The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson - Quotes

      I decided to do what I did with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (review here, quote collection here) and put together a quote collection from Andrew Peterson's The Wingfeather Saga, as a follow-up from reviewing it on Tuesday. Enjoy!

The cottage was rather plain, except for how comfortable it was, and how nicely it had been built, and how neatly it was kept in spite of the three children who lived there, and except for the love that glowed from it like firelight from its windows at night.

"Part of being a man is putting others' needs before your own."

"Jouncey as a two-ton bog pie!"

"Your grandfather has a plan." Nia laughed, a welcome sound in the dark. "Or at least he's in the process of making up one."

Ancient secrets lie beneath these stones and cities. They have been lost to us, but still, we mustn't let them fall to evil.

        "Let him come. I'll skewer him like a daggerfish."

After a moment, Glag said, "Do you mean, you're the daggerfish doing the skewering, or do you mean you'll skewer him like he's a daggerfish that you're trying to stab in the river?"

       Sneem cocked his snaky head sideways to sort out the question. "Either way, the Florid Sword gets skewered, don't he?"

        "I sssuppose," said Glag, "but it might be harder to stab him if he was swimming about in the water like a daggerfish. Them are fast. But if you was the daggerfish, you'd just leap out of the river and jab him, right?"

         Sneem thought about this for a moment, then said, "I'll get 'im. Like a fish."

"So you're goin' to try and save 'im, then?"

"Yes ma'am. I have to. I'm a Throne Warden."

"Well done, little warriors!"

"When it rages enough, hate doesn't need a reason. It burns for the sake of its own heat and devours whatever, or whomever, is set before it."

Rudric cleared his throat and struggled to look Nia in the eye. "That didn't go as I had hoped."
"Little does," Nia said, looking away,

        "Imagine that you're on the battlefield armed with -- yawn -- arms. You're fighting someone, and they're fighting back. There's a big fight. That's what happened in the War of 189. It was, as I said, terribly exciting." The man looked at his notes. "Very well. Moving on."

         In this manner they learned about the War of 189, the Famine of 235 ("Imagine that you're very -- yawn -- hungry"), the Ridgerunner Raid of 274 ("Imagine some things to do with raiding, guildlings") and the Apple Riot of 312 ("Imagine it, " was all he said before informing them that they'd be tested on it next week).

Janner heard Artham in his mind, saw him as he leapt into the rockroach den, one word pulsing in him like a beating heart: Protect. Protect. Protect. And what had Janner done? Complain, complain, complain. 
Janner gritted his teeth. He didn't want that to be his story.

"What happens next?"
"I don't know. I've never been in a war."

His ears heard the stirring sound of Leeli's whistleharp dancing faintly out of the dungeon; a battle song, urging him onward to great deeds.

All quotes from The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson. Image by me.

Do you have any favorite quotes from The Wingfeather Saga?

The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson

    My siblings and I discovered this whimsical fantasy series fairly recently, and devoured the books with great enjoyment. This story of good versus evil is a fun fantasy of original characters, delightful plot twists, and Christian parallels.
     The Wingfeather Saga is rather difficult to split up into individual plot summaries, due to fresh twists and turns that come up in every book, so I'll just summarize and discuss the books as a whole. There are four books in this series: On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (yeah, you know this will be a humorous book by the title), North! Or Be Eaten (same thing...), The Monster in the Hollows, and The Warden and the Wolfking.

     Plot Summary: All light is gone from the world of Aerwiar, for it is ruled by Gnag the Nameless, whose vile servants the Fangs from the dreaded land of Dang are stationed everywhere to carry out Gnag's orders. The Fangs become suspicious of one family in particular, the Igibys in the small town of Glipwood. The Igiby children don't know how important they truly are to the fate of their kingdom, but their mother and grandfather know, even if they won't tell anyone. The world is restless, and unnerving events begin to occur. The fearsome sea dragons are stirring, the Fangs are massing, and the Igiby children Janner, Tink, and Leeli must discover their true identity so that they can save the world. Peril now surrounds them on every side, from the ghastly Fangs to the terrifying toothy cows of Skree.

(That was mostly On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, but there are so many plot twists among the other ones that I'm sure to give something away by summarizing individually.)

