5/24/23
I picked this book because I Survived is one of my favorite series. I also picked it because I’m researching this time period for a middle grade novel. It didn’t add anything new to my research, but it helped me picture a time period that’s so different from our own. I picked three things from Lauren’s back matter that caught my attention. I hope they catch yours too.

#1 – I didn’t realize America in 1776 was one of the wealthiest places in the world. I was also surprised that more people could read in the colonies than anywhere else, including England. I bet King George was surprised the colonies rebelled.

#2 – Without France the colonies would have lost the war. In 1778 France started sending the Americans money, troops, and weapons. Why? France and England were age-old enemies, and France hoped that losing the colonies, would make England weaker. But French help didn’t work right away. Nor did the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781. The war didn’t end until 1783. (If you scan down the page, you’ll find the painting Treaty of Paris. Only half of it’s there. Why? The British refused to be painted.)

#3 – I was happy to see Lauren write, “George Washington was even more interesting than I thought.” Lately founding fathers like George have been criticized because of slavery. It was a terrible thing. Unfortunately it’s a part of our history that can’t be changed. I’m glad it’s gone, and I’d like to think that if George and the other founding fathers came back today, that they would be too.

Here's Lauren’s list of George’s good traits: smart, brave, great husband, doting stepfather. A lot of people today would like George, but this is what Lauren admired . . . he knew how to fail. He made mistakes, but he learned from them. No one is mistake-proof, but we can all work to do better. George’s Battle of Brooklyn was one of his biggest mistakes. That’s what this book is about, that battle, and it’s worth reading!
​Amazon’s Description:
Bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tackles the American Revolution in this latest installment of the groundbreaking, New York Times bestselling I Survived series. British soldiers were everywhere. There was no escape.

Nathaniel Fox never imagined he'd find himself in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield, fighting for his life. He was only eleven years old! He'd barely paid attention to the troubles between America and England. How could he, while being worked to the bone by his cruel uncle, Uriah Storch?

But when his uncle's rage forces him to flee the only home he knows, Nate is suddenly propelled toward a thrilling and dangerous journey into the heart of the Revolutionary War. He finds himself in New York City on the brink of what will be the biggest battle yet.

​

4/11/23
If you like history, you’ll love this book! It takes you into real events, then uncovers the truth. For example, have you heard of Molly Pitcher? I had, but Kate Messner’s sources said she didn’t exist. That Molly’s story came from two real women, Mary Ludwig Hays and Margaret Corbin. They both fired cannons when their husbands couldn’t. The name Molly Pitcher – it probably came from the ladies who carried water to the troops.

This is just one story. Look below the Amazon description, and you’ll find three famous paintings, and the stories Kate told about where they went wrong.
​
​Amazon’s Description:
Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth behind the Revolutionary War with beloved educator/author Kate Messner. The fun mix of sidebars, illustrations, photos, and graphic panels make this perfect for fans of I Survived! and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.

On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere rode through Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, shouting, "The British are coming!" to start the American Revolution.RIGHT?

WRONG! Paul Revere made it to Lexington, but before he could complete his mission, he was captured! The truth is, dozens of Patriots rode around warning people about the Redcoats' plans that night. It was actually a man named Samuel Prescott who succeeded, alerting townspeople in Lexington and then moving on to Concord. But the Revolutionary War didn't officially start for more than a year after Prescott's ride. No joke.

​

                                                                           AND THOSE THREE PAINTINGS  . . .

​​This painting is titled ‘Declaration of Independence,’ but it doesn’t show the real signing. That didn’t happen until August 2, 1776. This was two months earlier, June 28. That’s when the drafting committee presented the Declaration to the Continental Congress, but this painting still isn’t right.

John Trumbull wasn’t there to see the signing. He painted it years later. He did his research and talked to some of the signers. Thomas Jefferson even gave him a sketch of the room. If John had paid attention, he would have noticed the wall wasn’t in the background. That the flags and drum weren’t on the wall, and that the delegates had much simpler chairs, but John changed them to make his painting look better.

But there was a bigger problem ahead – John had to decide who should be in the painting. He didn’t know whether to include all the men from June, or if he should leave out the ones who voted against the Declaration. He finally decided to put in the signers. His next mistake – he left out fourteen. Why? He didn’t know what they looked like. Sometimes getting things just right, it’s impossible. 

This is the Birth of Old Glory. It’s supposed to show Betsy Ross giving George Washington the first flag, but the BIG problem – there’s no evidence it ever happened.

Kate discovered that Congress approved a new flag in June of 1777, but there are no primary sources to prove that Betsy Ross made it. Washington didn’t write about it in his journal or in his notes, and there are no sales receipts.

So where did this tale come from? Betsy’s grandson retold her story of that first flag. It was an article for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, but it was a hundred years too late for us to believe. Grandma Ross really sewed flags for the Pennsylvania navy, and she really was a seamstress in colonial Philadelphia. But the first flag, no one will ever really know who made it.
​

This is the Treaty of Paris. If you scan down to the next book, it’s about the Tower of London, and you’ll see this painting again. It shows the men who negotiated the treaty to end the Revolutionary War. Their names are in this caption, and in that one too.

Kate pointed out the right side of the painting. I didn’t notice it last time. Do you see that foggy section? It’s where the British negotiators would have been seated. The only problem – they refused to pose . . . so Benjamin West solved it by painting them into a cloud.


​

​3/29/23
I didn’t read the whole book this time. Just one chapter, that I remembered from before. Why? It’s all about the only American ever held in the Tower of London. His name – Henry Laurens. Here are the details that caught my eye. That I thought I might be able to use in the middle grade I’m working on.

​On Slavery
Henry owned slaves, but some of his actions surprised me. He had two partners in the slave trade . . . he left the business. Later during the Revolutionary War, Henry was put in charge of the defense of Charleston, and he suggested asking free blacks and slaves (to volunteer). Many slave owners opposed it, including George Washington. Henry did it anyway, and his troops kept the British out of Charleston. George Washington never forgave him, and he told his friends in Congress all about it too. 

​The Continental Congress
Henry joined the Continental Congress in January of 1777. In November he became its president, but he resigned a year later, in December of 1778. Politics! Henry kept his seat and focused on building an alliance with the Dutch. It took two years, but he got them to resume trade, and give the US a $10 million loan. Congress said OK, but do it yourself. Henry did, but he was captured as soon as his ship broke into the open sea. They found his briefcase and the treaty. He was taken into custody and later convicted of high treason. He couldn’t even be exchanged as a prisoner of war. And the Dutch – King George attacked them and destroyed their navy. There went Henry’s loan! 

​The Tower of London
Henry was taken to the Tower where he was expected to pay for his room, his guards, and for any necessities. He was finally exchanged for Lord Cornwallis himself. His surrender at Yorktown ended the Revolutionary War. But Henry didn’t go home – instead Benjamin Franklin asked him to come to France to help negotiate the peace. He didn’t even get to finish the treaty – Ben sent him back to England, as our first unofficial ambassador. 

Returning Home
Henry returned to find his plantations destroyed and one of his sons dead. He died during the closing days of the war. Henry lived for another seven years, and he gained a new nickname – Tower Laurens. He left two endowments behind . . . to the wife of his Tower jailer. The other . . . to their daughter. Evidently she carried messages to his friends, until some guards noticed her unusual activity. Then it stopped.   (Amazon's description is below.)

Amazon’s Description:
The brooding grey walls of the Tower of London circumscribe one of the most recognisable buildings on the planet. Over its thousand-year history the Tower stood as a symbol of the English monarchy and served as both a palace and a prison. It is a place where court intrigues, clandestine liaisons, unimaginable tortures and grisly executions took place with frightening regularity. Tales from the Tower is the factual history of the great building itself told through the true stories of the people, royal and common, good and bad, heroes and villains, who lived and died there. Including characters such as William the Conqueror, the Princes in the Tower, Jane Grey, Guy Fawkes, Colonel Blood and Rudolf Hess, the broad range of stories encompassed in Tales from the Tower present a microcosm of all human experience, from love and death to greed and betrayal, all played out against romantic period settings ranging from medieval knights in shining armour to the darkest days of World War II.  Anyone who loves history and adventure will find Tales from the Tower a classic page turner.

​

​3/19/23
Here are 3 stories that caught my eye this week. Two are about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. The third, George Washington.

1, In April and May of 1780, the British had their eyes on Charleston, South Carolina. It fell on May 12, but the British got a bonus – three men who signed the Declaration –Thomas Heyward, Edward Rutledge, and Arthur Middleton. They were arrested and held in a dungeon inside the city. Their next stop – a British prison in St. Augustine, Florida. I was glad they weren’t hanged, but, they weren’t famous like John Hancock or Thomas Jefferson. Maybe that’s why they survived.

