Pre-Columbian Unit Study/ Aztec, Mayan, and Incan Resource List and Reviews

Books, mask, pottery, and calendar

This is my top list for Pre-Columbian unit study resources! It integrates the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan cultures. Because these resources were so comprehensive, we skipped additional library books and supplemented with BrainPop and Britannica.

Extra project photos:

Aztec temple statue made from free, recycled boxes. We added important vocabulary on the side of the statue.

Replica of Aztec pottery - the original artifact is made of obsidian and adorned with a monkey. Our version uses air dry clay and tempera paint.

And now for my resource list! 
You'll find a little of everything here - arts/crafts, short passage reading, chapter books, and field trips ideas.

 Activity Books
Aztecs: Dress, Eat, Write and Play Just Like the Aztecs (Hands-On History)

My absolute favorite resource! Each aspect of Aztec life is introduced, then followed with a craft or activity. The historical information sections are short and directly correlate to the activity. Lessons are presented in a two-page format. The first page and half are historical text and illustrations, the remaining portion lists supplies and activity instructions.

Pros:

• Supplies are common items so our purchases were minimal. The majority of projects can be made with paint, construction paper, air dry clay, markers, etc. 
• Because of the common supply list and excellent directions, activities are equally suited for classroom or homeschool use. 
• The directions are clear - my student (age 10) worked independently on all the activities. Always a bonus. 
• Activities and projects were fun! 
• Full color with engaging graphics

Cons:

• Wish it was longer and included other Precolumbian cultures!
• Some projects take more than a session to complete. Example: one session to form a piece of pottery, another session to paint after the clay had hardened and dried. 

Hands-On History! Aztec and Maya: Rediscover the lost world of ancient Central America, with 450 exciting pictures and 15 step-by-step projects

My second favorite resource. Parts of this book are impressive, especially the historical text. The chapters are presented "encyclopedia style".  Expect short paragraphs with tons of illustrations. Each topic begins with several pages of reading, then the activity follows.

Pros:

• The historical text and illustrations are phenomenal - great content!
• Comprehensive contents - this book had so many interesting topics (including many that were not as addressed as fully in Aztecs: Dress, Eat, Write, and Play Just Like the Aztecs). 
• Full color

Cons:

• The projects and activities were labor intensive and required purchasing many new supplies such as: feathers, cane/bamboo sticks, wood veneer strips, straw, etc. 
• Supply list might be cost-prohibitive for many, or simply just hard to find.
• Many activities require cutting cardboard pieces to a specific size with a blade - a safety hazard for most kids. I tired of this quickly!

Reproducible Workbook
Mayan, Incan, and Aztec Civilizations Resource Book

This workbook is more standards and comprehension driven. It will appeal to those students who dislike crafts. Each lesson is short - one page or two of text, then a reading comprehension "knowledge check". An answer key is provided at the back of the book.

Pros:

• Reproducible lessons make preparation a snap
• The lessons are short and full of interesting details
• Introduces terminology and words specific to the culture not found in other books
• Answer keys for grading

Cons:

• Black and white workbook lacks color and visual interest
• No crafting/activities can be difficult for kinesthetic learners
• Most of the fun for my daughter in unit studies is the activities, so she was happy to have the other Hands-On History books! 

Chapter Book
The Incredible Incas (Horrible Histories)
Love, love, love this series! My daughter begs for me to load these onto her kindle. She read the Groovy Greeks, Incredible Incas, and Ruthless Romans in less than a week.

This series truly brings history to life. Every time I ask my daughter what she learned from the book, her answers floor me. When stories are told in an entertaining way, students remember so much information. A must-have resource!



Art/ Coloring Book

Aztec: 70 designs to help you de-stress (Coloring for Mindfulness)
Just a fun addition to study motifs and color in Aztec culture. The design are printed double-sided on cardstock weight paper. The weight works well for a variety of media - we've used watercolor, pastels, and markers. The designs are intricate, detailed, and beautiful!

