Author: Jean Lee Latham
General Summary and Plot
The Bowditch family is a family of seamen. This does not count out Nathaniel, the smallest male member of the family. Nat’s dream is to go to Harvard University. This dream is crushed when he must first drop out of school to work in his father’s shop, and secondly when his father indentures him at the age of 12 to learn trade and keep books as a ship chandlery for 9 years.
Nat goes to work and learns all he can about everything, writing down books full of ship terms and procedures. He teaches himself Latin, French, and Spanish with a bilingual dictionary and a Bible from that language. He teaches himself many other things like navigation and astronomy. He rewrites navigation charts when he finds errors in them. In the end, Nat commands his own ship and is given a degree from Harvard University though he never studied in its classrooms.
Positive Elements
Nat is a driven and intelligent young man, even when his teacher or his father discredits his abilities or makes decisions that ruin his dreams he obeys with all his might.
Nat spends his time on his ships educating the crewmen so they can advance in their fields.
Spiritual Content
Nothing memorable
Negative Elements
Nat’s father is an alcoholic, at times a recovering alcoholic but when his wife dies he gives up.
Almost everyone in Nat’s family dies, even his first wife.
Profanity
None (that I can remember)
Sexual Content
None
Violence
A couple of the men on Nat’s ships are hard and prone to violence, Nat curbs this by appreciating and educating them.
Overall Theme
You can do or learn anything into which you will put your mind and strength.
Conclusion
This biography was a little difficult to read. Years would pass in the middle of a paragraph. One sentence Nat’s mother is counseling him and the next sentence it is 6 months later and she has died. The next sentence is two years later and his grandmother has died.
There is nothing risky or controversial about this book and it is full of nothing too exciting. I had a hard time getting through it to be honest.
Suggested age group
The content is more for serious readers. Do not try getting a normal middle school student thrilled with the excitement of the “page turner.”
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Virtually Perfect
Author: Dan Gutman
Other books by author:
General Summary and Plot
Who wouldn’t want to design the perfect person? If given the chance to make a person with all of the preferred characteristics, and personality traits- and then if you forgot to add wisdom? This is what happens when Yip designs a virtual actor (or vactor) with his father’s computer program. Victor is handsome, charming, and incredibly smart; so smart he has found a way to leave his virtual computer world and become a walking reality. Yip believes he has made the perfect best friend.
Without wisdom or morals, Victor is wreaking havoc in Yip’s life. He changes his face and age and robs banks. Yip tries find out the scheme and tries to cut Victor short by deleting his file. Victor locks Yip out of the computer and plans to make his way to
Yip’s grandfather picks up on Victor’s seemingly “perfect-ness” and plots a way to prove himself right. In proving himself right, he ends Victor’s plot to take over the country.
Positive Elements
A quirky, easy reader. Yip’s grandfather is against the computer age and is disappointed by what it has done to the present generation and often chides Yip to get outside where real life is (as opposed to in front of the computer.)
There is an accepted right and wrong- Victor lying and ditching Yip is wrong no matter what he says. Victor’s lack of conscience is blamed on the fact that books by ancient philosophers were deleted from his files of knowledge. I think the Bible would have helped in the conscience area.
Spiritual Content
None
Negative Elements
Yip’s sister, Paige, is unashamedly boy-crazy. Victor is supposedly the perfect boy but he is quite rude.
Profanity
None
Sexual Content
Paige falls in love with Victor and they kiss while on a date- Victor disregards Paige’s emotions because love and kissing are only words in the dictionary to him.
Violence
Yip’s grandfather was an old time stunt coordinator for films. He pulls a couple of tricks for a home movie like fake guns and fake blood. He pretends to be brutally attached for practical joke’s sake.
Victor robs a bank.
Overall Theme
Perfect is not all it is cracked up to be. Reality and good old fashioned fun- never goes out of style.
Conclusion
A pretty good read, a one-sitting book. A silly concept, completely impossible, and a bunch of stuff jammed into a few chapters. Definitely won’t become a children’s classic.
