Book Club: Book Review of Operation: Happy

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Finding good, clean books for children ages 8-12 has become a real struggle. We have some favorite authors, but I am always looking to add more books to our shelves because our children love to read. I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review Operation: Happy by Jenni L. Walsh. 

Operation: Happy is a hardcover, 230-page book geared towards children ages 8-12 published by Zonderkiz. It is "a World War II story of courage, resilience, and an unbreakable bond" between a young girl and her dog, Happy. Over the course of 40 chapters, we see the main characters move from one difficult situation to another and persevere. 

About Operation: Happy 

The main characters of this historical fiction are Jody, her dog Happy (who is a fictional addition), her sister Peggy, her mom, and her dad (who all play prominent parts in the book). Jody is inspired by a real-life Pearl Harbor survivor named Joan Zuber Earle. Jody also has several friends in the different locations in which she lives. And while the work is fiction, Walsh borrowed from real people, places, and events. This helps bring the book to life.

We start the novel in 1938 at Christmas when Jody receives Happy as a gift. He is a retired sentry dog for a military base whose eyesight is going and is aging. Happy is quite content to be back on duty as he 'shares' in one of the chapters told partially from his perspective. He loves Jody and his new family and sets out to take care of her and – in turn – them.

The plot starts to take shape when Jody's father is sent a telegram to report to Ford Island at Pearl to assume command of the Marine Barracks. Her mother is not very happy. She does not want to go, but they are "Team Zuber" and always move together. Her mom's feeling of unease continues after the move and through the rest of the book in varying degrees. 

While on the island, Jody and her sister Peggy make friends, enjoy their new school, and push through their relationship as sisters. Air raid drills and blackouts on the island become another big part of their lives. Eventually, the drills stopped because December 7, 1941 occurred: Pearl Harbor and their small island were attacked. That leads to more changes in which Mom, Jody, and Peggy leave Ford Island and end up in San Francisco.

The events in San Francisco demonstrate the courage and resiliency of Jody in a different way. Jody's mom is very distraught and depressed about being away from her husband. So, while Jody does her best to lead Team Zuber at the request of her father, things start to fall apart. Jody's mom stays on the couch most days, sleeping. Jody and Peggy have to fend for themselves in regards to laundering their clothes, reheating meals that their mom cooks once or twice a week, and getting to and from school. 

In the end, everything works out, but there are some bumps on the road to happiness for Team Zuber. Jody must find a way to trick others into believing her mom is well and taking care of them. And Peggy suffers a trauma that changes her. Through it all, Happy remains a constant and loyal companion to the entire family. 

My Thoughts 

One of the things I enjoyed about Operation: Happy is the lists that Jody creates when they move to a new place. As a military family, they move often. So, in each new location, Jody makes a top ten list of the best things. For example, on Ford Island, she adds: 

4. It's still 80 degrees in January. 

5. The other kids here are nifty. 

I think this is a wonderful thing to encourage in children. Have them look for the positive things in life, especially during difficult times such as moving. 

Even in the midst of danger and tension, there are funny moments. One such event occurs when Jody, Peggy, and their friends have a mango war. And while the children have fun in this adventure, we see consequences happen for the main characters. A valuable lesson is learned in some respect (they continue to lie to their mom about what happened).

While I really enjoyed this book, I do have a few concerns before handing it off to our children. The trauma that changes Peggy is quite dramatic. She is cornered by a strange man in their first apartment building lobby in San Francisco. Happy knows something is up and gets Jody to bring him downstairs, where he rescues Peggy. As a mom, I do not think this exact situation was necessary to demonstrate Happy's courage and bond with the family or change Peggy. I would much rather have seen Peggy facing bullies or something that would fit into the normal scope of an 8- to 12-year-old rather than a potential assault of this type. 

And of course, parents would need to consider the fact that this book is providing a first-hand account of the events at Pearl Harbor. If your children enjoy learning about history, and in particular, World War II, this might not cause any problems for you. As long as you are there to talk about the events and your children's feelings, then it should be okay.

