Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg

I love a good pioneer story and this one fits the bill. It is based on President Roosevelt's project in the 1930s where he offered to send families who were on assistance during the depression to start a New Deal colony in Alaska.

  

Terpsichore and her family leave their Wisconsin home to become pioneers in Palmer, Alaska.  When they arrive all the promises are slow to deliver but Terpsichore and her family have a pioneering spirit and make the best of their situation while they wait for their dreams to be fulfilled. Their mother is not really sure this is her dream and gets to decide after a predetermined time if their family will pack up and go back to Alaska. Terpsichore has to figure out how to make sure her mother wants to stay. 

Terpsichore is the type of character I really love. She is self-sufficient, determined, funny, and spirited.  She loves to read and spearheads a library committee, figures out how to grow a prize-winning pumpkin, cooks for her family, and helps her mother find a way to get Washington to send medical health to the new Alaskan community.  

Her name is weird and you eventually learn why she has the name...she drops hints along the way as to how to pronounce her name but at first you are a little confused. Her name is pronounced....Terp seh core ee. 

If you loved Little House books, Hattie Big Sky, or When Calls the Heart on Hallmark, this book is perfect for you! I give this a 4 out of 4 rating. 

• Age Range: 10 and up
• Grade Level: 5 - 6
• Reading Level: 5.7
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (February 2, 2016)

The Day The World Came to Town by Jim Defede

I recommend this book if you would like to read something that commemorates the 9/11 tragedy but is also heartwarming and inspirational and tells about light shining through a dark time. It also satisfies my curiosity as to some of the details of what people had to deal with when the United States air space was closed immediately after the attacks. 

Planes that were not able to turn around and go back were sent to various Canadian airports. 38 planes were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland. The population is only 10,000 and over 6,000 people were stranded in their town. The town people immediately worked together to find places for all of the stranded passengers in their town and surrounding places. They brought food, clothes, bedding and did whatever they could to show hospitality and kindness during a stressful situation. The travelers were with the Canadians for four days and formed bonds and friendship that would last long after. 

This book is written like a magazine or newspaper article and Sometimes it is hard to keep track of all the people that the author writes about. However, I was very moved by this story and read it quickly. It is only about 260 pages with a few black and white photos at the beginning of each chapter. (These pictures make 2001 look like ancient history!)

Others have been equally moved by this event and a musical called Come From Aways was created in 2012. It is currently playing on Broadway and other theaters around the world. 

I have been talking about this book ever since I read it. So, I am going to have to rate it pretty high - 4 out of 4. 

The following videos about the event from the news and song from the musical Come From Away. 

The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

The Library of Ever is a celebration of libraries in a Lemony Snicket kind of way! It stars Lenora who stops at the local library with her nanny and manages to find a fantastic library which gives her a job as an assistant. She goes on some amazing and fast-paced adventures during her visit and uses knowledge to overcome darker forces.  

The author, Zeno Alexander is following in the Lemony Snicket path and not revealing his true photo or any life information. I did see a photo of him at a school visit and so I know he is a male author. I am always curious as to the reason for the secrecy!

I enjoyed this book and am expecting a sequel since the end alluded to more adventures. I rate this book a 4 out of 4. 

• Age Range: 8 - 11 years
• Grade Level: 4 - 7
• Series: The Library of Ever (Book 1)
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Imprint (April 30, 2019)