Ambleside Online

Okay, I just have to say this. We are LOVING Ambleside Online. Our days are so much smoother and we all love the great books that we are reading. We are almost halfway through
Term 2 for all of the boys. I am noticing so many changes in them. They are much more interested in history and nature. Before Ambleside, we really didn't pay much attention to nature around us. Now, they are always coming in telling me about a bird or bug that they saw and describing it to me. They are enjoying so much of the "riches" now. I look forward to all of the new books that each term is bringing us. And thank you, Librivox! I don't know what I would do without you! It saves my voice so much to be able to divide up the books I read, and the ones that they can listen to without me. Such a blessing!

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier- Review

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Well, I have had this book set aside for my children's upper school years and finally decided to pre-read it. I am so glad that I did! I originally bought this book after seeing it recommended on several book lists for children. After reading it, I have to question who makes these book lists!

Alert: Spoilers ahead!

Young Timmy is in awe of his brother, Sam. Sam is dashing and rebellious, and leaves his Tory family to join with the Patriots in the Revolutionary War. Timmy is unsure which side he believes in, but knows only that he loves his brother dearly. Sam is certain that his side is the right one and defies his father, and stealing the family gun, runs away to fight. Timmy, meanwhile, is living a normal life for a boy on a farm in the 1700s. The book is full of day by day happenings without much happening. Finally, Tim's father feels that he is old enough to make the yearly trip to sell their cattle. The only problem is, they have always sold their cattle at a certain port which is held by the British. Tim's (as he is now called) father doesn't care who buys the cattle as long as he can sell them. On their way back home, he (the father) is captured by unknown assailants. After a long wait, Tim and his mother finally hear that he has been killed. The kicker is that he was held prisoner on a British ship and caught cholera. So now, Tim feels that the British side is horrible, else how could they capture and keep his father prisoner when he was a Tory? After some time, Sam makes a visit home with his company. During his visit, Tim begs Sam to come home and help the family. Sam says no, that he plans to re-enlist as soon as his time is up. Tim realizes that Sam is making a selfish choice but can do nothing about it. Then one night, they hear a disturbance in the barn. Some of the men from Sam's company are trying to steal their cattle but when Sam runs out to stop them, they turn on him and take him in as a prisoner for the crime that they were committing. Tim and his mother do everything they can to right the wrong that has been done but Sam's commanding officer is determined to make an example of him. In the end, Sam is executed most brutally and Tim witnesses it all. He comes to the conclusion that neither side is right and that there had to have been a better way to resolve the issues at hand.

Now, I love a Revolutionary period book as much as the next person and I really had high hopes for this book. But it was very depressing and disheartening. It will not be staying on my shelves, needless to say. I understand the whole “let's show them real life” theory in books, but in reality, books should have a happy ending. Otherwise, we are teaching that there is no reason for hope. If we are all doomed to an unhappy end, why even try? On another note, the language in this book was a bit of a shock. As a children's book, I was very unhappy with that side of it. I guess I will be pre-reading everything on these famed “lists”.