Joseph Haydn, The Merry Little Peasant

by Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher
Available from Amazon and The Book Peddler
*****

This is such a sweet little book for children, and adults will enjoy reading through it as well. The way Haydn’s childhood and early years are portrayed is delightfully entertaining, as well as educational. If this had been a little tale invented to amuse children instead of a factual biography, it could hardly be more enchanting. Readers will find it easy to remember these interesting details of Haydn’s life because they will be in sympathy with him in his escapades, disappointments, and successes. In addition to describing the life of this composer, the authors also attempt an introduction to his music. Several musical pieces are included for the reader to play on the piano to see for themselves how charming Haydn’s music is. Musical terms are also explained, such as, “A sonata, you know, is music written for solo instruments with an accompaniment”, or “A symphony is music written for an orchestra and is divided into several parts.”

I heartily recommend this excellent book, especially for children who may be learning Haydn's music in their lessons. The authors have done an outstanding job, and I will be looking for their other works.

Kingdom's Dawn

by Chuck Black
Available from Amazon
****

The tale of the Bible translated into a medieval Celtic kingdom is the basis for the Kingdom Series. Kingdom’s Dawn, the first in the series, follows Leinad, a young man who typifies many of the early Old Testament characters. Sometimes the allegory seems a little too strained, and Chuck Black does not have the most flowing style, but he certainly has come up with a captivating allegory. Leinad uses his sword, representing the Word, to fight for the King. At one point his people are enslaved in a land, and the allegory is very obvious, as the king who finally lets them go is named “Lord Fairos”. There are other like situations that are made very plain in case anyone might have forgotten what the series really is about. As in Bunyan’s Holy War – which is the best Biblical allegory I have ever read – the same people represent more than one Biblical character or image, so as to have a cohesive story that does not expand over thousands of years. This book correlates to the Biblical account from Creation, through the flood, and into the Egyptian captivity, although often couched in quite different (but very apparent) symbols, all while our hero Leinad is still in his youth. All in all, I enjoyed this book and all the fantastic imagery that reminds one of the Scriptures and their power, and our King.

Mystery of the Silver Coins

by Lois Walfrid Johnson
Available from Amazon
*****
Spoiler alert! This book continues the Viking Quest saga, which is full of adventure and lessons in faith. Bree and Devin learn about forgiveness and to realize the fact that God’s will is sometimes different than our own. At one point the gospel is presented, but the author never preaches to the reader. It’s a great series, but only read on if you’re interested in knowing more of the working out of the plot.

In this, the second of the Viking Quest series, Bree has escaped from her Viking captors, along with a Lil, an eight year old girl. Bree works out a disguise to protect her as she fishes for the food they need, and she is careful to hide her tracks to the girls’ hiding place. As they trek across the mountains, they are confidant of escaping from the island, and back home to Ireland.

Bree discovered that Mikkel, her captor, was not only interested in recovering the two girls for their value as slaves, but he also believed that she had stolen a bag of silver coins. The penalty for this theft was death, although it seemed perfectly fine to the Vikings to have stolen the coins from the Irish (We find later in the book that the coins were actually stolen from a Norseman living in Ireland).

Meanwhile, Bree’s brother Devin is also heading home, from the other side of Ireland where he was left by the Vikings. He nurses his hate for the Vikings, making a bitter enemy of one who had followed him. On his journey he comes to Dublin, and meets a Viking who was a friend of his own father. Devin comes to understand that he must surrender his hate, and learn to forgive.

Forgiveness was not a lesson Bree had yet learned, however. Lil became very sick on the mountains, and they stopped their journey over the island to wait for her recovery. She told Bree she was not afraid to die, and explained why she was lonely for heaven, giving the plan of salvation. Just after Lil’s fever broke, however, the girls were discovered by Mikkel. He had decided to search for them himself, fearing that his guards might harm them if they found the girls first. Bitterness and anger filled Bree, especially when she heard that Mikkel had prayed, not only to Thor, but to the Christian God, her God, for help in finding the girls. How could God help him? Didn’t God want them to escape? How could she be a light to the nations in captivity?

To clear her name, as well as to save her life, Bree set her mind to identify the real thief of the silver coins. Hints were dropped through the book, but you may be surprised to find out who he really was! His resentment at being detected turns into anger toward Bree.