Field Trips
Temple of the Jaguar Exhibit

Photo with performers at Mundo Maya

After studying about the importance of jaguars and feathers in the Aztec culture, we caught a short music and dancing presentation at the Dallas World Aquarium. It's upstairs in the Mundo Maya section. The costumes are incredible up close! And yes, those are live birds :)

Other field trip ideas:

• Zoo or animal sanctuary to study jaguars - an important and sacred animal to the Aztecs.
• Aviary or area where exotic birds can be viewed. Discuss the importance of craftsman who collected feathers and created elaborate headdresses.
• Art museum - to see golden artifacts such as Precolumbian masks.
• Chocolatier - compare modern chocolate to the bitter drink appreciated by Aztec nobles.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a small commission {at no cost to you} should you make a purchase. Thank you for supporting my homeschooling adventures so I can continue to share my experiences and resources with you!

Book Review/ The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson

Witty dialogue, surprising twists, and exciting adventures!

SYNOPSIS 

Hilary Westfield desperately wants to be a pirate. Her father, James Westfield will hear no such nonsense. An admiral in the Royal Navy, he already has an apprentice. And to make matters worse, the admiral abhors pirates!

As a family of High Society, Hilary's parents prefer she attend finishing school. They've even sent her governess, Miss Greyson, to ensure Hilary arrives and stays at Miss Pimm's Finishing School for Delicate Ladies.

Another strike against her? The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to accept female members. To make her dreams come true, Hilary will have to go against her family's wishes and somehow learn piracy on the sly. 

But when rare magic ore starts disappearing from exclusive High Society homes, Hilary is drawn into the mystery. Are pirates responsible, or is there another explanation entirely? Can Hilary discover who is stealing the magic ore and fulfill her dream of becoming a pirate, too?

REVIEW

The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot is one of the most witty and humorous chapter books I've read in a while. This book will rock you with belly laughs. Several times, tears were pouring down my cheeks. It's THAT funny.

The relationships among the characters are golden. The correspondences intermixed throughout the story are my most favorite parts! Such great examples for students on the beauty and purpose of handwritten letters!!!!

And when a pirate ship tries to disguise itself? Totally hysterical. Certainly a creative solution...and one you'll have to read the book to find out!

There are characters you love to root for and characters you love to despise. Some characters take a while to figure out. The ending was a total surprise, but very satisfying. A hoot of an adventure from start to finish.

All the children at book club LOVED this selection. Everyone is eager to continue with the series. It was equally enjoyed by boys and girls alike. Great job, Caroline Carlson!

RATING

5 of 5 Stars/ Highly recommend for chapter readers who love adventure, mystery, fantasy, and humor! So excited to read the next book in the series, The Terror of the Southlands.

My daughter's top adjectives for The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot -- surprising, exciting, hilarious, fun, spectacular.

[Looking for the a study guide? Click here.]

Book Review/ Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

A powerful read about perseverance in the face of loss... 

SYNOPSIS
While exploring a London museum, Ophelia stumbles onto the imprisoned Marvelous Boy. Can Ophelia brave danger to free him? Will she find the One Other, the only person who can defeat the Snow Queen? With three days until the Snow Queen's evil plans are unleashed, there's no time to lose.

REVIEW
Billed as a modern twist on the Snow Queen fairy tale, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is so much more. It's in the vein of a traditional fairy tale. Enter spooky/creepy elements and expected morals. Prepare for ghosts, dangerous mythical animals, and a conniving villain.

The point of view alternates between the Marvelous Boy and Ophelia. The Marvelous Boy recounts his quest and adventures from the time he was chosen by wizards to seek the One Other (the only one who can defeat the Snow Queen). Ophelia narrates the present day story as it occurs in London.

Ophelia, the Marvelous Boy, and the King are all bound by the fact they have lost or are separated from people they love. Ophelia's mother has died, the Marvelous Boy left his mother to go on a quest, and a boy King is orphaned. Each deals with their loss in a very different way.