Suggested age group
3rd-6th grade
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Rainmaker
Author: John Grisham
Other books by Author: Well known novels: The Pelican Brief, A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Client, The Chamber, and The Testament
General Summary and Plot
Rudy Baylor, a struggling third-year law student, is looking forward to graduation and his job from a small law firm. He painfully finds his firm has been bought by another larger firm and he no longer has a job. Rudy goes through two more job losses until he starts his own firm with a paralawyer, a man who could not yet pass the bar. They spend their time “chasing ambulances” to get cases and making rounds in the hospital.
During a class in law school Rudy must give free legal advice to senior citizens. This is where he meets Miss Birdie, an eighty year old socialite who thinks she is a millionaire; and the Blacks, an aging couple whose insurance company has refused to pay for their son’s bone marrow transplant.
Rudy agrees to take on the case against the insurance company. Donny Ray, the Black’s son, should have received a bone marrow transplant from a perfect match, his identical twin brother, a year ago. Now, his acute leukemia is killing him and he doesn’t have much time left.
Miss Birdie wants to revise her will to exclude her children and grandchildren. She would like to deposit her supposed millions on a tv evangelist.
Rudy spends his days at a hospital studying for the bar exam which hoping clients will come out of the wood work and solicit his services. A young woman with whom he strikes friendship confesses that her husband abuses her and she is too afraid to file for a divorce. She is in the hospital recovering from her latest beating. He must keep his distance and she is to call if she should need him.
The case against Great Benefit, the offending insurance company, is long hard work but things fall into the place. Purposefully hidden documents, scandal, and cover-ups just begin the list of wrongs.
Rudy settles all of his major cases and swears never to practice law again.
Positive Elements
Justice is served; bad men and bad companies are punished. The book is well written; the characters are dynamic and interesting. The plot is fully created, well rounded and intricate.
Spiritual Content
Miss Birdie wants to give her wealth to a tv evangelist who “goes around the world building homes, feeding babies, teaching from the Bible.” The evangelist also has a private jet.
Miss Birdie invites Rudy to church on a Sunday morning. Her “church” is her living room as she watches her favorite tv evangelist. Rudy recalls his childhood when his mother took him to a Methodist church and he liked it very much.
A close friend and his wife obviously regularly attend church, her father is a Southern Baptist Preacher, and frown on Rudy’s drinking.
Negative Elements
A couple of crooks run with their money to an island in the Caribbean, here justice is not met.
There is a very sad abusive relationship after a young girl marries the boy who had gotten her pregnant.
Profanity
Moderate. Not overwhelming but does appear in general conversations.
Dot Black uses the word “sumbitches” often, a word I was not entirely familiar with.
Sexual Content
Rudy mentions a former girlfriend, their “touching” and her legs. She is now pregnant with her fiancé’s child.
There is mention of the abusive husband “forcing intercourse.”
Rudy fantasizes about the body of his new friend. They “touch” several times. After she is beaten a final time and she files for divorce Rudy and (Kelly) lie in her bed holding each other. He does nothing because he is afraid of hurting her.
After some offhand comments Rudy has visions of a fat man naked and the Blacks having intercourse.
A woman, formerly employed at Great Benefit Insurance Company, admits to having affairs with a couple of her bosses to get pay raises and promotions.
One man is described as preferring “kinky sex”
Violence
One girl, Kelly, is severely beaten by her abusive husband.
A jury member jumps on a lawyer after being falsely accused.
Rudy beats the abusive husband with the man’s own baseball bat. (The man dies from his injuries)
The husband’s family makes a series of death threats against Rudy and Kelly. Someone shoots through a window at Rudy’s office. No one is hurt.
Overall Theme
Rudy works hard, is honest, roots for the little guy, and fights for the weak. He is an unlikely hero. Justice is paid in one way or another. Even after all the hard work and effort Rudy gets no reward besides fifteen minutes of fame and a new girlfriend, whom he intends (we hope) to marry.
