminded me of what one might find in a US History class textbook. The editor clearly selected letters and speeches that shine a flattering light on Lincoln. For example, he includes a letter the Lincoln wrote a friend soon after Mary Todd refused his first proposal.  It shows how upset and depressed he was about her refusal.  I have read elsewhere about a different letter Lincoln wrote during the same time that contain unflattering statements about Mary but this author didn't include that one. Still, I don't regret reading the book. It is a nice reminder of Lincoln's major life events and political views even though does little to give the reader a new perspective on the great man.(2012, about 4 hrs long)

The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris was born in October 1964 (12 days before me) in California.  Her mom was a cancer researcher and her dad was a Standford professor.  Pretty early in life, her dad was out of the picture and she was mostly raised by her mother. She grew up in a community with a strong black pride culture, and developed a strong drive to right the wrongs of the world.  This desire lead her to become a district attorney.  As she progressed in her career she kept coming up against bigger and bigger problems.  In response she kept seeking and obtaining higher and higher office, from district attorney, to California Attorney General, to state Senator. The issues that she highlights in the book are sexual abuse and exploitation, urban revitalization, the mortgage collapse of 2008, immigration, and others. In each chapter she includes an anecdote from her life related to the topic, efforts she made to fight for justice, and editorializing on her moral convictions related to the topic. 

Kamala Harris wrote this book when she was considering a run for president.  It is about 1/4 autobiography and 3/4 campaign tract. As we now know, she was not successful in her presidential bid, but did well enough to be elected as Vice President under Joe Biden. Now, of course, she is the Democratic nominee for President. This book made me think a lot and understand why some people have reservations about Ms Harris becoming President. She is definitely a crusader, and has a lot of grit and drive, but her focus has always been on the downtrodden minority. That is very admirable and I came away from the book feeling like she is a woman who really does care about helping the marginalized parts of society. The thing that gave me pause is that she is so eager to help this group or that group, she doesn't stop to consider where all the money for per proposed programs is going to come from. She also seems to take a strong arm approach to forcing changes through the system.  Will that approach work with Congress? Does she understand how to use diplomacy and compromise?  I couldn't help but wonder how this book might be different if she were writing it now.  What has she learned in four years working as the VP with Joe Biden?  Full disclosure: I still plan on voting for her in November, and consider her as a better choice than the alternative. It will be interesting to see how and what she does if she becomes President next January. (368 p. 2020)

Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code by Rebel Girls

 Ada Byron Lovelace was the only legitimate daughter of Lord Byron.  By the time she was born, her parents were already estranged, so she never really knew her illustrious father before he died when she was eight.  She was raised as an aristocrat and given a good education, but had few friends and was often lonely.  She also had delicate health and spent several years as an invalid after a terrible case of the measles. While ill, she turned to books as her companions, and as a teen and young adult became fascinated with math and logic.  She became friends with another female mathematician, Mary Somerville, who introduced her to her future husband, William, Earl of Lovelace, and to Charles Babbage who was a scientist working on a computing machine.  He was designing the machine to do mathematical calculations, but Ada was able to see that it had far more possibilities than just mathematics.  She became an advocate of Babbage's work and translated and added notes to a paper about his device in hopes of raising funding for his project. 

This is a short biography written as a highly fictionalized story of Lovelace's life focusing one her personality, early education, and work with Babbage. I found it interesting and entertaining.  At the end of it, though, I wasn't clear why she was considered to have been the first computer programmer.  I had to read a Wikipedia article to discover she had added to her translation of the article referenced above, a postscript with a description of how to calculate the Bernoulli numbers with Babbage's machine.  It is this postscript that is considered by some the first computer program. Still, I think this is a very accessible biography for anyone, especially girls, who are interested in computers and coding. (2019, 128p.)

Who was Milton Hershey by James Buckley Jr.

 Milton Hershey is famous for chocolate, but he started his candy making empire by mass producing caramels.  It wasn't until he visited a world fair, and saw an exhibit featuring European chocolate making machines, that he decided it was time to bring mass produced chocolate to the US.  His pre-wrapped chocolates made him immensely rich, and he used much of his fortune improving the lives of his workers.  

