L. M. ElliottReseñas

Strong book. I loved how it had so many actual elements to support this novel. The names and politics confused me but i really loved the main character the world that was built. It was a face pace novel with a amazing lead. It inspired me to be more creative!

Strong book. I loved how it had so many actual elements to support this novel. The names and politics confused me but i really loved the main character the world that was built. It was a face pace novel with a amazing lead. It inspired me to be more creative!

I really liked this book quite a lot. If I could have read it all in one sitting I definitely would have, but alas, it didn't work out that way. I found the characters captivating, the writing style easy to read, and the story went along at a good pace. It's a great shorter read and I would recommend is for sure! 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I love getting lost in a good horse book, as well as a good historical fiction novel, so when the two combine well in the same story it's a treat! This middle grade "tween" novel is a very well-written story about found family and resilience in the face of hardship, and the joys of the bond between horse and rider. Excellent historical setting: 1932, Great Depression, Virginia farm country, heavy drought making things worse for farmers and townsfolk alike. The author gives just enough detail to set the stage and keep the story moving, leaving the author's note at the end for a brief description of the causes of the Crash and what the New Deal was, etc. for young readers who might not know. Bea, 13, and her sister Vivian, 8, are abandoned by their father after a period of riding the rails and trying to find work. He's left them hidden on a horse farm with instructions to tell the owner, crotchety Mrs. Scott, to take them in because the girls' mom was college friends with Scott's daughter. But Bea-- stubborn, independent, hesitant to trust adults, and scared she'll be separated from her sister-- keeps this relationship secret from Mrs. Scott, even when they're discovered after Bea saves the life of the cantankerous unnamed chestnut horse that no one on the farm can get close to, let alone ride. This plotline is somewhat predictable from many many other "girl and horse" books, but it's handled very deftly here and is woven in with many others in the story. Bea convinces Mrs. Scott to let them stay in exchange for helping on the farm, and gradually Bea wins her over and gets some serious riding lessons as together she and Mrs. Scott hatch a plan to pay off the farm's debts by competing in horse shows and selling horses. But will they have to sell her favorite, the chestnut with whom she's bonded? There are side plots involving wealthy horse owners, farm foreclosure auctions, Malachi the blind Black World War I veteran, charlatan rainmakers, the Bonus March on Washington, and FDR's first campaign for president that weave seamlessly in and out of the horse scenes. Fantastic writing and great character development of Bea and of Mrs. Scott. I appreciated learning in the author's note how the author based Scott's character on an amalgamation of several real horsewomen of the time, as well as her own daughter's horse trainer.

A well written horse story set during the Great Depression. It’s a bit too horsey for me with detailed descriptions of horse training and horse racing, but your opinion may be different if you’re into horses. And there’s some unnecessary cursing sprinkled here and there throughout the book. Otherwise, it’s a good story, recommended for those who love Black Beauty and all of the books about horses that came after.

Louisa June watches in horror as WWII comes to her doorstep in Tidewater, Virginia, where most people make their living at least partly from the water - the water that is now infested with German U-boats. Louisa is determined to take action to do her part for the war effort: one of her brothers joins the navy, and her older sister Katie works as a welder. But what can Louisa do, when her mother - who suffers from bouts of depression that worsen after one of her sons dies - needs her to tell her "somethings nice"? Louisa battles grief over her brother's death, too, but her mother's cousin Belle sweeps in to help, telling of her own experience in Europe during WWI and in Washington, D.C. after that. She supports Louisa and the family, and Louisa and her friend Emmett do find a way to help in the wake of another Nazi attack on their shores.

Quotes

My cousin Belle...told me that a story can speak to a soul different ways at different times, getting better with every reading. (16)

"I love your spirit, Louisa, but don't forget to arm it with a little common sense, or you'll swamp yourself in trouble." (Butler, 36)

"Remember, child, a soul has many more stories to tell than just the one she is known for, or what people expect of her." (Belle, 92)

It was so bizarre that the universe went on being luminous and gorgeous even as we humans set fire to it. (265)

Author's note covers history of Nazi submarines in U.S. waters and the development of better treatment for mental/emotional health.

