What We Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll November 2024

 What I Read:

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

As an English major, I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read this classic.  Knowing its place in American history and literature, I assigned it to my 11th-grade reading list and decided to take it on as well.  We follow our lead character, a slave named Uncle Tom, as he's sold when his owner falls into debt.  While reassured that Tom would be well taken care of, the slave trader is cruel, both physically and emotionally.  Tom eventually finds his way into a kind home where he's often treated as one of the family and even promised his freedom.  However, his owner tragically dies before the promise can be kept and his wife sells Tom to a slave owner in the deep south.  All along, Tom is the epitome of truth, kindness, and love to those around him, finally touching the heart of his first owner's son.  Throughout the book, we follow other slaves as well.. some sold, some runaways, some escaping... some not so lucky.  We see a variety of outcomes in their stories and are faced with the tragedies and kindnesses that were all wrapped up in the American slave era.

Our Homeschool Read Alouds:

When the World Was Ours by Liz Kessler

This book focuses on three childhood friends (Max, Leo, and Elsa).  The three meet and grow together in pre-Nazi Austria.  But as Europe descends into chaos, the three are ripped apart by growing anti-Sematism.  Scattered to Prague, Poland, England, and Germany, they all live under Hitler's enormous shadow.  Can their friendship stand in spite of the propaganda and fear?

I chose this one as part of our read-aloud list for the year, knowing that we'd be covering WWII.  While there was nothing too graphic, the subject matter was heavy and dark. So I'm glad we read this one together.  This book stood as a bridge to some of the harder topics for my middle schooler.

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

When the new preacher's family moves into town, they have no idea the adventures that await them.  Their next-door neighbor, Mrs. Dowdel, is quite a character and keeps them all on their toes. With a keen eye and a stern practicality, Mrs. Dowdel knows how to get the job done, even if it means bending the rules once in a while.  Spanning about 5 months in 1958, A Season of Gifts has become one of our favorite read-alouds for Christmas.  It has everything you could want... adventure, humor, a mysterious neighbor... and a great reminder of how the importance of community.  We love this one.

Lillian Trasher by Janet & Geoff Benge

American Lillian Trasher felt herself called into missions and eventually founded an orphanage in Egypt in the early 1900's. Living by faith, Trasher would often go to bed, unsure of where the next day's meal was coming from.  But through it all, the Lord showed up in miraculous ways.  This woman's faith was remarkable.  All that she lived through... all that she did under tremendous circumstances... all that she faced including the fighting between Egyptians and British overlords and being caught in the middle... Lillian Trasher's story is one of dedication and faithfulness.  Her love for Egypt's orphans was incredible.  And her faith was personally challenging.  This biography is my new favorite in the series.

What are you reading?