Here is another short "Who Was" biography.  I enjoyed it very much.  I knew that Hershey was a major chocolate maker and that he had a town in Pennsylvania named after him, but I did not know that he was one of the first people to create pre-packaged candy that could be sold somewhere besides a candy store.  I also didn't realize that in a time when many companies kept their workers in shanty towns, Hershey tried to make his factory town the ideal place for people to live.  He built parks, libraries, and other amusements.  He also started and ran a school for orphaned boys.  This is a very positive account of Hershey's life, and I would guess a more in-depth biography would portray a much more complex character.  Still, this is a great introduction for children and curious adults who want a very quick read. (2013, 112 p.)

Who Was Isaac Newton by Janet Pascal

 Isaac Newton was born to an illiterate farmer couple but when his parents wanted him to take over the farm, he purposely failed miserably.  One of his teachers recognized his academic talent and worked to get him ready for admission to Cambridge. He was accepted, but didn't get very good grades because he wasn't interested in learning Latin, Greek, and religion. Then a plague hit, and he went back home for two years to get away from the contagion.  It was during these two years that he came up with the amazing scientific ideas that he would work out the rest of his life.  He was not very easy to get along with and mostly worked as a loner, but his scientific ideas have been the foundation of macro physics ever since. 

I read this book because I was considering including it in a science kit about optics. He was the person that figured out that white light is a combination of all the other light colors. There was a chapter about that, and I will probably use it.  My main response to the book was that Isaac Newton was amazingly awesome!  He excelled in so many different things.  He was clearly aspie, but his intelligence was off the chart.  People like him and Mozart, and DaVinci are always fascinating to me.  Like the other books in this series, the writing is accessible and age appropriate. This is a good introduction to an amazing scientist for middle grade readers. (2014,112 p.)

The King's Shadow by Edmund Richardson

This is an engaging account of the life of James Lewis (alias Charles Masson) who was an 19th century British adventurer turned archaeologist. James Lewis joined the East India company as a soldier and was sent to India to help maintain British control.  After eight years, he decided to leave his post and headed out into the desert.  He ended up in Afghanisatan and there assumed the name of Charles Masson.  He was surprised to find there a vibrant and multi-cultural community that welcomed strangers.  Soon he got caught up in a search for one of the cities founded by Alexander the Great.  He found a site that fit Alexander's description, and which contained ancient artifacts.  The East India company did not forget about the deserter, James Lewis, and eventually figured out that Lewis and Masson were the same person.  They coerced Masson to spy for them, feeding them information about local political factions. Eventually the intelligence he provided lead to a disastrous British invasion of the country that Masson had grown to love. 

This is a very interesting book about a time period and place I had never studied before.  Richardson's descriptions of old Kabul and other Afghanistan cities are fascinating, and changed the way I think about a place I had always associated with poverty and religious extremists.  I was also interested in the bombastic American, Josiah Harlan, who thought he could waltz into Afghanistan and make himself a king.  The writing is engaging, and Richardson quotes a lot of primary sources, so the essentials of the story are well researched.  Richardson does extrapolate how Masson is thinking and feeling during his travels, which is maybe not rigorously historical, but makes the book much more readable. (2022, 352 p)

Star Child by Ibi Zoboi

This is a biography, writen in prose and free verse, of the science fiction writer, Octavia Estelle Butler.  Ms Butler was born in 1947 in Pasadena California.  Her mother was a domestic servant and her dad was a shoeshiner. Ms Butler was named after her mother, so they called her Juni, short for Junior.  Ms Butler was a shy girl who lived in her own imagination as much as in the real world.  She became fascinated with the science fiction writers like Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury, but was disappointed that all the heroes of the stories she read were white men.  After finishing an associate's degree by going to night school, Ms Butler determined to be a professional writer.  Her first novel was published when she was 24, and she later went one to win many awards, including the Nebula award for outstanding science fiction writing. 

I mostly picked this book because I was expecting another book which was on hold to come in soon and I wanted to choose something short.  This is a children's biography intended to be inspirational, and indeed, Ms Butler's success after rising about disadvantage is very impressive.  There is a lot of reference to world events during Ms Butler's childhood like the cold war, and the space race that are written on a children's level.   The free verse parts of the book are interesting, I guess, but they would have meant very little without the prose sections.  They are more to give a mood than to actually tell part of the narrative.  I think the book is a good choice for a child who is an aspiring writer, especially if he or she is facing some of the same kinds of challenges--poverty, shyness, racial prejudice and dislexia--that Ms Butler overcame. (2022, 128 p)