Conclusion
As mentioned before, a well written book. The sensual parts of it would be worse if the book were made into a movie. In the current written form they are stated almost vaguely when the writer could have gone into painful detail. He has made a good choice in this at least. The interworking of what seemed to be unneeded bits of plot becomes tedious. The book is 443 pages long and could have been shortened to at least 400. In the beginning, it seemed Rudy could never get a good break and Grisham dwells a little too much on Rudy’s numerous misfortunes. Did he need to lose three promising positions in a matter of a couple months added on to being sued and going bankrupt (the list could go on)?
Over all, an interesting page turner. Skim through some of the non- essentials, ignore the lust and sensual points, and the book is hard to put down.
Suggested age group:
Adults, college age. (High school boys do not need to be fantasizing about giving 19 yr old girls sponge baths as Rudy does once)
Other books by Author: Well known novels: The Pelican Brief, A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Client, The Chamber, and The Testament
General Summary and Plot
Rudy Baylor, a struggling third-year law student, is looking forward to graduation and his job from a small law firm. He painfully finds his firm has been bought by another larger firm and he no longer has a job. Rudy goes through two more job losses until he starts his own firm with a paralawyer, a man who could not yet pass the bar. They spend their time “chasing ambulances” to get cases and making rounds in the hospital.
During a class in law school Rudy must give free legal advice to senior citizens. This is where he meets Miss Birdie, an eighty year old socialite who thinks she is a millionaire; and the Blacks, an aging couple whose insurance company has refused to pay for their son’s bone marrow transplant.
Rudy agrees to take on the case against the insurance company. Donny Ray, the Black’s son, should have received a bone marrow transplant from a perfect match, his identical twin brother, a year ago. Now, his acute leukemia is killing him and he doesn’t have much time left.
Miss Birdie wants to revise her will to exclude her children and grandchildren. She would like to deposit her supposed millions on a tv evangelist.
Rudy spends his days at a hospital studying for the bar exam which hoping clients will come out of the wood work and solicit his services. A young woman with whom he strikes friendship confesses that her husband abuses her and she is too afraid to file for a divorce. She is in the hospital recovering from her latest beating. He must keep his distance and she is to call if she should need him.
The case against Great Benefit, the offending insurance company, is long hard work but things fall into the place. Purposefully hidden documents, scandal, and cover-ups just begin the list of wrongs.
Rudy settles all of his major cases and swears never to practice law again.
Positive Elements
Justice is served; bad men and bad companies are punished. The book is well written; the characters are dynamic and interesting. The plot is fully created, well rounded and intricate.
Spiritual Content
Miss Birdie wants to give her wealth to a tv evangelist who “goes around the world building homes, feeding babies, teaching from the Bible.” The evangelist also has a private jet.
Miss Birdie invites Rudy to church on a Sunday morning. Her “church” is her living room as she watches her favorite tv evangelist. Rudy recalls his childhood when his mother took him to a Methodist church and he liked it very much.
A close friend and his wife obviously regularly attend church, her father is a Southern Baptist Preacher, and frown on Rudy’s drinking.
Negative Elements
A couple of crooks run with their money to an island in the Caribbean, here justice is not met.
There is a very sad abusive relationship after a young girl marries the boy who had gotten her pregnant.
Profanity
Moderate. Not overwhelming but does appear in general conversations.
Dot Black uses the word “sumbitches” often, a word I was not entirely familiar with.
Sexual Content
Rudy mentions a former girlfriend, their “touching” and her legs. She is now pregnant with her fiancé’s child.
There is mention of the abusive husband “forcing intercourse.”
Rudy fantasizes about the body of his new friend. They “touch” several times. After she is beaten a final time and she files for divorce Rudy and (Kelly) lie in her bed holding each other. He does nothing because he is afraid of hurting her.
After some offhand comments Rudy has visions of a fat man naked and the Blacks having intercourse.
A woman, formerly employed at Great Benefit Insurance Company, admits to having affairs with a couple of her bosses to get pay raises and promotions.
