Thank you all for your excellent comments. It’s so great to know that people want to read fun books about history. We have a winner!

Congratulations Morning Rose, comment #1! Please email your address!

****DARLA — FIFTH-GRADE GUEST BLOGGER****

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review this book, and even more excited that Darla was so engrossed in this story of a twelve-year-old’s heroic actions during the American Revolution. I’m a history nut, so it’s especially satisfying for me to witness my kids show glimmers of interest in history. I thought it was only fitting that she write the review, especially because of our travel to Boston last summer, so what follows is her reaction. Please find giveaway instructions at the end of her review.

The book Spitfire, by Kate Messner was great. It feels as if you were pulled into the past, watching Abigail’s amazing adventure, posing as a boy named Adam. You wonder if there will be any more battles aboard, wondering if they are going to be attacked by pirates or the British, or which ship she will board next.

It feels as if you were actually on the ship being Abigail or Pascal by the ways Kate Messner used the words, telling exactly what was happening, like looking through their eyes, and using their hands. It was amazing some of the things they did back then, like surgery was cutting of their arm and dipping it in hot tar to stop the blood. Abigail and Pascal usually make the choices you would make, so it’s like a second life as Abigail or Pascal, trying to keep secrets, is helpful, and make a living at the same time.

It feels as if it actually happened, not ending as “They grew up, got married, and lived happily ever after.” It has the kind of twist that you love, that is so “wow” that you never know what is going to happen next, always wondering, always wanting to pick the book back up again and just skip homework for a night. The chapters switched from Abigail to Pascal every other one, so it can be confusing at time, but that just makes it more interesting.

I highly suggest this book to people who like reading nonfiction, or who like unusual twists and saying “oh my gosh” often in a book. I would rate this book 4 ½ stars. It is very good and I definitely recommend it.

To be considered for the contest, please leave a comment describing what interests you about the book. You may also like to learn more about the author — Kate Messner — she has a new book due for release in September. You can participate even if you don’t have a blog. Just make sure you leave a working email when you leave your comment. I’ll choose the winner at random after 5 p.m. CST on Friday, June 13. US addresses only. Thanks for stopping by!

Please visit our other current book giveaway here.

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It appears Darla just can’t get enough of Robin’s poetry challenge.

****FIFTH GRADE GUEST BLOGGER****

Lucky
Humble, happy
Wagging, sleeping, barking
A good puppy
Wooger Dog

Wayne
Tempered, funny
Playing, laughing, reselling
A hard-working principal
Dad

I’ve hired my kids as weekly guest bloggers. Please join us as third-grade Craig and fifth-grade Darla write about their adventures.
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This month, Robin challenged us with the cinquain form of poetry. She asked us to write within the theme of “celebration.” It’s so easy and fun to write this form, Darla didn’t hesitate to write three poems for her guest post this week.

****FIFTH GRADE GUEST BLOGGER****

CHRISTMAS
Bright, sparkly
Caroling, decorating, partying
Full of happiness
Joy

SANTA
Red, fat
Eating, flying, giving
Jolly old elf
St. Nicholas

PITA
Mean beautiful calico
Hissing, purring, meowing
Very pretty kitty
Baby

The last poem she wrote in secret and gave as a gift to me — even with a bow. What a schmoozer. I think I should give her a raise;)

KELLY
Pretty, smart
Smiling, laughing, whistling
Loves her family
Mom

After the day I’d had, I was thinking more along the lines of:

MOM
Grumpy, frazzled
Scowling, scurrying, screaming
Needs a nap
Medusa

I guess our kids forgive us our trespasses. Selective memory may prove useful:)

Former PTT posts. Complete Guidelines.

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***THIRD GRADE GUEST BLOGGER***

Santa’s workers were the Elves. Rudolf was his favorite reindeer. After all year of working, Santa got on the sleigh. Rudolf’s dad was the leader, then it was Rudolf, then Dasher and Dancer. Then Dancer’s son and Dasher’s two sons were last.

They went to Rhinelander first. Wausau was the eighth one to get to. One kid wanted a bb gun, but he was only 8 years old and you have to be 10 years old to shoot a bb gun.

Finally he finished and after about two weeks he got about one-million thank you notes. So he wrote one million your-welcome notes back to them.

Editor’s Note – That must have taken Santa a very long time;)

I’ve hired my kids as weekly guest bloggers. Please join us as third-grade Craig and fifth-grade Darla write about their adventures.
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***FIFTH-GRADE GUEST BLOGGER***

The book I read was Kristy and the Mystery Admirer, by Ann Martin. Kristy is a girl in StoneyBrook middle school. She loves sports and rarely wears skirts or dresses. (For the Spring Fling she dressed up as a lobster with Bart.)

But I didn’t like it as a mystery at all. It wasn’t mysterious. It had things happen like, Bart walked Kristy home from their baseball game, then for the next two weeks she got secret admirer letters. Hmmm, I wonder whom those are from? Or, Kristy brought her secret admirer letters to school with her friends and a really mean girl named Cokie overheard then talking about them. Then, Kristy’s mystery admirer letters stopped coming. Then, really scary, mean and just plain awful letters came instead. What about those? Who are they from? It was like Ann Martin was giving away so many hints, that the answer to the mystery was obvious. Continue Reading »