Letter J was a bit more difficult. I know – the really hard ones are coming! But, we did get a couple of books we enjoyed for J.
Journey To America by Clare Pastore
This series jumped to mind very quickly for Miss L when she looked at the letter J. She has read all she can of these but there is a problem – there is more than one series with this title and she likes one but not the other. Just to be aware when you look for them. Nothing wrong with the other but the one by Pastore is her favorite. The stories are just better, according to her.
This is a series about immigrants. And I think what really caught Miss L’s attention was that there was an immigrant story that are not the norm; it was from Cambodia. Miss L found this series when she was looking for stories about girls from Asia so this one was a perfect fit at that time. Also, one of them takes place in WWII, which is another time period she has spent a lot of time reading about, so another good fit.
The stories are interesting and are told in the diary format. Cambodia, Ireland, and Poland are the countries the girls in this series come from. The stories are interesting and do a very good job of showing the reader a bit about what life would have been like for these young girls.
Julie – An America Girl – 1974
Many of the American Girl books are a bit more suited to upper elementary. I am suggesting this one, though, as a middle school book due to some of the content. Julie’s family splits and her parents divorce in her story and so it might provide some good discussion content for middle school students. My girls enjoy all of the American Girl books so I don’t really see these fit a particular reading level.
That’s it for this week. Short and simple. Got any titles for the letter J that I need to add? I’d love it if you’d leave a comment for me if you think of any.
Blessings,
At Home.
The ABC linkup is not up for this week yet but when it is you can find it hosted by Hopkins Homeschool, DoodleMom’s Homeschooling Life and Biblical Womanhood.
My previous posts in the series:
A – All-of-a-Kind Family and Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse
B – Ballet Shoes and A Bear Called Paddington
C – Counting by 7s and Cheaper By The Dozen
D – Door In The Wall & D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
E – The Endless Steppe & Ella Enchanted
F – Family Tree & Fog Magic
G – Great Turkey Walk & The Great Brain
H – Half Magic & Horse Diaries
I – Indian in the Cupboard & Island of the Blue Dolphins
Tagged: ABC blogging, books, Middle School
At Home 
My daughter read some books from both of those series and really enjoyed them! I liked adding them for a bit of personal touch for a younger student when studying history – what living during a certain time might have been like for a kid their age.
I agree – there is just something about imagining the subject in that time with all the details good authors add.
My daughter never got into the American Girl stuff. Now I only have boys in the house. But I do have a niece staying with me who might be interested in these!
American Girl definitely has a place but it is not for everyone. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hmmm, does it have to be first letter “J” ? My girls enjoyed Mary Jemison, Indian Captive
Ooh – I will look that one up. For myself if not my girls. I am fascinated by the captivity stories of the American Indians.
What fun books! I have to add these to my list for when Little Miss gets a little bigger!
Definite favorites here.
I have heard such wonderful things about the American Girl Doll books and the Journey to America series; having three boys they haven’t shown much interest in them. I kind of feel like I’m missing out.
While the main characters are girls, there are many good bits of information in here. A read-aloud maybe? My girls love to read many “boy books” when they are done as read-alouds.
Journey to America makes me think of the “dear Canada Diaries”. Intrigues me. 🙂
Very similar, I bet. I wonder if we could get the Dear Canada diaries. The girls love the Dear America diaries.
[…] A – All-of-a-Kind Family and Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse B – Ballet Shoes and A Bear Called Paddington C – Counting by 7s and Cheaper By The Dozen D – Door In The Wall & D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths E – The Endless Steppe & Ella Enchanted F – Family Tree & Fog Magic G – Great Turkey Walk & The Great Brain H – Half Magic & Horse Diaries I – Indian in the Cupboard & Island of the Blue Dolphins J – Journey to America & Julie: An American Girl – 1974 […]
My daughter devoured both those series when she was younger. They are both great ways to learn what life was like for girls their age through history. The diary format book is a favorite in our house! Thanks for linking up with us!
We really enjoy that diary format as well. Such good things included.
My daughters enjoyed both of those series, too.
It is great to know others enjoyed the same.
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I have a few books from the Journey to America series, but have yet to read them. I was told they were really interesting. I also love American Girl books. I have tried to read a few of them aloud to my boy, but he wasn’t intersted.
The older American Girl books are definitely better than the newer ones they have come out with in the past few years. The Journey to America series is wonderful!
[…] Where Life HappensA Few of our Favorite Books – J: From Lori at At Home: Where Life HappensJ-Middle School Books From Lori at At Home: Where Life HappensJ is for Joy at Home: From Lori at At Home: Where Life […]