MMGM: Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

 

16-year-old Hattie has been shuffled around from relative to relative her whole life. She’s been living with her aunt and uncle, but her aunt is not happy having her there. She's said that Hattie needs to stop going to school and start work cleaning a boarding house. Then, out of nowhere Hattie receives a letter from her long-lost uncle giving her the land that he’s trying to farm and pay back to the state (prove up on his claim). Hattie takes this chance and moves to Montana, where she meets the cast of characters who will play important parts in her life. They help her learn what it means to be a homesteader. It's harder than she'd imagined! Hattie is a fast learner, but there are a lot of ins and outs of frontier life. Will she be able to put up the fence that's required of her? Is it possible for Hattie to plant the wheat, bag it, and sell it? What was life like out in the plains during the early 1900s when a war was going on? You’ll have to read this exciting historical fiction book to find out!

I read Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson because it was on The Week Jr., US Read Across America Map The Week Jr., US Read Across America Map for the state of Montana. I had already read some of the other books that were nominated for a state, but wanted to check out something new. I'm so glad I picked this book up! I LOVED it! I cared about Hattie and what she was going through. I learned about life at that time. Being a homesteader was not easy! Hattie is someone I would definitely want on my side, and someone who I would stand up for. I would recommend this historical fiction book to anybody in grade 4, and up who is interested in what life was like just a little over 100 years ago in part of our country. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Has anyone else read Hattie Big Sky? Or has anyone read another book by Kirby Larson? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

MMGM: The Lucky Diamond by Valinora Troy

 

Five children are orphaned in Lowdar after their last adult family member was exiled from the community. Now the children live on the streets and life is even harder. When they find a diamond, it turns out to be no ordinary gem. They have met Lucky, a princess in a magical species. Lucky needs to return home, but there are many beings trying to stop her at any cost. The children agree to bring her home and Lucky promises they will be rewarded. A canoe, named Charlie helps them on their way and they have many dangerous terrains to pass- from water to mountains. Four of the five children have a special gift given to them by their mother before she died, and the items help them on their way. During their travels they get split up and their lives are in peril. Encounters with Queen Rose show the children what evil is capable of and they hope to help stop her from taking over the kingdom.  Will the children meet up with each other again? Will they get Lucky home? Can Queen Rose be defeated? You will have to read this fabulous fantasy to find out! 

Lucky Diamond by Valinora Troy was a fast paced fantasy that kept me captivated. It is the first in a series, but I was happy that everything wrapped up at the end of the story and I wasn't left on a cliffhanger! The siblings each have their own personality and I enjoyed seeing the way they interacted with each other. The magical elements were fascinating and I loved discovering more about the special items given to each child by their mother. I could easily picture the settings throughout the fantasy land and while there are places that sound beautiful, there are others I wouldn't want to visit! I liked trying to figure out who could be trusted and how they would get out of certain situations. I would recommend this book to anyone in 4th grade or up who enjoys fantasy, magic, and adventure. This was a page turner! I look forward to reading more books by this author. 

Has anyone else read Lucky Diamond? Or have you read another book by Valinora Troy? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

Views From the Pond: April/May/June 2024

 

We'll see if I ever get to doing a Views From the Pond post with two months worth of pictures. Goals! Watching the changing light as spring was sprouting up everywhere was magical. I saw changes in the woods and foliage all around the pond. Each day a little more green filled in. So amazing to watch it all enfold. The days got longer and I tried to enjoy every extra minute of each day. Having a little more outside time after work makes a big difference in my stress level. Hope seeing some of the views over the last few months will give you a sense of peace, too. 

April 2024

A hawk in the tree.

Just a little bit of snow- thank goodness. I was ready for spring!

Morning views as I leave for work. Love the way the light streams in and falls on everything.

So different from the way the pond looks after work! 

Reflections in the water bring me so much happiness. 

The brook is full!

SO hard to leave for work when I just want to sit and watch the pond.

The magnolia tree (s) look so beautiful when they are blooming. Nice nighttime light. 