Wonderfully strong female characters with gumption! So many themes are woven into this story: the Depression, horses, grief & loss, family, found family, African American civil rights. The author has a deep knowledge of horses, riding, and jumping as well as a fine ear for the voice of a teenage girl in Bea.

I stayed up to 1:30am to finish this book! That's a first in a long time (staying up that late!). I couldn't stop reading to find out what would happen to Ariel and "Duke." Elliott has a fine hand for nature descriptions, which I loved, giving a strong sense of place to the story and Ariel's character - a young person who appreciates the natural world, its beauty, and seasons, especially thunderstorms. Sargeant Josie is also a wonderful character and mentor to Ariel. She gives Ariel dog training tips, then lets her figure things out for herself. I thought Ariel's Mom was a bit over-the-top in her dislike of Ariel, her own daughter, but I guess some people are like that. At least Ariel's sister, Gloria, finally came around, and Ariel had the firm support of her older brother, George, and finally, her gentle, but somewhat oblivious Dad. Marcus, from the poorer section of the Appalachians, became Ariel's staunch friend and taught her not to make assumptions about people. I want to read more of L.M. Elliott's books.

Beatrice and her little sister Vivian wake up in a hayloft to find that their father - formerly a banker - has left them with a note to ask the woman whose Virginia estate they're on to take them in, as she's the mother of their mother's college roommate. Bea observes Mrs. Scott from afar, sees no evidence of her daughter Marjorie, and decides to keep the note a secret, but offer her and her sister's services to help pick peaches and weed the vegetable patch - and help with the horses. Mrs. Scott is stern but kind, and allows the girls to stay, even when Viv makes a mistake that hurts stablehand Ralph. Now it's up to Bea to make up for her sister's mistake - Mrs. Scott will train her to ride in an upcoming horse show for the prize money. Bea forms an unlikely bond with a fiery chestnut horse that Mrs. Scott seems to hate, and the two become a remarkable team - but will their victory result in their separation?

Set convincingly in Depression-era Virginia during a summer of drought, with a stubborn, savvy, scrappy heroine, and developed secondary characters (Malachi is nearly blind, not from his service in the Great War but because he was attacked by whites during a veterans' parade; Mrs. Scott's two sons were killed in the war, and her daughter didn't share her love of horses; Ralph knows the family inside and out and gives Bea good advice), Bea and the New Deal Horse is perfect for horse people and historical fiction readers.

See also: Three Strike Summer by Skyler Schrempp, A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus, The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

You have to mean what you say with a child. Adults seem to forget that. (49)

I was coming to realize Daddy just wasn't any good at the hard part of parenting. (57)

Seemed to be an awful lot of sad mysteries hanging about these folks, like a thick fog that is near impossible to navigate without tripping and busting something. (105)

"That's the thing about Mrs. Scott - if people dare her, or demean her, or she sees them being cruel, she's going to stand up to them. To her own detriment." (Malachi to Bea, 155)

But I was so tired of adults knowing things I didn't. Their keeping secrets or making decisions about me without asking what I might think. (188)

The terrible responsibilities he had shoveled onto me... (207)

"Parents sometimes do the absolute worst, most foolish things," she whispered, "thinking they are doing what's best for their children." (Mrs. Scott to Bea, 220)

No one had warned me that life could turn on a dime and with the force of an earthquake. (303)

Stubbornness? Was that all bad? If it meant staying strong in the face of terrible things and not giving up, it seemed a pretty good trait to me. (319)

"Sometimes life hands us family that has nothing to do with blood ties, Beatrice." (343)½

First sentence: I woke up in a billowing pile of fresh-cut hay, wrapped in its miraculous smells--of buttercups, of those miniature fuzzy wild daisies, of grasshoppers. Not the big, prickly legged locusts that spit tobacco juice but the sweet little sliver of green grasshoppers that look like tiny blades of grass. No needles of dried-up, dead-yellow straw sticking and tickling either. Soft, like sleeping on a little mountain of emerald-colored lace.

