Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen...

...is one terrific book! It's a quick read, the story moves right along, and there's enough action, suspense, and surprises to satisfy any guy. If you really enjoy reading, this is the book for you. If you're what the grownups call a reluctant reader (which means you'd rather take a beating with a very large tree limb than pick up a book), then this book is also for you!

Here's the story--It's the time of the American Revolutionary War. 13-year-old Samuel lives with his parents in a little settlement in the Pennsylvania woods. They've heard stories of British soldiers attacking Concord, but that seems a long way off. Then, one day while he's out hunting, Samuel sees a column of smoke. When he realizes it's coming from where his home would be, he runs back to find...well, you'll just have to read to find out!! But I guarantee that you'll get caught up in the action!! This book grabs hold of you and makes you sit down and turn pages until the very end. You REALLY want to know what happens to our young hero. And, when you see what he goes through, you'll understand how much of a hero he becomes! Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen--this is one that you should not miss!!

BTW, I'd recommend this book to our older reader guys. War is, by its nature, rough and brutal and the Revolutionary War was one of the roughest and most brutal. Although there isn't much graphic violence, what you read is startling. And some of it is very sad. That what war is, guys, and we do well to remember that.

And we also do well to remember the sacrifices that people like Samuel made. Even though this is a fictional story, there were a great many brave people who endured hardships in the Revolutionary War. We have the right to read what we like because of them. Don't forget!!

You Say You Want a Revolution!!!!

Hello all in the Land of Blog. It is I once again Darth Bill reporting from the far fringes of outer space. Well I have just finished one really cool book that deals with the Revolutionary War. That makes a perfect segway to put up a Beatles song so just lean back and enjoy:

The Beatles performing Revolution Live!!!!!

That was cool but let's talk now about the latest book I finished:

The Real Benedict Arnold by Jim Murphy - Do you know much about the American Revolutionary War? We all have read and heard about its heroes such as: George Washington, John Adams, The Marquis de Lafayette, Paul Revere and many more. One major individual we do not hear much about or if we do it is as a traitorous dog is Benedict Arnold. Well one thing you should know about history is that it is often depicted as the winners and people in power of the time paint it.

While Benedict Arnold, as a General of the Revolutionary War, did betray the Patriot's Cause and switch sides to the British, it may surprise you to know that perhaps he had good reason. People like to paint things in life in Black and White, but the real world is full of shades of Gray.

Did you know that at the beginning of the war, Benedict Arnold was a brilliant General who saved the 13 Colonies many times from English forces gathered in Canada? Most of the people he served with were timid and scared to engage the British, but not Arnold. He led his soldiers, every time putting himself at the very front of his troops, in defeating and frustrating British Armies who wanted to invade the Colonies from the north.

General Arnold Wounded at The

Battle of Saratoga Oct. 17, 1777

Did you know that he was betrayed at almost every corner by other Generals who were jealous of him or did not like him because he did not come from a prestigious family? To make themselves look good and him bad they lied about his achievements and their failures and reported just plain out lies to the Continental Congress about him. Did you know that he spent great sums of money to take care of the soldiers under his command in buying food, clothing, weapons, etc. in which the Continental Congress never reimbursed him leaving him almost broke at times? Did you know when at one point he became so frustrated with the backstabbing and lies that he tried to resign from the Revolutionary Army, he stayed because the soldiers under him and the Generals who really knew him and what he could do wrote him a letter, with all signing, begging him to not do so.

Did you know that George Washington believed Benedict Arnold to be one of the finest Generals in his army? He was one of the few Generals he knew that he could count on in any situation. In fact many other Generals ignored Washington when he was in trouble and needed more soldiers; never Arnold who responded with enthusiasm and fire bringing at a moments notice whatever George Washington requested.

I know this is a long review for me, but this book I think is important to read and is also fascinating. Yes Benedict Arnold betrayed the cause that led to the formation of The United States; but did he have good reason? Could one say that the Revolution would have crumbled without his leadership? Judge for yourself after reading this book if Benedict Arnold was the villain he was painted to be?

Well that's all for now. Until the next finished book, Up, Up and Away!!!!!!!!

Bill

Congrats to Darth Bill, Remembering Those Who Served, and Some Awesome Nonfiction

So that's where Darth Bill was all this time! And we just thought he tried to escape the just revenge of the Pumpkin-Faced Beasts. No, we really knew what happened and we couldn't be happier. Bill's a great guy and I'm sure that you, like us, wish him every happiness in his new life.

Today is Veteran's Day, the day to honor those who've served in the armed forces to protect the great life we have in this great country. A lot of people have made tremendous sacrifices so we could do things that we don't even think about, like vote for whoever we want. Or read whatever we want. Or get on a blog and say whatever we want without worrying that someone will take us away if we say the wrong thing. So if you know anyone who's in the military or has been in the past, be sure to thank him or her.