May 

Love the spring colors everywhere!

Lord and Lady Quackerly out for a stroll. 

Deer grazing.

Off to work! 

So green!

We came home and a heron was in our pond. We watched and were mesmerized for a long time.

We had to have 5 trees taken down. Lots of wood (this is from one tree) 

A woodchuck out in the yard. He swam so fast down the brook. It was awesome to watch!

The woodchuck running in the yard. Faster than I would have expected!

I love when the yellow daylilies come out. 

We had work to do under the magnolia. We had so much rain after we first cleared it that weeds started growing before we could put anything down. 

All weeded and we got the mulch down! Yay!

June 

Love the blue!

We watched the baby deer learning to walk. Lots of wobbling and stumbling- but amazing! 

Momma and her baby. 

We hav 5 baby bunnies and they hop around and play with each other. If I try to go outside to take a picture they hop to safety. So- this was through the window. 

Full Moon-  I couldn't capture the gorgeous color and light surrounding it.

Our heron hanging by the pond. 

June ended with a very full brook and pond!

It's hard to believe that (as I am writing this) tomorrow is July. I am happy summer is here and plan to enjoy the longer days and evenings while they are here. I know it is a busy summer ahead with lots of friends and family visiting from all over the world. Luckily I can have some nice down time sipping on coffee looking at the pond each day, and I hope to read some books out there too. Cheers to summer. Thanks for sitting by the pond with me and catching up! 

MMGM: Secret of the Shadow Beasts by Diane Magras

 

Nora lives in Brannland, where shadow beasts called the Umbrae come out once the sun goes down. Adults who are bitten die, but there are children who are immune. These children become knights at the age of 7 when they train to destroy the shadow beasts. Although Nora Kemp’s blood was tested and proven to be immune, her father refused to allow her to become a knight. Knight's train hard and live away from their families and Owen Kemp wanted his daughter to have a normal childhood. Instead, Nora lives in the countryside on a farm where she has sheep and plays the fiddle. Her family has always known they have to be inside when the "gloaming" comes because that is when the Umbrae come out to attack anyone outside. But life on a farm doesn't always stop. It’s been over a year since the beasts got her dad and now Nora’s mother has been almost bitten by them (even being near them can make someone sick). Only Nora’s quick thinking saves them both. But this makes Nora think about being a knight and she calls up the school and talks to the person who tested her when she was seven. The umbrae have been getting worse and there are less people who are able to fight them, so the school agrees to have Nora come and try out. She missed five years of training but that doesn’t stop Nora’s natural instincts and abilities from shining through. Nora has a lot to learn about the school, which is divided into different orders. It takes a little bit of time for her to bond with her new order, but they are a team the first night they go to fight the Umbrea together. Unlike the video game Nora played at home, these battles are exhausting, dangerous, and extremely stressful, as she needs to protect herself, her order and the citizens. When someone from another order does something that puts the lives of everyone in Brannland in danger, Nora and her order try to come to the rescue. What they discover is even more dangerous and petrifying than they could’ve ever imagined. Can Nora and her order defeat the beasts? What secrets will Nora discover about her family? Why are the beasts multiplying? You’ll have to read this fast paced adventure to find out.

I own a hardcover copy of Secret of the Shadow Beasts by Diane Magras, but I was lucky enough to win a copy of the audiobook online. I am so glad I did. The narrator does an amazing job and I felt like I was right there in the store with Nora. The way the setting was painted made the scenes easy to imagine. Nora is a character that people can relate to because she seems like a regular kid who enjoys reading, playing video games, and spending time with her family. I like seeing how the relationships in the book change as Nora gets to know everyone. It’s dangerous for children to be out fighting the beasts, but the story explains why it needs to be children, not adults. I highly recommend this book to anyone in fourth grade or up who enjoys action, adventure, and characters who really make you care about them. I have read The Mad Wolf's Daughter by Diane Magras and I look forward to reading other books by her in the future.

Has anyone else read Secret of the Shadow Beasts? Or have you read another book by Diane Magras? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.