Though Ophelia's family doesn't discuss her mother (Susan), Ophelia is still hears her mother's voice. Is Susan really talking to her, guiding her to bravery? Or is it all in Ophelia's mind? It's up to you to decide.

The ending left me wanting more...perhaps the Marvelous Boy has more stories to tell. I would love to see a book from his viewpoint. What does he encounter on his travels home? What does he find when he gets there?

RATING

4 of 5 Stars/ Recommended for girls who love realistic fiction as well as fairy tales. A strong first children's novel for Karen Foxlee! As a writer of adult literature, some of her concepts will be lost on younger readers. This book begs for rich discussions - morals, feelings, positive coping skills, courage, and conscience.

M's top adjectives for Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy -- surprising, interesting, amazing.

ONLINE FREEBIES
Study Guide via Random House

Book Review/ Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born by Brandon Mull {Study Guide, Discussion Question Links}

Fast paced adventure for even the most reluctant readers! 

Spirit Animals: Wild Born is an adventure packed ride. Even the most reluctant readers will be drawn into the story. My third grader flew through this book!

The author has an amazing knack for incorporating story elements from here and there -- and yet somehow it all works together. 

Recognize any of these story elements? A reluctant, street savvy hero (Han Solo), powerful animals/creatures who can emerge at their companion's directive (Pokemon), the Fallen who sacrificed their lives for another world/species (Transformers), a villain in exile plotting his return (Sauron), the Greencoats whose only allegiance is to protect their world (Jedi)...you get idea. Lots of archetypal characters.

Geography buffs will enjoy the word play between Erdas and Earth: Artica (Artic), Eura (Europe), Amaya (South American Maya), and Nilo (Nile).

Despite the vocabulary not being as challenging as other books in this age range, there were still new words to learn. Expect a quick, popular fiction read. At 202 pages, Spirit Animals: Wild Born is a bit short side. Have the sequels ready!

As the series continues, the authors change. Probably to keep a certain publishing schedule. As a result, we've happily discovered several new authors (Tui T. Sutherland is our favorite so far).

Wild Born is our first book from by Brandon Mull. He has also written two other series, Fablehaven and Five Kingdoms. Both seem really popular!

SYNOPSIS
Long ago, the Spirit Animals and their companions battled to banish evil from Erdas. Four Spirit Animals (wolf, leopard, panda, and falcon) sacrificed their lives to bring peace. Yet now, the animals have fulfilled an ancient prophecy by returning.

Newly bonded to children companions (Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan), the Four Fallen must once again help banish the dark force from Erdas. Greencoats have pledged to help train, guide, and battle side by side with the children.

But before being reunited with the other three Fallen, Abeke and her leopard are intercepted by the enemy! Will Abeke believe the rebels? Which side will she ultimately fight for?

RATING
Spirit Animals: Wild Born is a must read for boys and girls who love fantasy and animal books. As a mom of girls, I appreciate the strong, capable heroines of Abeke and Meilin. Thank you, Mr. Mull and Scholastic, for writing smart, brave, talented heroines with some pretty awesome skills!

M's top adjectives for Spirit Animals: Wild Born -- adventurous, exciting, amazing.

ONLINE FREEBIES
Study Guide via Scholastic
Lesson Plan/Discussion Questions with Common Core correlations via Scholastic

Book Review/ Seven Wonders: The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis {FREEBIE Activities & Mini-Unit Suggestions}

Incredible action and adventure! 

Each chapter of Seven Wonders: The Colossus Rises seems to end with drama, a secret revealed, or incredible events. It was a huge hit with our homeschool book club. Most kids could not put it down or stop talking about it!

My third grader LOVED this book. She finished in two days, refusing to part with it until she read it all. At the end of the first chapter, she asked if there was a sequel. And then begged for me to reserve it at our local library ;)

The ending was truly shocking. My daughter and our homeschool book club readers COULD NOT believe it!!!! Everyone is clamoring to get Book Two.

One of my favorite parts of this series is the mix of mythology, real history, and original fiction! There are so many jumping off points with this book...the historical seven ancient wonders of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes, Greek mythology, medical ethics, loyalty v. betrayal, honesty v. secrecy.

