Hi everyone!
Okay, so I've been thinking... I've really enjoyed my school project to read a book and review it every month, and I've had fun reviewing the books I read on my blog. So, why should I stop just because it's Summer vacation! So, here's my first installment of Book of the Month: Summer Edition.
Keeper of the Doves
By Betsy Byars (reviewed by Frankie)
Summery:
Keeper of the Doves is about a young Victorian girl named Amen McBee, and her four sisters. Together they grow up in fear of the strange man, Mr. Tominski, who lurks around their home and is known as the "keeper of the doves." But one day, Amen's father catches the girls making fun of Mr. Tominski, and they find out that Mr. Tominski is not only their father's friend, but is considered a member of the family because he saved Mr. McBee's life many years ago. After that, Amen begins to look at Mr. Tom in a different way; as the gentle man he is, who spends his days caring for doves. But Amen's sisters still fear him. Then, a terrible mistake changes everyone's life.
My thoughts:
I really liked this book. It was a nice story about people and forgiveness. I think the main message of the book is that no matter how small a person's world seems, every person has value. I'll never forget this sad-sweet story. I enjoyed it. It was a very thought provoking story.
My rating: 4/5 stars
See the author's website here: http://www.betsybyars.com/doves.html
Frankly,
Frankie
Well, just until September, anyway... but I'm still psyched!
Monday is the first official day of Summer vacation. We had a half-day yesterday, which is always welcome in my book. We had a class picnic in the park to celebrate the end of the year. It was a lot of fun. And the weather was perfect- not too hot or cold, with big fluffy clouds in a blue, blue sky.
We didn't even have to bring a bagged lunch from home! The cafeteria ladies made us a picnic lunch. Mrs. Applebaum brought picnic blankets for us to spread in the grass. I shared a blanket with Paige, Lanie, Beth, and this boy named Mason (who I sort of have a crush on). We had hot dogs, potato chips in those little individual bags, macaroni salad, juice boxes, and for dessert we had cupcakes. It was great! Ms. Gillis's class was picnicking on the other side of the park. Ms. Gillis is the other fifth grade teacher. Some of my friends are in her class, like Sunny, Rebecca, and Gwen. We waved to each other from where we were eating. Mason ate three hot dogs! Paige couldn't believe her eyes, but Mason has been to my house for dinner, so I wasn't too surprised.
After we ate, we could go play with Ms. Gillis's class. We played on the playground for a while. Paige and I mostly swung on the swings. Sunny and Rebecca introduced us to a new girl in their class. She's from Hawaii! Her name is Kanani. She has super long hair to her knees! I've never seen hair that long in my life. She and Lanie really hit it off. I think they will be good friends.
After playing for a while, Mrs. Applebaum and Ms. Gillis brought out big pans of bubble solution and lots of flyswatters, and showed us how to make lots of bubbles with them, but dipping the flyswatter in the soap. You wave the flyswatter around in front of you, and you get tons of shiny bubbles. It was a blast! The new girl, Kanani, looked almost like a fairy princess, waving her bubble wand, with her long hair flying around. For a present, the teachers gave everyone a regular sized bottle of bubbles. My bottle was green. After that, it was time to go back to school and get ready to go home. I almost didn't want to leave. It was a perfect day.
But, it's now Summer vacation! Summer vacation is like a picnic every day! This year was one for the record books- my best friend, Paige, moved here, I was in my first piano recital, and my end of the year report card was pretty good. But now that it's over, I just have to say...
...Welcome, Summer!
Frankly,
Frankie
Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery is one of my favorite books. It's the perfect, cozy, carefree book to read under a shady tree on a breezy summer day. My mother and I read it together a few years ago and I've loved it ever since. Now I have a special hardcover edition that I treasure. I guess I love this book so much because I see myself in Anne Shirley in some ways. Anne has a big imagination, and so do I. Sometimes it runs away with both of us! Anne's imagination especially reminds me of myself when she and Diana imagine that the woods are haunted and Anne scares herself. I've done things like that many times! Anne is also adopted by Matthew and Marilla, and I was adopted too, only I was just a baby when I was adopted, unlike Anne who was eleven.
But mostly, Anne reminds me of myself in her friendship with Diana Barry, her "bosom friend." I have a friend like this too. My best friend, Paige Shepherd. Paige moved next door to me last year. Paige comes from Chicago. Her mother and father are divorced, and her mom is a music teacher. She and Paige moved here because Paige's mom wanted to teach in a more rural area. So, they moved into an old "fixer-upper" house next to mine. I met Paige last Summer, when I was actually sitting under my favorite shade tree, reading Anne of Green Gables. There was a moving truck at the old house next door, and I kept seeing a tall woman with curly black hair, carrying things inside. But I didn't think too much of it, and kept reading. I was deep into my book. Then, a girl about my age stepped out of the old house. She looked over my way, and I waved. She waved a small wave, and walked toward me.
"Hi." Said the girl. "I'm Paige Shepherd." She dug her bare toes into the grass.
"I'm Frankie Schafer," I told her. "Are you moving in next door?"
Paige nodded. "My mom and I are moving in today," she said.
"I'm glad," I told her. "I've been hoping for a girl my age to move into that house. I'm sure we will be friends! 'Bosom friends,' even!" I said, quoting Anne.
Paige laughed, looking at my book, which I set on the ground.
"I know what that's from. You're reading Anne of Green Gables! I love that book! Have you ever read it before?"
I nodded. "At least four times already. I love it too."
I patted the grass next to me, and Paige sat down. I showed her the pretty illustrations in my book, and we talked as if we'd been friends our whole lives. She told me about her old apartment in Chicago, and her interest in art, and her pet cat. I told her about my family's farm, and my older brothers, and my piano lessons. She reminded me a lot of Anne's friend Diana, with her long, wavy black hair. She doesn't have black eyes like Diana does though, but they are a nice light blue. I thought; if only I had long red braids and freckles, we'd be a perfect pair. But my lack of red braids didn't stop us from being kindred spirits, just the same as Anne and Diana.
Frankly,
Frankie