One man is described as preferring “kinky sex”
Violence
One girl, Kelly, is severely beaten by her abusive husband.
A jury member jumps on a lawyer after being falsely accused.
Rudy beats the abusive husband with the man’s own baseball bat. (The man dies from his injuries)
The husband’s family makes a series of death threats against Rudy and Kelly. Someone shoots through a window at Rudy’s office. No one is hurt.
Overall Theme
Rudy works hard, is honest, roots for the little guy, and fights for the weak. He is an unlikely hero. Justice is paid in one way or another. Even after all the hard work and effort Rudy gets no reward besides fifteen minutes of fame and a new girlfriend, whom he intends (we hope) to marry.
Conclusion
As mentioned before, a well written book. The sensual parts of it would be worse if the book were made into a movie. In the current written form they are stated almost vaguely when the writer could have gone into painful detail. He has made a good choice in this at least. The interworking of what seemed to be unneeded bits of plot becomes tedious. The book is 443 pages long and could have been shortened to at least 400. In the beginning, it seemed Rudy could never get a good break and Grisham dwells a little too much on Rudy’s numerous misfortunes. Did he need to lose three promising positions in a matter of a couple months added on to being sued and going bankrupt (the list could go on)?
Over all, an interesting page turner. Skim through some of the non- essentials, ignore the lust and sensual points, and the book is hard to put down.
Suggested age group:
Adults, college age. (High school boys do not need to be fantasizing about giving 19 yr old girls sponge baths as Rudy does once)
The Testament
Author: John Grisham
Other books by Author: The Rainmaker, The Pelican Brief, A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Client, The Chamber
General Summary and Plot
A multibillionaire signs a holographic will in front of his lawyer and a few psychiatrists then jumps out a fourteen story window. His last will left his fortune to an unknown, illegitimate daughter, Rachel, who he had finally tracked to the jungles of Brazil where she worked as a missionary. His three ex-wives and six legitimate children were irate. A recovering druggy/alcoholic lawyer, Nate O’Reilly, is sent on a mission to find this woman, inform her of her inheritance, and advise her legally.
After many troubles and near-death experiences Nate finds this woman. She has forsaken civilization and is happily living and evangelizing an Indian tribe. She is inspiring and peaceful, yet she does not want the money and does not wan to sign papers. Nate must return unsuccessful. The jungle (and God) has changed him; he forsakes his former life and pursues a peaceful life and healing with his estranged children. Nate acts as Rachel’s lawyer (without her knowledge) and the other heirs settle for a portion of the estate.
Positive Elements
There are too many to list! An incredible book, action, drama, conflict, colorful characters, inner struggles – everything! The legal narratives are broken up with jungle adventures so they do not become too tedious. A man turns his life around with help from a humble missionary and a merciful God. A poor selfless missionary becomes and instant billionaire.
Spiritual Content
The missionary speaks of her work with the tribe. She urges Nate to say his prayers. She speaks of God’s forgiveness and mercy and actually leads Nate through a prayer for salvation.
In a small Brazilian church Nate gives his life and problems to God. He often reminds himself his problems no longer are his to worry about. Jesus will take care of them now.
Back in the U.S. Nate attends a church and the pastor encourages studying the Bible
Negative Elements
Greedy children and wives pepper the story with interesting, sad anecdotes. Nate is a messed up man addicted to (drugs I believe).
Profanity
Moderate, though too many to keep track of.
Sexual Content
An heir owns strip clubs and is married to a former stripper
Another heiress mentions wasting money on men and drugs
Some are having affairs.
The billionaire even as an old man liked curvy young women.
A secretary lies about having sex with the billionaire during his last months.
Violence
Is suicide violence?
Alcohol and Drugs
Nate tries to drink himself to death and has been in rehab three times for cocaine and alcohol abuse.
While Nate is in a hospital with fever he is “stoned” with prescribed medicine.
The eldest heir is a drunk.
Nate’s son and girlfriend insist on meeting in a bar and drinking.