      Discussions: This series is very entertaining and quirky. For me it was a little off-putting how very... not serious it was. I'm used to fantasy with a more serious tone, like in Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings and such. These books turned out to be very comic and humorous, but they at first just weren't as deep as most "Christian fantasy" is. The books became more profound as the series progressed, but the overall tone is light and whimsical. (The footnotes in the first book are hilarious, by the way.)
      Here's an introduction to the Igiby family. The family consists of three children and their mother and grandfather. (Their father disappeared mysteriously a while ago.) Janner, Tink and Leeli, the three children, are delightfully real characters. 
     Janner is the oldest, and loves books and writing. (Personally, I relate to Janner more than the other Igibys, for these reasons.) Janner is irritated when he's put in charge of his younger brother and sister and made responsible for them. He doesn't want to be the one who watches over them and keeps an eye on them when they go to the Dragon Day Festival. He doesn't want it to be his fault when his sister Leeli's dog Nugget tangles with a vicious and vengeful Fang. But he's responsible just the same, and when the siblings are flung into war-torn adventure he discovers that he can be courageous and that it is an honor to be responsible.
     Tink is the second in line, and enjoys drawing, a talent cultivated carefully by his mother. Tink longs for adventure, and this longing makes him reckless and reluctant to recognize Janner as his authority and protector. He  wants to be strong, and to be powerful, but he doesn't know  how it's going to happen. Tink must discover courage, his own strengths, and how to use them to benefit his world.
     Leeli is the youngest, a skilled musician despite her youth. She plays the whistleharp and sings, a talent which captivates the mysterious and unfriendly sea dragons. Wounded when she was very small, Leeli limps on a crippled leg, using a crutch, but despite that she is fiercely independent and strong. Leeli's talent with music and her determination may well shape her world's future.

   Nia Igiby, the children's mother, cares for them with the help of her father Podo Helmer, a retired pirate with a peg leg and a fiercely loving disposition. Although her children don't know their true identity, Nia knows, and she guards the secret carefully. She is determined to protect her children with her life. 
   There's also Peet the Sock Man, an odd bird-man with a need to defend others lest he lose his sanity. Oskar N. Reteep, who loves books and quotes them whenever he can, suiting them to the occasion. The Stranders, the groups of rough and ill-mannered roguish raiders who harass travelers. The Wingfeather Saga is a lively, lighthearted tale of a kingdom's fight against evil, alive with rich characters, quirks, plot twists, whimsical writing, and hope.

Overall: I highly recommend this series! 

If you've read The Wingfeather Saga, who's your favorite character? :)

The Lord of the Rings, by J . R. R. Tolkien - Quotes

      Since I reviewed J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings last week (link to my review here), I wanted to do a collection of quotes from this literary masterpiece (that's what I would term it, anyway). Some of these are inspirational/insightful, some are simply phrases I find humorous. If you haven't read these books, I hope these intrigue you. Enjoy!

Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began
Now far ahead the Road has gone
And I must follow, if I can. 
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

Bilbo met the guests (and additions) at the new white gate. He gave away presents to all and sundry -- the latter were those who went out again by a back way and came in again by the gate.

"Well, you know your own business, maybe," said Mr. Butterbur, looking suspiciously at Strider. "But if I was in your plight, I wouldn't take up with a Ranger."
"Then who would you take up with?" asked Strider. "A fat innkeeper who only remembers his own name because people shout it at him all day?"

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens," said Gimli. 
"Maybe, " said Elrond, "but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall."
"Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart," said Gimli.
"Or break it," said Elrond. "Look not too far ahead!"

"The Ring! Is it not a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing? So small a thing!"

"May the others find a safe road! ... I don't suppose we shall see them again." 

"Yet we may, Mr. Frodo. We may," said Sam.

"I have spoken words of hope. But only of hope. Hope is not victory."

Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?

"They cannot conquer for ever!" said Frodo.

"What's taters, precious, eh, what's taters?"
"Po--ta--toes," said Sam. "The Gaffer's delight, and rare good ballast for an empty belly. But you won't find any, so you needn't look. But be good Smeagol and fetch me the herbs and I'll think better of you. What's more, if you turn over a new leaf, and keep it turned, I'll cook you some taters one of these days. I will: fried fish and chips served by S. Gamgee. You couldn't say no to that."
"Yes, yes we could. Spoiling nice fish, scorching it. Give me fish now, and keep nassty chips!"
"Oh, you're hopeless!" said Sam.

Tall ships and tall kings,
Three times three,
What brought they from the foundered land
Over the flowing sea?
Seven stars and seven stones 
And one white tree.

"I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam."

All quotes by J. R. R. Tolkien. All pictures/media by me.

The Railway Children, by E. Nesbit

This story is a great book to read as a family. E. Nesbit used to be one of my favorite authors.

Plot Summary: When Father is suddenly called away, Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis, and their mother must move away from London for some mysterious reason. They settle into the British countryside in a small, quiet house. When they discover the nearby railway line, and the friendly workers there, the children are happy living in their new home. But where is Father? Why did he leave? And is he ever coming back?