​2. Richmond, Virginia was burned to the ground in January of 1781. The government escaped to Charlottesville, but the British found out, and now they’re riding hard to capture it. They stopped to rest at a tavern where Jack Jouett overheard them. He rides through the night to warn Thomas Jefferson. His face is scratched so badly that Jack will live with the scars for the rest of his life, but he makes it in time to warn Thomas. But the night isn’t over. Thomas sends him back out to warn the legislature. If Jouett hadn’t made that ride, the Brits would have captured the legislature, plus four signers – Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, Benjamin Harrison, and Richard Henry Lee. They all escaped, thanks to Jack’s ride. 

​3. ​Soldiers give up a lot for their country. George Washington left Mount Vernon in 1775, and he didn’t return until six years later. He finally stopped in on September 12, 1781, for one night. The army was on its way to Yorktown for a final matchup with General Cornwallis. George thought he could spare one night . . . to sleep in his own bed, to see his wife Martha, and to look out on the Potomac River from his porch. George couldn’t help himself . . . he stayed two nights. I would have too, after six years away from home.
​

3/15/2023
It’s working! I’m a week into this book, on Chapter 19, and it’s helped me to imagine this time period, its heroes, and villains. Here are three big discoveries I’ve made so far. There are others, of course, but not everyone loves reading research 😊

1. I discovered where many of the founders went for a drink, or for a stay. John Adams said it was the “most genteel tavern in America.” This is key! I need its name to help you picture the setting in the first couple chapters of my book.  

2. I found a HUGE mistake in my manuscript, in Chapter 2! I put Ben Franklin in Philadelphia in April of 1777. The problem – he sailed to France in November of 1776. OOPS! I’m glad I found it, and fixed it.  
3.  I can’t use this one yet, but I saw a passage in Wikipedia that said Thomas Jefferson blamed King George for slavery, and he put it in the Declaration of Independence, in one of the drafts. I didn’t believe it, but it’s true! I read his words, in a footnote in this book! Unfortunately, Georgia and South Carolina were slave-owning states, so they had the words pulled.  

It’s sad. It might have changed things, like no Civil War, but can you imagine getting 13 people to agree on anything? Imagine getting 13 colonies and their 56 representatives to do that. Sometimes you have to negotiate to get part of what you want. You can never, ever, get everything.

Started 3/7  
I started reading today because I need to immerse myself in research. I found an idea last July, and it wouldn’t let me go. It took me until the end of 2022 to figure out where the story should go. I was searching for a ribbon, a main idea, to thread through the story, from the beginning until the very end.

Now that it’s 2023, I’m writing! My critique group looked at chapter 1, twice. This time their advice – add comments and keep moving. I’ll do that this week.

I’ll also revise chapter 2 and have my critique group look at it again. I’ll take notes, and keep going. Why? Because this is a BIG topic! The biggest I’ve ever written. I could end up with 50-60 chapters, total.
As I write, I’ll learn more about the historical figures at the heart of the American story. I’ll revise better if I know their story, and, it will be easier. I love two-fers!

I started the prologue today, and I’m at the beginning of the French and Indian War. I’m watching a  young George Washington fight in the battle over Fort Duquesne and the Ohio Valley. I’m also listening to what Ben Franklin said, prebattle. He warned the British about the Indians and their kind of fighting, but they didn’t listen, and, they lost badly.

                                        PS - If I find any fun facts along the way, I’ll share them with you.
        PPS – Well written nonfiction is a joy to read. I love learning new details and points of view!

​Amazon’s Description:
The Revolutionary War as never told before.

This breathtaking installment in Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard’s mega-bestselling Killing series transports readers to the most important era in our nation’s history: the Revolutionary War. Told through the eyes of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Great Britain’s King George III, Killing England chronicles the path to independence in gripping detail, taking the reader from the battlefields of America to the royal courts of Europe.

What started as protest and unrest in the colonies soon escalated to a world war with devastating casualties. O’Reilly and Dugard recreate the war’s landmark battles, including Bunker Hill, Long Island, Saratoga, and Yorktown, revealing the savagery of hand-to-hand combat and the often brutal conditions under which these brave American soldiers lived and fought. Also here is the reckless treachery of Benedict Arnold and the daring guerrilla tactics of the “Swamp Fox” Frances Marion.

A must read, Killing England reminds one and all how the course of history can be changed through the courage and determination of those intent on doing the impossible.

Finished 5/22
I was prepared to love this one . . .I’d read the first two books in the series, but a small detail put me off at the beginning. A name, Elin von Snakenborg. I’d heard of Helena, but the difference was enough to throw me off. I trusted the author and kept reading.

I’m glad I did! I discovered how Elin became Helena, a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth I. Her story pulled me in. Plus, the real Helena was a great character, the kind of friend Elizabeth needed when she didn’t know who to trust.  

I knew the prologue would come into play, but when it did, it caught me by surprise. And then, I couldn’t stop reading. It was Aesop’s fable with the frozen snake. Instead of gratitude, the snake bites/kills the person who saved it. The moral – you knew I was a snake when you found me. There’s a human one waiting for Elizabeth, and for Helena. I guessed Elizabeth’s, but Helena’s, it kept me reading.

This book may be fiction, but it hits all the important parts of Elizabeth’s history, especially the plots that threatened her from the moment she became queen. What makes this book unique is that it lets you see England and Elizabeth from Helena’s eyes. One of the best quotes, “It would behoove us at court, I thought, to better pay attention to what she did and not only to what she said. She showed us all what she told very few.” It’s great advice. Look at someone’s actions. They’ll tell you far more than what they actually say.

I forgot to share another quote from book 2. Juliana remembers some advice from Euripides. “Time will discover everything . . . it is a babbler and speaks even when no question is put.” So if you’re looking for an answer, give it time, and eventually, time will answer you.
​
Amazon’s Description:
What happens when serving a queen may cost you your marriage—or your life?
From the author of To Die For comes a stirring novel that sheds new light on Elizabeth I and her court, a book that evokes the Tudor period's complexity, grandeur, and brutality.

In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiancé has fallen in love with her sister, and her dowry money has been gambled away. Ahead of her lies an adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power and plunge her to the riskiest, most heartrending lows.

Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth's circle and Elizabeth's dear friend and confidant. But in a court surrounded by enemies plotting the queen's downfall, Helena is forced to choose between her unyielding monarch and the husband she's not sure she can trust—a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences.

