What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week. . .

The True Adventures of Charley Darwin by Carolyn Meyer -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction
Carolyn Meyer has chosen a male voice for her latest novel, the voice of a young Charles Darwin. Charley tells his life story as he experiences it from about the age of 8 to early adulthood. His father, a noted physician, was kind but had little time to spare for his youngest son. Young Charley was doted on and primarily raised by his older sisters and palled around with his older brother until it was time to go to boarding school. Poor Charley is bullied by the other children and condemned by his teachers for not doing his lessons. Charley would rather hunt bugs and newts than study Latin or Greek, but science was not considered a worthwhile occupation in the early 19th century. After trying medical school and schooling to become a Clergyman, Charles still longed to study nature. Then came the fateful offer of companionship on a round-the-world trip on the HMS Beagle. The story of Charles Darwin's voyage is recreated from his journals and letters and shares a vivid picture of all the hardships and exciting things he experienced. Five years after leaving England, Charles returns a grown man, still unsure of his future but pondering the weighty questions that would lead to his theory of Transmutation. This book really makes Charles Darwin human. The first person narrative allows the reader to empathize with Charley's very realistic doubts and fears. I liked knowing that Charles Darwin was self-conscious about his nose and got seasick. It's especially important to learn that he did believe in God, though he questioned the absolute veracity of the Bible. I think everyone 10 and up should read this book, regardless of whether they believe in evolution or not because this is a wonderful account of the man who later changed the world forever.

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman -- YA Non-Fiction
This is a loving tribute to an unusual couple. This book looks at how Charles Darwin came to be the noted scientist and originator of the theory of evolution with the help of his devoted and loving wife Emma. Emma Wedgewood Darwin was intelligent, outspoken, lively, fun and most of all, a firm believer of Faith. Though it took Charles many years and a pro/con list to decide on marriage, he knew that his cousin Emma was the perfect wife for him. For 43 years Charles and Emma discussed and debated, read and wrote about issues of religion and science. Though their personal views differed, each understood and respected the other's viewpoint and never attacked, argued or criticized. They were best friends and companions through childbirth, death, ill health, and scientific explorations. This book gives the reader a peek into the Darwins' world and illustrates the true partnership of Charles and Emma. The book deals with Charles' explorations, scientific discoveries and questions of Faith as well as his personal life as a caring and devoted husband and father. What most impressed me was that though they had different religious beliefs, Charles and Emma remained a loving couple. The writing style is casual enough for young adults and lively and interesting enough for adults to enjoy as well. This is a great companion to the above book and takes the reader on an incredible journey of love. Again, it doesn't matter whether you believe in evolution, this is a portrait of a man and his wife who loved each other and stood by each other for 43 years despite their differences. Incredible!


Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild -- children's classic
Sorrel, Mark and Holly Forbes's father has been missing at sea during WWII for some time now, but the children have got along quietly living with their vicar grandfather and his housekeeper Hannah. When Grandfather dies, the children and Hannah move to London to live with the children's maternal grandmother, the great actress Margaret Shaw. At first the children find life at Grandmother's bleak and lonely, with only Hannah and Grandmother's funny housekeeper Alice for company, but soon Grandmother informs the children that they will be attending the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training in preparation for becoming great actors themselves. Mark wishes to join the Navy and be an Admiral but as there's no money for proper school, he too must join his sisters at the Academy. Sorrel and Holly receive scholarships from the now-famous Pauline and Posy Fossil and the famous Fossils encourage Petrova to issue a scholarship for Mark. Sorrel is pleased, but worried, because she can't keep up with the dancing lessons, Mark is happy as long as he can imagine himself as an animal and sing and Holly likes to dress up and mimic people. At the Academy the Forbes children meet their vain cousin Miranda, already a good actress and sweet Miriam who loves to dance. As the children get more involved with theater training, they learn that they too carry the family talent. I loved this series when I was a kid and love the mention in the movie "You've Got Mail." I reread Ballet Shoes last year and I like Theater Shoes better. It's a bit more realistic than Ballet Shoes and has some good background information on life in London during World War II. The characters were pretty cliched and the plot not exactly new or lively, but I felt connected to the main characters and wished them joy and success. I think this series is best appreciated by the target age group 9-12 year old girls.