Plumfield Moms

Book Review: The Voyagers by Padraic Callum - Smidgen Press Reprint

“The world is always at the beginnings of things,” writes Padraic Colum in The Voyagers, a testament to the boundless human spirit and its quest to explore as far as human ingenuity and tenacity would permit. In this exciting middle-grade adventure, Colum masterfully weaves together the stories of voyagers across time—sailors, explorers, and seekers, all embarking on daring journeys into the unknown.
Part history, part mythology, and all of it interesting to young readers, the storytelling in The Voyagers is as captivating as the characters themselves. Colum’s lovely writing makes each page feel like an invitation to board the legendary ships of exploration and experience adventure firsthand. Readers will be enthralled by the wide variety of voyagers—from ancient mariners to bold pioneers—each contributing to the great narrative of human discovery.
Suitable for homeschool or school use, this book is a treasure trove. Its rich, diverse stories offer students an opportunity to engage with history and geography in a vibrant, relatable way. Teachers will appreciate its versatility, whether used as a reading assignment or a classroom resource for deeper discussions on exploration and discovery.
Smidgen Press has done justice to this classic with their exceptional reprint. The quality paper and the best binding make for a durable, long-lasting edition. The luxurious hardcover is both sturdy and delightful to hold, offering readers a rich tactile reading experience. Whether for the classroom or a library, this reprint is a beautiful and worthy addition to any collection.https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/the-voyagers-smidgen-press-reprint

Reflection: My Word of the Year for 2025

by Sara MasarikA few years ago, I became aware of the practice of prayerfully discerning a word of the year (or phrase) that could be used as a touchstone for the upcoming year. This word is not a charm nor an omen, but rather it is a reminder of some spiritual concept or truth that I wish to contemplate this year. It is a word to be used as an anthem and a call. 
One year when we were in a time of chaos and were reeling from some great losses, we felt called to open our home to others without thought of inconvenience or cost. We felt that we were being called to radical hospitality. That year God sent so many people into our home for coffee dates, dinners, and fellowship that we were overwhelmed with grace and were blessed by so many new or deepened relationships.
The next year, we entered into a season of great turmoil. A very many things were happening and we felt like we had little control over any of it. That year we practiced radical surrender remembering who loved us beyond measure and who has counted every hair on our heads. Instead of trying to exert control that year, we simply accepted what was happening and consciously surrendered to the Holy Spirit at every turn. 
The next year was one of the hardest of our lives as so many things were uncertain and our anxiety was crippling us and peace felt elusive. That year, we practiced radical trust. Instead of looking at every new challenge as a threat, we chose to look at each one as an opportunity to learn to trust God better. We actively chose to trust Him when all we wanted to do was run away and hide. 
Some years have been less memorable. I remember loving the words those years, but for some reason, they don’t stand out in my memory. That is ok. They were a consolation and a battle cry in their time.
But, in November 2022, I wrote this in my mass Journal:
Hive:
noun
a beehive – a colony of bees
a place where people are busily occupied.
Verb
to enter and take possession of a hive
to reside in a close location
to store up as if in a hive
That year, bees had been following me everywhere I went. Real bees and decorative bees – on decor, on stickers, on cards and clothes. In fact, that year, people kept giving me raw honey! Somehow, I knew that the bee was always pointing me to the hive. But what was a hive?
Nonetheless, I embraced the word and thought often of St. Ambrose,whose preaching was said to be sweet as honey. 
In thinking of Ambrose, I could not overlook his most famous contribution to the Church: his pastoring of Augustine from arrogant playboy and scholar to beloved Doctor of the Church. Ambrose who consoled Monica, the mother of so many tears. St. Ambrose debated with Augustine, prayed for him, and ultimately baptized him. And St. Augustine tells us in his Confessions that his conversion began with the child chanting “tolle lege” – take up and read. Somehow these doctors of the church, hives, and reading were connected. 
I always choose my word at the end of the Catholic liturgical year – November. By late December that year, I began to see what hive really meant. I was being called to turn my personal library into a lending library. Like St. Ambrose, I was supposed to assist in creating an environment wherein students could tolle lege – take up and read. I was calling the bees together and I was bringing them into my hive of books and programs. And, I was to let my words be sweet as honey as I walked with and talked with world-weary mamas of many tears who needed encouragement, community, and fellowship. 
This year, my word was message. I am writing this on the Solemnity of Christ the King – the last Sunday in the Catholic liturgical year. I have wrestled with this word all year and still do not feel entirely comfortable with it. I am certain that there is something to this that is important. I can sense it but, like St. Paul says, like looking through a glass darkly. I suspect that I wrote so many book reviews this year because of this word. 
Normally, I begin to have a sense of my new word in September or October at the latest. This year, I have been so completely overwhelmed with the library, my son’s senior year in high school, my commitments at church, and our work at Plumfield and The Card Catalog. I am stumbling into a new liturgical year, harried, tired, distracted, discombobulated, and frankly, spiritually dry. For weeks I have been praying for discernment and have felt nothing. Truly, felt nothing. Like being dead. 
And then, today, something changed. I have my word. I don’t like my word. I don’t want to see what it means. (Yes, you read that right.) I just don’t like this word at all. But, as I spent the afternoon reading Amos Fortune, Free Man, I fell asleep. I never nap. But I slept. Within seconds of curling up with my book, I was out. For an hour! And when I awoke and started reading again, this is what I read:
“Amos looked straight ahead of him, along the horse’s back. His vision narrowed to the road between the horse’s pointed ears. He knew that it was a big step that he was taking, this move to a new part of the land, far from the familiar, the known, the safe and secure. Yet he was going far, too, from the memory of being another’s chattel. From the indignity and privation and the long years of servitude. He no longer had his youth nor the stout strength of his early manhood. But, he still had his vision. A compound of words read by a little Quaker girl in a clear voice. Words that had burned themselves in his mind and had burned away the shackles hate had put to his lips: ‘unto him that loved us and hath made us kings and priests unto God.’ In his memory, he knew that he had been born a king, but it was the little Roxanna reading from the Bible who had shown him the only way he could become a king. So he had lived his life thereafter and so he would continue to live it so long as strength and manhood lasted.”
This passage cut through me like a hot knife. 
This morning, my pastor preached on the very same thing. In Christ the King, we see Christ who has two thrones. The throne of the cross which teaches us self-sacrifice and obedience. And, the throne of glory in Heaven, which teaches us the power of intercessory prayer. We are called to unite with Christ and imitate him in both of those thrones. Additionally, as the baptized, we are made new and we share in the Old Testament anointing of priest, prophet, and king. Like Amos, we are called to live as good kings who live like Christ. 
Being American and a woman, the idea of being a “king” has always been surreal and strange to me. Honestly, I have mostly ignored it. But, apparently, this is the year when I am going to meet this truth face to face. 
My word for this year is kingship. And, as I so often say, I cannot wait to see what God has planned for that! I cannot wait to see how this is going to impact my work, my vocation, our library, and my life. 
 