Vividly conjuring the years leading up to the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots, Roses Have Thorns is a multi-layered exploration of treason, both to the realm and the heart.

~~~ A discussion of potentially sensitive content may be found on the author’s webpage for this book for those who would like to preview it before reading.

​

Finished 5/10
This book and Juliana, had me from the first page, the first chapter. That’s when she meets Thomas Seymour, brother of Queen Jane, the one who gave Henry VIII his only son. Thomas offers Juliana a position in Katherine Parr’s household, and I get to watch historical figures move in and out of the house.

Katherine was never my favorite queen, but I’ve gained a whole new level of respect reading how she treated people. Thomas had his eye on her for a long time, and when he thinks he’ll marry Katherine and all her wealth, the king snaps her up. No one argues with Henry VIII.

Thanks to Juliana, I had a front row seat to history. The story is fictional, but it’s based on real events. It’s like following the basic plot lines of history, but adding in the emotions, the things people might have said and done. The things that never made it into history books.

This time period is full of the life/death religious fight between the Catholics and Protestants. Juliana has prophetic dreams. Her biggest challenge, to decide who to tell/who not to. The wrong person would call you a witch. The right one would listen and wait to use the information. One of Juliana’s dreams – a parchment falls from a bishop’s pocket. It’s an arrest warrant for Katherine. The dream might not have happened, but Henry really signed a parchment. Someone found it and gave it to Katherine. That saved her life.

Juliana gave me the chance to see Elizabeth grow up, to watch the horror when Thomas pursues her, and the death of Katherine in childbed fever. Her only child, Mary Seymour, dies young, but this novel connects real events to let her live past childhood. The first time I read this book I was hooked by Julianna’s story, and the second time . . . I could see the nuts and bolts of the story, and how Sandra Byrd put them together.

PS – my newest story – it’s about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. I realized after writing how Sandra uses a friend to tell Anne Boleyn’s story, that I’m using her technique . . . I’m on chapter 6, and I have one signer telling the story, just like Sandra 😊

Amazon’s Description:
In a court full of intrigue, what if the most heart-wrenching secrets Juliana must keep are her own?
Sir Thomas Seymour offers Juliana St. John a place in the household of Katherine Parr, a welcome reprieve. Juliana blossoms under Kate's maternal warmth, but all is not well. Juliana has the gift of prophetic dreams and "sees" terrible events visited upon the highborn. If her prophetic gift is discovered, she will be accused of heresy or, worse, witchcraft.

Katherine Parr is a beautiful, intelligent woman whose generosity is surpassed only by her kindness. Unsurprisingly, she attracts the attention of King Henry VIII, who recently dispatched his fifth wife. Unfortunately, being Henry's beloved carries no small risk for Kate and her household, especially after she becomes his queen. As a member of the queen's inner circle, Juliana bears witness to a barrage of plots within the increasingly treacherous court—many intended to remove Kate's influence and, perhaps, her life.

As Henry's illness progresses toward death, those seeking to claim his power descend on the queen. Meanwhile, Thomas Seymour is revealed to be both more and immeasurably less than the kindhearted benefactor Juliana once thought him to be. As the queen's trusted confidante, Juliana is a well-practiced secret keeper. But when unforeseen violence upends her future, the most heart-wrenching secret she keeps is her own.

Threading historical fact through gripping fiction, Byrd creates a rich tapestry of one young woman's battle to protect those she loves from harm.

​

Finished 5/1
I didn’t realize I have the 1st edition of this book, until I started writing this post. The original, came out in 2012. This is the new 2023 cover. It’s an update, but I won’t buy it . . .  most of the story should be the same.

I pulled it out to reread when I bought book 2. It’s the 2nd edition. I didn’t know it existed, until last week. Tonight I went ahead and bought book 3. The Tudors fascinate me, especially Anne Boleyn. Can you imagine a woman, changing the religion of a country, in a time period dominated by men? Wow! Amazing!

What makes this book different from all the others about Anne, is that it combines 1st and 3rd person. The story is about Anne, but it’s told by her best friend Meg Wyatt. It works because you can see her through Meg’s eyes. I don’t know of any other books that do this.  I’m tucking the idea away . . . for my own writing.

The author also has 4 sections of back matter. Sandra uses an author’s note to show what is historically true, and what she changed to make it read better. For example, the Wyatts had 2 daughters, but neither was named Meg. Why? Too many names were the same. Changing them doesn’t change Anne’s story, but it makes it easier for a reader to follow.

Sandra also shared her bibliography. Then she added in a readers’ guide with discussion group questions. She ended with an author’s Q & A that let me peek into the choices she made when writing/revising. One of them – why she told the story from Meg’s point of view, not Anne’s.
​
Amazon’s Description:
When Anne Boleyn catches the eye of the king, Meg Wyatt accompanies her dearest friend to the thrilling court of King Henry VIII. However, as Anne and Henry's affections grow, Meg receives devastating news: the man she loves is forfeiting their future together to pursue his calling as a priest. Heartbroken, Meg commits to ensuring Anne's well-being.

The court crawls with climbers; some see Anne as an ally, while others consider her an adversary. In a place where deception and intrigue are common currencies, it is difficult to discern friend from foe—even within one's chambers. Anne's status rises, and Meg remains her loyal confidante, positions neither takes lightly. Unfortunately, the same determined ideals that make Anne a worthy queen and a champion for the English Reformation provide her enemies with a deadly foothold on her future.

Charismatic Henry is a single-minded king and a fickle-minded man. When Anne cannot produce the male heir he desires, she falls out of favor, allowing her enemies to pounce. Accusations and false testimony prevail. Anne Boleyn is sentenced to die.

Meg bears witness to her friend's stalwart grace, even unto death. Weighted with grief, Meg expects a dim future. But then, an unexpected source reignites a long-held spark still kindling in her heart. Could that which is worth dying for be exactly what makes life worth living?

Fusing compelling fiction with historical facts, To Die For is a masterful tale of unflinching friendship and unquenchable love.

​

Finished 4/28
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. This book takes you back to England in 1715. Here’s the back story . . .  Queen Anne died in 1714, and her heir . . . German George. Naturally that didn’t go over in England, so James Francis Stuart decided to fight for the crown.

The interesting part – Anne, George, and James were all related, through King James II. The Brits got rid of him because he was Catholic. Replacing him – William and Mary – Protestants. Fun fact – Both Anne and Mary were King James II’s daughters.

This book is listed on Amazon as Religious/Christian historical fiction, and also as historical Christian romance. The story focuses on the fight between Catholics and Protestants. I haven’t read a lot of religious stories, but this one isn’t teachy-preachy. I go to church for that.

Instead, it focuses on the relationship between a man and a woman on opposite sides of the fight. They find common ground in faith, and prayer.

Part 2 - A Few Good Quotes: You’ll find one at the beginning of each chapter. Here are a few of my favorites . . .
 
1.  I can make a lord, but only God can make a gentleman. KING JAMES I – Chapter 2 - He became king after Elizabeth I died. He was the first Stuart from Scotland to rule England.
 
2. Hide not your Talents, they for Use were made. What’s a Sun-Dial in the shade? BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - Chapter 32 – He was born in Massachusetts. In 1706 it was a British colony. Poor Richard’s Almanac made his writing famous, but that was long after the 1715 rising against George I. 

3.  No more tears now; I will think about revenge. MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS - 44– She wanted to become queen so she plotted the death of her cousin, Elizabeth I. Mary was arrested and executed, but her son, James I became king after Elizabeth died.

4.  A rule that may serve for a statesman, a courtier, or a lover: Never make a defense or apology before you be accused. CHARLES I OF ENGLAND - 52 – He was the only English monarch executed for treason.

5. In private life he would have been called an honest blockhead. LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGUE, SPEAKING OF GEORGE I – 61 – Lady Mary was part of George’s court, and she put her thoughts into a book.

6.  We are twice armed if we fight with faith. PLATO – 62 – He was a famous Greek philosopher who lived 300 - 400 years before Christ.

Amazon’s Description:
In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley's father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her mistress in tow. He has his own problems--a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.

Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies--and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.

Finished 4/20
I bought book 3 when I got the others in August of 2011. It’s all about the plot and rising tension. It increases every time the fight grows between the Capital and the Districts. Katniss and Peeta are used as tools by both sides. For Katniss, it’s her choice, but the Capital uses torture to force Peeta into becoming its mouthpiece.

There are three places that tug at my emotions, and they’re all near the end. The first comes when Katniss returns to District 12, and so does Buttercup, Prim’s cat. Every time I read it; I tear up. There’s something about the situation that tugs at my emotions, and I don’t know why.

The second is when Katniss describes how she and Peeta grew back together slowly, and the final . . . when Katniss retells how difficult it was to have children. They’re both lovely, and they’re part of a satisfying ending, but they just don’t hit me emotionally the way Buttercup’s scene does. After all these years, I still can’t explain why it’s my heart moment.