This is our first read from author Peter Lerangis. He has also authored a few of the 39 Clues books which appear quite popular.

SYNOPSIS
Jack McKinley is not your typical thirteen year old. Jack is one of the Select, children destined to die if the powerful Loculi are not found and returned to Atlantis. The Loculi have been scattered among the seven ancient wonders of the world. If the Select fail, they will perish by age fourteen - and life on Earth will be changed forever.



FREEBIE WRITING PROMPTS (Download printer-friendly version)
SPOILER ALERT - These activities reveal important parts of the plot. Stop reading here if you want to read the book first!

#1/ Jack held onto his mother’s mirror because it had sentimental value (emotional significance). Describe an item that has sentimental value to you, but isn't worth a lot of money. What does it look like? Where do you keep it? Why do you love it so much?

#2/ What do you think of Barry Reese’s behavior? What did Barry do when Jack initially refused to let Barry copy his homework? If you had been Jack, would you have reacted differently or the same? What would you have done?

#3/ How does Jack learn of Aly, Marco, and Cass’s plan to escape? How do Aly’s computer skills help them slip out without being discovered? Does their escape go as planned? Why or why not?

#4/ When the Select find out they've been implanted with a locating device, how did they react? What did Jack think? Would you want to be implanted with a locating device? Why or why not?

#5/ How does Marco get separated from Jack, Aly, and Cass at the top of Mount Onyx? What happened to Marco and the vromaski? How did Jack, Aly, and Cass react? How would you react in their position?

#6/ In the Atlantean maze, why does Marco survive? What do Jack, Aly, and Cass do when they find him? How does his body regenerate?

#7/ Was it a good thing Aly called home? Why or why not? Would you have called home if you were in her situation?

#8/ What do Jack, Aly, and Marco find in the Massarene greenhouse? Describe what happens when Jack touches the flame.

#9/ Imagine you are the Colossus of Rhodes that just came to life. What do you see? How do you feel? What do you want to do?

#10/ What happened to the Loculus at the hotel? Do you agree with Jack’s idea that Marco took it home? Why or why not? What does Jack’s reaction reveal about how he feels about Marco?

BONUS ACTIVITIES FROM THE WEB 

Teacher's Guide via Harper Collins
Interactive Map of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The Colossus of Rhodes Facts
The Story Behind the Statue

BONUS ENRICHMENT SUGGESTIONS
Create your own mini-unit with additional reading selections!

Atlantis: The Legend of a Lost City by Christina Balit

A short, but interesting, mythology of Poseidon's creation and destruction of Atlantis. Based on Plato's writings, but easily read by children. Most picture books do not appeal to my third grader, but this book she reads again and again!

Atlantis: The Search For The Lost City by Mary-Jane Knight

Our favorite part of this book was the last two pages (p. 44-45) - a history of the explorers who have searched for Atlantis and where they believe the actual location to be. Our family (and the kids at book club) found this historical section way more interesting than the fictional story.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Michael Woods and Mary B. Woods

Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!! A nonfiction account of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The students were absolutely floored that the Colossus of Rhodes was REAL. After discussing the Colossus's true history, we also read about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon - the setting for Book 2. A perfect companion to those who love the Seven Wonders series!!!!

Book Review: Early Bird Gets the Worm by Bruce Lansky

My Goodreads win!

This little gem arrived in the mail, complete with creator Bruce Lansky's signature on the inside cover page.

Thank you so much, Mr. Lansky! What a delightful gift. 

This is the first wordless children's book we've read -- that's right, no words. How was I unaware of this genre? Children 3 to 6 read the illustrations and enjoy the story on their own or with their family. Sophie is thrilled to read just like her big sister!

Early Bird Gets the Worm follows a little bird on its worm finding adventure. Not every worm is what it seems, or as easy to catch as it looks! The ending is sweet and will warm the hearts of mamas and little ones alike. Use the book as a springboard to talk about birds, perseverance, the bond between mamas and babies, and feelings.

