an interesting story about a free black slave owner—and the impact that choices have on the world around us

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an interesting story about a free black slave owner—and the impact that choices have on the world around us

adult fiction
I’ve become fascinated with the history of race relations in the USA. (Actually everywhere, but you’ve got to start somewhere.) So I went hunting for fiction that would make good airplane/road trip reading but still taught me something. And this is what I found. 

The story revolves around Henry Townsend who is a free black farmer and slave owner. (There were actually quite a few free black slave owners but Henry is not an historical figure.) Henry, his former master, his family and slaves have lives that are mingled and intertwined. That mingling is the essence of the story.

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a favourite book to explore night, independence and family life

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a favourite book to explore night, independence and family life

ages 0 to 8 years
Have you ever heard the patter of little feet in the night and found toys and books scattered around the house in the morning? It used to be an almost nightly routine at our place.
In this tender story Hannah wakes and, ‘surprised to find that it was still dark’, discovers that her family is soundly asleep.
She gently finds her way around, pouring milk for her cat, eating cherries without permission, and borrowing some of her sister’s precious possessions.

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teens recommend: Savannah Spalding

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teens recommend: Savannah Spalding

Welcome, Savannah! By way of introduction, would you please tell us about your family?
I’m the oldest of 6 children. There are three boys and three girls and the youngest just turned five. I was born in Adelaide and we moved to Queensland as a family in 2008 when I was 8-years-old. 

And school?
At school, my favourite subjects are History, Legal Studies and English. I'm also doing one subject at Uni this semester as a part of a scholarship. It’s from the Justice degree and it’s called Justice and Society ...

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a delightful exploration of the nuances of family life, friendship and school

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a delightful exploration of the nuances of family life, friendship and school

ages 3 to 8 years
Henrietta is a ‘great go-getter’ with an ‘adventurous spirit’ and ‘great determination’.
She’s also ‘an explorer of life, and that includes trees, bugs, animals and all mysteries.’ She’s waiting for a new baby—and hoping for a sister. She’s also starting school, making new friends, having her first sleepover and doing all the things that lucky children do at that age.

There are disappointments of course

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famous people reading: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

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famous people reading: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

This looks like a great way to spend a birthday—reading and sunbathing on a car bonnet in Martha’s Vineyard. The pic is from New York Jackie: Pictures from Her Life in the City and was taken on her 60th birthday.

She’s reading The Most Beautiful House in the World, which I gather is a bit like a cerebral version of Grand Designs! The author is architect and prolific author, Witold Ryczynski—a man of forthright and strongly held opinion, including:

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a tender hearted look at dementia and the beauty of a life lived with simple pleasures

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a tender hearted look at dementia and the beauty of a life lived with simple pleasures

ages 4 to 12 years
Angela—who gets up before daybreak—waits for a special visitor. As she waits she bakes shortbread cookies, the ‘lovely sweet smell’ reminding her of her childhood. ‘That’s why she makes them so often.’

She becomes anxious as she waits and, with ‘her heart lurching in all directions’, she tries playing along to a quiz game on television. ‘That’s when she hears a small voice behind her 

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