The other two books hit me differently this time, I think because of how the world has changed. But book 3 is about an actual revolution, with guns and bombs. That’s happening, but it’s in the Ukraine. My head knows about it, but it doesn’t touch my heart, not yet. I’ve experienced the things that happened between the Capital and the Districts in books 1 and 2. They affected how I feel, how I think. I hope I never have to experience war, with guns and fighting, the way Katniss and Peeta did.

​Amazon’s Description:
The greatly anticipated final book in the New York Times bestselling Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss Everdeen. The final book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins will have hearts racing, pages turning, and everyone talking about one of the biggest and most talked-about books and authors in recent publishing history!

​

Finished 4/17
I’ve had book 2 since August of 2011, and I always read it after book 1. I remember back then what a writing mentor said about the ending, that it wasn’t satisfying. That surprised me then, but not now.
After all these years of plotting stories, I can see that the ending comes too fast. Katniss goes from blowing up the force field surrounding the arena to a hospital bed.

That’s where Haymitch finally explains how the games started the revolution. It needed Katniss as its symbol so the rebels pulled her out first, but Peeta was captured by the Capital, and that’s the end of book 2. It was unsatisfying because it was super abrupt, just like my mentor said back in 2011.

This time I was struck by how we’re forced to trust the news and the stories they choose to tell. That’s what the Capital does. If you watch the main stream news channels, you hear what the Democrats want. If you watch other sources, you hear the Republican side. Sometimes they even show the same event, from totally different perspectives. And the truth, it’s probably somewhere in the middle, I hope.

​Amazon’s Description:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Finished 4/13
I bought The Hunger Games back in August of 2011. I’ve read it a couple times since then, and those first few pages always pull me in, even though I know the story. What keeps me reading time after time, the characters. They’re 3-D. From Katniss to Haymitch to President Snow. Hero, villain, and supporting characters, they all have their own unique, distinctive personalities.

And the plot – Katniss and Peeta are picked as tributes for District 12. They must compete to survive the Hunger Games, with all its twists and turns and bitter ending. Who knew that poison berries could be as toxic as apples? The complications follow Katniss and Peeta home to District 12, and into the next book.

What struck me this time, that didn’t before, the government. It signals its virtues, and the people, they accept it. It reminds me of what I see on the news. My biggest fear – that our problems will get worse, just like the Hunger Games, until people are willing to stand up and fight for what’s right. Hopefully, before it’s too late.
​
Amazon’s Description:
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Still, if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

​

Finished 4/10
I bought this book back in July of 2011. I’ve read it a couple of times, and I’m always struck by the darkness of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Seeing it through the eyes of the new American ambassador, it highlights the ruthlessness of the Nazis. They were interested in power, not the welfare of the German people.

This time, I didn’t notice the darkness as much. I tuned into the similarity between then, and now. In the last four years, we’ve been from January 6th to the George Floyd riots. From Covid to the Ukraine. Now China and Taiwan. It’s the darkest period I can remember.

The other thing that struck me, was looking at the diplomats at the State Department. The ambassador called them the Pretty Good Club. I wish they’d been the Best Ever. We needed them in 1933, and we need them today. My fear – we’ve got pretty good people, who just aren’t quite good enough. They’re interested in power and in their own careers, not in the welfare of the American people. I pray that good will prevail, sooner, not later.
​
Amazon’s Description:
Erik Larson has been widely acclaimed as a master of narrative non-fiction, and in his new book, the best-selling author of Devil in the White City turns his hand to a remarkable story set during Hitler’s rise to power.

The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history.

A mild-mannered professor from Chicago, Dodd brings along his wife, son, and flamboyant daughter, Martha. At first, Martha is entranced by the parties and pomp, and the handsome young men of the Third Reich with their infectious enthusiasm for restoring Germany to a position of world prominence. Enamored of the “New Germany”, she has one affair after another, including with the suprisingly honorable first chief of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels. But as evidence of Jewish persecution mounts, confirmed by chilling first-person testimony, her father telegraphs his concerns to a largely indifferent State Department back home. Dodd watches with alarm as Jews are attacked, the press is censored, and drafts of frightening new laws begin to circulate.

As that first year unfolds and the shadows deepen, the Dodds experience days full of excitement, intrigue, romance - and ultimately, horror, when a climactic spasm of violence and murder reveals Hitler’s true character and ruthless ambition.

Suffused with the tense atmosphere of the period, and with unforgettable portraits of the bizarre Göring and the expectedly charming - yet wholly sinister - Goebbels, In the Garden of Beasts lends a stunning, eyewitness perspective on events as they unfold in real time, revealing an era of surprising nuance and complexity. The result is a dazzling, addictively listenable work that speaks volumes about why the world did not recognize the grave threat posed by Hitler until Berlin, and Europe, were awash in blood and terror.

​

Princesses are supposed to be practically perfect, right? They should be pretty and kind, and they should be able to read.

​What if the princess was pretty and kind, but she discovered she couldn’t read. What do you do with a princess like that, who isn’t quite perfect enough?
​
                                                                              Part 1 – A Princess and Dyslexia

This is that practically perfect princess as a baby. She’s with her grandmother and great grandmother. Together they’re three generations of the Windsor family. Do you recognize Princess Beatrice, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Queen Mum of England?
​
That was Beatrice – until she turned seven. That’s when she discovered life wasn’t so perfect. The print in her book looked muddled, like a bunch of gobbledy-gook. Why? Dyslexia, and it made Beatrice feel confused, like she wasn’t good enough, or smart enough. Imagine – a princess who didn’t feel like she was enough?!
​

Beatrice is a very private person, but in the last few years she started talking about her dyslexia. How as a child she noticed her best friends were ahead of her. They read yellow and green books, and Beatrice, she was left behind in the white ones.

I was surprised Beatrice felt lucky, but her friends and family never made her feel like she wasn’t enough. The people that surrounded her talked about how to move forward. They looked at what she could do, not at what she couldn’t. Beatrice talked to them about her struggles, and it changed minds, including her own. How could it not? Everyone is a sum of their capabilities and limitations.

During secondary school, which sounds like American middle/ high school, the princess got support from the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, and it worked! Beatrice passed eight GCSE’s when she was 16. That’s the UK abbreviation for General Certificate of Secondary Education, and my guess is she passed eight tests. I wonder if she got eight certificates?!

Beatrice went on to pass three A-levels. In the US we’d call them college prep classes/end of year testing. She went on to college and graduated with a degree in History and the History of Ideas from Goldsmiths College in London. Here are two pictures of Beatrice, outside school of course.
​
The first picture is Beatrice skiing with her mom and sister back in 2004. She’s on the left. I did the math . . . She was 16 back then, and those GCSE’s must have been around the corner. 
​

​The second photo is of Beatrice with her baby sister Eugenie from 2013. I did the math again, and now Beatrice must be 24. She’s done all the hard work (school), and she’s working for a living. BTW – 2013 is the same year she became the Royal Patron for the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity. Remember the group who helped her find coping strategies for her dyslexia? I bet it felt great to help the people who helped her.

Before covid, Beatrice worked for a software company. Her niche – communications and strategic partnerships. Best of all it played to her strengths in communication, and it’s much better than “sitting behind a desk.” She’s still at the same company, but Beatrice has worked herself up the ladder. Now she’s Vice President of Partnerships and Strategy at Afiniti.com. Would you believe it specializes in artificial intelligence, or that Beatrice says her dyslexia gave her an advantage?

She ended one of her interviews by saying that a lot of her colleagues have dyslexia, and that it’s a strength because they see things differently. They’re problem solvers who look for new ways to do things. They’re not afraid to be experimental or entrepreneurial. Beatrice said dyslexia turned into a gift. The best part – understanding that it’s not about what’s wrong with you. Dyslexia “is a great part of how your brain works, and everybody’s brain works incredibly differently.” What a great way to look at yourself and at your abilities! I imagine Beatrice’s parents are pretty proud of her 😊

                                                     ​​​Part 3 – Dyslexia: How to Recognize and Cope with It
Dyslexia makes it hard to match letters to sounds, whether they’re an individual letter or in combinations. It’s usually diagnosed when kids start formal reading, sometime in kindergarten or first grade, but it’s not a vision problem.

Here are some suggestions from Healthline.com. They’re common sense ideas that I can summarize for you. If you’d like to read their full article, this link will take you there: How to Help a Child with Dyslexia at Home: Ideas, Resources (healthline.com)
​

​1. Read together every day. It builds a relationship, and that’s always a good thing. Please do it in a way that fits your child. Sometimes I read a page, then one of my kids would read. If they didn’t know a word, I’d give them the first sound, wait a second, then give them the word. Other kids, I’d let them read as long as they wanted.

​2.  Focus on sight words. I used the Dolch Words, the 200 most common words in books. Think words like: is, been, the, are, or could to name a few. If your child is in kindergarten, they’re already bringing words like this home every night. 

