Grades 3-5

Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal

Book cover: Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal
Author(s): 
Robert T. Reilly

The true story of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, an Irish prince who fought the English Invaders at the time of Queen Elizabeth. This is a fast paced story – quite exciting and with a touch of romance. The hardships endured by Red Hugh, particularly during his imprisonment, are a bit graphic, but probably not too intense for mid-gradeschoolers and up. We are reminded of Red Hugh's faith when he asks the English to let him see a priest. The request is refused and the reader is introduced to the tactics of indoctrination, used to attempt to sway the hero from his Irish and Catholic loyalties.

Saints of the Church

Book cover: 'Saints of the Church'
Author(s): 
Michael G. Allen
This book is a companion to the Vision series of saint's biographies (also published by Ignatius Press). It is a wonderful help to extending the biographies into a full-blown unit study, if you wish, or just to help enrich the reading. For each of the 17 books covered in Saints of the Church , the author includes:

Francie on the Run

Book cover: 'Francie on the Run'
Author(s): 
Hilda Van Stockum
Francie on the Run is the second book in the Bantry Bay trilogy. It was written by Hilda van Stockum in 1939. It's the story of Francie O'Sullivan, who runs away from the hospital in Dublin. The entire book is about his funny adventures as young Francie makes his way home to Bantry Bay. My whole family loved this book because the characters are warm and funny. There are many beautiful pictures drawn by the author herself. It's an excellent book. You'll love it!

The Red Keep

Book cover: 'The Red Keep'
Author(s): 
Allen French
In the countryside of France in 1165, the old duke has died, and a child has assumed his place. The peasants find themselves unprotected and at the mercy of the evil Sauval, a "treacherous, bloodthirsty pair of brothers" who take their money and possessions and kill anyone who gets in their way.

Fifteen year old Conan is training for the knighthood and witnesses the Sauval firsthand as they plunder a neighboring castle. He rescues the only survivor of the family, their daughter Anne. She is taken in by the family that Conan is staying with.

The Winged Watchman

Book cover: 'The Winged Watchman'
Author(s): 
Hilda Van Stockum
A wonderful intelligent, faith-filled story of courage and hope in the midst of great hardships The story centers around a Catholic family in Holland during the Nazi occupation. There is plenty of excitement as the boys discover and give aid to a downed English pilot and deliver messages for the "underground." Their family "grows" as they take in fugitives and war orphans which brings both hardship and joy.

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