No name

The Outlaws of Ravenhurst

Book cover: 'The Outlaws of Ravenhurst'
Author(s): 
Sr. M. Imelda Wallace, S.L.
Number of pages: 
233 pages
Copyright: 
1950
Publisher: 
Lepanto Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

This is a lovely and engaging story set in early 17th Century Scotland and Colonial America. A mysterious "gray-cloaked" stranger leaves a toddler to be found by a passing priest. A young boy notices that he looks surprisingly unlike his "twin." It is a story of a boy being suddenly thrust into great challenges to faith and life. Secret passages, mysteriously changing identities and subtleties of who you can trust surround a story that stirs the blood to stand up for the faith – inspired by true stories of long ago. Devotion to the Eucharist and Our Lady come alive in noble characters who are boldly ready to die for their faith.

The story is Catholic through and through, but the characters are so real and the enemies are not exaggerated. I was pleased to see that not only are Protestants not demonized, but seen as fellow-sufferers (however misguided) under corrupt men. The action will keep you on the edge of your seat while surprises await you at every turn. My children and I really enjoyed this story as a read-aloud.

Additional notes: 
Paperback: Outlaws of Ravenhurst

Donated for review by Lepanto Press.

Also available in paperback format from Neumann Press, ISBN 9781939094070, as pictured at right.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
3-23-01

The Parables of Jesus

Book cover: The Parables of Jesus
Author(s): 
Tomie dePaola
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
2017
ISBN: 
9780823411962
Publisher: 
Broomfield Publishing
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

In a similar manner to The Miracles of Jesus, Tomie de Paola presents seventeen of Jesus' parables. This book makes them very accessible to small children and may even be the start of some interesting little discussions with your children about why Jesus told these stories. Some of the text of the parables is very brief.
 

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Passion of the Christ

Book cover: 'The Passion of the Christ'
Copyright: 
2004
Publisher: 
Newmarket Films
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
This is a powerful film; it made me weep, and turn away, and flinch. During much of the movie I was thinking, "I'm sorry, Lord, I'm sorry". My husband and I walked out of the theater barely able to speak, feeling raw and emotionally exhausted. It was absolutely the most intense movie I've ever seen, and every time I began to think, "It's only a movie", I also heard, "He really went through this."

For the most part, the story is just as we know it from the Bible and the Stations of the Cross (including a touching scene with Jesus and Veronica). Our Lady is portrayed beautifully, as a loving Mother to Jesus. Her love and faith are evident throughout. The affection of the apostles for Mary is also evident; Peter calls her "Mother" in one heartbreaking scene after the denial. Flashbacks during the horrific scourging bring blessed relief as we see peaceful moments in His life, including a scene from His childhood, a playful moment with Mary, the Last Supper, and more.

Mel Gibson has taken poetic license with certain elements of the story, but those things only made the larger Truth of the story even more compelling. For example, his portrayal of Satan is absolutely chilling, and while I couldn't say that the images he uses are necessarily Biblical (though some are), they are appropriate. The movie leaves no doubt about the supernatural element of the battle between good and evil. There is a great deal of literary symbolism, especially regarding eyes, and there is a running theme of Truth ("I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life", and a discussion of "Veritas" that Pilate has with his wife.)

As a work of art, it is superb. It is expertly directed, the cinematography is stunning, and the original soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful. I have only minor quibbles with a few things (for example, some of the costuming). Others have pointed out problems with the historicity of the languages used, or the length of hair of the characters. In no way, however, do these small things compromise the effect of the film overall.

Many have complained of possible anti-Semitism. Yes, some of the Jews come off very badly in the film; so do virtually all of the Romans. This film is no more anti-Semitic than it is anti-Italian. It is a story set in a particular place with particular ethnic groups. Jesus was a Jew; some of the Jews loved Him, others wanted Him dead. As Christians, we know that all of us are sinners; we all are responsible for the death of Christ.

One warning: I would not take young teens, and certainly not younger children, to see this movie. The sadistic cruelty displayed by the Roman soldiers would destroy the innocence of children who do not yet know the full extent of evil in the world, and the graphic, bloody scenes would be too shocking for them. Should any teens see it? Yes, older teens, if they are mature, and well-grounded in their Faith.