3.  Repeat, repeat, repeat. I used to say repeat to remember, and remember to repeat. It works with math flash cards and sight words. It also works with the leveled readers that teachers send home. Each time your child reads them, they get faster and more confident. 

​4.  Create a nurturing place to study. Think comfy, and also being patient with your child. Sometimes it helps to think of times when something was difficult for you. What did you need to succeed? Try those same kinds of things with your child, age appropriate of course. 

​5.  Create a learning calendar and use it too keep track of progress or tasks to do. It’s great because kids can see their own growth, like how many words a minute they’re reading then, and now. If your child gets stuck, work together to get past the obstacle. 

6.  Make sure your child is getting enough sleep. I didn’t know that kids with dyslexia are more at risk for sleep disorders. I could tell when my 2nd graders weren’t getting enough sleep. When that happened, they didn’t do as well. I have sleep problems myself so I do these things as much as possible.
​
- establish a bedtime. Try to keep it at the same time, even on weekends.
- create an environment for sleep, like a dark room or a nightlight. Whatever your child needs.
- limit social media and electronics before bedtime. They stimulate you when it’s time to wind down.
- develop a sleep routine that you do every night before bed (a snack, brush teeth, read a book). Whatever fits your family.
Kids ages 5-13 need 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night. Teenagers aged 13-18 need 8 to10 hours.

​7.  Praise success and effort. You can do no more than your best. Your child can’t either. Remember, they already know they’re behind. Noticing those tries and successes builds confidence. Princess Beatrice said pushing back against dyslexia built her problem-solving skills and confidence. It can do that for your child too. 

8.  Use mnemonic devices. (new-mon-ic) They’re tricks to help you remember something.
​
- turn information into a song. I did. It helped my kids remember things like weather and landforms.
- letter or word imagery. Example – make b’s look like beds and d’s like dogs. For letter sounds like ow, I had ow as in cow, and ow as tow.
- acronyms like ROY G BIV. My second graders used that to remember the colors of the rainbow . . . red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

​​9.  Find a tutor, especially over summer vacation. When I met my new 2nd graders, I could tell which ones read over vacation – they took off right away. The kids who didn’t took a few weeks to brush up on their skills.

Sources:
- Princess Beatrice's ongoing difficulty with 'muddled' thoughts swirling in her head (msn.com) 
- Watch Princess Beatrice Open Up About Her Dyslexia in Rare Interview (townandcountrymag.com)  
- Princess Beatrice: The Gift of Dyslexia - Dyslexia | Dyslexic Advantage
- How to Help a Child with Dyslexia at Home: Ideas, Resources (healthline.com)

Photo Sources:
By Archives New Zealand from New Zealand - Image from Christmas card issued by H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II (1988), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122834578
​

​By File:Web Summit 2018 - Forum - Day 2, November 7 DF1 7541 (45765935451).jpg: Web Summitderivative work: Minerva97 - This file was derived from: Web Summit 2018 - Forum - Day 2, November 7 DF1 7541 (45765935451).jpg:, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8679423

​By Norbert Aepli, Switzerland, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5678659

​By Carfax2 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26706695

​When I think of whales, this is what I picture . . . one of them leaping out of the water. They are magnificent! How could such a huge and mighty creature find itself beached, without a chance of swimming back out to sea? It should be something that’s impossible.
​

​I’d never want to see a whale die like this – beached. Stuck in the sand, without a chance to escape, but 25 have died this way since December 1, 2022. Many, along the New Jersey and New York shoreline.

Our government has been studying these deaths since 2016, and 186 whales died in those six years. That’s a lot. The highest – 2017 – when 34 whales beached themselves. So, 25 whales in three months, that’s super high. I hope this isn’t a record-breaking year.

Scientists have done necropsies on 13 of those 25 whales. We have autopsies when we die to tell us why. Whales, they have necropsies.  Out of the 13 examined, 8 died because they ran into boats and ships. The other 12 whales – the scientists are still waiting on those results.

Usually if a whale beaches itself, it’s sick. Sometimes it’s trying to avoid sharks or killer whales. But 25, that’s way higher than normal. What’s going on? No one knows for sure. Some people suspect global warming. Others wonder if it’s the new offshore wind farms. Everyone has guesses, but no one knows the true answer, for sure.
​

​Source: As More Dead Whales Wash Up in NJ and NY, Officials Eye Research Into Wind Farms – NBC New York

                                               Part 2 – Which Whales Beached Themselves, and Where?
The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has been tracking where the whales beached themselves along the eastern seaboard. It’s mostly been on the shores of New York and New Jersey, but it stretches all the way down to Florida.

​Do you have trouble imagining the size of something large? I do. That’s why I added these two pictures to this post about whales . . . to help us imagine just how big they are. The average school bus is 35 feet long, probably longer than a classroom. And an elephant, he weighs about a ton, whether he’s from Africa or India.
​

​Humpback whales have suffered the most. Eighteen of these giant creatures have stranded themselves along beaches between New York and North Carolina.
​

​
 Only 3 sperm whales have been stranded, so far. They were found on beaches between New York and Florida. Three is a lot less, and they were scattered far apart along the Atlantic coastline.

Male sperm whales can be 52 feet long. That’s about a bus and a half. (Two buses are 70 feet in length.) Male whales weigh 50 tons. That’s 50 elephants sitting on your lap. No thanks!

Females, like the one in the photo, are about 36 feet long, just a little longer than your bus. They only weigh 15 tons, but I would still say no if 15 elephants asked to sit on my lap.

And a new baby whale – it’s only 13 feet long. If you add a yardstick to its length, you’d have half a bus. As for the weight, only 1.1 tons. That’s one elephant, on my lap? No thanks, I’d rather sit beside that elephant. Oh, I mean baby whale!
​

Meet a mama and baby North Atlantic right whale. I don’t understand why they’re right, not left. Maybe you can look it up and report back to me and my readers. Only two of the right whales have been stranded – along the shore of North Carolina and Virginia. I guess it’s good to be right 😊

Right whales are about 43 – 56 feet long. That’s about as long as the other two whales. The short ones are as long as a bus, plus the height of a 6-foot basketball player. The long ones are a bus long, plus four kids stretched out in front of it (if they’re about 5 feet tall).

And their weight? DO NOT let them sit on your lap! Each whale weighs about 100 tons. I don’t want to imagine 100 elephants anywhere near my lap ☹
​

These are sei whales! I’ll say . . . that’s how you say their name. Not like see or sigh. Only one of them has been stranded, along the North Carolina coast.

Sei whales are about 64 feet long. Put two school buses together. Then subtract that 6-foot basketball player.

These whales are long and thin, and they only weigh 31 tons. I thought they were the thinnest, but female sperm whales have them beat by 16 tons. Still, I’d prefer those 15 elephants, or 31, sitting beside me, not on my lap. 
​

 
                                                     Part 3 – A Summary and My Conclusions:
​               These are results over 3 months, from December 2022 through February 2023…
Number                            Kind                                                                               Location
18                                         humpback whales                                                 New York to North Carolina
3                                            sperm whales                                                           New York to Florida
2                                            North Atlantic right whale                               North Carolina and Virginia
1                                            sei whale                                                                      North Carolina
1                                            minke whale                                                               New York

Did you notice that no whale has beached itself north of New York? Or that most of these whales are choosing beaches north of North Carolina? It must have something to do with the water temperature. Evidently these whales like colder water, especially the humpbacks who have suffered the most.

I hope scientists can figure out why whales are doing this, and then find a solution. I would hate to see the humpbacks, or any of the other whales, disappear from the earth. Fingers crossed!

​

Sources:
Map: The original was edited by Andrew c to include Nova Scotia, PEI, Bahamas, and scale key.It was originally uploaded to the English Wikipedia with the same title by Wapcaplet:20:57, 9 October 2005 . . Dbenbenn . . 959x593 (339217 bytes) (fix South Carolina label)20:27, 9 October 2005 . . Dbenbenn . . 959x593 (339227 bytes) (typo, Massachussetts -> Massachusetts)19:01, 9 October 2005 . . Dbenbenn . . 959x593 (371653 bytes) (crop, and remove some shapes (rivers, highways, capitals, lakes) that didn't display anyway)13:18, 23 September 2005 . . Ed g2s . . 990x855 (978668 bytes) (fix (removed <image /> tag))23:48, 23 September 2004 . . Wapcaplet . . 0x0 (978926 bytes) (SVG map of the United States. Created by Wapcaplet. {{GFDL} }) - see below, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=362916

​Sperm Whale photo - By Gabriel Barathieu - https://www.flickr.com/photos/barathieu/7277953560/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24212362

Information: As More Dead Whales Wash Up in NJ and NY, Officials Eye Research Into Wind Farms – NBC New York

Started 2/19                                                             Finished 2/27
I love this title . . . It reminds me of the old television show, Murder She Wrote, but this book is so much more than the events behind Disney’s Movie, Saving Mr. Banks.

Valerie Lawson took three years to write this book, and it reads like a story because she knew her character in and out. Would you believe she got to sit at P.L.’s desk a week or two after she died, and look around? OMG! Pamela’s son gave her permission.

