SERAFINA AND THE BLACK CLOAK by Robert Beatty Once upon a time (a few years ago) there was a family who went to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. They all fell in love with the grandeur of it, even their little boy who came home and built several Lego versions of Biltmore for weeks after. Fast Forward to spring of this year when the mom of that same family was in a shop in South Carolina and came across a fiction middle grade book that was set at Biltmore. It was almost, not exactly, but almost as if she had found the Holy Grail in that little shop. Her children would be delighted, and she promptly bought the book, took it home and added it to her reading pile, until the day it had its turn in her hands. Its turn came this week and for me it was not the Holy Grail that I was hoping for. Some of you may already be familiar with Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty. The book has been out for a few years now and there are three more in the series. This post is only about book one. The story unfolds with Serafina and her father, who is employed at Biltmore, living in the basement of the great house unbeknownst to anyone else. Serafina has some physical characteristics that cause her father to keep her hidden away. When children start disappearing from Biltmore and Serafina has a run-in in the basement with the man (or spirit) who has been taking them, she feels drawn in to solve what has been going on. This book is full of constant twists and turns, but it does contain some concerning dark elements. HEADS UP - When the man in the black coat takes a child, it's really very creepy. The first time is in the basement and there is a little girl whimpering, " No Sir! Please! No!" And, "We're not supposed to be down here." The man responds with, "There's nothing to be frightened of, child. I'm not going to hurt you..." with lots of screaming. I honestly thought for a moment that I was going to encounter a pedophile scene in a middle grade book, (I didn't) but the cloak ends up folding around her and he basically absorbs her into himself, and she's gone. This happens with other children. -As the story goes on the man leaves bloody bits of himself around as he is deteriorating and that is especially why he needs children. - There is a cemetery scene in which several of the graves have weird epitaphs written on them because people/children have been murdered or were missing, etc. -We learn the origin of the cloak in the end. It is discovered the cloak was made by a sorcerer, but the cloak took control of people's souls, so the sorcerer tried to destroy it and had to kill himself in the process by throwing himself down an old well. Partial Spoiler Alert Serafina's mother and father were catamounts which means they were mountain lion and human. This gives Serafina a unique connection to nature, explains her different physical characteristics, and also makes some mountain lion cubs her siblings.

PONY by R.J. Palacio Pony by R.J. Palacio (author of Wonder and White Bird) is a book that you quickly become absorbed in and life around seems to fade away. The book opens with how Silas Bird was struck by lightning as a young boy and marked with an image on his back as a result. His father, Martin Bird a Renaissance man, had been interested in photography, and this event made him decide to jump in and learn and even create his own style of the art. The story switches to their present day (1860) where Silas is awakened in the middle of the night by someone named Mittenwool who warns him that 3 men on horseback are riding toward their home with guns drawn and two extra horses. Silas' Pa, Martin Bird, is already awake and watching for their arrival. They are counterfeiters and convinced that Martin Bird is an infamous counterfeiter named Mac Boat who had disappeared from the trade many years ago. Bird insists that he is not Boat, but he is forced to go with the men who need his help on getting the images correct on the money they are printing. The counterfeiters had wanted both Martin and his son to return with them, but Martin convinces them to leave Silas behind. Bird's parting words to his son are to stay put. He would be back in 2 weeks. Silas tries to become absorbed in doing his chores over the next day, but when the pony he was supposed to ride shows up, he knows he is supposed to follow. The journey that unfolds is harrowing for the normal person, but Silas is not your normal person. Silas can see ghosts that have left things undone in life and talk with them. Without divulging the story, this plays a huge part. The ultimate theme of this story is love. The love of a father for his son and son for his father, the love of a mother who has passed, the love of a pony for its master, the love of a good friendship. It is not your conventional styled story, but it is moving. Because it is not your typical story, this book is a middle grade reader, but your average younger middle grader will not pick up on all the deeper meanings the book is offering. This book would be best suited for Jr High and above. HEADS UP - The ghosts are not your typical scary/horror type spirits. However, they are seen in the way they were as they died. Periodically, this may mean that they have war wounds, etc. There are approx 2 profanities. Right at the end one of the ghost situations Silas makes right is a gay one. It lasts for a couple of paragraphs.