Even with my reservations, I would recommend this book. Every parent can make their own decisions about the book. If one has concerns, then read it aloud together. Then, you can edit what you feel is necessary until a time when your children are older.

I am looking forward to seeking more books by Jenni L. Walsh. I enjoyed her writing style. The characters really come to life through the actions and dialogue. Overall, Operation: Happy is a good book. 

Other Reviews of Zonderkidz and Zondervan Books 

• Book Club: Book Review of Sunny Days Ahead
• Book Club: Book Review of 'Twas the Season of Lent
• Book Club: Book Review of Kiki Finds Her Voice

Book Club: Book Review of Carved in Ebony

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

I am always looking to expand our daughter's library collection of books featuring Christian women. Having the opportunity to read and review the young reader's edition of Carved in Ebony: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shape Us by Jasmine L. Holmes was a true blessing! The short, paperback nonfiction book features the stories of ten Black women whose lives spanned the 1700s to the 1900s. 

About Carved in Ebony 

The 117-page paperback book is divided into an introduction, note for adults, 10 chapters on the women, notes, and pages for reflection. Each of the chapters on the Black women includes discussion questions and opportunities for further research. There is an emphasis in the early part of the book on distinguishing between primary and secondary resources (this history teacher loved this!).

The Black women featured in Carved in Ebony are: 

• Elizabeth Freeman
• Maria Stewart 
• Sarah Mapps Douglass
• Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
• Charlotte Forten Grimké
• Sara Griffith Stanley 
• Amanda Berry Smith 
• Maria Fearing
• Lucy Craft Laney
• Nannie Helen Burroughs 

For a quick glimpse into the book, let's look at Sara Griffith Stanley. She was born in 1837 in the South. She grew up in New Bern, North Carolina, but she and her family would eventually move to Oberlin. She wrote and gave speeches on the evils of slavery, referencing the Bible and other contemporary works. The chapter also discusses her work as a teacher and how she was a servant of Jesus. Before the discussion questions, the chapter closes, "There are always faithful people doing the work of the Lord in obscurity. And it is better to be a servant of the Most High God in the hidden places than visibly doing anything else. Let Sara teach you this." (71). I love this message to young readers.

My Thoughts 

As an adult, this is a very easy read. I was able to read several chapters at one time and completed the book in about a week. The text is clearly written but does not leave out 'big words.' Those words that might be difficult for young readers are bolded so they can go back to them and perhaps define them. 

I really love the fact that the author, Jasmine L. Holmes, brings all the women's hard work back to God. Even where they faced difficulties, they persevered because of their faithfulness. "They each have something to teach us about what it means to live fullheartedly as someone created in God's image. And whether that image is carved in ebony, alabaster, or some shade in between, his purpose is steadfast." (111) 

So many of the women featured taught in schools at one time or another. While I understand their reasons for being teachers, and I agree that they were needed in the field of education, as a homeschooling mother, I do wish that Holmes had included something that emphasized the learning that some of them received before they were able to go to public or private schools. Quite a few of the women were taught by their families how to read, many were taught the Bible, and I wish that home education had found a stronger foothold in Holmes' work. 

I think this book would be an excellent addition to your homeschool. I can easily see my daughter and me on the sofa, reading Carved in Ebony aloud and discussing the vocabulary and the questions. Even if you don't homeschool, I think this book would make a nice addition to your home so your children can learn more about Christian Black women and how they shaped America and the world around them. They are wonderful role models to share with your children. 

Interested in reading more book reviews? Please check out my reviews of 3-Minute Devotions to Laugh and Reflect, When the Day Comes, or The Deadly Shallows. 

Blogging Through the Alphabet: C is for Civil War Books

 

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There are so many books to choose from if you wish to read more about the American Civil War. You could start with The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (all 127 volumes!), also called Official Records (OR), to read primary source material and then jump into history books, biographies, fictional books, edited diaries, compilations of weird but true stories, and more! What are a few books about the American Civil War that sit on my bookshelf? First, let me admit that I have not read through each book I am going to share with you. To pick which ones I wanted to share, I simply took a handful off the shelves, snapped a few photos, and dug into the books. 