P.L. was into philosophy, magic and mysticism so Valerie broke her biography into three parts – nymph, mother, and crone. P.L. was even OK with being a crone. Me – I’m still thinking about it.

The first time I read this book, it took two days, but this time it took me two months to reread it. That’s because I took time out to read all four Mary Poppins books, twice. Then I returned to reread and make notes on this one.

I want to write about P.L., Mary Poppins, and what I learned about both of them. Keep your eyes open – it might be another week or two before I get to write it, but believe me, it’s worth waiting for. Pamela is MORE fascinating than Disney’s version of her. 
​
​Amazon’s Description:
The spellbinding stories of Mary Poppins, the quintessentially English and utterly magical nanny, have been loved by generations. She flew into the lives of the unsuspecting Banks family in a children’s book that was instantly hailed as a classic, then became a household name when Julie Andrews stepped into the title role in Walt Disney’s hugely successful and equally classic film. But the Mary Poppins in the stories was not the cheery film character. She was tart and sharp, plain and vain. She was a remarkable character.

The story of Mary Poppins’ creator, as this definitive biography reveals, is equally remarkable. The fabulous English nanny was actually conceived by an Australian, Pamela Lyndon Travers, who came to London in 1924 from Queensland as a journalist. She became involved with Theosophy, traveled in the literary circles of W.B. Yeats and T.S. Eliot, and became a disciple of the famed spiritual guru, Gurdjieff. She famously clashed with Walt Disney over the adaptation of the Mary Poppins books into film. Travers, whom Disney accused of vanity for “thinking you know more about Mary Poppins than I do,” was as tart and opinionated as Julie Andrews’s big-screen Mary Poppins was cheery. Yet it was a love of mysticism and magic that shaped Travers’s life as well as the character of Mary Poppins. The clipped, strict, and ultimately mysterious nanny who emerged from her pen was the creation of someone who remained inscrutable and enigmatic to the end of her ninety-six years.

Valerie Lawson’s illuminating biography provides the first full look whose personal journey is as intriguing as her beloved characters.

​

Started 2/4                                                                             Finished 2/19
This is the 4th Mary Poppins book, but it felt like the end of the series. When I checked, Amazon carried the first four, then skipped to #7 and 8. If you want #5 and 6, you have to search for them.

IN THE PARK started with an author note, like #3. This time she wanted readers to understand that Mary couldn’t come and go forever. She’d done it three times already, and that’s a magic number in fairy tales. P.L. loved mixing them into her plots.

The chapters this time could be added to any one of her three earlier books, and the characters . . . many returned for encore adventures. If you don’t recognize them, I think you’ll enjoy meeting them now.

The Park book has six stories, but I picked two to share. The first was the Goosegirl and the Swineherd. It’s all about how every character sees themselves as someone cooler, like a prince or princess. The only one who doesn’t . . . Mary Poppins, of course.

The second has a tea party under the dandelions. That caught my attention . . . P.L. built tiny houses in Saving Mr. Banks, and said she did it as a kid. In 1952 she put them into this book. 

​Amazon’s Description:
Who else but Mary Poppins can lead the Banks children on such extraordinary adventures? Together they all meet the Goosegirl and the Swineherd, argue with talking cats on a distant planet, make the acquaintance of the folks who live under dandelions, and celebrate a birthday by dancing with their own shadows. And that’s just for starters!

​

Started 1/22                                                                  Finished 2/4
The more Mary Poppins books I read (I’m on #3), the more I realize how very British it is. The movie reflects more of Walt Disney than P.L. Travers. Plus, readers get to travel back to Britain of 1943, almost a century ago. This one opens with an explanation about Guy Fawkes Day.

In 1605 people were upset with King James I and Parliament. They came up with the Gunpowder Plot. It was discovered and stopped on November 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes was one of its leaders, and he was executed. Today Britain celebrates him in fireworks. King James – forgotten.

P.L. wrote her first author’s note for this book. She explained that Guy Fawkes Day stopped in 1939 – because of World War II. You can’t have fireworks when the enemy’s dropping bombs. In 1943 when Pamela published this book, she wrote that someday, it would be celebrated again, and it has been, ever since World War II ended. Chapter 1 begins on Guy Fawkes Day.

This is my favorite book, so far. Pamela pulled out all the stops. She wrote about the things she loved, like stars and folk tales. Each chapter is a gem of a story. Britain was depressed and gloomy in 1943. Guy Fawkes fireworks – banished – for four years. No end in sight. There’s nothing like a book to brighten life, for readers and writers. If you’re feeling gloomy in 2023, my suggestion – try this book.  

Amazon’s Description:
From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. This classic series tells the story of the world's most beloved nanny, who brings enchantment and excitement with her everywhere she goes. Featuring the charming original cover art by Mary Shepard, these new editions are sure to delight readers of all ages.
​
Mary Poppins reappears just in time! According to her tape measure, Jane and Michael have grown "Worse and Worse" since she went away. But the children won't have time to be naughty with all that Mary has planned for them. A visit to Mr. Twigley’s music box-filled attic, an encounter with the Marble Boy, and a ride on Miss Calico’s enchanted candy canes are all part of an average day out with everyone's favorite nanny.​

​Most people strive for perfection – the perfect wedding, the perfect vacation, the perfect you. Perfect, truly perfect is incredibly difficult to achieve. You could work your entire life, yet never reach it. I found three inspiring quotes about perfection to share with you. 
​

It was Tyra Banks. If you’ve never heard of her, she’s one of the world’s top models. If anyone wanted to be perfect, you’d think it’d be a model, but Tyra actually encourages young models to be themselves. To embrace what makes them special. What sets them apart, what makes them beautiful.

Tyra wasn’t always successful. In middle school kids teased her about her looks. They thought of her as the ugly duckling. You know the one who became a swan? So did Tyra.

Tyra started modeling at age 15. She failed repeatedly, but she didn’t quit. She was rejected by four agencies before LA Models signed her. Then she moved to Elite Model Management, one of the top agencies in the world. That would have been around 1989 when she turned 16.

Tyra got involved in lots of different businesses over the years, from movies to music, television to teaching, cosmetics to writing. She continued to reinvent herself. You need to be brave to do that, ready to own your own mistakes. It’s the only way to grow. I haven’t read any of her books, but I love the title of the one she wrote with her mother in 2018. Its title . . . Perfect is Boring. I totally agree!
​

   Sources:
- Quote:  Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
​- Information:   Tyra Banks - Wikipedia
- Photo: By VOGUE Taiwan - 泰拉班克斯走秀摔倒才不怕：「多跌幾次」讓別人以為你是故意的！How Tyra Banks Would Handle Peter Kavinsky｜拆解經典電影｜Vogue Taiwan, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95508569
​
​

Whoever said this, might agree that these two babies show the opposite sides of perfect care. The first one is so happy. Clearly her parents love her dearly.

​The second baby looks like she’s in the middle of a meltdown, but that doesn’t mean she’s unloved. Her parents are probably struggling to figure out what she wants. When they do, she’ll be happy and content again. So, who said it?
​

It was Fred Rogers. You know, Mister Rogers, the one with the neighborhood? Fred didn’t have the perfect childhood, but it doesn’t mean he wasn’t loved. His parents probably struggled with how to help him.

Fred was shy, introverted, and overweight as a kid. He was also stuck at home because of asthma attacks. Would you believe he was bullied? Kids can be mean. How did Fred survive it? He created his own world in his bedroom. Later bits and pieces of that world became Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.

Fred focused on a child’s developing psyche. On their feelings and the way they reasoned their way through problems, especially moral and ethical ones. His show modeled civility, tolerance, sharing, and self-worth. It handled hard things like the death of a pet, sibling rivalry, new babies, moving, and divorce. These are the problems of childhood, and I’m speaking as a retired second-grade teacher. They’re also the things families struggle with. I’m glad Fred was there to give us a helping hand.

Another piece of Fred’s legacy showed up nine years after his death. It was a new show created from some of his characters . . . Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. It touches young children the same way Fred did. My grandchildren watch Daniel Tiger. They love him, and I love what he’s teaching them about feelings and reasoning. They’re the same things that Fred learned from his own experiences, then shared with his audience.
​

​Sources:
Quote:  Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
Information:   Fred Rogers - Wikipedia


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Whoever said this, might agree these photos fit their statements. The first one shows a beautiful river flowing through a city. It’s perfect now, but what if there’s too much rain, and it runs off into the river? It won’t stay perfect. Nothing does.

Have you ever gone on a scavenger hunt? I have, and I had so much fun that I put them into two of my books – LAKE FUN FOR YOU AND ME and ZOE’S SCAVENGER HUNT FUN. Why? To get families out looking around the lake and doing things together.

I also started putting them into my vlogs. Have you ever watched to the end, until this slide comes up? That’s where I add in the hunt. To give kids, their parents and teachers a reason to look around my web site. Now it’s time to put it into a blog post. 

Button #1:  This is my home page. You can get there by going to rindabeach.com, or if you’re already there, click the ‘HOME’ button. Now for the hunt . . . scan my ‘Welcome’ message. Can you find the three links that are in it? Hint – they’re in blue.
Click on them, and each one will take you to one of my favorite places on the website. Enjoy!

                                                                     PS – the answer is below this image.​

