Plumfield Moms

Reflection: I Thank You, Father

"I believe that Jesus was teaching us that true thanksgiving is concurring with God’s right judgments. Whether circumstances look good to me or not, I want to be transformed by the renewal of my mind. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ' (I Cor. 2:16)."

Author Interview: Kevin T Ford Talks About His Book Lepunia

In this engaging conversation, Sara, Diane, and Kevin T. Ford discuss the journey of becoming an author and the creative process behind his book 'Lepunia'. They explore themes of family, writing inspiration, and the importance of understanding the target audience for children's literature. Kevin shares insights into his writing style, future projects, and the unique experiences that shaped his storytelling. Ford emphasizes the importance of creating believable characters, particularly in the context of animal protagonists, and how these characters can convey deeper themes of relationship and identity. The discussion also touches on the significance of place in storytelling, drawing from personal experiences in the Great Plains, and the collaboration with illustrator Michael Genova to bring the story to life visually. In this engaging conversation, Kevin T Ford shares insights into the importance of crafting a read-aloud experience for families and anticipates the release of his sequel, emphasizing the value of community engagement and the moral lessons embedded in his stories.
 

Book Review: Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin

Inspired by true events in World War II of the Warsaw librarians’ resistance, Madeline Martin’s 2023 historical fiction novel, The Keeper of Hidden Books is her strongest novel so far. As Poland tries to avoid succumbing to the invasion of Germany, young Poles are organizing themselves into various forms of resistance work. Zofia and her Jewish friend Janina are assigned to assist the Warsaw public librarians as they work to preserve and protect Poland’s national collections. When Poland falls and the Germans take control of the libraries, the librarians work to hide and protect the books from the German eradication of all works which do not support Hitler’s agenda. 
This story is powerful and very well done. I continue to be very impressed with Martin’s ability to tell clean and exciting stories that have literary value and historical significance. For mamas and teen readers, these books are more elegantly written and more complex than Jennifer Nielsen’s YA novels but have much of the same flavor and interest. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/keeper-of-hidden-books-warsaw-librarians-resistance/

Reflection: How Will You Compete with Horses?

If Paul considered his affliction light and momentary, what are we called to think about ours? He didn’t have anything we can’t have. When he told the Ephesians to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might,” it wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command followed by instructions on how to do that. “Put on the whole armor of God,” and when you have done everything, “stand firm.”
When he wrote to the Corinthians, Paul didn’t say he had exclusive access to the mind of Christ. He said we have the mind of Christ. We’re not competing with horses on our own power. “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

Book Review: Who Walks the Attic

The story: The Blair family has recently moved to the country from Detroit. Dad and Mom had to go back to the city for a few days so they left the four kids to take care of things at the new house. The oldest sister is college-age, so that’s okay. 
Their very first night alone in the house, the two boys hear a noise in the attic that needs to be investigated. Hollis, the oldest boy, maybe twelve years old, wants so badly to have a mystery to solve that everyone assumes he’s making a big deal out of nothing.
 
https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-picture-book-reviews/who-walks-the-attic

Reflection: Having Our Senses Trained

 “Nothing that exists by nature can form a habit contrary to its nature . . . Neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us; rather we are adapted by nature to receive them, and are made perfect by habit.” 

Our Reading Life: September 2024

Tanya’s References 
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin 
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin 
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry  
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner 
Sarah Kim’s References
The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni
Beneath the Magnificent Dome by Anna Iakovou 
Sara Masarik’s References 
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.  
Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson 
Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
Dead-Eye Dan and the Cimarron Kid by Glenn McCarty  
Diane’s References
Irena’s Gift by Karen Kirsten 
War Diaries by Astrid Lindgren 
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
 

Book Review: Crosstalk by Connie Willis

I have been on a Connie Willis kick lately. You may have read my review of To Say Nothing of the Dog – the hilarious comedy that reminds me of Jeeves and Wooster or The Importance of Being Earnest. Or, you may have heard me raving about Blackout and All Clear. At Christmas, I read and reviewed her collection of Christmas-themed short stories, A Lot Like Christmas. And I just re-read Doomsday and reviewed it, here. This review is for something totally different from Willis, Crosstalk. 
Crosstalk is part sci-fi and part psychological adventure with a little romance thrown in. No time travel. This book was a lot of fun to read and had an intriguing premise. That said, I will not give it to my teens as there is frequent discussion about unmarried characters having sex, and the plot revolves around sexual attraction. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/crosstalk

Reflection: Shade of His Hand

The life of Joseph, in the Old Testament, is a vivid example of the shade of God’s hand. Joseph was a favored son of his father. He also had the gift of interpreting dreams. While it would have been prudent for him not to advertise his dreams in front of his brothers, he wasn’t responsible for the hatred that drove them to be willing to kill him. As Pharaoh’s slave, and later in prison for something he didn’t do, Joseph may have been wondering if he would have been better off dead. When he interpreted dreams for two fellow prisoners, he must have thought he’d bought his ticket out. The men he helped didn’t return the favor, and he sat in prison for two more years.
“Is my gloom, after all, Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?”
 
 

Book Review: One Thousand Tracings

“The aftermath of World War II brought great suffering to people in Europe. Thousands of Americans responded, healing the wounds of war with kindness. My grandparents, Fran and Frederick Hamerstrom, headed one relief effort initiated by American ornithologists. This is their story. They enlisted the help of fellow scientists, and together they sent care packages to more than three thousand people in fifteen countries throughout Europe.” 
Judge learned the story when she discovered a box of foot tracings in her grandmother’s attic. Then her mother began to remember details. Now Judge shares with us the story of regular people who quietly helped thousands of suffering strangers. Like many, many others of the Greatest Generation, they did it because it was the right thing to do. When the job was done, they didn’t expect to be hailed as heroes or awarded medals. Sometimes they didn’t even tell their grandchildren.
 
https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-picture-book-reviews/one-thousand-tracings-healing-the-wounds-of-world-war-ii