With school right around the corner, I have been revisiting a lot of the books about homeschooling that made an impact on my journey. The first one I read was For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, and I was hooked. I fell in love with the idea of Charlotte Mason, and her love of books and nature. I am not a Charlotte Mason purist, but I always find myself gravitating back to her ideas. So here I am, at the beginning of another year, getting my goals in place, and pulling out my "compasses" to get my bearings set. Pictured Below in Order -Bible -Books Children Love -Teaching Children -For the Children's Sake -The Three R's -You Can Teach Your Child Successfully -Charlotte Mason Companion -Pocketful of Pinecones - Educating the Wholehearted Child -Gather:Exploring the Wonder, Wisdom, and Worship of Learning at Home -Plan Your Year

Talking with our children, especially young children, about sexual abuse is a tough subject. In today's world it has to be done! Our kids need to know about private areas and that they have the right to say "NO" when any touch makes them feel uncomfortable. In God Made All of Me by Justin S. Holcomb and Lindsey A. Holcomb the job of having this discussion becomes easier. Both are involved in REST ( Real Escape from the Sex Trade) and have extensive credentials and experience working with victims of abuse. The book is well written and very clear about acceptable touches and unacceptable touches. It defines secrets and surprises, and when gifts are appropriate. If you feel that you have not successfully had this discussion with your kids, this is a great resource!

A few more beach picks to consider if you are still looking forward to vacation! -2 Magic School Bus books - one about sharks and one about the ocean floor. Claire especially loved the Magic School Bus series. The idea of traveling to where you were studying was magical! I always loved what Mrs. Frizzle was wearing, and the last page always foreshadowed where they were headed next based on her outfit! Oh to be Mrs. Frizzle and have her wardrobe! -2 Usborne books - First Encyclopedia of the Seas and Oceans and Under the Sea. Callie loved and still loves the Usborne series called Usborne Beginners that Under the Sea is a part of. She grabbed the book to read for the upteenth time after I snapped the picture! -Nate the Great and the Boring Beach Bag - who can resist this young detective and his dog Sludge who always stops midcase for a pancake think session! - The heartwarming story of The Puffin Keeper- beautiful illustrations, beautiful theme of rescuing! -Caldecott Award winner - Hello Lighthouse -Easy reader, Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie -Bats at the Beach - ever wonder what bats do for vacation? Now you know! Their food choices are hilarious!

PRISONERS OF GEOGRAPHY: OUR WORLD EXPLAINED IN 12 SIMPLE MAPS. Illustrated by Grace Easton and Jessica Smith Prisoners of Geography: Our World Explained in 12 Simple Maps (Illustrated Young Readers Edition) by Tim Marshall is not your ordinary atlas. Right off, the title is an eye catcher. What does "Prisoners of Geography" mean? Marshall explains within the first few pages that the geography of the land, its mountains, rivers, climate, natural resources, etc. affects so much within a country. It affects wars, government leaders, culture because of the boundaries it places. He acknowledges that technology has helped us to overcome some of these boundaries, but geography still raises barriers. Looking at geography from this point of view is so much more interesting than the traditional geography study. Each map has little balloons of information about the country. Following each map are a few pages dedicated to key geographical features that have benefitted the country and the history of the country. HOMESCHOOL HELPS - This book paired along with the book Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski (reviewed earlier on this FB page) and blank maps would be a great start to an elementary geography study. There is so much you could dig deeper in depending on the interests of your children!

NO FIXED ADDRESS by Susin Nielsen This is one I won't be continuing. First off, I have read only 38 pages of this book. I will comment more on that at the end. The idea of No Fixed Address by Susan Nielsen is a great one. An almost 13-year-old boy, Felix, and his mom, Astrid, are homeless and living in a van. It's a sad descent that happens from living in their home to ending up in a van on the street. However, Felix has grown up watching a trivia type game show on TV. He has a chance to be on it. If he wins, the prize money would change their lives. So why am I quitting this one? Here's my list -In one of their step down apartments, a few times a week Astrid fixes Felix supper, then goes downstairs to the manager's apartment for a couple hours. Felix remarks, "I guess he was her sort-of boyfriend, even if he never took her out on a proper date." -Then we have a guy move in for a while. No inappropriate scenes are shared. -Astrid is obviously a habitual liar. There are 4 pages dedicated to her different levels of lying. It is clear that they are all okay in her mind and often needed. The story does tell how several of those occasions have come back to bite her in the rear, but it is still understood that it is acceptable. -Astrid and Felix are at the mercy of a secretary, who is a man, to get Felix into a certain school. Astrid makes up a huge story and then asks the man if he has children. The man replies that he and his husband are trying to adopt. This is a middle grade reader, but it feels like it's stretching to reach the YA a little. It is true that our children walk side by side with all kinds of kids in multiple types of situations. I love to use books to walk through difficult topics that my kids will encounter or do encounter in real life, but I sometimes start to feel like we're throwing every possible situation at them to navigate to make a story. There are times and maturity needed to navigate difficult situations. Like I said, I've only read 38 pages. So it is very possible that the book will right itself. It just has deeper issues than I want to navigate with the lower end of the age recommendation.