In spite of the violence and brutality pictured so vividly in the movie, the images that linger are the beautiful ones; His compassion, His strength, and above all His Love. This movie is certainly not entertainment. Instead, it is an opportunity for prayerful reflection on the sorrowful passion of our Savior and Redeemer, and His infinite Love and Mercy.

Additional notes: 

Rated R, 126 minutes

Director: Mel Gibson

Cast: James Caviezel, Monica Belluci, et al.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-3-04

The Passion of the Christ (additional review)

Book cover: 'The Passion of the Christ (additional review)'
Copyright: 
2004
Publisher: 
Newmarket Films
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
My husband and I finally went to see the Passion just last night (Monday of Holy Week). It was a very powerful and thought-provoking movie. There are a few things in particular that I think make it stand out from other movies I've seen about the Life of Christ.

The role of Mary in the story: The thing that struck me most about the Passion is how strong Mary's role is in the story. Rather than a minor character that flits in and out of the story (as occurs in many of these type of movies) this movie is quite Mariocentric. Many of the most moving scenes involve Mary's interaction with her Son. The movie also illuminates the Blessed Mother's role in Redemption, contrasts her role with that of the devil, and helps develop our own relationship with her and her son through her interaction with the Apostles of Jesus. It is difficult to put into words how powerful her role in this movie is. It is certainly worth seeing even if only for this alone.

The way Jesus is portrayed: While a lot of press has been given to the graphic nature of the portrayal of Jesus in this story, the uniqueness of his characterization goes well beyond this. Jesus is portrayed as having a very natural balance of strength and gentleness and appears as very strong and "manly". Flashbacks of Jesus talking to His followers and interacting with His mother particularly highlight this and provide contrast to the drama of His extreme torture. The portrayal of the brutality of Jesus' tormentors is quite graphic and hard to watch. I think it is beneficial, however, in many ways - particularly for modern viewers accustomed to movies with a lot of gore and violence.

Other Catholic symbolism: There was a great deal of beautiful symbolism which I have rarely seen in other movies of a similar nature. The most striking, to me, was the sacredness of the Precious Blood spilt during the scourging and highlighted by Our Lady and Mary Magdalene lovingly wiping it up with linens. There are also strong themes relating to the Eucharist and repentance. The whole movie can make for a great examination of conscience (I believe this is actually aided by the original language and subtitles because it has such a different feel from other movies) and would be excellent to watching during Holy Week.

The Question of Children watching the Passion: While watching the movie, I did focus on whether it would be appropriate for my eldest daughter to watch (she's almost 11). My husband and I agreed that it would be better for her to wait. Not only the graphic nature of Jesus' torture, but also some of the details involving the devil and the children tormenting Judas might be both troubling and confusing to her. We plan on purchasing the movie when it comes out on DVD and letting our children see it a little at a time where we can discuss it and focus on areas most appropriate to their age and maturity levels. Because of the the Passion movie, we have recently bought Jesus of Nazareth and the Robe, which I believe will be helpful at their particular stages. (Even the four and six years olds seem to be getting quite a bit out of these two movies - particularly when we discuss them at the dinner table or when the children chat about them together.) I do know a number of pre-teens and young teenagers who have seen the Passion and were glad they saw it. I think parents need to decide on an individual basis who the movie would be appropriate for. For my part, I think the movie is intended for adults but probably would be managable for most teens 14 or 15 years and older.

Additional notes: 

Rated R, 126 minutes

Director: Mel Gibson

Cast: James Caviezel, Monica Belluci, et al.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-6-04