                                                           ​The answers . . . kids, Beach Reads, and my Blog.

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Button #2:  This is another button on my website – ‘ABOUT ME.’ I posted six paragraphs on it. The first two are Reader and Teacher, but there are four more.
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             For the hunt . . . Can you find the other four answers? They’re posted below the image. 

         And the answers are . . . Storyteller, German friends & family, Writer, and Animal friends.  


Button #3:  This screenshot shows my ‘BLOG.’ I use it the most. I post a blog or two every week, and it usually takes 2 or 3 nights for me to finish one.  The next thing to find . . . What’s posted now? 
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This screenshot ISN’T the answer. I took it before I started writing about my buttons. Back then Part 3 of Technophobia was up.

And the answer now . . . the first three buttons on my homepage. But if you look tomorrow night, January 30th or later, something else will be there. I wonder what it will be!
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​Button #4:  Next up, ‘BOOKS.’ It’s my only button with a drop-down menu. When you hover, the titles of my three books appear. Do you see them, under my name?!

                                                Now, time to go hunting. Can you find my Book Trailer?
​                                                  I have three titles, but only one trailer. Good luck!
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         And the answer . . . NEIL ARMSTRONG’S WIND TUNNEL DREAM. Click, watch, and enjoy.
         Would you believe a talented high school sophomore created it? I think he did a GREAT job!

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​​Button #5:  Welcome to my contact page. It’s how you reach out to me, and how I reach out to you too.
The next thing to find . . . What subscription is free at rindabeach.com? 
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​Button #6:  ‘FOR KIDS’ came from the second story I wrote. It started as a gift for a few friends.
Search and find . . . where do my friends live?      
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The answer – Germany. Can you find it on a map?

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Button #7:  I use ‘MY READS’ at least once a week. They’re not the books I’ve written. They’re the ones I read as a writer. Children’s books build my sense of story. They grow my writing skills. I pick the best ones to share with you, the ones that match the blog post I just finished. I already have one waiting in the wings for tomorrow.
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For this button – can you find the last book I shared on My Reads? It’s the one you see below, and it’s legendary. You’re searching for . . . the two animals that are part of that legend.
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Button #8:  ‘SPEAKING’ is the last one, and it’s the end of our scavenger hunt. I hope it’s a happily ever after ending for you 😊

        The last thing to find . . . how many different kinds of school and library visits can I do for you?
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​          And the final answer . . .  9! I have 9 different kinds of talks, at least I did when I put up this list.

I’ve thought of a few more since then . . . a wind tunnel demonstration and a journal writing/drawing experience. If there’s a talk that you need, but I don’t have it, ask. I’ll check to see what I can do, in person or on zoom.
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                                                                   Tomorrow – what can you find on my reads?
                                                             The link: Rinda Beach - Beach Reads - Rinda Beach

​Have you ever heard of technophobia? I had, but for years I thought it was a joke. It turns out it’s real. Here’s the proof – I googled ‘technophobia’ and found this dictionary entry.

Part 1 – Me, the Technophobe: I’ve joked for years about being one, but I never knew it was a real thing, until I started putting this post together. 

My latest journey as a technophobe started last May, in 2022. My husband bought me a new computer because my old one was so bad it took 20 minutes to log on. Every single time. Really!
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But as a technophobe, I put up with all those minutes from May until August because I thought it was easier than navigating a new one. Finally in August I hit bottom zooming with my critique group. That’s my lifeline to other writers, to polishing my words. That’s when I finally started learning to use my new computer.
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Thank goodness! I have my own tech expert – my husband. He got me through most of the changes in August. They weren’t as big as I imagined. It’s true – fear is worse than the things you’re afraid of. My email changed a little. I have two different addresses. Now they show up on the same program. It’s lovely!

My internet changed a lot! I had to put my favorite sites on the new internet. I also had to re-enter my password information, but my husband held my hand and got me through it, in August.
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The biggest thing I use is Microsoft Word, and the only thing that changed is the way I do screenshots. The new way uses the snipping tool. I didn’t want to figure it out, so I found a way to paste the snip, and I was back in business, in August.

OOPS! I almost forgot, the cloud. YUCK! My husband made me learn how to  use it. I didn’t want to. It took a lot of time to transfer my files to the cloud. But now that it’s done, I’m glad I made the change. Mostly because when I get the next computer, and I will, all my files will be in the cloud, waiting for me. That’s a very good thing, even if it took until September.
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The only thing I haven’t figured out yet . . . is Scrivener. It’s a program I used a lot six years ago, but not so much now. The biggest problem – they updated the program, and I don’t want to learn the new one. I track my blog ideas and posts on Scrivener. It was a really small change, but tracking the books I sell, that’s harder! Even on my old computer I had to copy, then paste it into Word. I just did it for the last time. Now I’ll do all my tracking on Microsoft Word.

There’s still one thing I haven’t figured out . .  it’s the email list for my newsletter. I’ve been going the long way around, writing my email on the new computer. I save it as a draft. Then I go on the old one. I copy and paste my Scrivener email list onto the draft. Then I click send. It’s the long way around, but eventually I’ll figure it out. Somehow, maybe tomorrow. Maybe next month ☹

​ Part 2 – What the Experts Say:  The Cleveland Clinic says clinicians should treat technophobia like a specific phobia. That means like an irrational fear – of a situation, an object, an animal, or of an interaction. The risk from technology doesn’t match up with the real danger. Computers rarely hurt you, but being afraid could stop you from doing something that makes your life easier. 

​When you’re forced to use technology, here are some of the symptoms you might have.

1. You avoid new phones and computers.                                                      Me, sometimes.
2. You criticize them, or the changes they bring.                                       Yes.
3. You refuse to use computers, ATMs, and card readers.                    NO!
4. You refuse to upgrade your software.                                                         Sometimes.
5. You don’t want automatic processes like bill payment.                     I finally gave in.

It looks like I’m a bit of a technophobe, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It is more common with older people, like me. They cited a study of age and internet use. It said . . .

• 60%  of those aged 55 – 59
• 45%  for ages 60 – 64                         That’s me, and I use mine daily.
• 25% for ages 65 – 74
• 6% for ages 74 and up.                      This is a little scary. I’m a writer, and I can’t live without the Internet.

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If you have extreme anxiety – you might feel breathless, dizzy, faint, flushed, sweaty, or nauseous. Your heart might even beat faster. Mine doesn’t – I have milder symptoms.
                       My Source: Technophobia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment (clevelandclinic.org)
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If you have a mild case like me, VeryWellMind.com suggests a few strategies to help you cope:

1. Ask for help. I do – my husband. He’s a techie. You could ask a friend or relative for help. Kids are great at technology.  

2. Take a class. I did as a teacher, and now as a writer. I took one to help me do my weekend videos. Look at your library, Y, or community college. They might have a class that’s a good fit for you.

3. Set goals. If you’re getting a tablet or cell phone, think tiny steps, like turning it on, or making a phone call, or taking pictures. Keep it simple and easy. Don’t forget to keep a coach around for back-up.
 
If you have severe symptoms that interfere with your life, see the doctor. They can help you with fear and anxiety.

1.  Cognitive Behavior Therapy will help you identify negative thoughts. Then your therapist can help you replace them with positive ones. They’ll help you cope with your fears.

2.  Exposure Therapy is all about exposing you to the thing you’re afraid of. Your anxiety will slowly disappear.

3.  Medications can be prescribed to work with the therapy you’re doing. They work together. My Source: Technophobia: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment (verywellmind.com)
 
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​Part 3 – When Did Technophobia Start?  Believe it or not, it wasn’t at the dawn of  computers. Would you believe its roots are in the Industrial Revolution? That’s when machines started taking jobs from skilled tradesmen. Factory owners could hire the unskilled, for much less. 

Tradesmen, like weavers, started worrying about their jobs, their families. In 1675 some of them banded together to destroy the machines that were destroying them. By 1727 the financial losses made the British Parliament create a new law. Destroying machines was now a crime, worthy of the death penalty.

But it didn’t stop the problem – it didn’t solve it either. In the 1800’s the weavers found a name to use, Ned Ludd. He’s the weaver’s version of  Robin Hood. No one’s sure whether Ned or Robin were real, fictional, or a combination of both.