NEVER MIND THE JONESES by Tim Stafford This week I revisited an oldie but a goodie. I love this book, and I love the title, Never Mind the Joneses. Ladies, myself included, we often wonder what other families are doing, where they're going, what they're buying etc. We often are so busy " keeping up with the Joneses" that we are neglecting our own blessings at home. Tim Stafford, former editor of Christianity Today Magazine, focuses on 14 core values that impact our families, but then he shows a myriad of ways how those values can be accomplished. Money and possessions often don't impact the final result in a positive way. It's our commitment to Christ and to our families that make the biggest differences. ALONGSIDE ACTIVITY - Momma, it's time to start or end each day with an attitude of gratitude! Pick a number, 5 or 10, and physically name out loud things you are thankful for. I am thankful for hot water. I am thankful for breakfast cereal. I am thankful for gas in the car. On and on. Jason recently talked to an acquaintance of ours who returned from a medical mission trip with Samaritan's Purse to Ukraine. His words to Jason, "Hug your kids every night and be thankful for what you have, because you don't know how quickly it can change." We have so much to be thankful for!

PRIDE AND PREMEDITATION by Tirzah Price If you are a Jane Austen fan and love mysteries this YA book is for you! Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price is a delightful, hook-and-reel-you-in type of read! I mean, who really can get enough of the "speak her mind" Elizabeth Bennet and the brooding Mr. Darcy? Mr. Bingley has been accused of murder. Darcy, the heir to his father's well known law firm, has been hired to represent him. Meanwhile, Elizabeth has been trying to find a way to prove to her father that she is capable of becoming a solicitor in her father's mediocre firm, and this case may well be her ticket to do it! When she finds out that Darcy only desires to get Mr. Bingley off and not solve who really committed the murder, Elizabeth is all in. After all, there is a murderer on the loose. Filled with the rest of the infamous Pride and Prejudice characters, get ready for a twist on the classic that will leave you guessing who did it until the end! Guess what else? On top of it all, this is a squeaky clean YA novel that even adults will enjoy!

HOPE AT SEA: AN ADVENTURE STORY by Daniel Miyares Hope At Sea: An Adventure Story by Daniel Miyares starts with a line that resonates with my heart, "Whenever my world feels small, I turn to the sea." Hope is a young girl that doesn't want to just hear her father's adventure stories when he returns from the sea, she wants to live them, so she stows away on board his ship. I love the picture of her in the dark waiting to be discovered, wondering if her father will be angry and then the sequence of pictures where her father finds her.. Now she's a part of the crew and must do her share. Of course, they cannot make it home without a huge storm which alters what Papa (and the rest of the family) will do with his life! Beautifully illustrated by the author in pen and ink with watercolor, you will want to slow down and enjoy the illustrations! You can almost feel the spray and breeze as you read! Alongside Activity- Be sure to note the end pages after you are done reading. They are great! Also for the fun of it, look up what state has the most lighthouses. The answer really surprised me!

THE MISCALCULATIONS OF LIGHTNING GIRL by Stacy McAnulty Middle grade read The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty is an interesting read. Lucy Callahan was a normal girl UNTIL she was struck by lightning. Due to some "brain damage" from the strike she is a savant. Extremely gifted in math, her brain talks to her in numbers all the time until her OCD kicks in, and she does a repetition of 3 actions such as tapping or sitting and standing to quiet her brain. She also feels the need to Clorox wipe everything she comes in contact with. Lucy lives with her Nana and has been homeschooled. Due to her condition and her dislike of public places, all her social connections have been on a math chat group. Lucy's Nana and uncle (recently returned from the military and a slight father figure in Lucy's life) decide it's time for her to enter the world of 7th grade public school. Between her repetitions of 3 and wiping everything down, Lucy knows she is already going to be at a disadvantage with the other students. She decides to hide her math gift until she's a part of a group project where she knows she can make a difference. This middle grade novel is full of the usual predictable, current trend subjects such as bullying and the love of dogs at the local pet shelter. I can honestly say there was a point where I was ready to move on to another book. However, this one saved itself towards the end with how all the threads come together. It was the under lying theme of needing saved and saving that probably kept me going. It's deeper than friendship. HEADS UP - one of the students has 2 moms. That is all that is said about it.

BEACH TRIP For some of you this post may be late, but us Killianys tend to take our vacation towards the end of the summer. So as I wrap up homeschool planning for next year, I know VA-CA is on the horizon! Following on the heels of yesterday's guides for butterflies posts, the same holds true for vacation. If we are heading to the beach I throw in my beach guides, because we are on the hunt for shells and sea life. I also keep my eyes open as we check out local shops for books and guides about the area. Some of my favorite beach guides are these simple laminated pamphlet style guides. When you find one in a shop they are tailored to the surrounding area, and I always find them to be a great resource for naming our finds! I also included an Usborne book in the picture. My kids loved this series of 1001 Things to Spot. Of course the sea one is full of all kinds of under the surface critters that you may or may not want to run into! Sometimes throwing a book like this in the activity bag while your traveling helps to amp up the excitement and pass the time!