Discussions: This is one of my family's favorite books to listen to in the car, since it's interesting for a wide range of people. The writing is clear and simple, easily understood by the younger siblings, and the story and humor are developed enough for older siblings. 
     Roberta, also known as Bobbie, does most of the narration in The Railway Children. Bobbie is the oldest of the three children, a responsible, thoughtful girl. Most of the time, she thinks before she acts. Warmhearted and generous, she is the one who tries to get her brother's beloved steam engine model fixed.
    Peter, next in line, is impulsive and a little reckless. He considers himself the man of the family and responsible for their comfort, which results in a slightly shady method of providing them with enough coal. 
   Phyllis is the youngest, and usually is the one who gets in trouble by tripping and tearing or spilling something. But she always means very well. She always tries to be helpful, even though it sometimes turns out rather badly.
   Their Mother is a writer, who creates stories for children and makes their living solely by selling the stories. (The children believe her stories are the most wonderful ones in the world.) She supports the children in their desire to explore the surrounding countryside, although she worries a little about their safety. 
    The intrepid Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis roam the nearby countryside, and manage to run into all sorts of adventures, from saving a train from a terrible wreck to rescuing a boy who breaks his leg. They are befriended by an Old Gentleman, who helps the family out whenever he can. They learn about railways with the gruff porter Perks and plot to celebrate his birthday. Overall, they enjoy their new life in the British countryside by the railway.
     But they wonder, sometimes, just what has happened to their Father. They hear nothing from him, and Mother never speaks of him. Where is he? Will he ever return? Peter and Phyllis don't talk about it at all, but Roberta wonders about it. She's determined to find it out so she can support her Mother as best she can.
  
Overall: The Railway Children is a charming British story of family, friendship, and of course railways. A great choice to read or listen to as a family.

Note: If you have any books you'd like me to review, comment below! It can be either a book you love and just want to read a review of, or a book you haven't read and would like to see a review before you read it. Please do give me your suggestions! 

Of Light and Darkness

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of man. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5, ESV)

Many years ago, my family visited some nearby caverns. This was a while ago, so I don’t remember very much. What I do remember is when our tour guide showed us what a cave was like without the lights on. She explained that she was going to turn the lights off, and when she did, no one could be allowed to move. This was because it was going to be so dark that if a child wearing those shows that light up when you step in them moved and the lights went off, that small bit of colored light would be so bright in comparison to the cave darkness that it would blind us. She turned off the lights, leaving us for a minute in the darkest, blackest, heaviest darkness you can imagine. I can still remember the feeling of darkness surrounding me; complete, utter, darkness, darker than it is when you close your eyes. The guide told us to close our eyes while she turned the lights back on. I remember being very nervous to open my eyes. I sure didn’t want to be blind. Even such a tiny prick of light from a small child’s shoe could blind me, and surely the cave lights would be much worse.

Darkness. Light and darkness is a common theme in books and movies. Light is good, darkness is bad. The ultimate opposites. The ultimate contrasts.

Light is always, always the “right.” As a Christian, I believe there’s a good reason for that. Simply, Jesus created light, setting it most clearly apart from darkness.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him… For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (Colossians 1:15-16, 19, ESV)

Jesus is light. The source of light. The true Light of the world.
We don’t like darkness. We don’t like not being able to see. Yet those remaining in unrepentant sin walk in the greatest darkness that has ever existed. But they think they know where they’re going, and they don’t think they need the light turned on.

The only thing that un-makes darkness is light. In this technologically-advanced age, we can simply flip a switch and fill a room with light. But what if we’re too scared to turn on the light? All the sins we have committed are part of darkness, a darkness that is part of us. And if we don’t repent of them and ask forgiveness for them, then the darkness is hidden away, crippling us. Or even wrong thoughts, bitter thoughts, hateful thoughts, envious thoughts, are slivers of darkness crippling us. The darkness becomes part of us. It cripples us, but we can’t let go of it because we’re afraid to turn the light on. We’re afraid to have the spotlight on our darkness, to have it all revealed.

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his works should be exposed. “(John 3:19-20, ESV)

But we don’t have to fear that. One of the pastors at my church was once discussing in one of his sermons how we feel about Christ seeing our sins, specifically at the Judgment Day. He described it as “alarming and comforting.” Alarming because a bright spotlight will be shone into the darkest corners of our hearts and our sins will be revealed. But there is comfort. And that because: The sins revealed are pardoned, forgiven sins. Pardoned and forgiven by Christ’s death for us. Christ, the source of light, the life of man, the True Light of the world. We don’t have to fear the darkness. Instead, the Light clears away the darkness and makes us whole.