This is a small sampling of the books one can read to learn more about the American Civil War. You could narrow down your approach to picking books if you wanted to specialize in one topic or another. For example, you could research and read books that only discuss slavery, the 13th-15th Amendments, Northern or Southern generals, one specific battle, one specific regiment, or other topics. When it comes to studying history, there are so many wonderful options. 

Sickles The Incredible by W. A. Swanberg 

"A problem child for all his 94 years" -- "A diplomat who insulted Queen Victoria" -- "The genius who smashed Jay Gould's railroad conspiracy" -- from the back of the book describing Daniel Sickles 

Daniel Sickles was usually surrounded by gossip. Before his nomination for brigadier general, he found out that some felt he would march his brigade to Jefferson Davis' side. So, he went out to win over the opposition. Sickles always put his whole heart into any project. 

Any purchases you make through links to the books may provide me with a small commission at no cost to you.

The Preacher's Tale: The Civil War Journal of Rev. Francis Springer, Chaplain, U.S. Army of the Frontier edited by William Furry 

Reverend Francis Springer served in Arkansas during the American Civil War and through to the beginning of Reconstruction. In this book, Springer not only wrote about the events but also reflected upon them. This is extremely helpful as it helps people understand life as it was during the time period the journal or diary was written. For example, On November 7, 1863, at Fort Smith in Arkansas, he wrote of "The Two Societies." He explained that Civil Society was one where men were at home with their family, and everything was subject to their own will and desire. Military Society was one in which the men were not free to do what they wanted. There was always the "clatter of arms, rumbling of wagons, the roll of the drum" that was the background noise to their loss of freedom (95).

Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields: Discovering America's Hallowed Ground 

You may recognize the name, Jeff Shaara. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure, which complete the trilogy his father, Michael Shaara, began with The Killer Angels. With these books, father and son bring the history of the American Civil War to life. With this book, readers will learn tidbits of history they might not be familiar with, may find conclusions they disagree with, and help you take away "something enormously valuable" when you visit these sites. 

The book looks at the following battles (to learn about the battles, please click through the links): 

• Shiloh
• Antietam
• Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville
• Gettysburg
• Vicksburg
• Chickamauga
• The Wilderness and Spotsylvania
• New Market
• Cold Harbor
• Petersburg

Two More Books 

I also want to briefly mention two more books from two individuals whose works can found on multiple shelves in my home. James M. McPherson, who I have referenced and quoted previously, wrote Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam to describe the events that led up to this pivotal battle on September 17, 1862, the battle itself, and its aftermath. If you are interested in the American Civil War, McPherson has a variety of books that might suit your needs. 

The Second Day at Gettysburg is a series of essays on Confederate and Union Leadership edited by Gary W. Gallagher. If you are looking to dive into one specific day, it is always interesting to find books and essays on Civil War battles. Part of the reason why I picked up this book is that I read the letters of a Civil War soldier from Pennsylvania who died on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The other reason is that I thoroughly enjoyed the lecture series by Professor Gallagher on the American Civil War and other works he has authored and edited. 

As a student and teacher of history, I love delving into all the different aspects of different time periods. Looking at the military events, famous and not-famous individuals, the locations of the battles, and specific battle details hour by hour is very enjoyable and educating. I love flipping to the end of many of these books and reading through the endnotes to discover more books to read. There is so much to learn! 

 

If you want to join Blogging Through the Alphabet, please visit: 

Desiree @ Our Homeschool Notebook

Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses

How Can You Supplement Your History Curriculum?

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There are so many fun and educational ways you can supplement your homeschool history curriculum. I love history. In fact, I can't remember a time that I did not enjoy visiting historical sites, reading about history, or watching history movies (both fiction and non-fiction). Therefore, it is quite easy for me to recommend many different options to supplement your homeschool history curriculum.