The Penderwicks

A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Author(s): 
Jeanne Birdsall
Number of pages: 
272 pages
Copyright: 
2005
ISBN: 
0375831436
Publisher: 
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
It may have been the old fashioned cover with all those happy children, or the subtitle, but the fact is, I grabbed a copy of the Penderwicks from the library even though it’s a 2005 copyright: our read-aloud selections are almost never beyond 1950! It took me a while, however, and some research online, before I inserted the CD into the van’s stereo, and not without some trepidation. Needless to say my personal experience with contemporary children’s materials has been… bumpy at best. But this one promised to be different. By the second chapter, we were hooked. Four sisters and a dog? My girls loved that. A professor dad? With lots of Latin phrases? I loved that. I found pro life themes all over, in references to their loving, deceased mother and other positive references to large families. The story revolves around the family's summer spell in a rented cottage located in a wealthy estate with breathtaking, manicured gardens. The sisters' personalities emerge real and believable: in our conversations about the book we discussed things such as Skye's decision to learn Algebra over the summer, or our desire to read Jane's Sabrina Star stories. I am delighted to recommend The Penderwicks for family reading. Jane Birdsall’s writing will undoubtedly improve your young readers’, or listeners’ as in our case, writing. It’s like if someone, while captivating them with a simple yet profound story of family and friendship, is able to exemplify to them all of the good writing skills we’ve been trying to instill in them for years! We can't wait for the sequel, coming out next month. And I just love the fact that the author, 42, had never written anything until this. Her writing, to us, had a crystalline quality. And a National Book Award to boot! The CD audio version was read carefully and with very well-done character voices.
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
2-25-2008

The Phantom Tollbooth

Book cover: 'The Phantom Tollbooth'
Author(s): 
Norton Juster
Number of pages: 
272 pages
Copyright: 
1961
Publisher: 
Yearling
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
This rather ordinary-looking book is a genuine treasure! It is the story of a bored little boy who has a mysterious tollbooth suddenly appear in his bedroom one day. He goes through the tollbooth, mostly because there is nothing better to do at that present moment. Well, a thoroughly entertaining adventure awaits our young friend, Milo. The novel is a romp through the lands of numbers and letters, the former ruled by the Mathemagician, of course! The plot is Milo's quest to rescue the princesses of Rhyme and Reason, but the fun and enjoyment is in reading about Milo's adventures along the way. This book is sure to captivate readers of all ages, from five years old to adult. It is a wonderful family read-aloud. Highly recommended. Look for it at your local library, or consider purchasing a copy of The Phantom Tollbooth. It's a classic that is sure to be re-read.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

Book cover: 'The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt'
Author(s): 
Elizabeth Payne
Number of pages: 
180 pages
Copyright: 
1964
Publisher: 
Random House
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Setting: 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
This is a fascinating and very readable history of Ancient Egypt - suitable for family reading or independent reading from mid-grade school and up. The first chapter describes the rediscovery of Ancient Egypt in the late 18th and early 19th century. This is a particularly fascinating account because it describes the amazement of the first Europeans (at the time of Napoleon) to view the great monoliths. The author briefly relates the history of the deciphering of Egyptian Hieroglyphics which, of course, have provided the text of the history of Egypt which comprises the rest of this book. We found the tale engaging and fascinating.

The only disappointment we had was that there is no mention of the Bible, of Moses, or of the Hebrews enslavement in Egypt. This may be simply because this is a secular text, but it must be partly because the details of how (and when) exactly the Hebrews fit into Ancient Egyptian history is not precisely known.

Perspective: 
secular
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1-19-01

The Phonetic Zoo

A Self-Teaching Spelling Program (Advanced level)
Book cover: 'The Phonetic Zoo: A Self-Teaching Spelling Program (Advanced level)'
Author(s): 
James Webster
Andrew Pudewa
Publisher: 
Institute for Excellence in Writing
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
The Phonetic Zoo is an auditory (CD) based spelling program that includes at each level 5 Audio CD's (540 rule-based spelling words), 47 5 ½"x 8 ½" flashcards teaching the most important spelling rules and similar set of 2 �" x 3 5/8" (illustrated) zoo cards, an introductory DVD, and a pamphlet that explains the basics of the program.

Each lesson begins with the speaker reading the rule followed by a 15 word list that includes the speaker repeating the rule every three words. After each word is presented, the student is given enough time to write down the word without feeling rushed. The word list is repeated along with the correct spelling. The student writes the correct spelling next to his word as an accuracy check, noting which words he misspelled. He then studies those words and listens to the same list (CD track) on subsequent days until he correctly spells all list words two times.