So we don’t have to be afraid to turn on the light. Even though the smallest sliver of light will show all our worst faults, we need it desperately. Only through the Light of Christ can we become truly whole.

The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien

       Hands down, The Lord of the Rings is my favorite fictional book series ever. So here's a detailed review of the story of a magical ring. (my review of Tolkien's The Hobbit here)

One Ring to rule them all...

Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky

Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone

Nine for mortal men doomed to die

One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne

In Mordor where the shadows lie

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie...

Books - Plot summaries: 

The Fellowship of the Ring: Centuries ago in the land of Mordor, the Dark Lord Sauron secretly forged a Ring of Power -- One Ring to rule them all. But the Ring escaped him, and for many years Sauron was unable to carry out his plan to use it to conquer the world of Middle-earth. The Ring passed through many hands, until at last it fell into the hands of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit of the Shire. Now Frodo's job is to destroy this Ring by casting it into the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor, where the Ring was first created. Frodo must travel across Middle-Earth as part of The Fellowship (the group assigned to take the Ring to Mordor) pursued by the sinister Black Riders and hideous Orcs.

The Two Towers: Separated from the rest of the Fellowship by a battle with Orcs, Frodo and his friend Sam must continue on to Mordor alone. Guided only by the Ring-twisted, Ring-seeking creature Gollum, they traverse dangerous paths. Meanwhile, a few members of the Fellowship journey to gain the help of the country of Rohan. And there's another dangerous wizard around, who must be conquered before he slays the giant tree-creatures the Ents and unleashes vast armies of Orcs. Will Frodo and Sam reach Mordor safely to destroy the Ring? Can the rest of the fellowship hold off the Dark Lords in the two towers?

The Return of the King: Middle-Earth has been plunged into war. The country of Rohan arises to destroy the Dark Lord, but the Orcs are marching on the country of Gondor, which has long been left without a king. Battles rage on the Pelennor Fields as the Orcs fight to capture the noble city of Minas Tirith. Meanwhile Frodo and Sam travel through Mordor, growing weaker and weaker in the dark land. Will Frodo have the strength to complete his quest? And will the world of Middle-Earth ever be the same again?

Books - Discussions: These books aren't as easy to read as Tolkien's The Hobbit. The writing is less lighthearted, and occasionally more difficult to follow. I personally consider these my favorite fictional books, nonetheless, but I'd recommend it for age 11-up. (I didn't get much out of trying Fellowship of the Ring at age 9.) 
        Well-developed characters abound in Tolkien's works. Gandalf the Grey is the quick-tempered, wise old wizard that he was in The Hobbit, and you get to know him a little better in this series. Frodo Baggins, like his uncle Bilbo, is reluctant to leave the Shire, but he has more adventurous leanings, and likes poetry and ancient tales more than Bilbo did. Frodo's hobbit companions provide much of the humor. Samwise Gamgee (Sam), Frodo's longtime friend and loyal companion is a sturdy, down-to-earth hobbit who secretly longs to see Elves. Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry) is a mostly sensible hobbit with astonishing perception. Peregrin Took (Pippin) is the one who generally gets his friends in trouble, eliciting the title "Fool of a Took!" from Gandalf, who finds it difficult to put up with Pippin's carefree ways. All the hobbits are sturdy, loyal folk who are determined to see the quest through, although they don't always enjoy it. Gandalf and the four hobbits are the first five of the group of nine collected to destroy the Ring.
 Gandalf introduces another companion to Frodo: Strider, a wandering Ranger also known as

