Becca's Story by James D. Forman

Authentic letters and diaries give haunting realism to this extraordinary Civil War story of two ordinary soldiers and the girl they both love.

Living in Michigan, far from the issues tearing the country apart, none of them wants the war. Responsible Alex feels duty-bound to serve his country when called, yet he hates the thought of killing anything, even an animal. Free-spirited Charlie doesn’t care about fighting the South—he wants to go West, not to join the army. Becca believes it would be dishonorable for them not to fight, but she loves them both dearly and can scarcely bear to choose one over the other. And none of them has any idea what a long and bloody war is before them.

Both boys will join the army, endure the daily hardships and the terrors of battle, and become experienced soldiers with a growing enthusiasm for the cause that brings them back to enlist a second time. But only one of them will come home.

This is neither a romantic adventure novel nor a cynical protest against war, but a moving story about common soldiers, unsung heroes, true friendship, and the uncertainties of life.

You Can Do It by Tony Dungy

Tony Dungy grew up in a home encouraged by his parents to have faith ...and dream big! Tony knew early on that football was going to be his dream. His sisters, Sherri and Lauren, always knew that becoming a nurse and a doctor were their dreams for the future . But his younger brother, Linden, couldn't seem to find a dream of this own...until a very special day when he stops being a class clown and becomes a kid on a mission. And Tony is always there to encourage him...well, in a big brother sort of way.

Freddy and the Perilous Adventure by Walter Brooks

Freddy, the world’s most talented pig, has no idea what he’s getting into when a fast-talking balloon man convinces him to make an ascent with his two duck friends, Alice and Emma. First, they have to go up alone (or at least nobody else knows that they have two spider stowaways), and second, the valve to release the gas and let them back down again is broken. And even if they can make a safe landing, the balloon man wants them arrested for stealing his property…

As usual, there is no stopping Freddy, who uses his wits and the aid of his friends (animal and human) from the Bean farm, Boomschmidt’s circus, and the surrounding countryside, to see that all ends as it should.

A great read-aloud and laugh-aloud book about courage, honesty, and friendship.

Alistair Cooke’s America

This must be the most interesting history of America that I have ever read (and possibly the only one I have voluntarily read from start to finish). Alistair Cooke, though an Englishman, spent so many years as a reporter in this country that he had a remarkably broad understanding of her geography, people, and history, and he writes with candor and charm. He also writes with the impartiality of someone who has discovered America as an adult and an ally, neither overly cynical nor shamelessly patriotic. Gently, he pokes fun at some of the assumptions we make, and the biases we learn from grade school, yet he shows that the truth is often as impressive as the historical fiction. As I read, I found myself repeatedly wanting to share fascinating tidbits with my family (sometimes to their annoyance!)—and the book reads aloud very well. Not a textbook, it has a frankly subjective quality, leaving out details that are included in most history books, perhaps because they did not fit the story line, or perhaps because they were not well known at the time the book was published (1973). But, on the whole, the book appears to be very well researched, and is an excellent read for anybody interested in a refresher course on American history.