Sophie's little face was pure concentration on our first read through. She made me read it three times straight!

Even as a soon-to-be eight year old, Madeline wanted in on the fun! So she created a story, then another, and then another. It's so rewarding to see her reading to her younger sister :)

Finally Sophie decided she didn't want to share the her book anymore. Snatching it up, she headed to her favorite rocking chair.  Draped in her favorite blanket, she began "Once upon a time..."

So far, Sophie's read the book everyday {more than once a day} for the last week and a half. She is so exited about her new, shiny book. Though with all its use, it might not stay shiny for long!



Disclosure:  I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway! Receipt of an item free of charge does not guarantee a positive review. By choice, only quality products are shared with my readers -- the items that I love, enjoy, and use :)

End of the Year Curriculum Review: Writing

The BEST teaching guide for writing

Scholastic Grade 2 Writing Curriculum

Hands down, this is the most fabulous series for writing curriculum! Writing is one of the few subjects that we use the same text for the entire school year. After seeing the progress made last year with Grade 1 Writing Curriculum, I will use ONLY this series for teaching writing. If you use it, prepare to be amazed at your child's progress.

Grade 2 Writing Curriculum Week-By-Week Lessons provides a year's worth of exercises. Each month has daily writing prompts. We cut and paste our writing prompts into a journal {composition book}. I highly recommend doing so, you will not believe the gains your child makes from the beginning of their journal to the end of the year.

After the month of writing prompts, there are four longer lessons -- one for each week of the month. A full page of directions explain how to present the assignment. Typically, Madeline brainstorms and fills out a planning page on the first day of the lesson. Then, the first draft is composed on the second day. And finally, Madeline self edits her work and turns it in for grading on the third day.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT SCHOLASTIC GRADE 2 WRITING CURRICULUM

This book is comprehensive. In addition to the daily writing prompts and weekly assignments, you'll learn how to help your student achieve success! The front portion contains lots of tips for teaching writing. Also included are writing samples typical of the age range.

One of the best things in the book is the 'START' handout. No longer will you have a child that doesn't know what to write about. No more writer's block! The handout specifically gives students a formula for writing descriptive, interesting sentences and paragraphs.

The back has quite a few handouts including a brainstorm page for the weekly assignments, a list of commonly misspelled words, and checklists for students to edit their own work.

COST
Originally, I purchased the Grade 1 book from Scholastic's website. However, our copies for Grades 2 and 3 came from Amazon used. Expect to pay around $7 for each copy plus $3 for shipping {about $10 total}.

Very inexpensive considering this is a reproducible book. Since it's meant to be photocopied, you can use it with as many children as you like!

WILL WE CONTINUE?
Definitely! Grade 3 Writing Curriculum has already been ordered.

Book Review: The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors {Vocabulary & Bingo FREEBIES}

Wow, that was a fast read! 

Our homeschool book club {grades 3-6} read The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors for our May meeting. It's a fictional mystery with some fantasy thrown in.

At first, Madeline did not embrace the story. Every time we read one or two chapters, she wasn't eager to read more. That changed once events at Dr. Woo's worm hospital really got going ;)

From that point on, Madeline was hooked. Determined to keep reading until the book was finished! Even though the title is The Sasquatch Escape, the Sasquatch doesn't actually make an appearance for quite some time. We both wish he had appeared earlier!

The humor really picks up in the second half of the book. Sasquatch's escapades are HILARIOUS! The things he does will make you giggle and giggle.

Just toss out what you know about scary Bigfoot. Selfor's gentle giant is sweet, enjoys being cooed at like a baby, and loves his chocolate. You'll love him too.

Although the vocabulary wasn't overly challenging, there were many words new to Madeline. Since we purchased this book via Kindle, it was neat to be able to highlight the word and see the definition pop up!