https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-reflections/word-of-the-year-2025

Book Review: The Secret Princess by J. C. Prins

The Secret Princess: A Tale of Hope by J.C. Prins is a delightful middle-grade illustrated chapter book that weaves Catholic themes and fairy tale elements into a touching story of faith, family, hope, and perseverance. The book is beautifully written. Prins incorporates devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a way that adds spiritual depth without feeling forced or uninspired.
The story follows ten-year-old Miriam, who lives with her loving but grief-stricken widowed mother, her bitter grandmother, and her baby sister. In their land, every woman possesses a special locket that outwardly reflects the state of her heart. On the heartbreaking day when the king’s soldiers arrive with the news that Miriam’s father has died defending their homeland, her mother’s locket slips from her neck and shatters. From that moment on, her mother wears the broken locket, tied shut, as a symbol of her grief. And while Miriam’s locket does not break, it no longer grows as it should. Their once joyful and hopeful cottage becomes one of sadness and despair, and her mother sings no more.
But God does not leave Miriam, or her mother, truly alone. A lively and kind storyteller named Leena moves into the cottage next door and quickly becomes a dear friend. Always ready with a little food to share, a helping hand, and a good story to lift the spirit, Leena nurtures Miriam’s heart in a way that no one else can. Miriam spends countless hours with Leena, picking fruit, helping in the kitchen, and most importantly, listening to her enchanting tales. Whenever Miriam is with Leena, her locket warms, begins to glow, and slowly comes back to life, reflecting the hope being rekindled in her heart.
With its fairy-tale atmosphere, the story feels timeless and magical, yet it’s grounded in a strong Catholic worldview. The imagery is vivid and meaningful, and the surprise ending is a joy to read. The book is perfectly suited for middle-grade readers, appealing to both boys and girls, but girls will have a particular appreciation for the story. 
The Secret Princess is award-winning, being named the Best Debut Novel at the 2024 Catholic Media Association book awards and receiving the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval. Its story, filled with lovely illustrations, compelling characters, and a hopeful message, makes it an excellent addition to any Catholic family’s bookshelf. While the Catholic imagery is beautiful and will be especially appreciated by Catholic families, it is not only suited to Catholic readers but would be enjoyed by anyone who likes fairy tales and Christian-themed stories. I am delighted to have this novel in my lending library.
 