Aragorn. Strider is tall and dark and mysterious, and the hobbits are suspicious of him at first. But Aragorn protects the hobbits loyally, guiding them by safe paths and delivering them from trouble whenever he can. 
   Legolas and Gimli, an Elf and a Dwarf, form another pair of members who are part of the Fellowship of the Ring. Legolas Greenleaf, a skilled fighter, hails from the forest of Mirkwood, and he and the ax-wielding Dwarf Gimli greatly dislike each other. Elves and Dwarves simply don't take to each other in general, and Legolas's father Thranduil treated Gimli's father Gloin disgracefully years ago. (This incident is detailed in The Hobbit.) Legolas longs to travel to the Sea, as do many of the Elves. Gimli longs to visit the vast underground caverns of the Mines of Moria. Legolas and Gimli must work together despite their differences
   The last member of the Fellowship is Boromir, a mighty and courageous leader from the land of Gondor. He personally believes that the Ring should be used to help Gondor escape from the approaching Orcs, but agrees to help the Fellowship in their quest as a representative from Gondor. Boromir is the eldest of two brothers, and favored by his bitter father Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. Boromir's younger brother Faramir is introduced in The Two Towers, as a gentler, humbler man who seeks knowledge above might.
   There's also the people of Rohan; Eomer, the brave nephew of the king, who seeks fiercely to free Rohan from Orc raids. There's Theoden, the King of Rohan, rendered weak and helpless by the poisonous words of the sly Wormtongue. There's Eowyn, Eomer's sister,  the lovely and cold princess who longs to wield a sword in the defense of her people. 
   Another key character is Gollum. Once Smeagol, a person in race similar to a hobbit, he is now a ravenous, desperate, dark-loving creature known as Gollum for the gurgling sound he makes deep in his throat. Gollum wants the Ring more than anything else, for he killed someone for it, and it has twisted and bent him and overtaken him. When Gollum loses the Ring, he immediately sets out to find it, and spends his days traveling at night (because the light of the Sun is painful to him) to secure the Ring for himself once more. "My precious," he calls it, and longs after it hungrily. And yet Gollum is a pitiable creature, a burdened wretch, in need of mercy. Many parallels can be drawn between Christianity and Tolkien's story, and Gollum is a perfect example of us as sinners, seeking after earthly things to satisfy us when what we desperately need is God's grace. Sam hates Gollum, but Frodo eventually comes to understand him and even to trust the miserable creature.
    The Ring itself is a danger. Always it seeks to return to Sauron, its creator. It instills passion in the heart of whoever dares to carry it, an obsessive desire to protect it and to keep it. It has the power to turn friend against friend and simply bearing it may be the greatest danger Frodo must face.
  Battles rage in Middle-Earth, from an underground fight with a fiery creature known as the

 Balrog to evading deadly cloaked Black Riders. And over it all, the Eye of Sauron watches from the tower of Barad-dur, as he gathers his strength in the dark land of Mordor. Will the Fellowship have the strength to together defeat this evil force?

Overall: The Lord of the Rings is a powerful tale of a fight against darkness. I highly recommend this series.

Movies - Discussions: I really enjoy the movie versions of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The general plotline is the same, although many characters and events are changed or simply skipped. Tom Bombadil, a jolly wood-dweller, and his wife the river-maid Goldberry from Fellowship of the Ring are completely skipped. Perhaps that's not the greatest loss, but I liked that scene from the book and was sorry it wasn't in the movie. Many of the scenes in the Shire happen quickly and you don't get to know the hobbits living there as well as you do in the book. The Gaffer, Ted Sandyman, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, and Farmer Maggot are the ones I most regret not really getting to see. 
   Also, the timeline's a little adjusted. Everything happens a little faster. Frodo leaves on his quest quite a bit earlier, and under different circumstances. I had read the books before I saw the movies, and this confused me a little. 
   And some of the characters have been changed a little. Aragorn is a little grimmer and moodier, and seems almost resentful about his position of leadership. Arwen, the quietly beautiful Elf-maiden whom Aragorn is to marry takes the place of the Elf Glorfindel in bringing Frodo to Rivendell. Faramir becomes a resentful, moody man, who is very suspicious of Frodo and Sam and wants the Ring for himself. 
 Despite all this, I love the movies, and very much enjoy watching them. The Black Riders look appropriately dark and sinister. Saruman the wizard is played to perfection. Merry and Pippin are a hilarious pair of mischief-makers. Sam is loyal to the end. 

Overall: I consider the movies some of my favorites, and I do recommend them.

All quotes from different parts of The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. All drawings by me.

Have you read/watched The Lord of the Rings? If so, what do you think?

Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes

       Continuing with the Independence Day theme for this week, here's a review on Johnny Tremain, the story of a young silversmith caught up in the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. One of the best historical fiction books I've ever read.

Plot Summary: Fourteen-year-old orphan Johnny is apprenticed to once-famous silversmith Mr. Lapham, and is by far the most talented of the master's apprentices. Boastful and cocky, he orders the other apprentices around and is generally admired by Mrs. Lapham and her four daughters. But pride goes before a fall, and Johnny's superior attitude leads to a dangerous accident with molten silver that results in the loss of use of his right hand. Now useless to the Laphams, Johnny seeks another place to work, and eventually winds up involved with the fiery newspaper Observer and the rebellious Sons of Liberty. But while he works to help free the colonies from Britain, Johnny seeks out his own past. Is he related, as his mother told him on her deathbed, to one of the richest, most important man in town?