Premise/plot: Bea and Vivian are abandoned (essentially) by their father and left in the barn of their mother's college roommate's mother's Virginia horse farm. He leaves a note to his eldest, Bea, explaining just why he's leaving them there. (Not why he's leaving perhaps, but why there.) The novel is set during the early years of the Depression. (FDR is not president yet, though an election year is coming up). Their father, a banker, has lost everything--including hope that he can take care of his two little girls. Mrs. Scott, who owns the horse farm, is on hard times herself; she may lose everything too. Bea doesn't reveal all, but she does her best to prove useful to Mrs. Scott. Her and Vivian will do their best to contribute enough to the house to stay welcome. Bea's usefulness with horses comes in handy.

My thoughts: I do not like horse books. Usually. I did LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this horse book, however. It's good to know there are exceptions to the rule. (Black Beauty also comes to mind as an exception.) I really loved the characters--both major and minor characters. The story was engaging. I didn't think I could care about horses and horse competitions, but, I was very invested in the outcome.

Bea and the New Deal Horse
L.M. Elliott
Hard cover

Set during the Great Depression this is a moving tale of and the magical partnership between girl and horse.

Hard work and tender loving care save the horse, and the farm.

Children's Books, Historical Fiction
HarperCollins Publishers

A perfect book for young lovers of historical fiction and horses. Set in midst of the Great Depression, this story does not hold back in throwing hardship and loss on characters. And yet, the characters, through their "gumption" and stubbornness show readers how to navigate those losses and survive. It's a story that hits the trifecta of perfectly-paced plot, multi-dimensional, endearing characters, and a fully-developed, researched setting.

LM Elliott creates a beautiful main character, Beatrice, who young readers will appreciate because she's smart, including smart at reading people. I loved watching her negotiate her way into staying on the farm when her father abandoned her and her sister. She looks at life from the owner's, Mrs. Scott's, point of view and tailors her actions to fit with Ms. Scott's needs.

Ms. Elliott also beautifully weaves historical features into the story. Through the heart-breaking character of Malachi, readers learn about the treatment of African-American soldiers who fought in WWI when they returned to the US. I also learned of the "Bonus Army" of 1932 as they travel through town and try to enlist Malachi on their journey to Washington, DC to protest for payments promised to them. I had not heard of this story before. The author's note describes this in more detail along with historical figures she used as inspiration for the characters in the book.

I look forward to promoting it in my school library for my students and I foresee a long hold list.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 Stars

Drew, an American Army Brat; Matthias, an East Berliner, indoctrinated into the beliefs of Kruschev and communism . The one thing in common they have is they are cousins and a love of music. Told over the course of a year, with pictures corresponding to historical events: the GDR, the building of the Berlin Wall, this was a heart-wrenching historical fiction story. The boys have to learn to trust each other, learn from each other until the wall goes up, possibly tearing their burdening friendship apart. It was interesting to learn so many facts I didn’t know, as I read the side notes and viewed the pictures the author included. It felt like a mini crash course of a moment in history that impacted the world for many years, until the wall fell in 1989.

As a Hamilton the musical fan, I knew when I saw this book I had to read it. We don't get to hear much of Peggy's story during the musical, she's a character that is left out and kind of forgotten. This book gives her a chance to shine as the main character in this book. She is a young woman who often feels overshadowed by her older sisters, Angelica and Eliza. Peggy helps Hamilton to win over his sister Eliza and also acts courageously during different events caused by the war. The author used her own research and inspiration from the musical to write this book. I really enjoyed getting to see events during Hamilton's time through a different lens and perspective. I also loved getting to know this overlooked character. I would recommend this book to any Hamilton fans! (Growth Area)

This book could have been so much more... more detailed, more explained. I am used to the Philippa Gregory style where many things are explained. Genevre’s husband could have been fleshed out more. Details of the wool business would have been nice. The book isn’t bad, just not great

This was an advance copy of an audiobook and does not reflect the final copy. I will say that the synthesized voice was hilarious to listen to when the bombs were going off and when Louisa was shouting her mothers name (imagine a very monotone ka-boom, ka-boom, ka-boom or MAMA with no emphasis at all).

