Book-It 'o15! Book #11
The Fifty Books Challenge, year six! ( 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014) This was a library request.
Title: Caroline's Battle by Kathleen Ernst, illustrated by Robert Papp
Details: Copyright 2012, American Girl Publishing
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover):
"Caroline's papa has barely returned home before frightening news arrives-- British warships are headed for Sackets Harbor, ready to attack. Every able-bodied man, including Papa, must go and fight. Mama and Caroline are left alone to guard Abbott's Shipyard form the enemy. Caroline tells herself that she will do anything to keep Papa's shipyward safe! But when the battle seems to be lost, Mama gives her a terrible order: They must burn the shipyard to the ground to keep it from the enemy. It's the one thing Caroline isn't sure she can do."
Why I Wanted to Read It: Remember my remembrances of the American Girl franchise? And my reviews of the character Kit's six-book series? And my reviews of the character Rebecca's six-book series? And my reviews of the characters Cécile and Marie-Grace's six-book series, my review of Marie-Grace's mystery, and my review of Cécile's mystery? My review of Caroline's first book? And the second? And the third? And the fourth?Okay, then.
How I Liked It: For the first seven historical characters American Girl produced, they had six books apiece (an introduction book, a school book, a Christmas book, a spring/birthday book, a summer book, and a winter book) and the books were rather clearly cut to stand alone.
With the introduction of the first Native historical character, the layout of the books had to change by virtue of the fact it would be impossible/historical inaccurate to try to shoehorn 1760s Nez Perce girl into that format. So the books stayed at six and for the most part, kept their themes, but the titles got a lot looser.
Last year a revamp of the historical character line meant changes to the books, converting the six book arc down to two books sans illustrations, ostensibly to help them appeal to older kids. This meant the books were merely now attached in six books in two volumes, not edited for flow or anything like that.
I bring this up because Caroline's is a great example of where this would probably help the narrative flow to have it condensed in one volume. The last book seemed somewhat disjointed and it seemed difficult to truncate the action on this one properly as well; they just read like two chapters (or two series of chapters) rather than separate books.
While the story may be disjointed forced into the separate books in which it was originally issued, one "long" (or even two long) books seem about right for the story to be exciting and evenly paced action.
The illustrations frequently evoke the 1970s more than the 1810s. I know styles repeat and all of that, but something about the golden hue of many of the illustrations call to mind TV movies of the era.
The "Looking Back" details the most about the War of 1812 yet, including Francis Scott Key's contribution that later became a national anthem.
Title: Caroline's Battle by Kathleen Ernst, illustrated by Robert Papp
Details: Copyright 2012, American Girl Publishing
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover):
"Caroline's papa has barely returned home before frightening news arrives-- British warships are headed for Sackets Harbor, ready to attack. Every able-bodied man, including Papa, must go and fight. Mama and Caroline are left alone to guard Abbott's Shipyard form the enemy. Caroline tells herself that she will do anything to keep Papa's shipyward safe! But when the battle seems to be lost, Mama gives her a terrible order: They must burn the shipyard to the ground to keep it from the enemy. It's the one thing Caroline isn't sure she can do."
Why I Wanted to Read It: Remember my remembrances of the American Girl franchise? And my reviews of the character Kit's six-book series? And my reviews of the character Rebecca's six-book series? And my reviews of the characters Cécile and Marie-Grace's six-book series, my review of Marie-Grace's mystery, and my review of Cécile's mystery? My review of Caroline's first book? And the second? And the third? And the fourth?Okay, then.
How I Liked It: For the first seven historical characters American Girl produced, they had six books apiece (an introduction book, a school book, a Christmas book, a spring/birthday book, a summer book, and a winter book) and the books were rather clearly cut to stand alone.
With the introduction of the first Native historical character, the layout of the books had to change by virtue of the fact it would be impossible/historical inaccurate to try to shoehorn 1760s Nez Perce girl into that format. So the books stayed at six and for the most part, kept their themes, but the titles got a lot looser.
Last year a revamp of the historical character line meant changes to the books, converting the six book arc down to two books sans illustrations, ostensibly to help them appeal to older kids. This meant the books were merely now attached in six books in two volumes, not edited for flow or anything like that.
I bring this up because Caroline's is a great example of where this would probably help the narrative flow to have it condensed in one volume. The last book seemed somewhat disjointed and it seemed difficult to truncate the action on this one properly as well; they just read like two chapters (or two series of chapters) rather than separate books.
While the story may be disjointed forced into the separate books in which it was originally issued, one "long" (or even two long) books seem about right for the story to be exciting and evenly paced action.
The illustrations frequently evoke the 1970s more than the 1810s. I know styles repeat and all of that, but something about the golden hue of many of the illustrations call to mind TV movies of the era.
The "Looking Back" details the most about the War of 1812 yet, including Francis Scott Key's contribution that later became a national anthem.