The book concludes with Devin back home with his family, and Bree’s arrival at Mikkel's home, where she is to be his mother’s new slave. She thinks she has seen her long lost sister, but that, as well as all the other unfinished threads, is left for other books.

I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman's Encounter With God

by Bilquis Sheikh with Richard H. Schneider
Available from Amazon
****

Bilquis Sheikh describes her journey, beginning with her initial interest in spirituality. She tells of her search for the truth, studying her Koran and the Bible she had requested, and struggling to know which book was God’s. She humbled herself to visit a missionary to ask questions. She knew how to pray; prayer had been a ritual performed five times a day. However, she was startled by the new thought of praying to God as a father. In which of the two holy books was God a father? She decided to accept the Bible. She studied it, and began to spend time with the missionaries. She listened to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and became convicted about so many things: baptism, her temper, her responses to other people. Christ gave her the strength to defy her family when they insisted she have nothing to do with Christians, as well as the courage to live calmly when her life was threatened. It was such a hard decision, even after she knew in her heart that she believed, and had become a Christian. Her family was close, and she enjoyed so many tender relationships cut off by her choice to follow Jesus. Her family, who had shared such love with her, even tried to kill her for rejecting Islam.

In this book, she chronicles this process. It is precious to see the Lord at work in hard places, like South Asia. We see that He is not limited, only we are. She also gives us insights into her own culture, and values of family and community which are remote from the individualism of the West. It is enlightening to glimpse into a Muslim family, and how she continued to live among her relatives after her conversion. Most of all, it is encouraging to read of another sister’s journey to live before God in communion with Him as He has called us all to do. It brings reflection on our own lives, and the depth and closeness of our own relationship with our heavenly Father.

At the end of the book, there is an epilogue of Bilquis’ life after the conclusion of the book. Then another perspective is added by Synnove Mitchell, the missionary to whom Bilquis first spoke about the Lord.

Written in an easy manner, this book can be read in an afternoon. Bilquis was open and honest about matters of the heart, and I did not find her to by dry at all. Who should read it? Those interested in this kind of conversion and culture, those wanting to know how God can be a Father, and Christians who want to understand this sister and those like her, and Christians who want to deepen their own relationship with our heavenly Father.

Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation

by Douglas Bond
Available from Amazon
*****
This story begins in the book “Mr. Pipes and the British Hymnmakers”. In that book, Annie and Drew meet Mr. Pipes during a summer in England, and through him, they come to know about many hymn writers. They learn the hymns and discuss poetry, the meaning of the words, and the lives of the writers. Annie and Drew believe on the Lord Jesus, and then returned to the States with their mother at the end of the summer.

In this book, it is the next summer. Mr. Pipes has invited the children to tour Europe with him, and they are delighted to go. There are more hymn stories, of course, and the hymns with music are included at the end of each chapter. As the title states, the hymns are from the Reformation era, and they contain signs of the spiritual upheaval of the time. Mr. Pipes also points out interesting facts about the places they visit, which adds the interest of culture and European landmarks. Their trip takes them to from England to France, Germany and Switzerland, although most of the book occurs in Germany. Annie and Drew were impressed with the character of the German hymns: martial with gentleness and tenderness. Mr. Pipes told them of some of the persecutions the people endured, and they could see it reflected in the hymns. From battling their tempers to outwitting a spy, the children learn character, history and doctrine from Mr. Pipes with plenty of apt humor thrown in. Annie and Drew return to the States knowing more history, and with a deeper love for and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I enjoyed this book so much. I think every Christian family should have this series, as the history of the hymns and hymn writers will draw the reader closer to Christ. Especially in this book, the hymns speak much of the preciousness of the person of the Lord. These books would also make great gifts for children from non-Christian families. Mr. Pipes is not preachy, and never pushes his strong beliefs on the children, although he never misses an opportunity to explain anything they ask about! Own this set of books!