Visit History 

So many of my vacations with my mom, before I was married, involved touring historical locations (like Eckley Miners' Village Museum). This is probably one of the easiest ways to supplement your history curriculum. All you need are time and some money because you will often find tour guides, park rangers, and others at each site who will be able to help teach you and your homeschooled children new facts and information. Many places will even allow you to participate in living history by using tools of the time period, trying on period clothing, or creating a memento to take home.

Watch History 

Another very easy way to supplement your homeschool history curriculum is with documentaries and movies. If you attended public school, you might remember the television being wheeled into the classroom to watch a documentary borrowed from the school library or perhaps from your teacher's own collection. I am old enough to remember a few of my teachers sharing slide presentations with us. While not all documentaries and movies are created equal, there is a great selection available. One of our favorites is Drive Thru History® with Dave Stotts. There are quite a few series in which Dave Stotts takes viewers on a journey through history like those listed:

• Drive Thru History® Ancient History 
• Drive Thru History® American History 
• Drive Thru History® The Holy Land 
• Drive Thru History® The Gospels 
• Drive Thru History® Acts to Revelation 

In addition to documentaries, movies can also be wonderful to incorporate into your homeschool history curriculum. From movies that are not highly accurate to those that are written and try to stick the facts more, there are different learning opportunities. For example, for high school homeschooled children, you may wish to view the movie Gettysburg, read the book, and visit the site to compare and contrast the accuracies and inaccuracies. In addition to this movie, many others focus on the American Civil War, including two television series: North and South and The Blue and Gray. These both follow many fictional characters but provide a sense and a feeling for the time period with costumes, foods, and other details.

Listen & Play Through History 

If your children enjoy music, you might want to research the different genres of music based upon time periods. There are many different ways to approach supplementing your history curriculum with music. Previously I shared how you can study the American Civil War through Stephen Foster's "Better Times are Coming." And don't forget to listen to recorded speeches, watch clips of historical events recorded live, or view home movies to see what was life like in a particular time period.

• Learn to play songs from a particular time period 
• Learn to sing songs from a particular time period 
• Research different musical instruments that may no longer be played today 
• Listen to the music of the era of history you are studying 
• Interpret the lyrics written to learn more about the historical time 

Why not play a game? There are many different games inspired by history and ones that incorporate history into their play. You may wish to purchase games already made and designed like Egyptians, Made for Trade, or even Go to the Head of the Class (which covers multiple subject areas), or perhaps you might want to make your own file folder games like those offered by Home School in the Woods.

How Will You Supplement Your History Curriculum? 

Have you discovered any new ideas to incorporate into your history curriculum? Even if you are using a boxed curriculum, there is always room for additional supplements. Some even have items like literature packages or hands-on projects. We are using the literature package that goes along with Our Star-Spangled Story from Notgrass History. We have also used hands-on kits from Sonlight in previous years.

Book Club: Book Review of The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London

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The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife is a perfect read for those interesting in history and animals (in particular ravens). It is an excellent book that brings readers behind-the-scenes to learn more about the people who care for and about the ravens who live in the Tower of London. The history, folklore, and tales surrounding the ravens and why they are important to England are presented by Christopher Skaife, the current Yeoman Warder.

The Ravenmaster introduces us to the life of Christopher Skaife and how he became the Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London. We get a brief glimpse into this private life learning about why he joined the military and some of his experiences as a Drum Major. Skaife also shares his theories and ideas regarding the history and care of the ravens.

History of the Ravens

During the reign of Charles II, John Flamsteed, a young astronomer, said that the nesting ravens were obstructing his view. Flamsteed wanted to get rid of them. The story continues that someone pointed out to King Charles II that ravens had always been living in the Tower of London. It would be a bad omen if the ravens were removed from the Tower. The legend then developed that ravens must be kept at the Tower or the kingdom would fall.

