Plumfield Moms

Reflection: Angels Long to Look

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Pet. 1:12).

Our Reading Life: December - 2024

Welcome to our December 2024 episode of Our Reading Life where we chat with our dear friends, Tanya Arnold and Sarah Kim from Biblioguides about our reading lives. We are so glad you are here!
 
Sara Masarik’s References 
Tree Street Kids Series by Amanda Cleary Eastep
Jack Versus the Tornado by Amanda Cleary Eastep
The Viking Quest Books by Lois Walfrid Johnson
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates
Roman Roads Media: Old Western Culture 
 
Diane’s References
Crispin’s Rainy Day by Forrest Dickison
Ensnared in the Wolf's Lair: Inside the 1944 Plot to Kill Hitler and the Ghost Children of His Revenge by Ann Bausum 
Paradise Lost by John Milton
 
Sarah Kim’s References
Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin  
One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them by Loree Burns
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
 
Tanya’s References 
Bjorn the Proud by Madeleine Polland 
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill 
General References
Biblioguides 
Semicolon
Book Review Roundup 
Mighty Networks
Shelf Notes 

Book Review: Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan

The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan is a fascinating sequel to Angel on the Square, delving deeper into the complexities of post-Czarist Soviet Russia with a storyline that grabs readers at the start.Now grown up, the heroes from the first book are married, have two children, and are living in Leningrad (formerly St. Petersburg). Living in the harsh reality of a regime that persecutes their aristocratic heritage, they barely resemble the characters we knew in Angel on the Square. This shift allows us to detach from them and focus on their children.
When Katya and Misha are arrested in the early chapters of the book, Marya and Georgi are left to fend for themselves. Marya’s intelligence and resilience become central to the story, as she and her brother set out on a daring and dangerous journey across Russia in hopes of reuniting with their mother, who has been exiled to Siberia. Their epic journey is filled with difficult terrain, logistical challenges like not having passports, and the incredible challenges of having to navigate whom to trust and when. The children meet people who are immeasurably kind and villains who seek to exploit them in their desperation. After having made mistakes early on about trusting the wrong people, Marya’s undergoes a gradual transformation as she begins to trust again. This provides a subtle but essential theme that shapes her character arc beautifully.
What makes The Impossible Journey particularly captivating is the varied cast of characters the children encounter. Each individual they meet on their journey is unique, authentic to their time and place, and contributes to the plot in meaningful ways. Nothing is wasted in a Whelan novel, nor is it written in a predictable way. The diversity of these encounters brings an authenticity to the children’s journey: it teaches us much about the kinds of people who lived in Russia at that time and the struggles they endured. 
Overall, The Impossible Journey is an unforgettable tale of resilience, family, and hope, perfectly balancing historical accuracy with heartfelt storytelling. Readers will find themselves deeply moved by Marya’s bravery and her ability to overcome adversity, making this book a must-read for anyone who values historical fiction that both educates and inspires.
Parent Note: Some parents may wish to know that Marya’s father was taken to the Siberian work camps. Whelan tells the reader just enough about that experience to inform them and make them curious about that horror, but not so much as to hurt them. The conversation where it is unpacked is short and gentle. Sadly, however, he does die. His death is as sad as it should be, but there is a sweetness to it that keeps the reader from despairing. 
https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/the-impossible-journey

Reflection: A Root of Bitterness

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Heb. 12:15).
It’s disturbing the way God startles you into looking at something you’ve been busy not seeing. I’ve read through Hebrews many times and noted the phrase “root of bitterness.” I’ve even looked up the Greek words to see if their meaning would add insight. What they mean is, root of bitterness. All right, then, nothing to see here. I don’t have one of those. 
What brought me around to rethink this was a recent reading of Hebrews 12:1; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

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