eighth grade

Meet the Malones

Book cover: 'Meet the Malones'
Author(s): 
Lenora Mattingly Weber
This is a charming and engaging story of a Catholic family living in Denver during World War II. The Malones - Beany (13), Johnny (15), Mary Fred (16) and Elizabeth (19) lost their mother several years before the story begins. Their father, Martie, is a respected newspaperman whose column is often assigned reading in the local schools. Mr. Malone is a loving father who frankly explains to his children that he's glad he doesn't have the means to spoil them, as he knows it's better for them to take initiative and responsibility for themselves.

Confusion by Cupid

Author(s): 
Janet Lambert
Continuing in the Jordon family series, this story (Book Three) is based on Peter's, Gwen's, and Alice's love lives. Though each have their own steady dates, (who all happen to be away), they go out with other people and everything ends up in one big mess! Peter goes out with the wrong girl and Gwen gets married, but not to the man she was initially engaged to marry. Alice, like a movie director, keeps everything flowing and everyone informed while her own love life is churning.

Grisly Grisell

Book cover: Grisly Grisell
Author(s): 
Charlotte M. Yonge

Grisly Grisell begins with a bang, in fact, an explosion. Unfortunately, the result is more than a loud noise. Set in medieval England, during the War of the Roses (the reigns of Kings Henry V and Henry VI), the children of the castle are curiously investigating a keg when, to their horror, they discover that it contains gunpowder. The devastating result is a seriously wounded little girl, who is brutally scarred for life. How she, as well as others, deals with this devastating disfigurement affects much of the rest of the story.

Just Jennifer

Author(s): 
Janet Lambert
Welcome to the Jordon household of "Army Brats!" Jennifer is a spunky young girl of 16 years left in charge of eight military drilled younger brothers and sisters, while their father, General Jordon, is overseas on duty.

Novel Inquiries, Volume 2: Ancient Civilizations, Grades 7-9

Author(s): 
Margot Davidson
A Set of Guides for Four Novels Integrating Composition and Higher Level Thinking

Volume 2 carries on the tradition of excellence described in the review of Volume 1, with many additional features for the middle grade student. The 43-page Teacher's Guide is separate from the 136-page Student Book at this level. This volume includes literature guides for Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Warrior Scarlet by Rosemary Sutcliffe, The Tale of Troy by Roger Lancelyn Green, and Caesar's Gallic Wars by Olivia Coolidge.

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