Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan

Kindred Souls

Jake and his family live with his grandfather, Billy, on the family farm that his grandfather's family started  over eighty years ago. Billy was born on the farm, in the sod house that his family lived in when they first settled there. Remnants of the house are still on the property.

Jake and Billy are kindred souls, according to Jake's mom. Jake loves Billy's stories and his way with animals. Every day when Jake finishes his chores, he and Billy walk the farm visiting the animals and their favorite spots, ending at the site of the old sod house.

Billy is extremely nostalgic about the old sod house and would like to see it rebuilt, something he is not physically capable of doing at this point in his life. He asks Jake to do it, but Jake, who loves his grandfather tremendously and is usually on his wavelength, doesn't really want to do it. It is physically taxing work and would take big chunk out of his summer. He doesn't see the need for it, nor understand his grandfather's desire to see it rebuilt.

When Billy is taken ill, however, rebuilding the sod house becomes a labor of love and soon the rest of the family join in, all hoping that Billy will survive to see it.

This is a very sweet, inter-generational family story. It would be a good choice for any child dealing with the potential loss of a grandparent.       2012

R. Rauch                                                                              

Ruby's Wish, by Shirin Yim Bridges

In China during the 19th century, Grandfather has a household of many wives and many children. Ruby, his spunky little granddaughter named for the color she loves, writes a poem describing how the girls in the family are not treated as well as the boys. As we learn about the Chinese family structure and household traditions, we also see how Ruby's great desire to go to university comes true. Her determination and her loving relationship with her Grandfather make her wish come true. In a surprise ending we see a photograph of the author's grandmother on whom Ruby's character is based. The appealing illustrations, which are unclutted and accented in bright red, complement the story. While learning a little about Chinese history, the reader is gently presented with the timely topics of women's equality and the value of education.
2002
C. Buchanan

The Song of the Whales, by Uri Orlev

This is a short fiction book (108 pages) of magical realism, making it a book for a sophisticated reader, fifth grade and older. Michael is entering fourth grade in Israel, where he and his parents have moved in order to care for Michael's grandfather.

Michael has been a lonely child until this move: now he and his grandfather bond and delight in each other. His grandfather shares his dreams with Michael, who sometimes wakes from his sleep not being sure whether he has been dreaming or whether he has actually done these things with his grandfather. His grandfather's death at the end of the story is not as traumatic as I expected it to be--Michael knows that he can always meet his grandfather in his dreams. Their time together is not over.

It's an odd little book, but one that I liked. 2010.

M. Cooney