King John signed the Magna Carta 800 years ago. Many people, like my young teens, wonder, Who cares? Why would it matter to us? John Robson’s documentary, Magna Carta: Our Shared Legacy of Liberty answers this question with a whirlwind tour through history and a stirring call to action. From King Alfred’s neglected cakes and […]
high school
Review: The First Fossil Hunters by Adrienne Mayor
Every once in a while I encounter a book that opens up a whole new world. The First Fossil Hunters: Paleontology in Greek and Roman Times by Adrienne Mayor is one of these. As someone interested in the history of science, I know that ancient Greek philosphers had noticed fossilized seashells on the mountains and […]
Review: The Magna Charta by James Daugherty
June 15, 1215, one of the most significant days in English history, saw wicked King John sullenly sign the Magna Charta, acknowledging freedom of the people and restraining his own power. How did this all come about? How was such an evil king persuaded to restrict his own power? James Daugherty, award-winning author of the […]
Review: Journey Through the Night by Anne de Vries
When I started to read Journey Through the Night to my youngest daughters, they expected to be bored. However, by the third paragraph one of them jumped up. “What! John does judo?” The other one was interested by the next page. As the story moved on, they begged for chapter after chapter. Once, when I […]