Book Report April 2016

The Copper Kettle (1939) by Annette Turngren

This was a cute older kids book from a library sale. It takes place in the 1800s in a small Swedish village. Mari is a typical tomboy who manages to get herself into trouble more often than not. Her father is the local pastor. Mari hears about the new singing sensation Jenny Lind and it’s all she wants in life to be able to hear this “Swedish Nightingale.” She finally gets the chance.

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Opal The Journal of an Understanding Heart (1984) adapted by Jane Boulton

This is supposed to be part of the diary of Opal Whiteley, age 5 or 6. The veracity of the diary has been questioned and debated. Opal died in 1992 in her 90s and had been in a mental institution for many years. Whether this is a true account or not, it’s written in a very charming manner and is worth the read.

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Lights! Camera! Action! (2014) by Emily Thomas

A Blue Hills Library book. The local theater is heavily damaged by a fire and while it’s being remodeled someone keeps breaking in and vandalizing the work. Ben and Ryan decide to build a tree house and get to design and raise the money to do it themselves with a little supervision.

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Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (1955) by Jean Lee Latham

Good YA biography about Nathaniel Bowditch. He was an early American mathematician. He couldn’t afford schooling, so taught himself and became the foremost maritime navigator in America. His book is still used by the Navy.

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Nobody Nowhere (1992) by Donna Williams

An amazing autobiography! I find it hard to describe this book. Donna Williams was apparently born very autistic, but was never diagnosed as such until she pretty much discovered it herself in her 20s. The struggles she went through I find hard to imagine. I have a lot of respect for her. This book is the first of 4 that chronicle her journey.