Mrs. Rogness's Book Recommendations

This book, along with the entire series it is a part of, is something I have read countless times.  I return to them because the stories are so comforting and are a window into what life was like many years ago.  I find Laura's life to be fascinating, and the ups and downs of her adventures with her family are what keep me turning the page to find out what will happen next.  If you've never read this series, I cannot recommend it enough.  Start here, with Little House in the Big Woods.  It tells the story of Laura as a young girl in 1871 living with her mom, dad, older sister Mary, and baby sister Carrie.  It is an autobiography, so it is based on Laura's actual life experiences.  At this point, the family is living in a cabin in the woods in Wisconsin, and it tells about their daily life.  Throughout all of their experiences, good and bad, you can see the way the family is deeply rooted in their love and respect for each other.  When I pic...

This book is a multi-award winner for a reason.  It is fascinating!  I'll admit, when I first saw the book, I thought it looked boring and was not drawn to it at all.  However, once I opened it and saw its engaging format, I decided to give it a try.  It is written in dramatic narrative, which means it reads like a story.  It is also about a real event in our history, the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793.  I found the factual basis of the story to be so interesting and enjoyed how it gave a glimpse into what life and medicine were like in that time.  Another outstanding feature of this book is that it includes prints of actual documents from that time as primary sources.  That adds so much to the experience of reading this excellent book.  I'd recommend it to anyone- don't hesitate to give it a try! 

This book is about a young girl named Melody that has significant physical disabilities.  She cannot talk, walk, or do much of anything on her own.  However, her mind is very sharp and she is incredibly smart.  The frustrating part is that no one, not even her parents, realize that she is intelligent.  She is put in a classroom at school that is not challenging her at all.  This is a story about how she was able to begin to communicate and reveal just how smart she truly is.  Eventually she was able to start connecting with her peers and go to regular classes in school.  It is a valuable story to read as a reminder not to assume someone's ability just by the way they look.  It is a wonderful book!

Three Times Lucky is one of my absolute favorite books that I discovered a few years ago.  It is a mystery, but has so many moments where I was giggling out loud as I read the hilarious adventures of Mo LoBeau, the main character.  She is a feisty young girl that lives with Miss Lana and the Colonel, and spends a lot of time wondering if she'll ever find her "upstream" mother.  She is a character you can't help but like, and she makes this a book that you'll find difficult to put down once you start reading it!  Thankfully, this is the first book in a 3-book series, so there are even more adventures with Mo to enjoy after this one! 

If you have ever read Wonder, you should also read this incredible true book by Robert Hoge.  He tells his life story of growing up as a child with severe facial deformities.  In fact, when he was born, his mother refused to even see him.  His family almost abandoned him, but thankfully, in the end, his siblings said he belonged with them.  His story is full of heartaches and triumphs, and it is a powerful reminder that there is so much to a person beyond what they look like on the outside.  It is a book that everyone should read!

This book is a Newbery Medal winner, and for good reason.  It is another book that I was unable to put down once I started reading it.  Annemarie is the main character, and she has a best friend, Ellen, that is moving in and pretending to be part of Annemarie's family in order to keep her safe.  This is because Ellen is Jewish and the Nazis are coming in and removing all of the Jewish people.  Annemarie ends up having to go on a very risky and dangerous mission in order to save Ellen's life.  It is a fast read, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat.  It is a powerful reminder of the horrible things people went through during the Holocaust.