The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming

 

The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh | Candace Fleming | 2020 | Biography

This is a fascinating account of the life of Charles Lindbergh. It is written for young adults but good for adults too!  I had the chance to stop in on a live history day at the Charles Lindbergh State Park in Little Falls one summer weekend and learned a lot about his life.  This book added to my knowledge of this famous or "infamous" Minnesotan.   He did some amazing things and yet held some very narrow-minded ideas along with being very charismatic and controversial. 

The first part of the novel tells about his early life and how he was able to become the first person to fly from New York to Paris.  Next, it turns into a true-crime drama when we learn about the famous kidnapping of his son. Finally, you learn how Lindbergh gets wrapped up as a Nazi sympathizer and a political leader.  

I have read several books by Candace Fleming. From her picture books to middle-grade to young adult non-fiction, and I found that they were all great. She won an award for best nonfiction for young adults for this book.  

The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason

 

The Winter  Soldier | Daniel Mason | 2018 | Historical Fiction 

This is a World War 1 story about a medical student who enlists in the war in Poland in order to get experience as a doctor. The nurse, who is a nun at the remote field hospital where he is sent, shows him how to do everything. He grows and learns about medicine, life, and love. Suddenly, he is separated from the small hospital and thrust into other parts of the war. The entire time he is trying to get back to his first love. 

This book gives you the experiences of how horrific war is. It is also a bit of a romance and a mystery. It can get a bit grim at times because it is descriptive about the battle injuries and fighting.  Overall, I really liked the book.  

I found the video series Anzac Girls on Amazon Prime and it is a good companion to this book.  It is also about WW1 and tells the story of Australian nurses who come to Europe to serve in the war.  I watched episode number one and look forward to more of them!  

 

Still Life by Louise Penny

 

Still Life | Louise Penny | Mystery Series (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Series | 2008

This is a smart cozy mystery with lots of French Canadian cultural references. It takes place in a small village called Three Pines on the weekend of the Canadian Thanksgiving which is in October.  A well-loved villager is found dead in the woods and has been shot by an arrow.  It seems it may not be an accident. Inspector Gamache is called in to investigate. 

It took me a while to get all of the characters straight. About halfway through the book I begin to settle into the writing style. I heard they get better and better! So I will keep going. They have quite the waiting list at my public library and so I think that is a good sign. 

February Middle Grade Books

 

CHECK OUT THE BOOKS I READ THE FIRST WEEK IN FEBRUARY!

A Long Road on a Short Day by Gary E Schmidt & Elizabeth Stickney | 2020 | RL: 4.0 | Grades 1-4 | 64 pages | 30 minutes read-aloud time

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Adventure by Jeff Kinney | 2020 | RL: 5.7 | Grades 3-7 | 224 pages | 1 1/2 hours read-aloud time

The Deep End by Jeff Kinney | 2020 | RL: 5.4 | Grades 3-7 |  224 pages | 1 3/4 hours read-aloud time

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater | 1938 | RL: 5.6 | Grades 3-5 | 139 pages | 2 1/4 hours read-aloud time

The Popper Penguin Rescue by Eliot Schrefer | 2020 | RL: 5.1 | Grades 3-5 | 176 pages | 2 1/2 hours read-aloud time