Raiders from the Sea

by Lois Walfrid Johnson
Available from Amazon
*****
This is the first of the three “Viking Quest” series, which is continued in the “Raiders from the Sea” series. Bree is a young Irish girl who is captured during a Viking raid. Her brother is also captured, but effects an escape, thanks to his sister. The story begins with the first suspicion of a raid, and is concluded with the launch of Bree’s escape from the Vikings. Through the story, Bree battles her fear, anger, and resentment toward her young captor, constantly turning to the Lord for strength and courage. The Christianity did not seem at all forced or contrived, but flowed naturally, as it would in the life of a Christian.

I was pulled into the story, especially as I enjoy this time period. It was written for children, but adults will enjoy a nice quick read. The plot is not simplistic, and moved right along. It is Christian and clean, but not preachy.

I’m going to have to get the other books in the series! This book is followed by “The Mystery of the Silver Coins.”

Raoul Wallenberg: The Man Who Stopped Death

by Sharon Linnea
Available from Amazon
*****
Raoul Wallenberg had a mission for his life from his youngest days. He was impressed with the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel, and wanted to save people in a similar manner. During World War II, Raoul worked at the Swedish embassy in Poland, giving Swedish citizenship to thousands of Jews. These “new” Swedes were protected by Sweden, since the Nazis were not at war with Sweden, and had no wish to be. Raoul helped them out of the country, and gave others work there in his department. He provided ration cards to the starving Jews. Secretly employed by the United States government, he hired a photographer to document the activities in which he lived. Some of those photographs are in this book. Raoul fought with Adolph Eichmann with everything he had: money, wits, subtlety, threats and power, and he had plenty to work with. He escaped several attempts on his life, but in the end, fell into the hands of the Russians, who he had supposed would be friendly to him. No one really knows, or has made public, what happened to him after that. The Russian government claimed that he died, but many people reported sharing a cell with him after that.

This book was easy to read: a real page turner, but not simplistic. Linnea pulls her readers into the world of Raoul Wallenberg, and makes them care about his life. Certainly not a dry biography, it reads like a novel following an undercover agent. Even young children would be interested in his story. Read this biography, and learn of a daring and courageous man who defied the powers and authorities to save life.

Saved at Sea

by Mrs. O. F. Walton
Available from Lamplighter Publishing and Amazon
*****
Alick Fergusson lived with his grandfather on a small island off the coast of Scotland. His grandfather was the keeper of the lighthouse, and Jem Millar, his assistant, and his family were the Fergusson’s only neighbors. They lived their life on the island, tending their gardens, keeping the light going, and rescuing shipwrecked people whenever they could. Only once a month were they allowed to leave the island to go shop and take care of affairs in the village, and Jem and Sandy Fergusson took turns. They did have a “general store” boat that came out once a week to sell provisions.

In a powerful storm one night, the men from the island were trying to rescue passengers who were shipwrecked on Ainslie Crag. They were unable to get close, and the violence of the waves finally destroyed the boat right in front of them, but not before a little girl had been thrown to them through the storm. They looked for survivors, but there were none to be found. They assumed that the little girl’s family had drowned with the others there, and the Fergussons made her a part of their family. She soon won their hearts, and they hated to think of parting with her. When they again went to the mainland, they notified the officials there that only one survivor had been rescued from the wreck, and gave the name found on the hem of her dress.

Later two men came to the island, whom Alick and his grandfather feared had found relatives of the girl, and were going to take her away. However, one was the owner of the ship, and had come to meet them and the little girl. He asked them if they were founded on the Rock. Sandy assured him that if they were not, the lighthouse and other buildings would never last the first storm that blew over; they were not buildings were not on the sand seen by the shore, but on the solid rock of the island. When the man left, he sent back a piece of paper with the words, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand: all other ground is sinking sand.”

Puzzled, they talked it over with Jem Millar, and he said he thought he understood. He was heading to the mainland soon, but before he left, he told Alick that he knew he was on the Rock. It was well for him, because he never returned, having missed his step on the dock in the fog.

In the course of the rest of the book, a new man with links to the Fergussons’ past comes to take Jem’s place. Sandy is asked, “If your house was built on the sand down by the shore, what would you do?” He responded that he would tear it down, piece by piece, and rebuild it on the rock. He came to see that the good works he was counting on to get him into heaven were a sandy foundation, and he chose to rebuild his life on Christ. Alick also believed in Him.

