Title: Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850
Author: Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Pages: 175
Genre: Junior Nonfiction
Read For: Personal Education
My Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
The Irish Potato Famine has long interested me, and recently I've really been wanting to know more about it. Though I have a more in-depth book on my wishlist, I thought that a good Junior Nonfiction book might whet my appetite a little.
When I read Junior Nonfiction, I am hoping for a quick, engaging overview of the topic, as well as certain other things that would make it easy to recommend to kids. One of those things is pictures. I think that a good assortment of good pictures goes far in making the topic interesting and memorable. Be they illustrated or photographed, ideally there will be enough to prevent boredom, and of high enough quality that they are not merely entertaining, but educational as well. Another thing I think is important is a simple, logical organization of topics, written in succinct, effective language. If the book is not organized well, in thoughts and typesetting, it is much more difficult to understand and remember.
Black Potatoes
certainly does a great job in these areas. There are many illustrations, similar to the one on the cover, that come directly from the period and location discussed--gathered from newspapers, libraries, and personal collections. The author does a good job at relating the information, and the horrible statistics, in a clear manner, weaving personal stories into the facts. She relates what other people and governments did (and did not do) to help, and seems to remain as unbiased as possible. During the five years discussed in the book, one million Irish people died from starvation and disease and two million more emigrated. Yet despite all the sad stories this book must tell, it also tells one of hope and courage.One of the saddest things about the Famine years is that for each horrible story, there is always another more tragic and dreadful. Yet for every tragic story, you will also meet people who held on to hope, who committed heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and who fought to survive and to preserve their dignity.
From the author of 
. I haven't read anything by Kate Morton, but 
is just something that should be on every English lover's bookshelf. And yes, I would actually read the thing too.
because I just can't resist non-fiction books that combine education with humor.
just because of the great things I've heard about it. It is a non-fiction book about science, medical research, cancer, and who owns our genetic material.
I've been really wanting to know more about the Great Irish Famine, partly because of the importance in general history, partly because of the importance in my personal family's history.
I didn't know anything about this book until I read 
by Mary Webb, and found out through some research that 
was written partly as a parody of Mary Webb's work. I still don't know much about it, but it does look interesting.
Title: 
Title: Stardust
fit the bill. I am not a reader of fantasy by any means--that job goes to my husband--but I do enjoy a good fairytale now and then. 
, you might enjoy knowing that they are quite similar. In fact, it is quite possible that the movie provides more detail. The story was told at such a quick pace in the book that I was left little time to imagine all the amazing scenes with the splendor and detail they deserved.
Title: 
. Contrary to what you may think, the fact that it was written more than 60 years ago doesn't make it difficult to read or hard to understand. The language is quite understandable, though the writing style is perhaps a bit different than we are accustomed to finding in current novels. If you have ever read Daphne du Maurier's 
, an immensely popular book published a few short years before 
41. 
, Noah Lukeman (4 stars) I'm a language geek, so reading a book about punctuation is actually a fun thing for me. This book was aimed more at writers. Instead of hard and fast rules, it explored what punctuation use says about a writer, how it affects the reading, etc. Quick and interesting.
, Alan Armstrong (2.5 stars) Ever heard the story of Dick Whittington and his cat? I hadn't, and I don't recommend this book to find out about it! Okay, maybe if you read it to yourself, but it was terrible to read aloud. I do a lot of reading aloud to my kiddos, and I saw the Newbery Honor medal on the front and thought "ooo, a story of a kitty-cat" and assumed it would be good quality. The book attempts to tell the historical story of Dick Whittington at the same time as a more modern day story on a farm and the result was convoluted and very choppy. Chapters would end mid-thought seemingly, the characters were poorly developed, the two stories were not balanced--keeping up with both of them was a pain. Nowhere near E.B. White's talent. It was well documented, however. I would suggest reading it silently with the realization that it is more about history than the barn animals. We were glad when it was done.
43. 
, Barbara Kingsolver (almost 5 stars) 
, Maxine Swann (2.5 stars) As interesting as the premise sounded--four children being raised in an extremely free-form family in the 1960s--in the end the story fell flat. There were many glimpses into their lives that had me hoping for more, but it just wasn't tied together. It would have had more impact as a short story or as a group of short stories in a collection.
, Arvella Whitmore (3 stars) Arvella Whitmore did a good job at bringing the Great Depression to life for the Junior Fiction readers in The Bread Winner. Books about the Great Depression are often dry or depressing, really giving the reader a chance to feel a bit of the despair that was so profoundly felt. The problem with this is that it tends to bring the interest level down, leaving the reader bored and frustrated. (This may not be the result when the reader is more mature, but often seems to be the case with younger or more immature readers.) In this sense, The Bread Winner is a real gem. The pace is great, the characters interesting, and the problems, though clearly felt, are not overwhelming. My only complaint with the book is that the main character is encouraged to fight, and indeed solves her problems only by being willing to do so. This doesn't negate the value of the book, however, as it provides a good discussion opportunity.
, Chris Baty (3.5 stars) Written by the guy that started National Novel Writing Month, this book is about that journey and how to get yourself through to that 50,000 word goal. Interesting perspective, fun to read.
, Mel Bartholomew (4 stars) Easy to read and understand, Square Foot Gardening will have you wondering why you waited so long to start a garden of your own. Mel Bartholomew was formerly an efficiency expert, and it certainly shows through in his book. From the basis of his methods to begin with, all the way through to the final design of the book. A lot of information in a very easy to read and understand format, recommended!
, Patricia Reilly Giff (3.5 stars) The strength of Lily's Crossing is in identifying with the thought processes and struggles that kids often have. The author doesn't belittle Lily's feelings that she is unliked by her grandmother, rather she empathizes but makes a point to help Lily grow. In this book, World War II is shown from the perspective of American youth as well as European youth; the characters are extremely well drawn.
, Noah Lukeman (3.5 stars)Not your typical writing instruction book, The Plot Thickens helps writers to really think in-depth about their characters. It's full of exercises and questions that would be extremely helpful in the writing process.
, Elizabeth Janet Gray (4 stars) One of the things about Adam of the Road that is unique and pleasing when compared to much modern Junior Fiction is the innocent outlook on life. Even when Adam is displaying less than stellar behavior, such as boasting, he is quick to realize his error and tries afterwards to do better. His faults, and the faults of other characters, aren't emphasized. While it may not be a gritty, realistic view on life, it is rather refreshing. There is also quite a clear picture painted of medieval life, which must be part of the purpose of the book. Adam's adventures continue throughout the book, and it is an entertaining romp. It would probably be a lot of fun to read aloud as well as to oneself. Robert Lawson's illustrations, as usual, are fabulous.