Overall Theme
There is more peace and security in a quiet life in God’s will (as shown by Rachel and Phil, Nate’s new pastor friend) than in piles of money, alcohol, drugs, or women.
Conclusion
This book was incredible. You can see the contrast of greedy, selfish scoundrels and their conniving deceitfulness and the peaceful, relaxed existence of those in God’s will. If Grisham was not a saved man at the time of writing this book he may have persuaded himself. He sure is persuading his readers.
Suggested age group
Over eighteen because of the sexual references and occasional cursing.
Other books by Author: The Rainmaker, The Pelican Brief, A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Client, The Chamber
General Summary and Plot
A multibillionaire signs a holographic will in front of his lawyer and a few psychiatrists then jumps out a fourteen story window. His last will left his fortune to an unknown, illegitimate daughter, Rachel, who he had finally tracked to the jungles of Brazil where she worked as a missionary. His three ex-wives and six legitimate children were irate. A recovering druggy/alcoholic lawyer, Nate O’Reilly, is sent on a mission to find this woman, inform her of her inheritance, and advise her legally.
After many troubles and near-death experiences Nate finds this woman. She has forsaken civilization and is happily living and evangelizing an Indian tribe. She is inspiring and peaceful, yet she does not want the money and does not wan to sign papers. Nate must return unsuccessful. The jungle (and God) has changed him; he forsakes his former life and pursues a peaceful life and healing with his estranged children. Nate acts as Rachel’s lawyer (without her knowledge) and the other heirs settle for a portion of the estate.
Positive Elements
There are too many to list! An incredible book, action, drama, conflict, colorful characters, inner struggles – everything! The legal narratives are broken up with jungle adventures so they do not become too tedious. A man turns his life around with help from a humble missionary and a merciful God. A poor selfless missionary becomes and instant billionaire.
Spiritual Content
The missionary speaks of her work with the tribe. She urges Nate to say his prayers. She speaks of God’s forgiveness and mercy and actually leads Nate through a prayer for salvation.
In a small Brazilian church Nate gives his life and problems to God. He often reminds himself his problems no longer are his to worry about. Jesus will take care of them now.
Back in the U.S. Nate attends a church and the pastor encourages studying the Bible
Negative Elements
Greedy children and wives pepper the story with interesting, sad anecdotes. Nate is a messed up man addicted to (drugs I believe).
Profanity
Moderate, though too many to keep track of.
Sexual Content
An heir owns strip clubs and is married to a former stripper
Another heiress mentions wasting money on men and drugs
Some are having affairs.
The billionaire even as an old man liked curvy young women.
A secretary lies about having sex with the billionaire during his last months.
Violence
Is suicide violence?
Alcohol and Drugs
Nate tries to drink himself to death and has been in rehab three times for cocaine and alcohol abuse.
While Nate is in a hospital with fever he is “stoned” with prescribed medicine.
The eldest heir is a drunk.
Nate’s son and girlfriend insist on meeting in a bar and drinking.
Overall Theme
There is more peace and security in a quiet life in God’s will (as shown by Rachel and Phil, Nate’s new pastor friend) than in piles of money, alcohol, drugs, or women.
Conclusion
This book was incredible. You can see the contrast of greedy, selfish scoundrels and their conniving deceitfulness and the peaceful, relaxed existence of those in God’s will. If Grisham was not a saved man at the time of writing this book he may have persuaded himself. He sure is persuading his readers.
Suggested age group
Over eighteen because of the sexual references and occasional cursing.
The Maestro
Author: Tim Wynne Jones
Other books by Author: Some of the Kinder Planets, The Book of Changes
General Summary and Plot
Burl Crow has lived a rough life for a 14 year old. His sister died six years before the opening of the book, changing his parents forever. His father spends his paycheck on alcohol and has an abusive anger. His mother is usually stoned on Valium. Burl runs away swearing he will never return home. He finds a pyramid shaped cabin far into the woods and meets a musical genius, N.O.M. writing his last and final musical work. He is a quirky fellow who is gravely ill. He may have schizophrenia or he could be just a nut job. After one night with N.O.M. the man goes back home though Burl begs him to stay. Burl is allowed to stay in the cabin. N.O.M. has food airlifted to him after a month but, after the next month N.O.M. dies from his sicknesses.