SYNOPSIS
Benjamin {Ben} Silverstein has been sent to spend the summer with his Grandpa Abe while his parents work out some troubles. Since the button factory closed, Buttonville isn't very exciting. Most families have moved away leaving the town deserted. And worse, the senior center is pretty much the only place to hang out and socialize.

Ben meets Pearl Petal, a girl whose family lives above the Dollar Store. Everyone in Buttonville calls her a troublemaker. But when Ben finds a injured baby dragon, he and Pearl see if the town's new worm doctor {Dr. Woo} can help.

During the visit to the worm hospital, Ben leaves the deadbolt open resulting in Sasquatch's escape. It's up to Ben and Pearl to locate the missing Sasquatch and bring him back to Dr. Woo's hospital - a hospital for Imaginary creatures!

FREEBIES
What a bummer, there is no study guide for this book. Being type-A and all, I've been creating my own study guide. Expect another post with more activities once we meet for book club :)  

Enjoy my vocabulary and bingo freebies:

Click here to download ~ Vocabulary Definitions

Click here to download ~ Vocabulary/Character/Setting Bingo Caller List

Click here to download ~ Bingo Cards Set #1

Click here to download ~ Bingo Cards Set #2

Click here to download ~ Bingo Cards Set #3

RATING
We'd rate The Sasquatch Escape 4 of 5 stars! It's a must-read for any child that loves mysteries, adventure, or animals.

Will we continue with the series? Most certainly!

Book Review: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren {Activity Links}

It's a beloved classic! Our homschool book club {grades 3-6} read Pippi Longstocking for the April meeting.

Madeline took turns between laughing outrageously and being completely horrified by Pippi's behavior. Mostly, it was laughing outrageously!

SYNOPSIS
Pippi Lonstocking is a very unique little girl living all alone. Without parents, she governs her own behavior. Pippi tries to make sense of the world that thinks very differently than she does.

Each chapter is like it's own short story focusing on a particular event. At first, the town isn't so pleased with Pippi's antics. But she eventually wins them over and saves the day!

ACTIVITIES
Saving time is one of my favorite things, so I bought Characters, Plot, and Setting and Pippi Longstocking worksheets. The book club homeschoolers absolutely LOVED the Characters, Plot, and Setting activities. There were so many things to do that we could only complete just a few. But they were all a hit!

The worksheet link is primarily reading comprehension questions. I printed them cut out the individual questions. Each child took a question from a bag and read it to the group. Then they discussed the questions. It's awesome because they govern themselves and are so excited to share what they've read :)

FREE LINKS AND ACTIVITIES
Pippi Longstocking:  GSCNC Book Club Meeting Guide
Discussion/Comprehension Questions via Teachers.net
Printable Pippi Paper Dolls via fanpop.com
Pippi Longstocking smock via Muffins and More

Pippi Apron Inspiration via http://efraimstochter.de/ {Would be great made of a large paper grocery bag, too!}

I'm dying to make Pippi Lonstocking smocks for the girls! So cute for summer if you sew.

REVIEW
We'd rate Pippi 5 of 5 stars! Lots of humor to show kids just how lucky they really are to have parents who love them :)

Book Review: The Day the Crayons Quit by Oliver Jeffers

What a creative book!

The Day the Crayons Quit was chosen as our k-2 homeschool book club selection. And both my kids {ages 3 and 7} loved it :)

SYNOPSIS

Duncan reaches for his crayons, but they aren't there! Instead, he finds a stack of letters ~ each written by a different crayon. Each expresses feelings about how they are used {or conflicts with other crayons}, and asks assistance either for themselves or their friends.

It's absolutely hilarious and both my girls loved Peach Crayon's letter the most. Poor Peach Crayon has no clothing since Duncan peeled off his paper! Peach Crayon is embarrassed to leave the crayon box. They love to read Peach Crayon's letter OVER and OVER.


