Norma Jean Lutz

I really enjoyed reading this series to my boys. I might have liked it more than they did. There are a lot of people, places, and ideas that can be discussed about WWI from reading this book. It lends itself to want to research more, at least as a mother, I did. I appreciated the series being built around different families, with both young men and women portrayed, much like a normal family of the time would have lived, not a contrived setting.

Time Period: 1939 Ten-year old Mandy McMichael doesn't fit in at her new school in Seattle. She's very smart, but the in crowd teases her so much she decides to play dumb to quiet their taunts. Then there's her friendship with a Japanese family-and in 1939, with the world on the brink of war, hers is not a popular position. Using actual historical events to tell a compelling fictional story, Mandy the Outsider is a poignant tale of a girl balancing her desire for acceptance with her need to show more do right, and to be who God wants her to be. show less

Time Period: 1914 1914 is a tough year for twelve-year-old Maria Schmidt. Ever since the Kaiser started a war in Europe, Maria's German-sounding surname has brought her trouble at school. Even worse, her family's been threatened because of her father's union activities. In the midst of all that, however, Maria finds a noble cause to support: woman's suffrage. Maria Takes a Stand uses actual historical events to tell a compelling fictional story-of a girl who must overcome personal hardships show more to serve a cause larger than herself. It's a perfect vehicle for teaching lessons of American history and the Christian faith. show less

Time Period: 1923 For ten-year-old Carrie Moe, friendship with a Jewish immigrant is perfectly normal. So why are many of her other friends uptight about that? Sadly, in 1924, bigotry is a powerful force in society-so much so, that the white-robed members of the Ku Klux Klan plot violence against Jews. Carrie's Courage is the story of a young girl who stands up for a friend in the face of persecution. Using actual historical events as a backdrop, this young readers' novel shows that standing show more up for others, though not always popular, is always right. It's a perfect teaching tool, at an even better price! show less