• Home
  • News
  • About
  • books
  • For Kids
  • Contact
  VILA GINGERICH
HOME
ABOUT
BOOKS
FOR KIDS

NEWS

Sign up & never miss an update from Vila:
Subscribe to Newsletter

Kids' Historical Fiction (Colonial)

9/29/2020

4 Comments

 
For me, the best part of the school day is right after noon recess, when I get to read aloud to my students for 20-30 minutes. Not only do I get to reconnect with my favorite childhood books, I also get to share those books with kids who've never read them. The fact that I've been able to introduce dozens of students to Mrs. Frisby, Maniac Magee, and  Johnny Tremain is a privilege I don't take lightly. Here are two favorite books from my favorite era in United States history: 

Johnny Tremain...my current read-aloud and a long-time fave. An imperfect and oh-so-sympathetic hero, secondary characters who actually existed (Hello, Paul Revere!), and a wonderful setting in pre-Revolutionary Boston. 
Picture

The Witch of Blackbird Pond isn't just a favorite kids' book; it's one of my favorite books, period. The two main characters charm you right off, and the book gives such a picture of how suspicion and gossip can ruin people's lives. (I often edit this book as I go, because there are quite a few prim colonial courting scenes and I don't want to lose the interest of 6th grade boys and such. I do tell the 8th grade girls they can borrow the book later and read all the skipped parts!) 
​
Picture

Happy Reading! 
4 Comments

The Rats of Nimh Series

11/10/2018

 
One of the best things about having kids--or in my case, students--is introducing them to your old favorite books. This school term I again shared my dear Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh with an appreciative juvenile audience.

The story starts out with good conflict: Mrs. Frisby's son is sick but her cozy mouse house is in the way of the spring plowing. She goes to The Rats for help.

Things get a bit annoying when the story goes into flashback mode for a good share of the book. (The rats' backstory is fascinating and could easily have been the focus of the book, in my opinion.) However, it's a good opportunity to talk about flashbacks and story frames. There are a lot of fun "ah-ha moments" for the kids, and the rats' advanced civilization amazes me every time.  

​Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh won the Newberry Award in 1972. What a wonderful, timeless read by Robert C. O'Brien! 
Picture
Now, for the first time, we as a class are following the Rats of Nimh further. I wish the kid me had known there were more books in the series, but at least I get to enjoy them now. 
Picture
Picture
The last two books--Racso and the Rats of Nimh and ​R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of Nimh--are written by O'Brien's daughter. The writing style is a bit different--lots of short scenes hodgepodged together--but my audience's enthusiasm hasn't waned. As long as they're gasping, cheering, and chuckling, I'll keep reading. ​

Summer Book Recommendations

5/24/2018

 
I spent a lot of time in the car last week. Thankfully, audiobooks shortened the road and propped open my eyes. Since my mom and niece were along, and since we all have different reading tastes, I chose two middle-grade books at random. They turned out to be almost equally enjoyable but very different, and I'd recommend both Inside Out and Back Again and Liar and Spy for easy summer reads. 
Picture
I expected Liar and Spy to be more mystery/external conflict and less emotional/internal conflict, but I did enjoy it a lot. The secondary characters are great (love me some secondaries!) and I especially liked the chapters set during science and gym class. 
Picture
Inside Out and Back Again opens in Vietnam. I loved the way the author wove the Vietnamese culture throughout the story, and the main character is very likable. If you like bittersweet, this book is for you. 

A funny thing about audiobooks: you don't see the formatting. I noticed a poetic feel to the short, almost dreamy chapters, but not until today did I use Amazon's "look inside" feature and realize the entire book is told in free verse! Wow. I love poetry, and I love middle-grade books, but I would never have willingly spent time on a combo of those two things. Had I picked this book up at the library, I would never have read it. 

​But I'm really glad I did.


Just a reminder: there's one day left on my Goodreads giveaway, so if you haven't signed up, head on over and do so! 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Growing Toward the Sun by Vila Gingerich

Growing Toward the Sun

by Vila Gingerich

Giveaway ends May 25, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

    Archives

    April 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    August 2016
    January 2015
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All
    Beta Readers
    Book Recommendations
    Book Signing
    Classics
    Creative Writing Class
    Cricket Magazine
    Easter With Baba Olena
    Full Moon Half A Heart
    Gallatin Writers' Guild
    Growing Toward The Sun
    Growing Toward The Sun Giveaway
    Highlights For Children
    Interview
    Local Authors' Expo
    Mg Books To Read
    Nanowrimo
    Poetry
    Prompts
    Publications
    Purpose Magazine
    Shadow Monsters
    The Lord Giveth
    To-read List
    Vila's Book Covers
    Vila's Writing Process
    White Horse To Bucharest
    Writer Friends
    Writing Contest
    Writing Goals


Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • News
  • About
  • books
  • For Kids
  • Contact