Louisa is kind, hard working, and attune to the needs of those around her (mama included). Cousin Belle is eccentric, amazing, and empowering.

Overall, this was a poignant story about a family affected deeply by war. A great historical fiction read for young readers.

This book explores the Revolutionary ideas and risks colonists faced in their quest for liberty in 1775. This story captures the hopes and dilemmas of a thirteen year old boy, Nathaniel Dunn (a slave), caught up in all that is the American Revolution. A great read for your higher level elementary students or middle school grades. A longer novel, containing 376 pages of historical insight.

“Filled with action, well-drawn characters, and a sympathetic understanding of many points of view.”
— ALA Booklist

and Peggy!

Me da vergüenza lo mucho que me he reído

This review published at The Children's Book and Media Review

Thanksgiving is coming, and Sam’s class couldn’t be more excited. Everyone knows of one special thing that they are grateful for, but Sam isn’t sure what his special thing is. Sam’s teacher, Mrs. Wright, wants everyone to write down something they are really grateful for while the class works on Thanksgiving projects like a pumpkin pie making contest, making place mats, and helping with a food drive. Sam is able to think of a great project: balloons just like the Thanksgiving parade on TV! Lots of wind might ruin Sam’s special project, but he is finally able to come up with the thing he is most grateful for.

The illustrations of the animal characters in this book are cute, and their projects to get ready for Thanksgiving can give teachers, parents, and children ideas for how to celebrate the holiday while learning more about the history of why Thanksgiving Is a holiday. A note at the end of the book talks about Squanto and the first Thanksgiving, and the next page discusses a few more Thanksgiving facts. While not a particularly wonderful book, people looking for books about Thanksgiving will be satisfied.

Primary source documents introduce each chapter of our fictional characters’ struggles with patriotism during the Cold War, when suspicion and paranoia were at an all-time high. Teachable moments and discussion prompts abound (e.g., coach uses derogatory term “retard” as well as displaying other prejudices in Ch. 5). Includes Afterword, Bibliography.

A fictional story of a World War II ghter shot down behind enemy lines who must undertake a dangerous trek across France. e story o ers a unique perspective on post-World War II France.

This is a very emotional story. This story shows how hard it was for people living in East Berlin right before the wall was built and how hard it was for people living in West Berlin to understand why anyone would want to stay in the East. There were a few laughs but there are a lot of tears in the story. I love the photos that are included in the book. These showed how different but also how alike many parts of the world can be. I received a copy of this book from Algonquin Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This book reminded me of the book The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier for a young adult audience. L. M. Elliott took the painting of Ginevra de' Benci, which is hanging in the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., and built a fictional story.
While I was reading the book, it returned to the days I was in middle school a couple of years ago. We have the assignment to take a Rennaisance picture, find the story behind it, and present it to the class.
I enjoy historical fiction, and I like to find books with different eras, and Da Vinci's Tiger had the potential, but it felt a little bit flat.
The storyline is about Ginevra meeting Leonardo Da Vinci and the portrait he made of her and some tensions in Florence at the time.
I didn’t completely connect to Ginerva. I didn’t feel that she was a character filled with the strength needed to compete with Da Vinci and his art. While she was his muse, I didn’t fully see how.
It seemed that there was a higher emphasis on the historical accuracy that it lacked the emotional pull to bring a scene or moment together.
I didn’t think anyone of the characters, in particular, stood out, which became a bit of a disappointment for me since this was about Da Vinci.
Often, I feel that character disconnects are based on my taste versus what the author is trying to relay. The writing was well done, and I felt it was that more than anything, kept me reading the story. The pacing was on par with what I thought this book needed. And overall, Da Vinci’s Tiger was just okay.

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