https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/the-secret-princess-a-tale-of-hope

Reflection: The Last Enemy to Be Defeated

“O death, where is your victory?    O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Librarian Life: November 2024

Mail Bag
The Card Catalog Book Care and Book Repair
Packhorse Librarians Book List
21st Century Pack Horse Librarians on Facebook
The Green Writer Program
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker 
The Town That Fooled the British by Lisa Papp
The Scarlet Stockings Spy by Trinka Hakes Noble
Books published or republished in 2024 - suggestion form
Biblioguides 
Semicolon
Book Review Roundup 
Mighty Networks
Shelf Notes 
Picture Book Preschool   
LibraryThing
TinyCat
Find us at The Card Catalog Website: https://thecardcataloglibrarians.com/

Book Review: The Misadventures Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson by Glenn McCarty

The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson by Glenn McCarty is a delightful, fast-paced western adventure that will capture the imaginations of middle-grade readers and families alike. Set during the settling of the American West, this story is a perfect blend of humor, action, and heart, making it an ideal family read-aloud.
The tale follows the unlikely friendship between Eugene, a thoughtful and cautious boy, and the wild, free-spirited Tumbleweed Thompson. Together, they find themselves swept up in all sorts of mischief and danger, including a thrilling train heist, hidden treasures, and heroic escapades. The story is not just about adventure, though—woven into the action are themes of trust, friendship, and the importance of being reliable.
What makes this book stand out are the well-drawn characters and the presence of good, trustworthy adults who mentor the children. These adults add a layer of warmth, intrigue, and wisdom to the story, while the young protagonists wrestle with their own understanding of responsibility and loyalty.
With its blend of goofy humor and meaningful conversations, The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson is a wonderful option for middle-grade readers looking for a fun ride through the Old West, and it’s an excellent choice for families seeking a wholesome, adventurous story to share together. You can purchase it and the sequel which is coming out this fall from StoryWarren.
If you like western adventure novels suitable for the whole family, check out Sara’s review of Dead-Eye Dan And The Cimarron Kid.
 
https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/the-misadventured-summer-of-tumbleweed-thompson

Reflection: We Ought to Walk as He Walked

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6).
The apostle John began his first letter by reminding us that he was an eyewitness to Jesus’s life on earth. He adamantly proclaimed that Jesus came in the flesh so we can have fellowship, along with John, in the Father and in Jesus the Christ.  
But saying we have that fellowship isn’t enough. After some severe pronouncements about the opposition of darkness and light, truth and lies, John made the statement that whoever says he abides in Jesus ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 

Our Reading Life - November, 2024

Sara Masarik’s References 
In Defense of Beverly Cleary Blog Post
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker  
Lily's Victory Garden by Helen L. Wilbur
Friend of Freedom River by Gloria Whela 
Mackinac Bridge by Gloria Whelan
The Scarlet Stocking Spy by Trinka Hakes Noble 
The Town that Fooled the British by Lisa Papp
Rudy Rides the Rails  Dandi Daley Mackall 
The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan
Ideas have Consequences by Richard M. Weaver
After Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyre
How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler
Sarah Kim’s References
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
Angel on the Square by Gloria Whelan
An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Diane’s References
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
Amos Fortune Freeman by Elizabeth Yates
Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein 
Tanya’s References 
The Door in the Wall  
General References
Biblioguides 
Semicolon
Book Review Roundup 
Mighty Networks
Shelf Notes