Burl tries to keep the cabin even pretending to be the Maestro’s son. His last hope lies in the suitcase of handwritten music left in the cabin, The Revelation, a musical genius’ last written work. The ending is VERY unexpected but- for Burl it is probably for the best.
Positive Elements
Despite the hardships in his life Burl is growing up to be a sensible, compassionate man.
He carries his wounded father through the woods to safety
And others but, I can’t think of them right now
Spiritual Content
There is quite a bit of talk about the book of Revelation because the Maestro’s work is based on the fazes of Revelation. It is a prayer or an oratorio.
One of the only things left in the cabin after N.O.M. leaves is a Bible that Burl reads often.
Negative Elements
Abusive father
A very dreary look at life.
His father is having an affair.
The mother and the Maestro are addicted to prescription drugs.
Hunters make fun of a mentally challenged boy
Profanity
Is “Friggin’” a bad word? if it is then- they used it a bit.
P--- twice
D--- a few times
H--- a few times
Burl’s father calls Burl “a slut just like your mother”
Sexual Content
Father is having an affair with a local waitress
Violence
Burl’s father is abusive and in the end of the book they beat each other up.
Overall Theme
Making the best of what life gives you.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written – though in a writing style I’ve not seen before. I won’t tell you the conclusion but, it turns out all right.
Suggested age group
High school- some of the subject matter is a bit mature.
Other books by Author: Some of the Kinder Planets, The Book of Changes
General Summary and Plot
Burl Crow has lived a rough life for a 14 year old. His sister died six years before the opening of the book, changing his parents forever. His father spends his paycheck on alcohol and has an abusive anger. His mother is usually stoned on Valium. Burl runs away swearing he will never return home. He finds a pyramid shaped cabin far into the woods and meets a musical genius, N.O.M. writing his last and final musical work. He is a quirky fellow who is gravely ill. He may have schizophrenia or he could be just a nut job. After one night with N.O.M. the man goes back home though Burl begs him to stay. Burl is allowed to stay in the cabin. N.O.M. has food airlifted to him after a month but, after the next month N.O.M. dies from his sicknesses.
Burl tries to keep the cabin even pretending to be the Maestro’s son. His last hope lies in the suitcase of handwritten music left in the cabin, The Revelation, a musical genius’ last written work. The ending is VERY unexpected but- for Burl it is probably for the best.
Positive Elements
Despite the hardships in his life Burl is growing up to be a sensible, compassionate man.
He carries his wounded father through the woods to safety
And others but, I can’t think of them right now
Spiritual Content
There is quite a bit of talk about the book of Revelation because the Maestro’s work is based on the fazes of Revelation. It is a prayer or an oratorio.
One of the only things left in the cabin after N.O.M. leaves is a Bible that Burl reads often.
Negative Elements
Abusive father
A very dreary look at life.
His father is having an affair.
The mother and the Maestro are addicted to prescription drugs.
Hunters make fun of a mentally challenged boy
Profanity
Is “Friggin’” a bad word? if it is then- they used it a bit.
P--- twice
D--- a few times
H--- a few times
Burl’s father calls Burl “a slut just like your mother”
Sexual Content
Father is having an affair with a local waitress
Violence
Burl’s father is abusive and in the end of the book they beat each other up.
Overall Theme
Making the best of what life gives you.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written – though in a writing style I’ve not seen before. I won’t tell you the conclusion but, it turns out all right.
Suggested age group
High school- some of the subject matter is a bit mature.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Missing May
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Other books by Author: A Fine White Dust, A Blue-eyed Daisy
General Summary and Plot
Aunt May had died and nothing was the same. Summer and Uncle Ob tried for 6 months to live without her and it was not working. Summer was becoming more disconnected and Uncle Ob was becoming weaker.