Skaife hasn't found any mention of this legend prior to the late 19th century. There is hardly any mention of ravens in the tower's history at all. It is a lovely story that is part of the history of the United Kingdom.

What do ravens eat? Ravens are omnivores – they eat both plants and meat. They are scavengers and will eat carrion and garbage and at the Tower, they will steal sandwiches from tourists and catch mice. And at the Tower of London, a special treat is dog biscuits soaked in blood.

My Thoughts 

The Ravenmaster is a very well-written book – easy to read with each chapter flowing into the next. Even though Skaife provided lots of information regarding his job as a Yeoman Warder and scientific facts about ravens, I did not find the book difficult to follow or understand. I would recommend The Ravenmaster: My Life with Ravens at the Tower of London to those who enjoy history and learning about animals – ravens in particular. If you enjoy memoirs and biographies, this book might also be of interest to you.

If you want to see photos of the ravens at the Tower of London, check out the Instagram page of Christopher Skaife. Or if you want to read more about the Tower of London, check out my Blogging Through the Alphabet post.

 

Book Club: Dear Mr. Washington

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If you are looking for a fun book to read to your children about George Washington, the painting of his most famous portrait by Gilbert Stuart, and manners, look no further than Dear Mr. Washington written by Lynn Cullen and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter.

The story tells the fictional account of how George Washington smiled for his portrait sitting by Gilbert Stuart. Three of Stuart's children and the dog and cat act poorly while Washington visits for his painting causing great aggravation to Stuart and his wife. Washington sends a book of manners to the children. Dear Mr. Washington contains several of these rules (ten to be exact). The book that Dear Mr. Washington references is Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, which Washington copied out himself as a boy.

Rules According to George Washington

Reviewing the rules provides a great opportunity to review rules and good manners with your own children.

1. Not showing off
2. Not running
3. Do not stuff your mouth
4. Do not chew your nails
5. Do not try to know others' business
6. Do not laugh at another's misfortune

You can read the entire book by George Washington on Gutenberg.org or purchase a copy for your family. If you want to hand a few out in your house, please find three here.

Over the years, our family has studied George Washington a number of times, created a hat fit for the General, and visited Washington Crossing State Park. If you want to learn more about George Washington, I also wrote a Blogging Through the Alphabet post.

Timeline

A great way to learn more about someone is to create a timeline of important events in their life. Depending upon the age of your children, they may want to include more or less details. I created a very simple template to create a timeline of the life of George Washington or even the painter, Gilbert Stuart. Click Here!

Create a Portrait 

Have your children create a portrait of a member of the family, a pet, or their favorite plush just like Gilbert Stuart created of George Washington. Perhaps they won't have as many distractions as there were in the book!

Book Club: Review of Several Books by Carole P. Roman

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Our younger children love to read. So, we are always excited for the opportunity to review books in our homeschool. As we have previously reviewed books by Carole P. Roman, our first grader was so happy to look through all the books by Ms. Roman that we haven't yet read. Our family was able to pick four books from Carole P. Roman's assorted series:

• If You Were Me and Lived in...Peru 
• If You Were Me and Lived in...South Korea 
• If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece
• One to Ten: Squirrel's Bad Day 

How do you pick from so many GREAT books?

I sat down and took a look at the list of all of the books by Carole P. Roman to narrow down my picks before asking our children. Almost immediately, I was intrigued by One to Ten: Squirrel's Bad Day. I thought lessons of putting events into perspective would be a good one for our daughter. I also knew I would like to add to our collection of civilizations throughout history so we picked If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece which is full of history facts and gentle illustrations. And finally our first grader wanted two books from the Cultures Around the World series. He wanted to see what life was like for children in South Korea and Peru. 

How Did We Use The Books? 

With almost any books we receive, our first grader will read through them on his own before I even know he has done so. The first night after they arrived, I was busy and he read through both Peru and South Korea on his own. When asked if he liked them, he said, "They were really good." 