Discussions: This book is by far one of the best historical fiction books I've ever read. Esther Forbes makes people of the past (like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere) come to life on the pages. All of the characters are real and vivid, and richly drawn. Johnny is a cocky fourteen-year-old with a tendency to boast. He practically runs the shop for Mr. Lapham, who's getting older and mistrusts his own ability. Urged on by Mrs. Lapham (Mr. Lapham's daughter-in-law, not his wife), Johnny is the one who accepts a difficult order and Johnny is the one to dedicate himself to it.
     The other apprentices dislike Johnny for the way he orders them around, sending them for water and charcoal and whatever he needs to work. Shy, stuttering Dusty merely is scared and a little admiring of Johnny, but slow, lazy Dove hates him because Johnny is younger and more talented. Johnny takes every opportunity to torture Dove and Dove takes every opportunity to revenge himself on Johnny.
     Mrs. Lapham and her daughters admire Johnny's quickness and depend on him. Mrs. Lapham counts on him to keep the other apprentices in order and to keep the smithy going. Her two older daughters, Madge and Dorcas, don't pay much attention to Johnny, but younger Cilla (Priscilla) and Isannah tease him whenever they can. Twelve-year-old Cilla is a curious, eager girl, who devotes herself to poorly but beautiful seven-year-old Isannah. Johnny doesn't mind their teasing much; in fact he rather enjoys their attentions. Mr. Lapham is an old man who was once famously talented, but now mistrusts his own ability. He is piously dedicated to the Scriptures, and continually reminds Johnny that pride goes before a fall. Johnny pays little attention to this, until he meets with his misfortune. 
      When Johnny becomes involved with the Boston Observer, he meets the printer's nephew Rab. Rab Silsbee is a sensible older boy with a knack for listening and making friends. He takes things seriously, and is passionate about helping his country. Fiercely loyal, he defends Johnny and helps him out whenever he can. 
    These are just a few of the characters described. There's famously rich Mr. Lyte, who just might be related to Johnny, even if he doesn't want to admit it, and his haughtily beautiful daughter Lavinia, who adores little Isannah Lapham. Mr. Paul Revere, who offers Johnny tips about work with silver. Goblin, the skittish black horse whom Johnny tames one-handed. Josiah Quincy, the loyal and talented lawyer. Dr. Warren, who offers Johnny a possibility of healing. The beginning of the Revolutionary War comes to life in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes.  
     
Overall: This book is amazingly detailed and powerful. It can be a little confusing towards the middle and end, so I'd recommend it for 11-12-up.

Movie thoughts: I've watched the Disney movie version of Johnny Tremain a few times and I enjoy watching it, but it's extremely condensed. Many of the characters are simply left out, and most of the remaining ones aren't as developed as they are in the book. Most of the events happen quickly or are skipped. The story with Johnny and Mr. Lyte is told quickly and wrapped up quickly. There are fewer historical events than are detailed in the book, and after the Sons of Liberty have finished the Boston Tea Party they march across Boston singing about the Liberty Tree. A little unrealistic. But despite all that, it's a fun movie to watch as a family.

Have you read Johnny Tremain? If so, what do you think of it?

Why Do History?

      As I concluded my study of history for the year, my history book spent the last few chapters discussing an overall look at history, the past, and what it means for us. So, in honor of Independence Day yesterday, here are my concluding thoughts on why history is important to study.

   

It was harder than I expected to draw fireworks with colored pencils...

Dates, many of which we probably won't remember long. Rulers and kings, whose names will slowly drift away without much grief on our part. Places, some small, obscure, and possibly "irrelevant" and "unimportant" to us, aren't likely to linger in our memories. (Unless you have a really, really good memory, or memorize bits of history trivia for fun.) Math is useful in our day-to-day lives, so even if you don't enjoy it (sigh...) it's important to study. English is also important; knowing how to use accurate vocabulary and proper grammar is valuable. Science explains, mostly, how our world works. But why should we study history? Dates, kings, places, etc., most of which we may not remember and all of which has already happened. 
       Here are the questions I hope to answer in this essay/article: Isn't there any other reason for teenagers to study history? Why is it important?
        Well, first of all, not remembering it is sort of a problem. While of course you're not expected to remember every single thing you ever learned in history, knowing a basic timeline and some key dates and historical figures would probably be good. If you don't know a basic summary of the world's history by the time you graduate, that's not going to do you any favors later on. It doesn't create a good impression not to know about at least your own country's history.
        But why should we study what has already happened?
        Simply, to learn from it. People say you learn from your mistakes. I would say you can also learn from other people's mistakes. Which means that by studying mistakes that have been made in the past you can avoid them in the future. Unfortunately, up till now, much of history has been repeating itself. While new inventions and technology have arisen with each new century, many struggles and conflicts are the same. Man struggles to gain power and more specifically, to make a name for himself. Centuries upon centuries ago, a group of individuals decided to build a tower that would reach to heaven, boasting that they would attain the level of God their Creator. You know the rest of the story: utter confusion, conflict, and the tower labeled by the never-to-be-forgotten name The Tower of Babel. Kings constantly have taken power from each other over the centuries. Violence has been chosen over diplomacy and reason as a way to settle matters. War shadows the centuries. The choices of history repeat, many of them poor. To sum this up, we learn the mistakes of the past from history to avoid them in the future. 
       We don't only have poor examples from history. Many people stand out as examples worthy of modeling. We can learn from the past what to imitate in the future. George Washington's famous example of truthfulness, and Abraham Lincoln's strict honesty. The courage of Queen Esther, Joshua, Caleb, the ten Boom family, Nate Saint, David Livingstone, countless other missionaries, Clara Barton, the Pilgrims, everyone who gave their lives for their country, and many, many others. The loyalty of Jonathan to David. There are so many other examples to look at, to study, and to imitate. So not only do we learn what not to repeat from the past, but we learn what we can and ought to repeat. With discernment. We really don't need anyone to repeat the poor examples. 
      In conclusion, we study history not just to store away layers of trivia. We study history to understand mankind, to learn what to repeat, and what not to repeat. Knowing history will show you how and how not to create your own. We study history so that we may live with the instructive past in mind and the future ahead. Throughout history, we've seen generations influence generations. How will our generation influence the next? With the world's history in mind, may this generation set a better example for future centuries to come.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Hobbit is one of my favorite books, so here's a discussion on the book and also on the movies.  