Upon first listening to the CDs I thought the program moved too slowly and that my children would find it boring. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was wrong. In retrospect realize that I found it slow and boring because I already knew the words, but for a student just learning the rules and word spelling it moved at just the right pace.

Phonetic Zoo provides different rules from Spelling Power that were quickly learned by our oldest child (who is not naturally a good speller.) At the beginning of eighth grade (after completing Level H in Spelling Power) he worked through the entire Phonetic Zoo high school level in 3 months and was able to apply the spelling rules in his essays. We did a follow up test to the effectiveness of Phonetic Zoo by using the final Spelling Power lists. He missed less then 5% of all words on the last two levels of Spelling Power, and the words missed were rated as being college level. For our family Phonetic Zoo is an ideal program for older students who are yearning for independence and are anxious to "be done" with spelling lessons. This review is of the "Advanced" level of Phonetic Zoo. The IEW website contains an auditory placement test that is accurate in determining which level to purchase.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
12-3-01

The Power of the Cross

Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life
Book cover: The Power of the Cross
Author(s): 
Michael Dubruiel
Number of pages: 
272 pages
Copyright: 
2004
ISBN: 
9781592761005
Publisher: 
Our Sunday Visitor
Binding: 
Softcover
Review: 

This is a meditative book, divided into a six week program of daily readings and meditation ideas, based on the Passion of Christ. Ideally, and Dubruiel suggests this, this book would fit in perfectly with a Lenten reading plan. However, the book can really be started any time. In addition to individual use, the book is well suited for a small group, as it contains discussion questions at the end of each section. These questions could be used individually, to help you get as much out of the reading and meditation as possible, or in a group.

As a busy mother, I really like books that I can read a little bit at one sitting and then put it down. I tend to get snatches of time, rather than long bits, and so the length of these chapters and the amount of material covered was just right for me.

If you are looking for a book to help you meditate on the cross, if you need something to help you work on some particular suffering you are dealing with, or if you just simply want to enter into the passion more deeply with Christ, than I think this would be an excellent book for you.

The book covers:

  • God's unique purpose and mission for you.
  • How to overcome the evil that you have suffered at the hands of others.
  • To find God's presence in difficult times.
  • The keys to unleashing the power of the cross in your life.
Click here to download a free study guide on the publisher's website.
Perspective: 
Catholic
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Priests

Author(s): 
Fr. Eugene O'Hagan
Fr. Martin O'Hagan
Fr. David Delargy
Copyright: 
2008
Publisher: 
RCA Records
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
Call it an impulse buy. I was standing in line to buy some CDs for Christmas when I caught the title of The Priests out of the corner of my eye. Not the typical CD title in a music store. After reading the selections on the back, I thought I would give it a try. It is the best impulse buy I've ever made. I am not alone in calling this CD wonderful. After a few short weeks, over 300,000 copies were sold, making it platinum, and that was a few months ago. What is incredible is who they are and what they sing. The Priests are a group of three priests from Ireland, two tenors and one baritone, who have sung together for 34 years. Considering how young they look, they must have started singing together when they were very young. The cover of the CD matches perfectly to the quality of their sound, simple and elegant, giving full credit to the music while never being ostentatious. You won’t hear any slipping, sliding or crooning, just singing as it is meant to be, in other words, in pitch with superbly blended harmonies. It is a delight to the ear to hear the purity of their voices singing beautiful music. The soothing quality of their richly blended voices is spiritually uplifting and not in the least bit muzak. The CD spans a wide range of musical styles: popular, classical, folk, and modern. It includes a lovely combination of popular as wells as lesser known Latin hymns from Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus to Domine Fili Unigente; classical pieces like Haydn’s Mit Wurd and modern pieces like Pie Jesu. For spice and interest, they sing in more than one language and the songs come from several countries. This variety holds the listener’s attention. Their music has created quite a surprising sensation. They have made several television appearances and received rave reviews in several major publications. You may have read an interview with them in the National Catholic Register. Not just classical music or religious music, their music inspires and uplifts and brings joy to the heart.
Additional notes: 

You can here short snippets of their music at Aquinas and More.

First reviewed: 
3-29-2009

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