Book Review (Cautionary): Brooklyn Rose by Ann Rinaldi

The more Ann Rinaldi I read, the more her writing disappoints me. Brooklyn Rose had the potential to be a charming and interesting historical novel, but several recurring flaws render it unsuitable for a thoughtful young adult audience or a library that aims to provide living books and quality historical fiction.
The book centers around Rose Frampton, a young Southern belle who, in 1900, enters into a marriage of convenience with a wealthy, older man named Renee. Rose is innocent and idealistic, hoping that her mother is right and that love will grow with time. The story unfolds through her diary entries as she adjusts to life in Brooklyn, New York which is the center of her husband’s business affairs. Renee, who is kind, gentle, and generous, dotes on Rose, but the differences in their ages and maturity levels is obvious and it is very hard to see a partnership between them. 
Though the historical setting initially draws you in, Rinaldi’s use of modern expressions breaks the period feel, creating jarring anachronisms that detract from the novel’s authenticity. The language lacks richness and complexity, which may appeal to a younger audience on a surface level but ultimately underserves the depth that historical fiction readers expect. 
Beyond these stylistic issues, the plot is poorly constructed. For example, early in the story, we hear of a plague sweeping port cities, but this detail is soon abandoned. We meet a cast of characters, including Rose’s family and the Irish servants, yet none of their arcs develop in meaningful ways. In fact, I even wondered if the plague would show up in their stories somehow, but that was not the case. Even Rose’s prized horse, a symbolic connection to her Southern roots, is mentioned as shipped to Brooklyn but then simply disappears from the narrative. These plot holes create an experience that feels disjointed, superficial, lacking direction, and lacking any real storytelling. 
Sadly, there is an undercurrent of adult themes, presented in a way that feels inappropriate for the intended teen audience. First, we have a small line about how Renee’s kisses make her feel in her body. Then, she tells her journal how tender and loving Renee is and how it was easy to “give herself to him” on their wedding night and how that has created new intimacy between them. Rinaldi could have approached Rose’s coming-of-age journey through emotional development, yet she bypasses this in favor of superficial interactions and just enough veiled comments about sexual intimacy to make a young reader curious.
Most concerningly, Rinaldi hints at deeper marital issues that our young readers do not need to be exposed to. Rose tells us again and again that Renee doesn’t tell her many things about himself, his past, or his family, revealing a lack of emotional intimacy between them. I thought that this might be a plot point that would resolve in her coming-of-age story, but that never really happens. 
Additionally, she tells us how Renee routinely calls her “child” and treats her as one. Kind as he is, he doesn’t really respect her as an equal or something other than a favorite pet. And, when Renee’s mother’s arrival brings a bizarre level of conflict to Rose’s new life, Renee is unwilling to defend his young wife, and this worsens Rose’s confusion, culminating in an illogical scene where she runs away to test her husband’s love.
Overall, Brooklyn Rose seems to lack a clear purpose. The writing feels overly simplistic, the historical elements are thinly developed, and the themes are ill-suited to a young readership. While I wanted to like this novel, Brooklyn Roseultimately feels like a quickly assembled tale without the substance that would make it memorable. For libraries seeking compelling historical fiction for young readers, this book falls short on many fronts.
I have found Ann Rinaldi books to be uneven. Some I have liked, some I have not. You can read my review of others here:
A Break With CharityThe Fifth of MarchThe Education of Mary
 
https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/brooklyn-rose-cautionary-review 

Book Review: Lad: A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune

Lad: A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune is a classic that captures the heart of any dog lover with its vivid language and realistic storytelling. Set in the peaceful countryside of Sunnybank, the book follows the adventures of Lad, a noble collie, whose loyalty, intelligence, and bravery are celebrated in a series of charming and heartfelt anecdotes.
 
The strength of this book lies in Terhune’s ability to bring the world of dogs to life. His language is rich and descriptive, painting vivid pictures of the interactions between Lad and his human family, his experiences at show competitions, and his interactions with other dogs. Each chapter showcases a different aspect of Lad’s character, whether it’s his fierce protection of his home, his gentle patience with his female companion, or his unwavering devotion to his owners.
 
However, readers should be aware that there are some dated elements in the book. Terhune’s portrayal of the “bulgar” as Black, while not malicious in intent, reflects racial views that modern audiences may find troubling. Similarly, the emphasis on Lad’s pedigree and bloodline—while appropriate for the time—might feel excessive to today’s readers, especially those who care less about purebred status and more about the personalities of their pets. Additionally, there is some level of dog-on-dog violence, and the traditional methods of discipline and training depicted in the book may not resonate with contemporary approaches to animal care.
 
That said, for dog lovers, Lad: A Dog remains a treasure. The bond between Lad and his family is beautifully portrayed, and Terhune’s admiration for the dog’s noble spirit shines through. Those who appreciate dogs will likely find themselves swept up in Lad’s world, admiring the qualities that make him such a worthy companion. Despite its dated elements, the core message of love, loyalty, and the unique bond between dogs and humans shines through, making it a worthwhile read for anyone who appreciates the loyalty and love of a good dog.
 
https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/lad-a-dog