  
Book - Plot Summary:  In the tranquil Shire, there lives a race of little people known as hobbits. They are calm, sensible people and live cozily and quietly. Bilbo Baggins, an especially practical hobbit, certainly does not long after adventure, but it's thrust upon him when Gandalf the wandering wizard arrives on his doorstep, bringing with him a pack of slightly riotous dwarves. Thorin Oakenshield, the heir to the dwarf kingdom of Erebor, hopes to reclaim his kingdom from the greedy dragon Smaug who took over it many years ago. Gandalf wants Bilbo to come along as a "Burglar" (or you can call it Expert Treasure-Seeker, if you like). At once Bilbo is flung into an adventure that surpasses his wildest expectations. As the Company travels over the Wilderlands of Middle-Earth, Bilbo must fight enormous spiders, evade trolls, riddle with a strange slimy creature known as Gollum to keep his life, travel down a river in a barrel, and ultimately engage a fearsome dragon. And what's that mysterious ring he picked up in the goblin tunnels? Bilbo's unexpected journey will change him forever. 

Book - Discussions: This book is easy to read, and very funny, written in a whimsical style. I read it at around eight and understood most of it, although I was a little confused about the ending and understood more when I re-read it later. This book remains one of my favorites.
   As for characters, Bilbo is an amusing hero. He's reluctant to leave his cozy hobbit-hole, but agrees to do so when one of the dwarves questions his courage. He proves to be quite courageous when the need arises, but throughout the story he remains the sturdy sensible hobbit, wishing to go back home, or for a pocket-handkerchief, or at least to have a nice meal of eggs and bacon. Although the dwarves are suspicious of his ability to help them, Bilbo surprises them by turning out quite brave and even rescuing them all a few times. 
    Gandalf, the quick-tempered wandering wizard, never loses faith in Bilbo. He firmly believes that Bilbo is the perfect addition to the Company and that joining the Company will be the best thing for Bilbo. Gandalf himself is an inconsistent member of the Company; occasionally he sticks around and gets the dwarves and Bilbo out of tight spots, but sometimes he merely disappears or deliberately leaves them alone to figure things out for themselves. 
     Thorin Oakenshield, the heir to the kingdom of Erebor, is the most distant to Bilbo, and distrusts his ability a little, but he is quick to appreciate Bilbo when the once-timid hobbit proves himself valuable. 
    The other dwarves of the Company (Balin, Dwalin, Fili, Kili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur) all have various perceptions of Bilbo and although you don't get to know some of them very well, you discover a few things about them. For instance, Thorin's nephews Fili and Kili are the younger dwarves who are always in good spirits and willing to help. Bombur is very fat and can be a little lazy. All of them demonstrate loyalty to each other. 
     As for other characters, the dragon Smaug is simply the most perfect evil dragon I think I've ever read about (aside from other dragons of Tolkien's invention). He's clever and perceptive, and isn't scared of the dwarves at all. Depending on their region, the elves in The Hobbit treat the Company differently. Learned Elrond of Rivendell welcomes them gladly, but the elf-king of Mirkwood (identified in other books as Thranduil) distrusts the dwarves and locks them up in his dungeons. Lake-town, the little town near the conquered kingdom of Erebor, is a place of timid fishermen ruled by a greedy and rather weak Master. There aren't as many characters to keep track of as there are in Tolkien's famous Lord of the Rings, but they're richly drawn and humorous. 