Cletus Underwood, an acquaintance from Summer’s school that she would rather have stay away, finds his way to Uncle Ob’s trailer. He and Ob become friends and Cletus spends his afternoons there.
One day Ob says he can feel Aunt May’s presence and talks to Cletus and Summer about contacting her somehow. Cletus goes along with the idea but tells Summer he does not believe what Ob is saying, Ob just needs to have some way to keep Aunt Mays memory alive.
They drive to find some woman pastor of a spirit church who claims to contact the dead only to find out that she is dead herself. The trip seemed to be wasted until They try to make the most of it. Summer cries all the way home.
Some how the failed trip began the healing process for Summer and Uncle Ob.
Positive Elements
Aunt May seemed to have been a wonderful woman and had a tremendous impact on Ob and Summer’s lives.
Summer and Ob find their answers somehow and do not even need to contact Aunt May’s spirit to do so.
Cletus allows Uncle Ob to speak of Aunt May freely which probably helps.
Spiritual Content
The spirit church is mentioned, the brochure read but, Summer knew Cletus knew better that to even mention going to church to her and Uncle Ob.
Negative Elements
It is always sad when a person dies and it is evident that they never knew Christ as their Savior. It is beyond me how unsaved family members cope with the death of a loved one. This accounts for the way Uncle Ob about shuts down after Aunt May’s death.
They are trying to contact May’s spirit.
Before they go on the long trip to the church Ob lies to Cletus’ parents about why they are going and exactly where they are going. I am never a fan of lying to one’s parents about anything.
Profanity
"Hell" twice
"Hot damn" once
There may have been more. This is all I noticed.
Sexual Content
None
Violence
None
Overall Theme
Sometimes it is a good friend on a long journey that heals us.
Conclusion
An interesting book. It is hard to put your finger on “I liked it.” or “I hated it.” One of those books you kind of liked but not sure about who to recommend it to, if anyone.
Suggested age group
Middle school on up. Contacting spirits may be a bit confusing to many children.
Other books by Author: A Fine White Dust, A Blue-eyed Daisy
General Summary and Plot
Aunt May had died and nothing was the same. Summer and Uncle Ob tried for 6 months to live without her and it was not working. Summer was becoming more disconnected and Uncle Ob was becoming weaker.
Cletus Underwood, an acquaintance from Summer’s school that she would rather have stay away, finds his way to Uncle Ob’s trailer. He and Ob become friends and Cletus spends his afternoons there.
One day Ob says he can feel Aunt May’s presence and talks to Cletus and Summer about contacting her somehow. Cletus goes along with the idea but tells Summer he does not believe what Ob is saying, Ob just needs to have some way to keep Aunt Mays memory alive.
They drive to find some woman pastor of a spirit church who claims to contact the dead only to find out that she is dead herself. The trip seemed to be wasted until They try to make the most of it. Summer cries all the way home.
Some how the failed trip began the healing process for Summer and Uncle Ob.
Positive Elements
Aunt May seemed to have been a wonderful woman and had a tremendous impact on Ob and Summer’s lives.
Summer and Ob find their answers somehow and do not even need to contact Aunt May’s spirit to do so.
Cletus allows Uncle Ob to speak of Aunt May freely which probably helps.
Spiritual Content
The spirit church is mentioned, the brochure read but, Summer knew Cletus knew better that to even mention going to church to her and Uncle Ob.
Negative Elements
It is always sad when a person dies and it is evident that they never knew Christ as their Savior. It is beyond me how unsaved family members cope with the death of a loved one. This accounts for the way Uncle Ob about shuts down after Aunt May’s death.
They are trying to contact May’s spirit.
Before they go on the long trip to the church Ob lies to Cletus’ parents about why they are going and exactly where they are going. I am never a fan of lying to one’s parents about anything.
Profanity
"Hell" twice
"Hot damn" once
There may have been more. This is all I noticed.
Sexual Content
None
Violence
None
Overall Theme
Sometimes it is a good friend on a long journey that heals us.