ACTIVITIES The kids did this:  Reading Response Activities & Writing Craftivity. Then they played their own improv version of 'Guess Which Crayon I Am!' Each of the homeschoolers described their favorite crayon with clues and everyone tried to guess which one they were.
Because Madeline is older, I had her pretend to the be the teacher. Did the crayons use the correct format for a letter? Is the punctuation correct? She rewrote one letter correcting any format or grammar mistakes. 
Madeline also wrote her own letter from the viewpoint of her favorite crayon. She had to think of what her favorite crayon would write and how it would feel. Then Madeline reminded me that she really doesn't use CRAYONS anymore since she's a big girl. Ha! So her letter was from the point of view of her favorite colored pencil.

REVIEW
We happily give this book 5 of 5 Stars! It's very creative and unlike any other book we've read.

Use it as a great jumping off point for feelings, colors, and conflict resolution. Or just for fun! The author did a phenomenal job making each crayon express feelings. And Madeline enjoys reading it to her little sister, so that's always a plus.

Flood and Fire: 9 Chapters Down, 32 to Go

Madeline and I are hooked on Flood and Fire. So far, we've not read less than 3 chapters a day. At the close of every chapter Madeline cries, "More! More!"

It's awesome finding exciting new books and authors through homeschool book club! My husband even congratulated me on gifting my daughter with the need to read :)

Starting with the first chapter, the story grips you! Oh, Lilly...out of the pot and into the frying pan. And poor Zeph, having to clean up his father's mess.

Unlike Raiders' Ransom, this second book is fast-paced from page 1.

Reading this book is bittersweet, since the third one {PLEASE let there be a third one} isn't published yet. Write fast, Ms. Diamand ~ we love your books!

Book Review: Raiders' Ransom by Emily Diamand

It's officially finished!
Madeline LOVED Raiders' Ransom, but I had mixed feelings about it.

PROS
It's fast-paced with tons of action once you get past the first few chapters. The conversations with the talking jewel are hilarious. Madeline even fell off the bed because she was laughing so hard!

There are so many different topics you can springboard onto -- English geography and landmarks, English history, climate change, recycling, living without technology. More things to learn more about!

CONS
Amazon has this book marked as recommended for ages 8-12. However, this has some very mature themes including child abuse, slavery, war, underage drinking...well, you get the idea. Most of the reviews talk about how funny the book is, but there are just as many intense moments. The graphic description of corpses from battle could be disturbing to children aged 8-12.

RATINGS
Madeline, 5 Stars
She enjoyed this book as much as Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. When we had 10 chapters to go, she wanted to read it straight to the end. She begged every night to read more!

Mom, 4 Stars
I thought it mas a bit mature and maybe is better suited to more of a young adult {YA} audience. The story was great, but started off slow and depressing. There were even some in our book club who just could not get past the first few chapters and gave up {ages 8-10}. The aftermath of the fleet battle was a bit gruesome for younger readers. More of the talking jewel, please!

Will we continue with the series? Absolutely!
Onto Flood and Fire. Even though some to the themes are a bit mature, they do precipitate many good discussions with my daughter. And to me, that is one of the marks of a really good book!

Enjoy these extra resources to further learn about the setting and themes in Raiders' Ransom.
Madeline is having a blast comparing the book vs. real history and places.

ONLINE FREEBIES
- Games and activities for English, British, and Scottish history via the BBC
- View photos and videos of historical landmarks referenced in the book like the Thames River and Big Ben via National Geographic Kids
- Climate change videos, games, and activities via NASA's Climate Kids
- Free Activity Book: Discover Your Changing World with NOAA includes 10 activities to introduce the principles of climate science

ADDITIONAL READING
- English folklore/ Young Guinevere by Robert D. San Souci
- Famous authors/ Charles Dickens: Scenes from an Extraordinary Life by Mick Manning
- London's historical landmarks/ A Walk in London by Salvatore Rubbin
- English theater history/ Tudor Theatre (Building History) by Gillian Clements
- English monarchs / Good Queen Bess : The Story of Elizabeth I of England by Diane Stanley
- Climate change/ The Magic School Bus And The Climate Challenge by Joanna Cole
- Climate change and the polar ice/ Waiting for Ice by Sandra Markle