I read this book and thought it was wonderful literature. This book exposed living in the 1830's. I really enjoyed how the writer expressed in detail making it possible to place oneself in that state of being. If you haven't read this book I recommened that you read it!

Simone is thirteen. She is part European, part African, and lucky to be living free, since the place is New Orleans in the 1830s. Her aunt's slaves are not so fortunate. And when she decides to help them escape, she risks her own life. This book was written in the form of Simone's diary. It was a very good book.

I read this book with my nine year old son. He really enjoyed his journey into Beatrice's magical world. It is fast paced and has just the right amount of adventure without being overly frightening. As to one reviewer's reference to the "wiccan-ness" of this book I would somewhat agree. My son didn't pick up on any of that. He just loves tales of magic and mystery, and he understands this is fiction. I believe younger Harry Potter fans will enjoy this book.

The Everyday Witch is a very good book, it tells the tale of a young witch and her three friends and their adventure in the magical place called "The Witchs' Sphere." In this book the four have to go on an adventure which brings them to a dangerous land, gives them an unforgetable encounter with an evil villian, and gives them a chance to learn a little more about themselves and their desires. I liked the book because it is a lot like a fairy tale, except more exciting and modern. You get to know the characters quite well and the authors' description of everything paints a wonderful picture. This book is up on the level of Midnight for Charlie Bone and Harry Potter(any of the four that have been published as of yet.)

Beatrice is the girl next door, just trying to fit in. Just like almost every "tween" she feels like she'll never quite fit in - her parents are a bit odd, she has to go to a "special school" once a week, she doesn't feel like she's smart enough, pretty enough or special enough to be noticed and she's trying to deal with the changes in her friendships that happen at 12 years old. Of course, unlike most tweens, she really is more than a bit different. You see she's a witch, complete with witch parents and witch lessons on top of all the normal middle school stuff. Beatrice is about to turn 12 years old and find out if she's powerful enough to be classified as "classical" witch with special powers or if she'll stay a reformed "everyday" witch, like her parents and her friends. This (hopefully) first book in the series introduces you to Beatrice, her family and friends and follows the kids through their first leg of a "noble quest" that only they can accomplish. It's a fun read that draws you into the story with every page. Except for the fact that they are witches, Beatrice and her friends could be any of my daughter's friends (or for that matter, any of my friends when I was that age) trying to figure out where they are going to fit in the world they are trying to grow into. Each of the four friends have relatively unimportant, but unique, skills that will prove that there is more to them than meets the eye and "more to magic than spells".

I didn't find the book at all like Harry Potter (except for the fact that there are witches in it). Beatrice has a loving family and friends and is happy with the way her life has been up until the Witches council gives her this task. Throughout the first book she has to make choices, rely on her better judgement and think of ways to use her and her friends' talents to help others. Beatrice seemed real enough to my daughter to make her talk about how she sometimes feels the same way about school and friends. When the book was over we both moaned,"What's going to happen next? What's going to happen in the next book?" We can't wait for the second story!

My daughter read Sound the Jubilee (this book is the sequel to Jubilee) for required summer reading. She enjoyed that book so much, we ordered this one. She did not devour it as quickly, but still enjoyed it. Living in the South, I like for her to read books where she learns more of our illustrious (or not so illustrious)heritage.

It is 1865; the Civil War is over. 15-year-old Maddie Henry and her family are free. But freedom has cost them dearly. Maddie's beloved Papa gave his life in the war; the family must fend for themselves for the first time in their lives. Maddie and her family leave their wartime refuge on Roanoke Island and buy a farm in a rural North Carolina town. But they are not welcome; the town's bitter white residents, having lost much in the war, despise them; life is hard without Papa, and the schoolteacher to the former slaves' children is run out of town. Maddie and her family adopt Tibby, a racially mixed child whose parents were a master and a slave. Tibby gradually begins to trust again after having witnessed the fire that took her mother's life. But then Maddie is torn between Tibby and her dream to go to college in the North. Maddie can't bear to leave Tibby, knowing the sorrow it would cause the child, yet Maddie has her dreams, too. How will she choose what path to take?

This is a heart wrenching historical novel that leads the reader to marvel at the resilience of children and to weep for the terrible injustices that have been committed against orphans. Although "Little Orphan Annie" and "Oliver Twist" admirably treat the subject of orphans, Wheel of the Moon depicts a little known period of history when orphans were sold as indentured servants. Pen and Rose, two of the major characters, are likable and believable characters, who cope with horrible situations in completely different ways. Their imperfections add to the realism of the story. I would recommend this as a good read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

In 1627 an orphaned girl is brought from London to Jamestown as an indentured servant. This short book steps quickly through the year following her mother's death - the complete turn of the "wheel of the moon." Each chapter describes the hardships of being orphaned near London, trying to survive while eluding the law, eventually being caught and the wait in prison for a ship to Virginia. Although her indenture is to a relatively benign man, Pen sees the severe treatment some of her friends endure from other masters. The book is short enough to keep the interest of young readers; a good read for middle school.

Although she, along with her mother, are shunned by their neighbors because she is illegitimate, fourteen-year-old Pen Downing is happy with her life in the English countryside in 1627. But her life falls apart when her mother drowns and Pen is sent to live with a couple who work her hard and take all her possessions. Desperate to be free of them, she runs away to London, hoping to make a living there. But on her very first day in the city, she is alone and bewildered. However, she is able to join a group of orphan children fighting for survival on the streets. The children are like a family, and though their existence is bare, they do manage to get by. It doesn't last very long, however. Pen and the others are abducted, and after a grueling stay in prison, herded like cattle onto a ship bound for the Virginia colony. The journey is miserable, and many die. But life for those that survive may be worse - they will have to survive seven years of servitude as bound servants once they arrive. Pen and one of the other girls, Rose, are fortunate to end up in a fairly good position, and Pen slowly adjusts to life in Virginia. But her other friends aren't as fortunate, and long to escape. And soon Pen will have to make a choice where she stands. I highly reccomend this novel to fans of historical fiction. A similiar title I would reccomend is A Stolen Life by Jane Louise Curry. It is set about a hundred years after this book, but it also tells of a young teenage girl sent against her will to be a servant in the colonies.

Sound The Jubilee is a great book. Maddie, an 11 year old slave girl, suddenly finds herself and her family free on Roanoke Island. As they start to adjust to a life of freedom, Maddie learns that all people have their good points, and their bad points. I would recommend this book to a friend. One reason is because it told about the life of slaves and most important it explains human nature. I think this is a great book and I'm glad I read it.

This book was an excellent book which told us not even half of the terrible things that the owners did to slaves! I liked that Maddie (main character) was really strong! I know that the Civil War was a terrible war! I know that everyone is different! I wish that there would be peace in the world, and that people didn't judge others by their skin tones! Its like saying " Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover"! That is a really important saying and we should all cherish it! That is really what this book is about! This book was really good!

I remember just picking it up so I wouldn't get in trouble for not having a book during S.S.R. When I started to read, I couldn't put it down! My teach eventually gave it to me so I could finish reading it. It's great for mature readers, a wonderful book!