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The new group, the Luddites, robbed important parts from knitting frames. They stole supplies. They wanted trade rights, but they also threatened destruction. In 1812, Parliament had enough. They passed The Frame Breaking Act. The penalty – execution, or a ticket to Australia’s penal colonies. This time the destruction stopped.
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​Do you recognize this face? It’s from a story written by Mary Shelley in 1818. The title – Frankenstein! This version is a photo taken to promote the 1935 movie, The Bride of Frankenstein. The actor – Boris Karloff. If you love horror movies, you know his name.

Mary Shelley visited Europe in 1815. She traveled along the Rhine, stopping in Gernsheim, eleven miles from Frankenstein Castle. That’s where 200 years earlier an alchemist had done some experiments. It stirred her imagination.

In 1816 Mary and two famous British writers, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron, decided to have a contest – to write the best horror story. Evidently Mary won, at 18. Her story is a classic. Remember the alchemist and his experiments? She mixed them together, added a monster, and brought it to life. The result – horrifying! Technophobia strikes again!

BTW – women weren’t supposed to be writers so Mary’s name didn’t appear in the first edition, but it was in the second and all those that followed. 

That’s how technophobia started, but it hasn’t stopped. From pasteurization to evolution, electricity and the telephone. Through the discovery of uranium to nuclear bombs, leaded gas and pollution, the hole in the ozone layer and global warming. Are you feeling anxious yet?

​Those things make my computer worries seem small. I can’t control the future or its inventions, but I can control my computer, and eventually my address problem. Here’s to the future, to taking care of what I can, and letting the rest go. I’m a Christian, so I trust in God, and in his plans.
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     My Sources:
-  Technophobia - Wikipedia
-   Luddite - Wikipedia
​-   Frankenstein - Wikipedia

Started 1/5                                                                               Finished 1/22
I love P.L. Travers and her work! She wrote the original Mary Poppins in 1934, and this one in 1935. Her Mary isn’t sugary sweet like Walt Disney’s. She’s more like Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter. Strict and firm. Someone who sets limits. Mary Poppins is also wise like Albus Dumbledore, but she has a bit of a temper.

When Mary returns, Jane and Michael get to go on more fantastic outings. You can read all ten, including when the kids meet Mr. Turvy. It’s a little like meeting Uncle Albert, except everyone is upside down, like they are on this book cover.
Later they meet the balloon lady. She has balloons, and balloons. The magic happens when you find the right one, with your name on it. Find it, and you’ll sail up, up, and away.

Mary always knows when she’ll leave . . . this time after the locket breaks. Jane and Michael never dreamed it would happen on a merry-go-round, but this one lifts into the sky and becomes a star.

​Amazon’s Description:
By P.L. Travers, the author featured in the movie Saving Mr. Banks.

From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. This classic series tells the story of the world's most beloved nanny, who brings enchantment and excitement with her everywhere she goes. Featuring the charming original cover art by Mary Shepard, these new editions are sure to delight readers of all ages.

   Pulled down from the clouds at the end of a kite string, Mary Poppins is back. In Mary’s care, the Banks children meet the King of the Castle and the Dirty Rascal, visit the upside-down world of Mr. Turvy and his bride, Miss Topsy, and spend a breathless afternoon above the park, dangling from a clutch of balloons. Surprises are sure to pop up when Mary Poppins is around!

Started 12/28                                                                               Finished 1/3
I just finished the original MARY POPPINS. Pamela Lyndon Travers saw it published back in 1934 and updated in 1997.

Pamela’s MARY is different from Disney’s, and I like it better. I didn’t believe it, but I read it twice. Her character isn’t half as sweet, but kids didn’t care. Disney’s wife read it to their daughters at bedtime, and they convinced their dad to make it into a movie. It took him 20 years to convince Pamela.

Pamela’s MARY is less sweet, more realistic. It’s richer, and deeper than Walt’s, like dark chocolate. Her fantasy is as imaginative as J.K. Rawlings, but different. Pamela’s is based in her childhood, on the myths and fairy tales she grew up reading in Edwardian Australia, around 1906.

I wish I’d discovered Pamela’s MARY when I was a kid. I would have eaten them up. In fact, after I finish her biography, again, my next read will be Pamela’s MARY, #2.

PS – if you’re curious how Pamela’s book is different from Disney’s movie, click on this link . . . Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach

​Amazon’s Description (From Back Cover:
From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed.

It all starts when Mary Poppins is blown by the east wind onto the doorstep of the Banks house. She becomes a most unusual nanny to Jane, Michael, and the twins. Who else but Mary Poppins can slide up banisters, pull an entire armchair out of an empty carpetbag, and make a dose of medicine taste like delicious lime-juice cordial? A day with Mary Poppins is a day of magic and make-believe come to life!

This post started because I felt a call to read a picture book aboutt Dr. King’s dream. His speech was written and delivered in 1963, when I was 4 years old. I felt a mixture of happy and sad as I reread it. Happy that so much has changed since 1963, and sad because our nation feels so divided on racial lines today. 
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Part 1 – Martin’s Dream – I can’t recite his speech, but I’m glad I returned the ebook  . . . Someone already checked it out.. I went back and listend to my video-reading so I could give you an accurate summary of the details I recorded.

Martin gave this speech on August 28, 1963. He said, paraphrasing, that even though we’re facing difficulties today and tomorrow, that he had a dream that was rooted in the history of our country. He dreamed that we’d rise up and live the words of our creed, that all men are created equal.

Martin had a dream that the sons of Georgia, slave and slave owner could sit down together in brotherhood. That in the sweltering heat of injustice and oppression of 1960 Mississippi, that it could become a place of peace and justice.

Then my favorite part, that his four little kids could grow up in a land where they’re judged by the content of their character, not on the color of their skin. The page I stopped on showed a circle of children, black and white, having fun, and they weren’t thinking about skin color. They were too busy being kids.

I don’t remember the rest of the speech, but there’s a huge section about letting freedom ring, Martin named some of those places . . .  from the Atlantic to the Pacific, to the great plains and so many more.
I got an email today, with a quote from Dr. King. I hope it resonates with you . . . “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.  If you’d like to read the quote, and a little bit more about Martin, here’s the link: Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes.
 
Part 2 – Reaching Out For Your Dreams:  One idea is to picture your dreams. What do you want to do? Next imagine the things you can do to make it come true. What steps do you need to take? This is a project I did with my second graders to honor Dr. King. It also helps them envision their dreams. It came from my friend, Rose, and it looks something like this . . . But with a picture of your dream below the clouds.

Here are two models. There are more steps, but it’s a start to get kids thinking. Adults too!

​My first dream was to become a teacher . . . 

​I went to college and studied teaching.
I worked with kids and teachers in my methods classes.
I subbed and found my way into my first job.
 
Here's a picture of me teaching . . . 

​​My dream now – to find an agent.

​First I’ll listen to my critique partners to polish my work.
Next I’ll submit to agents, using their guidelines.
Finally I’ll track my submissions to decide when to move on, and when to send nudges.
PS – I’ll also keep writing new stories.
 
Here’s me writing . . . 

​​Part 3 – What are Your Dreams . . . And How Can You Reach Them?  I shared mine in Part 2. Dreams can change and grow over time. Mine did. What are yours today? I thought back to the days when I was teaching second grade. Here are some of the dreams my students had. I picked the ones that seem to be true all these years later. 

​My second graders loved sports, from football to dance. You could pick a sport you’re playing now, or one that pops up in the future. The most important thing – that your dream fits you, and what you want out of life.

You should also think about the things you’re good at. Maybe it’s singing or playing an instrument. Maybe it’s writing or drawing. You can do them for fun, but if you’re really good, it can become your job. Then it will earn you the money for the things you want and need. 

​How? You have your goal. Now think about how to get there. What do you need? Practice, a teacher, opportunities to play? All of these things can be part of your plan, but there are lots of other ways to make your dreams come true.

Do you like to work with your hands, with real things? You can make a good living, AND you don’t need to go to college, but you still need to figure out how to get there.
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Do you need training, to find someplace to practice your skills? One of the best things to do before you invest in training, is to try out/volunteer in places where you can test-drive your dream. Who wants to spend time and money on something you don’t like?!

Have you thought of working in medicine or in outer space? You’ll have to invest more time and money before you can get your first paycheck.
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I’d definitely test-drive those jobs before investing either time or money in college. It’s expensive. To figure out your plan, what kinds of things do you need to know, to be able to do, or to study before you can get accepted into that college?

There are so many more hobbies and careers to get involved in. Take your time! Enjoy the journey. Try out the things you’re interested in. That way you’ll know whether you’re a good fit for them, or not. Feel free to use my goals and steps to get there. If they fail or succeed, please let me know! I love finding out when I’ve been helpful.
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PS – Don’t be afraid of failing. If you don’t fit, it’s your brain’s way of saying this path isn’t right for you. Would you believe I’ve learned more from my failures than from my successes?! It’s true!