“Whittington,” by Alan Armstrong

“Whittington,” by Alan Armstrong is a fascinating Newbery Honor book that is part historical fiction, and part animal story.

Whittington is a tough cat, with a hitch in his back, a torn ear, and a slight attitude. But Whittington also has a noble family history that goes all the way back to the 1300’s. When Whittington is abandoned by his family he goes in search of a new home, finally ending up at Bernie’s barn.

Bernie is an old man with a small farm and paddock. He also has a reputation for taking in all the strays and unwanted animals that other people want to get rid off. From old horses, to pigs, roosters, and finally Whittington the cat, Bernie takes care of new animals, and houses them in his barn.

Little does Bernie realize, but the animals that live in his barn have a special relationship of their own. When adults are around the animals stay silent, but when they are alone, or with Bernie’s grandchildren Abby and Ben, they tell stories and talk between themselves.

Ten year old Abby, and eight year old Ben love to spend time in Bernie’s barn with the animals. When Whittington joins the collection of animals who have found refuge with Bernie, he must tell his own story to the other animals. It is customary in Bernie’s barn that new animals must tell their life story and history to the others.

And so Whittington begins telling the tale of a young boy named Dick, and an extraordinary cat that lived hundreds of years ago. This cat was an ancestor of Whittington, and in its life it brought his master Dick great fame and fortune.

The animals enjoy Whittington’s historical story, and at the same time the story inspires young Ben, who is struggling with his dyslexia in an attempt to learn to read. The perseverance shown by Dick, and the help of Abby, the cat Whittington, and the other animals finally helps Ben to overcome his fear of reading.

I feel that “Whittington” is a great story in all respects. Alan Armstrong masterfully develops the story in two parallel directions, showing Whittington’s fascinating historical ancestor, and at the same time portraying Ben’s struggle to learn to read.

I liked the calm, peaceful feeling of “Whittington.” The animal characters are intelligent and masterful. Their personalities and relationships teach Abby and Ben, and at the same time make the plot interesting.

“Whittington,” by Alan Armstrong is a book that I would definitely recommend to all young readers.

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“Devil’s Paintbox” by Victoria McKernan

“Devil’s Paintbox” by Victoria McKernan is a historical novel about a teenage boy and his life changing journey on the Oregon trail as part of the westward expansion of the 1860’s.

Aiden and Maddy are live on the remains of the family farm. Drought ravaged Kansas, and disease followed. Aiden and Maddy are orphans, keeping alive by eating grasshoppers, clay, and whatever else they can get their hands on.

When Jefferson J. Jackson encounters the two youngsters, he doesn’t know what to think. It feels wrong to just leave them on their own, but he is a business man first and foremost, and he has a job to do: guide people along the two thousand mile long Oregon Trail.

Jackson makes a deal with Aiden and Maddy. He will pay for their equipment, food, and transport to Seattle, but on one condition. Jackson gets bounty money for bringing in men to work in the Seattle lumber camps, and if he pays for Aiden and Maddy’s transport, then Aiden will have to work to pay off his debt.

Aiden and Maddy jump at the chance, for it is their only hope of leaving Kansas and making a new life. But Jackson knows the full danger of the Oregon trail. “There’s a grave a mil on the Oregon Trail.” According to Jackson there are plenty of ways to die on the trail, its staying alive that’s difficult.

Aiden and Maddy experience firsthand the danger of the trail as they face smallpox, Indians, and tragic accidents.

When Maddy is drowned in a ferry accident, Aiden looses all hope for the future. And he knows that when he gets to Seattle, he still faces years of hard work to pay off the debt of both him and his dead sisters.

I didn’t think that “Devil’s Paintbox” was anywhere near as satisfying as Victoria McKernan’s book “Shackleton’s Stowaway.” The plot itself is very tragic, with a poor sense of resolution. McKernan attempts to create a sort of symbolic conclusion, but it falls flat.

Aiden gets worse and worse as the story continues. By the time the book ends he has killed two men: one purposely because he was breaking a smallpox quarantine and endangering other people, and another by accident. At the lumber camp in Seatlle Aiden participates in prize fights for money, and associates with whores hired by the camp owners to keep the men happy.

All in all, I did not think that “Devil’s Paintbox” by Victoria McKernan was a very good book. The plot was disappointing, the characters extremely rough, and the morals slightly twisted. I wouldn’t recommend “Devil’s Paintbox.”

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“Beyond the Western Sea - The Escape from Home” by Avi

“The Escape from Home” by Avi is book one in the two part “Beyond the Western Sea” series. This amazing historical fiction adventure explores the experiences and feelings of three children as they leave their homelands and set off for America, the New World.

Two of these children, Maura O’Connell, age fifteen, and Patrick O’Connell, age twelve, are from Ireland. At the start of the story they are living in a small village called Kilonny with their mother. Gregory O’Connell, the father of Maura and Patrick, emigrated from Ireland to America to try to find work. For nearly a year they have received no news from him, and they are beginning to fear that he has not survived the dangerous passage over the Western Sea. But then they receive a letter from him containing fifteen pounds, which Maura, Patrick, and their mother are to use to buy passage to America.

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Review of "Beyond the Western Sea - The Escape From Home" by Avi