One evening shortly after the books arrived for review, I sat down with our daughter and read One to Ten: Squirrel's Bad Day. We took our time going through the book, examining the pictures and discussing what rank we would give experiences on the 1 to 10 scale of the rabbit. One stands for not so bad and ten represents the absolute worst. I am trying to continue to use the scale of 1 to 10 when our daughter gets upset so we can put the problems in perspective.

Our first grader is studying geography so we took time on separate days to read the books about life in South Korea and Peru. We talked about the different names and words used in both books and compared them to names and words used in America and in English.

It took more than a few days to read through If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece as it is a longer book with lots more details. For example, we were able to talk more about the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece (as they are sprinkled throughout the text as well as contained in a glossary of names in the back of the book). And we were able to look up more information on the Olympics, the difference between the government of Ancient Greece and the United States of America, and Alexander the Great.  We also picked up some extra books from the library to read. (I love books that inspire us to read even more books!)

How Could You Use the Books in Your Homeschool? 

There are numerous ways in which homeschooling families can use these books during their day. Perhaps this is why so many homeschoolers love books! With books by Carole P. Roman, there is a great variety of ways to incorporate the books in your homeschool day: 

• As part of culture studies 
• As part of geography studies 
• As a starting point to research food from other nations 
• Visit art or history museums to view art pieces mentioned or shown the books 
• As part of history studies 
• As part of studying character traits 
• As read alouds 
• Bedtime reading 

What Did We Think? 

Personally, my favorite of the four was If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece. As you may know, I love history, so this was a fantastic add to our bookshelves. While I have other books about Ancient Greece, they are all written at middle school or above reading level. So this book is more easily accessible for our first grader. I also like that it has a pronunciation for each of the new names and terms to aid our children in reading the books aloud. 

Our first grader really enjoyed the two in the A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World series. He seems to gravitate towards studying geography and maps, so these made him quite happy. I appreciated that the books contain a pronunciation guide to help you read names and words that may be unfamiliar. (This also allowed us to work on proper pronunciation and learning how to use those guides with our son.)

I asked our son what his favorite part was in the series and he pointed out the last page where it says: "So you see, if you were me, how life in Peru could really be." These two pages are in each of the Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World series that we have read with the name of the country changed, of course. He enjoyed reading about the history, the games, the food, the holidays, and about the culture in general.

My daughter enjoyed One to Ten: Squirrel's Bad Day. She felt sorry for the animal characters when we read about their bad experiences including when fox slipped on the ice, when the frog did poorly in school, and the when the squirrel's hamster died. I liked that we could talk about bad days and how to properly handle them in relation to imaginary characters she could relate to.

Do You Want to Learn More about Carole P. Roman? 

Don't forget to check out the other reviews by members of the Homeschool Review Crew! With so many great books to pick from, you will be sure to read about one you might love, too!

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U is for Underground Railroad (Blogging Through the Alphabet)

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There are so many important people, events, and locations to examine when studying the American Civil War. A topic that should be examined in detail is that of the Underground Railroad. This was not a railroad in the traditional sense but a loose organization of people and places that assisted fugitive slaves escape from the South to the North and to Canada. But even though it was not a real railroad, it still used many of the terms that are familiar with the locomotive railroad such as stationmaster, stations, depots, stockholders, and conductors. It has been estimated that more than 100,000 slaves were moved along the Underground Railroad prior to the start of the American Civil War.

Steps To Run Away

Running away was no easy task. The very first step was to actually escape the slaveholder – whether that was a large plantation or a small farm. Even though there may be resources for the slave as he or she moved along the Underground Railroad, in the beginning they had to use their own resources to get away.

Most of the time, the escaped slaves moved only at night to help avoid detection. And they would need to travel between ten and twenty miles to get from station to station where they would find food, clothes, and other aid. Also keep in mind that the journey would be purposely confusing to prevent those pursing the escaped slaves from recapturing them and sending them back South.