Conclusion
An interesting book. It is hard to put your finger on “I liked it.” or “I hated it.” One of those books you kind of liked but not sure about who to recommend it to, if anyone.
Suggested age group
Middle school on up. Contacting spirits may be a bit confusing to many children.
Sour Land
by: William H. Armstrong
Other books by author: Sounder
General Summary and Plot
Anise Stone was struggling to raise his three children and tending to the farm after his wife died. He found help in the most unlikely place, the new teacher of the negro school in town, Moses Waters.
Moses proves to be the best friend the children or their father could have. The Stone family took years of ridicule and “accidents” but they learned all they could from the kind, wise black man while they had the opportunity.
Positive Elements
Anise Stone sees no black and white in a very segregated time period in America’s history. He teaches this vision to his children. He is a good father and friend.
Moses’ wisdom spills out in his actions and his words. Much of his philosophy and advice still applies to the world today.
Spiritual Content
The family (as well as Moses) go to church on Sundays.
Anise and the local store keeper talk about what a godly man Moses is and refer to Psalm 4. Moses is often asked to lead the congregational prayer in church. (a white church)
Moses has three Bibles in his cabin.
In the end a mention of Jesus’ cross is made.
Negative Elements
The town is very obviously racist and segregated.
A family called the Lawhorns keep the negro population (and the negro friendly population) in fear of their “justice”
Despite everything that is done to the negro community no one is prosecuted or punished.
Moses is framed for drinking himself to death.
Profanity
Nigger is used many times.
Sexual Content
A black teen girl is molested.
Violence
A dog is shot in the head and left on a door step as a threat.
The young teen was beaten molested and later died from her injuries.
Moses is hit in the head with a brick and dies.
Overall Theme
Patience and wisdom are all a man needs to touch each person in his world.
Conclusion
That was the way things were. The book tells an unjust story but that was life back then. We are made to realize we all have “Moses’” in our lives and all too often they are taken from us by ignorance long before we have ever learned all we could from them. Over all a very good book, one that even parents would enjoy.
Suggested age group
No younger than middle school, the subject matter and the molestation may even put it in the high school level. The wisdom in it is, however good for all ages.
Other books by author: Sounder
General Summary and Plot
Anise Stone was struggling to raise his three children and tending to the farm after his wife died. He found help in the most unlikely place, the new teacher of the negro school in town, Moses Waters.
Moses proves to be the best friend the children or their father could have. The Stone family took years of ridicule and “accidents” but they learned all they could from the kind, wise black man while they had the opportunity.
Positive Elements
Anise Stone sees no black and white in a very segregated time period in America’s history. He teaches this vision to his children. He is a good father and friend.
Moses’ wisdom spills out in his actions and his words. Much of his philosophy and advice still applies to the world today.
Spiritual Content
The family (as well as Moses) go to church on Sundays.
Anise and the local store keeper talk about what a godly man Moses is and refer to Psalm 4. Moses is often asked to lead the congregational prayer in church. (a white church)
Moses has three Bibles in his cabin.
In the end a mention of Jesus’ cross is made.
Negative Elements
The town is very obviously racist and segregated.
A family called the Lawhorns keep the negro population (and the negro friendly population) in fear of their “justice”
Despite everything that is done to the negro community no one is prosecuted or punished.
Moses is framed for drinking himself to death.
Profanity
Nigger is used many times.
Sexual Content
A black teen girl is molested.
Violence
A dog is shot in the head and left on a door step as a threat.
The young teen was beaten molested and later died from her injuries.
Moses is hit in the head with a brick and dies.
Overall Theme
Patience and wisdom are all a man needs to touch each person in his world.
Conclusion
That was the way things were. The book tells an unjust story but that was life back then. We are made to realize we all have “Moses’” in our lives and all too often they are taken from us by ignorance long before we have ever learned all we could from them. Over all a very good book, one that even parents would enjoy.
Suggested age group
No younger than middle school, the subject matter and the molestation may even put it in the high school level. The wisdom in it is, however good for all ages.
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