Overall: I highly recommend this book!

   Now for the movie. I have seen the entire Hobbit movie, so here are my thoughts. First of all, I would have preferred that the story kept to the original plot and stayed in one telling, one movie, instead of adding different plots in and making three movies (An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies). I still really enjoyed the movies, though. 
   
Discussions: The general plotline of the movie is the same as the book: Bilbo Baggins the hobbit sets off to travel with Thorin Oakenshield and his Company to reclaim the dwarves' kingdom of Erebor. But a lot of different things happen along the way. 
    For one thing, a leader of the orcs (goblins) arises to defeat the dwarves. This orc, whose name is Azog, antagonized and attacked the dwarves years before. In the Hobbit movie, he returns to defeat Thorin after retreating for a while. In the Appendices, Tolkien makes it clear that Azog was killed before the trouble with Smaug. But in the movies, Azog turns up and pursues the dwarves with his son Bolg and legions of orcs. Not only are they fueled by a thirst to conquer the dwarves now, but they are commanded by Sauron the Necromancer, who is gathering his power. This also is a little out of place with Tolkien's original plot and timeline, and doesn't exactly fit seamlessly with The Lord of the Rings. Gandalf constantly leaves the Company for the purpose of learning about the Necromancer and trying to defeat him with the help of the wizards  Radagast the Brown (portrayed as a quirky hermit with an obsessive love for wildlife) and Saruman the White (portrayed as austere and harsh), along with the Lothlorien Elf-queen Galadriel and the Rivendell Elf-lord Elrond. 

     

Thorin Oakenshield

    Also, Thorin Oakenshield's character is a little darker and grimmer. While he does seem perhaps a little more kingly than Tolkien's character, the movie Thorin lacks the book version's warmth and humanity of character. He's distant and proud, thinks little of Bilbo and in fact doesn't think of much besides getting his kingdom and his gold back. Then he becomes slightly obsessed with his gold. You do get to know some of the dwarves better, which I enjoyed. I really liked the movie version of Balin. 
     Now for Lake-town. (I really, really like the theme music. It's so perfect.) Bard, a captain with a somewhat minor role in the book (trying not to give any spoilers here), was interesting to see more of, but he wasn't quite what I thought he would be like. I imagined him to be a lot grimmer and less friendly. Also, I wasn't expecting him to have three kids. 
The Master of Lake-town is a greedy, weak, selfish drunkard and keeps the people of Lake-town under strict regulations with the scheming Alfred, who carried out the Master's orders. Alfred is a nasty person, but I have to admit that he's fun to quote. 
      The kingdom of Erebor is a fascinating place, a towering castle with underground vaults and chambers filled with gold. I must say, I didn't expect so much gold. And quite a few of the scenes with the dwarves and Smaug in Erebor seem a bit unrealistic. But Erebor is still pretty amazing.  

King Thranduil

   

  The Mirkwood Elves... well... Elves are probably my favorite of Tolkien's magical folk. I didn't like Legolas Greenleaf quite as much in The Hobbit as I did in Lord of the Rings, but watching him expertly slay monstrous spiders was still interesting. Although I like movies better when they're nearer the book, I really liked getting to see the developed King Thranduil. He was perfectly arrogant and cold and distant. Slight spoilers ahead. But I really don't like that he told Legolas to go seek out Strider (from Lord of the Rings), because I worked out that Strider would have been around seven years old. Another example of the skewed timeline... End of slight spoilers. While we're still on the subject of Elves... Tauriel. The made-up Elf Tauriel annoyed me a bit. I suppose it's interesting to see what a female Mirkwood Elf was like, as opposed to the serene Ladies Galadriel and Arwen, but I found her irritating. For one thing, why red hair? Isn't that really Dwarvish, not Elvish? (Okay, that's actually pretty minor). I also just didn't like that a romance had to come up with her and a certain dwarf. If there wasn't a romance, I think I would be a lot more open to her character. Despite all these things, I love the Mirkwood scenes of the Hobbit movie. The woodland palace is so beautiful. I wish there was a real place like that.  
   

  Bilbo, who's really the most important character, is done well. Although it's a pity that the scene of him singing to distract the spiders of Mirkwood was left out of the movies. He remains a sturdy, practical, loyal hobbit in both book and movie.

Overall: There are quite a few things I don't really like about the movies. But still, I very much enjoy watching them, so I do recommend them. 


If you've read the book, what do you think of it? What about the movies?