After a while, it was discovered that the little girl’s parents were not with her on the ship, after all. They came to claim her, and although the Fergussons hated to part with her, they were happy to see her with her parents again. Alick, after all, did not have to part with her. Grateful for the islanders’ kindness, the girl’s parents took him with them, and sent him to school. He left the island, knowing on Whom to build his life.

A sweet, touching story.

Through the Fray

by G. A. Henty
Available from Amazon
****
This book deviates from the most frequent pattern of G. A. Henty’s books. Usually his heroes are in the midst of a historical time, are well acquainted with some of the leading figures of the day, emerge victorious from their conflicts, and come to be known and admired due to their courage, honesty, and wholesome character. This book is set in the Luddite Riots at the beginning of the industrial revolution in the early 1800s. However, even though Ned Sankey behaves with distinction in these affairs, the main battle of the book is with his own temper.

Left to the care of his ayahs in India during his early childhood, Ned was wont to give way to his passionate temper to get his way. He learned to control it under his father’s hand after the family relocated to England, but he still gave way under severe provocation. From the beginning of the book, Ned has the reader’s sympathies as he struggles to do what is right, and take his schoolmaster’s abuse quietly. We approve of his valor in a fair fight against an older boy, as well as his kindness to him afterwards. Ned’s anger erupts in a few incidents, one of which leads his mother, the town and the authorities to believe him guilty of a heinous crime, although he was entirely innocent. He was acquitted at his trial, but most believed it was only because there was not enough evidence to convict. In the end, the true criminal is exposed and Ned’s character is redeemed. Through this all, Ned learned the disastrous results of an uncontrolled temper, and we are told that he was always the master of himself ever after. I only wish that his father and counselors, when encouraging him to do right, had shown him the strength available in Christ, rather than appealing to his manhood.

I really enjoyed this book, certainly more than others by Henty, probably because the enemy to be conquered was not a foreign foe, but self, the enemy we are born to battle. Henty's skill in weaving a story is almost more apparent in this book, as he gives so much information on the Luddites and their conditions, information I'd never heard. He blends this so well - better than in some of his other works, in my opinion - with the drama in Ned's personal life. Perhaps because of this, there is never a dull moment in the book. I found no areas that seemed easier to skim, and there are no long passages of pure history dropped into the story. The history is always enjoyable, but in this book, it is blended so well, that the historical facts will be picked up effortlessly while enjoying the tale. Recommended!

Little King Davie

by Nellie Hellis
Available from Lamplighter Publishing and Amazon
*****
Eleven year old Davie Scott swept the London street crossings to help support his twice-widowed mother and twin siblings. Music has always thrilled his young soul, and he took every opportunity to listen outside churches and cathedrals to the beautiful singing inside. One day he was listening to the singing outside, and decided to wait until the musical preacher’s voice finished, so he could listen to the closing hymn. A man noticed him and invited him inside to be able to hear the preacher’s words. Davie had always thought that religion was for the rich people. Their wealth must help them to understand it. But this night, the preacher spoke very plainly, and Davie found his heart burning to know how he could be a king and priest to God.

After the sermon and closing hymn, Davie wanted to speak to the minister and ask about his words, but he was swept away by the crowd. He was walking down the sidewalk when he saw the preacher walking away, and crossed the street to speak to him. He was so focused on his mission that he failed to pay attention to the traffic and was run over by a carriage.

In the hospital, Davie was not recovering quickly, although his doctor gave him the most tender care. The doctor asked Davie one day if there was anything he would like, and Davie told him of his desire to speak to the preacher he heard that night, and ask him how to be a king and priest to God. His doctor found that the preacher was not from London, but a nurse who knew him told Mr. Kilmarnock of Davie’s request. He came at once, and spoke to Davie about the Lord on the critical night when Davie was expected to die. Davie understood that “it was for him, then, that Christ had died.

The story continues through Davie’s recovery, during which his clear singing and testimony cause him to be nicknamed “King Davie”. He returned home, which was more comfortable than before thanks to the help of the lady whose carriage had run over poor Davie. Through her influence, Davie was delighted to become a chorister, and was actually paid to sing! In the end, Davie’s trust in God became the means of his mother’s coming to know Christ, and Him crucified.

It's a sweet little story: great for children and refreshing for adults.