Famous Participants

Probably one of the most well-known individuals associated with the Underground Railroad is Harriet Tubman. She is said to be responsible for helping over 300 slaves escape to freedom across 19 trips she took to the South. It has also been written that she was so good at disguising herself that even her old master did not recognize her when he saw her again.

Levi Coffin as a Quaker was strongly opposed to slavery and as young as 15, he had already helped some slaves escape. He and his wife, Catharine, were said to help over 3,000 escape to freedom. Levi Coffin was nicknamed the "president of the Underground Railroad."

And John Fairfield, the Virginia son of a slaveholding family, was also instrumental in helping slaves escape to freedom. In some cases, he went to great lengths to help slaves escape and he also worked to reunite families.

Because Harriet Tubman is so famous, there are a great number of books available to introduce children to the topic of the Underground Railroad. It is often difficult to discuss heavy topics like slavery with our children but it is important to introduce the history of the world in our homeschool at age-appropriate levels. Reading about the lives of individuals like Harriet Tubman is one way to do this with our younger children.

North Star 

It was very dangerous to travel along the Underground Railroad. Things had be kept very secretive in order to protect everyone involved. There were safe houses or stations where the escaped slaves could rest and recover before being given directions to the next stop or being taken there, perhaps in the false bottom of a wagon. Besides looking for special signs like a lantern in an upstairs window or a 'safe' quilt displayed at a home, they also followed the North Star in the night sky.

When they had ended their journey on the Underground Railroad, escaped slaves had reached the "Promised Land" (North or Canada) which was north of the "River Jordan" (Ohio River which marked the boundary between free and slaves states). Their journey, with its allusions to railroads and the Bible, was filled with danger but also the promise of freedom and a better life.

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R is for Review (Blogging Through the Alphabet)

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As we are well past the halfway mark of the alphabet, I thought I would share a review of the American Civil War this week. There are so many important topics, ideas, people, places, and events that one can only skim the surface of everything there is to learn about the Civil War as we blog through the alphabet.

Where and When Did It Start?

The most obvious answer is that the American Civil War started when Fort Sumter in the Charleston Harbor on April 12, 1861. The American troops stationed at the Fort were running out of supplies and President Lincoln made it known that he would resupply them. U.S. Major Robert Anderson and his 86 soldiers held off surrendering till 34 hours after a bombardment led by the Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard.

One could also argue that the raid on Harper's Ferry by John Brown and his men in 1859 was a starting point because of the violence used. Brown's goal was to raise an army of former slaves and eventually free all the slaves in the South. They started at Harper's Ferry as there was a federal arsenal located there. His attempts were quickly put down by a small group of Marines, which included Robert E. Lee, and he was found guilty of treason and hanged.

Even earlier than the raid on Harper's Ferry were the events, raids, and attacks that happened in the "Bleeding Kansas" confrontations. With the bloodshed that occurred in the Border Wars between Kansas and Nebraska, one could argue that the Civil War was started as early as 1854. Pro- and antislavery people fought each other to win the area along the Kansas-Missouri border. If the people were going to decide if the states entered as free or slave states, then each wanted their side to win.

All of this just demonstrates how the Civil War cannot really be tied to any one event or cause as there were a myriad of problems all tied up with the idea of slavery, states' rights, and the expansion of the United States and how it would deal with these ideas and problems. It is only right to include the differences between the industrialized North and the agricultural South, the slave revolt of Nat Turner, Uncle Tom's Cabin, the Dred Scott decision, and the election of Abraham Lincoln as reasons as to why the American Civil War happened.

Who are the Key Figures in the American Civil War?

There are a great number of key individuals involved in the American Civil War as well as thousands upon thousands of lesser known men and women who also played an integral role. Who would you say were the most famous individuals from the American Civil War? Would you agree that President Abraham Lincoln is at the top of the list? What about those from the Confederacy? I think there may be disagreement over whether their president, Jefferson Davis, or the leader of the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee, was the most well known.