As I said, a lot of brave people endured great hardships for our freedom. Here are four books with unbelievable stories about four men who led troops in the Revolutionary War. These hardcore believers in liberty hid in swamps, went hungry, had their homes and farms burned, camped in snow without shoes or blankets, fought armies much bigger than their own, and and went broke spending massive amounts of their own money to supply their troops---all so we could be free. These four books are quick, exciting, and thrillling. They all have glossaries, which are like mini-dictionaries, in the back so you don't confused by unfamiliar words. They also have good recommendations of other books and some very interesting-looking websites. (I can't wait to look them up!) The books are:

Anthony Wayne: American General by Patricai Grabowski

Francis Marion: Swamp Fox of South Carolina by Scott Kaufman

Daneil Morgan: Fighting Frontiersman by Jim Gallagher

Nathanael Greene: The General Who Saved the Revolution by Greg A. Mierka

If you like history books that are dull and boring, then don't get them!! But if you like exciting stories about real people, then these are for you!!!

Carl

Happy Fourth!

Greetings, guys, and Happy Fourth of July. OK, the Fourth is actually tomorrow, but we're closed then, so I'll do it today. Are any of you going to see some good fireworks? Where will you go? Where are the best fireworks in your area?

We're celebrating our independence this weekend, not only from England but from all forms of tyranny and oppression. Sure, our country's not perfect, but we have a lot of freedoms that many places in world don't. One of them is the right to read. Dictators don't like it when their people can read and are free to read. It undermines their ability to oppress. Frederick Douglas certainly knew it. He told a story about how his master's wife started teaching him to read. The master made her stop because reading would make "unfit" to be a slave. He'd learn new things and become "unsatisfied" with his life. And it was true. Frederick Douglas continued to learn anyway, eventually found his freedom, and became a nationally-famous speaker against slavery. READING IS IMPORTANT, GUYS! Don't ever forget it.

Enough talk--let's put this into practice. Here are a couple of really good books for the Fourth or any time:

DK Eyewitness Books--American Revolution The cover says, "Discover how a few brave patriots battled a great empire." It's true. The American Revolution was an amazing story--a nation of farmers and shopkeepers, a country that was just a strip of land between the mountains and the sea, took on and beat the greatest military power in the world. Of course, we had some help with people like LaFayette and countries like France, but, still, we came awfully close to losing and it's amazing that we won. This book, like all the DK Eyewitness books, gives you lots of good pictures, interesting facts, and makes a good introduction to this fascinating story.

The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence by Judith St. George
What a story!! Can you believe we still have the original Declaration? A piece of parchment over 200 years old? It's amazing to think of that--especially when I often can't find the piece of paper I printed 30 minutes ago! The original document of the Declaration of Independence is on display in Washington D. C. but it went through a lot to get there--it had to sneaked away from the British (twice!!), shrank in the hot and humid Washington summers, endured years of chimney and cigar smoke, and was both neglected and fought over many times before finding a place in its permanent display. This book told me a very exciting story that I never knew about. Judith St. George (who wrote the award-winning book So You Want to Be President?) for making history come alive and interesting and fun to read. And Will Hillenbrand's great illustrations really add to the story.

Enjoy the weekend. Liberty forever!

Carl and Bill

I Knew It!

Yep, I knew Darth Bill wold give all the Jedi an in-your-face taunting. Oh, well, don't let that stop you. The big thing is to keep on reading. Maybe we could all create a galaxy in which Sith and Jedi sit down and read together in peace.

Or maybe not.

Anyway, last weekend I went to this totally cool place, Colonial Williamsburg, and got to see some fascinating sights. One of them was the Public Goal (Jail). Here's a picture:These two cells are from the original jail, built over 300 years ago! Their big claim to fame is that they once held 15 of Blackbeard's pirates!

Speaking of colonial times, here are two really great books about the American Revolution. The first is George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen From Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer. This book tells the story of the Revolutionary War by giving us biographies of George Washington and King George III. Each man believed firmly that he was right and had an iron determination to fight it out to the end. We know who won, of course, but it was a long and bitter struggle and it looked like the war might have gone to King George instead of George Washington. What a great story! Read it and see if I'm right when I say that history is exciting and not boring! (PS--This book has a drawing of King George and his wife Charlotte in it. Our city of Charlotte is named after her.)

The other one is King's Mountain by G. Clifton Wisler. 14-year-old Francis Livingstone is an ordinary boy living in the Watauga Settlements of North Carolina. The Revolutionary War has been going badly for the Patriots, those fighting for independence from England, but it has not affected the lives of the families in this remote settlement. Then he and his sister have to go to Camden, South Carolina to help their grandmother run her tavern. They arrive just in time to see the English army occupy the town. It's a dangerous time for Patriots like Francis and his sister. Can they escape and get back home? And will the English army make good its threat to burn all the Patriot homes in North and South Carolina? You've got to read this terrific book. I was holding my breath the whole time, wondering what would happen to young Francis.

This book is especially interesting to those in the Charlotte area because the battle of King's Mountain took place only 40 miles from here! If you want to see the battlefield, click on the King's Mountain National Park site here. Since the battle happened on October 7, 1780, they're going to hold special events the weekend of October 6 and 7. Click here to find out what they will be. I'd like to go--maybe I'll see you there!

AND-----since Bill's challenge went uncompleted, wait until October 1, when I will issue my own challenge to all you readers! I will raise the stakes on his challenge. Are you up to it?

Carl