Dear America Series

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  • October 28, 2011 at 5:40 pm
    Tia
    Participant

    I have come across these books in the library.  I can’t find any reliable reviews on them.  Has anyone used them? 

    October 28, 2011 at 6:07 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    We’ve discussed these here, you might try searching the archives.  I think they should be pre-read if you are giving them to someone younger than 14 or so.  (and I dont’ know why anyone older than 14 would long tolerate the mediocre writing.) There are adult themes in some of them, not all, just from a handful of the authors, but enough to warrant caution.  I’ve read ones including suicide, slave rape, unwed pregnancy, etc. 

    October 28, 2011 at 6:43 pm
    RobinP
    Participant

    I agree with Bookworm.  They are very popular in homeschool circles but there are SO much better out there.  I had several but got rid of all of them in my lending library. 

    October 28, 2011 at 7:44 pm
    thowell
    Participant

    So if you have a daughter who liked some of these what books could you replace them with? She is 11 and really liked the 2 she read. I can’t believe so of that content is in books targeted for this age range. I assumed they were okay after I briefly flipped through them. So anyway, what other books run along these  lines but are good reads?

    October 28, 2011 at 8:04 pm
    momtomany
    Participant

    The Trailblazer series is excellent…. it features Christian heroes.  Written by Dave and Neta Jackson.  The website has a timeline so you can choose your books accordingly.  There are 40 of them in the series.

    We’ve read many of the Dear America books (and Dear Canada and My America too) as read-alouds.  I’ve never found anything objectionable (although I am reading aloud so I could address and discuss anything as we go, or even bleep out certain words, like “Gosh” or something I don’t really like to hear my kids say).  I agree that it isn’t the greatest literature ever written, but not terrible either.  My kids enjoyed them and I felt that the books do give them a good feel for the time that we are studying.  They are not difficult to read… that could be a plus or a minus depending on your child’s reading level or whether you’re using them as read-alouds or not.

    October 28, 2011 at 9:16 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    Here are some sources for various living books for children:

    http://valerieslivingbooks.info/

    Also look into Jan Bloom’s books What Shall We Then Read? vols. I and II.

    Christine Miller’s All Through the Ages

    Truthquest guides are packed full of living book info for many time periods.

    Or find someone nearby like Robin who has a lending library.  🙂  It takes a little more effort to find really good books than just picking up Scholastics at Amazon, but I can’t even tell you in words how worth it it is. 

    October 29, 2011 at 2:19 am
    Tia
    Participant

    I glanced through one today and I wasn’t impressed.  Thanks for the heads up on adult-type material.  And Bookworm, thanks for the resources! I’ll look at them. I have Christine Miller’s book but I don’t have the Bloom books and haven’t heard of that site.  I’m quickly learning that researching, pre-reading, and choosing books will take up am ample amount of my time over the next several years.  lol

    October 29, 2011 at 6:21 am
    Kirstykbart
    Member

    I posted about these books this week, thinking that they sounded just what living books should be.  We have slightly different titles over here in the UK where they are called My Story, but some are the same books.

    We’d started reading a book about Cleopatra and I read on to the end to check the content, which for us was ok, the only odd bit being about the girl saying she went for a run naked once to shock others, but it was easily missed out as a RA.  What I did think and agree with RobinP and Booworm is that the writing isn’t the best.  My kids are enjoying it, so we are keeping going with it, but I’m glad I posted about them and got some feedback.  I think if you are struggling to find something about a specific time period and really want to read more about it then they might be worth a go 🙂

    October 29, 2011 at 1:14 pm
    4myboys
    Participant

    “I’m quickly learning that researching, pre-reading, and choosing books will take up am ample amount of my time over the next several years.  lol”

    here! here!  This is one reason I am finding it easier to read-a-loud with my sons for some books I’m not too familiar with — I can edit as I go, or switch gears pretty fast if I don’t feel it’s workig out for us content or interest wise.

     

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