Of course, it might also depend upon which battle you might be studying or which events in relation to the Civil War you are studying to determine key figures. For example, if you are interested in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, you might spend more time focusing upon Confederate Generals Albert Sidney Johnson, Braxton Bragg, and John Bell Hood and the Union Generals Henry Halleck, Don Carlos Buell, and William Rosecrans. On the other hand, you might be more familiar with the Generals who were primarily engaged in battles in the Eastern Theater as they are usually at the center of movies and documentaries about the American Civil War. These men include Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and Union Generals George B. McClellan, Ambrose Burnside, and George G. Meade.

And we must never forget the common man who served. Over 3 million men served on both sides. There were many factors as to why farmers, skilled laborers, and professionals enlisted. They fought for country, duty, honor, and the right. They may also have enlisted due to peer pressure, to be a hero, and hatred of the enemy. Even though so many of these individuals are unknown, they are still just as important for their part in the American Civil War.

What were the Significant Battles?

From Fort Sumter to Appomattox, there are many important locations and sites for battles and events. When someone says they will be talking about the American Civil War, what battle names come to mind? Do you think of the bloodiest day in the Civil War – Antietam? The first battle in Maryland which was supposed to end the entire war very quickly – Manassas (also known as Bull Run)? Or perhaps Gettysburg which is often described as the turning point of the Civil War?

Here is a list of some of the battles that I think are important to be familiar with when studying the American Civil War:

• Fort Sumter (April 12-13, 1861) 
• First Battle of Bull Run / First Manassas (July 21, 1861) 
• Battle of Shiloh / Pittsburg Landing (April 6-7, 1862)
• First Battle of Chattanooga (June 7-8, 1862) 
• Battle of Gaines' Mill (June 27, 1862) 
• Battle of Antietam /Sharpsbourg (September 17, 1862) 
• Battle of Fredericksburg (December 13, 1862) 
• Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 - July 4, 1863) 
• Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) 
• Battle of Chickamauga (September 19-20, 1863) 
• Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-21, 1864) 
• Battle of Kennesaw Mountain (June 27, 1864) 
• Battle of Mobile Bay (August 5, 1864) 
• Battle of Five Forks (April 1, 1865) 

Resources to Checkout 

There are lots of resources for studying the American Civil War! I have lots of personal favorites in terms of books, websites, documentaries, and movies. I think one of the most important things to think about when looking for resources is examining the reason behind why something was written or created. Then looking at the year it was written or created. Some will dismiss those works that are older (such as works by Shelby Foote) but I do not think just because a work was published in the 1950s makes it no longer relevant. Yes, new information always comes to light but there is just as important information to be found in the original letters and reports of the men and women who lived during the Civil War as in the works of those who are writing today. 

Reading and Researching from Secondary Sources is a Great Place to Start  

• Shelby Foote 
• James M. McPherson 
• Gary W. Gallagher 
• Bruce Catton 
• Bill I. Wiley 
• John Jakes (fiction) 
• Michael Shaara (fiction) 

Reading Primary Sources can be Very Eye-Opening 

• George B. McClellan 
• Ulysses S. Grant 
• Joshua Chamberlain
• Jefferson Davis 
• The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (commonly known as the ORs or Official Records) 
• Sam R. Watkins 

What Sites Should You Visit? 

Honestly, I think that if you get the opportunity, you should visit every Civil War site – from those preserved by local historical societies to those that are part of the National Park Service. Each one has an individual story to tell. 

For the longest time, I would visit Gettysburg, PA at least once a year. There was something about walking through the town and battlefield that was inspiring and relaxing to me. Perhaps it was because I was so very close to history. And thanks to Civil War reenactors, you never knew when a Confederate solder might appear riding his horse escorting a Union prisoner across the field at Pickett's Charge. Or you might run into lovely ladies in Civil War-era hoop skirts in your hotel lobby. History really came to life and I loved it.

So, if you get the chance, visit a Civil War battle site or home. Stop by the location of the Underground Railroad and learn more about the daring journeys men and women went on to gain their freedom. And perhaps you might be transported to the past and truly understand more about the American Civil War.

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