Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

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Anne of Avonlea

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Anne of Green Gables is about an adopted red-headed girl, about 11 years old, with heroic character traits. Her towering imagination, kindness, love of life, and the captivating story world made this book an all-time bestseller. The second book in the series, Anne of Avonlea, is a worthy sequel. Anne, about 17, fills the stage as a teacher, having given up college to help her adopted mother. The reader follows her efforts and sometimes delusional thinking as she inspires her pupils to become all they can be, but challenges await her in and outside the classroom.

This story features many learning opportunities for young readers. The author was a genius at crafting compelling chapters that delight and contain meaningful dialogue, making the scenes nearly irresistible. As Anne helps her neighbors and pupils, we see her slowly maturing into womanhood through a deepening understanding of what is genuinely true and good.

Some memorable scenes include her befriending an irate neighbor after her cow partially ruined his crops, her love for a young pupil who struggles after his mother’s death, and a new friendship with a woman who grieves over an early romance gone wrong.

The author brilliantly reveals the outworking of true religion, the purpose of education, and the realities and goodness of love and romance.

The British Are Coming

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America’s 250th birthday is fast approaching, making this an excellent opportunity for students to learn about America’s founding. Rick Atkinson’s The British Are Coming: Young Readers Edition is a fast-paced and engaging read. It’s adapted from the author’s three-volume series on America’s Revolutionary War.

Not only does Mr. Atkinson bring to life fascinating details about General George Washington and Revolutionary War battles, but he also tells a moving story. A former Washington Post senior editor, Mr. Atkinson has become a premier military historian, winning a Pulitzer Prize for An Army At Dawn, one of the books in his celebrated World War II trilogy.

The book covers some of the events that led to America’s War for Independence, the first two years of the war (1775-1777), and the first campaigns in Massachusetts, Canada, New York, and New Jersey. Events include the midnight ride of Paul Revere, the first shots in Concord and Lexington, the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Battle of Long Island, and the Battle of Trenton, which includes the famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day.

Readers learn something about the views of both sides through firsthand accounts and correspondence of King George III and others. They gain awareness of both the brutal and civil aspects of the war, including an early attempt to end it in a meeting between Benjamin Franklin and British Admiral Lord Richard Howe.

Overall, the author underlines the price of freedom, the suffering and sacrifice of civilians, and the fact that many young men died.

The book might spur students to read more history about America and the West: a worthwhile outcome.

Finally, the battles described in the book are enlivened by numerous pictures and excellent maps that depict geography, towns, troop movements, and maneuvers, adding much to this educational experience.

Confronting the Presidents

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Looking for highlights of each U.S. president’s time in office? This is the book for you. O’Reilly and Dugard excel at providing important information about each president in an upbeat, succinct style. Starting with Washington and ending with Biden, who was president when this book was published, the authors provide pros, cons, and historical context for each commander-in-chief. You may be surprised at the various and unsuspecting issues as well as victories these men experienced as they held the nation’s highest office.

On the other hand, if you want an in-depth analysis and biographical sketch for each president, I encourage you to look elsewhere. But it is reasonable that they don’t provide an exhaustive survey, since they have to discuss all the presidents; giving a lot of information on each would turn into a marathon reading project. Also, O’Reilly and Dugard do not rank all the presidents from worst to best based on their views, though they do provide some of their favorite and least favorite presidents throughout the book.

Consequently, this is a great book that offers a “30,000-foot” view of each president’s time in office without boring you with too many trivial details. Indeed, a good read for those wanting a helpful introduction to those who have held the most powerful office in the world.

Veterans Day

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Originally, Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I, Veterans Day honors all American military veterans. The holiday is an opportunity for young people to deepen their knowledge of and appreciation for our veterans.

My pastor shared Frank DeVita’s story at church. A World War II veteran, his D-Day story is astonishing. Here’s a two-minute introduction. More is available on YouTube.

If you are a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, thank you for your service!

The Walk

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This is a different kind of book. It’s a guide to what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, the benefits of following him, and how to follow him. It assumes no prior knowledge of Christianity or the Bible. The author calls it a “Discipleship for Dummies” book.

The book guides readers through the Bible’s Gospel of Mark (the first Gospel) and the book of Romans. Overall, it helps readers understand the story of Jesus.

One of the things I like about the book is that it addresses common questions about whether one has to go to church, how to read the Bible, and what words like “justification” and “sanctification” mean. The book is easy to read, yet it offers a systematic explanation of God’s good news.

The author is a pastor; trusted Christian leaders, including Tim Keller and Carl Trueman, endorsed the book. My pastor uses the book to help new followers of Jesus grow in their faith. This is a significant benefit of the book; it can help you help others follow Jesus, too.

If you are interested in this topic, I highly recommend the book. The Walk is accessible, well-written, and suitable for middle and high school students. If you read the book, let me know what you think.

Nehemiah

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An insightful commentary on Nehemiah, the best leadership book ever written. The commentary is short, entertaining, and provides leadership lessons appropriate for high school students and young adults.

I have read several commentaries on Nehemiah, and this one is the best, or at least top of the stack. James Montgomery Boice was a brilliant pastor, author, and leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the second half of the 20th century. He does a great job explaining the dynamics of leadership.

Nehemiah was a Persian official over 400 years before Christ who saw a need, formulated a plan, and executed it despite significant dangers and difficulties. The commentary explains the dynamics of Nehemiah’s leadership and how he accomplished the task of rebuilding Israel’s wall and reviving the nation.

Nehemiah is truly a leadership manual for those who want to lead and work with distinction.

How To Really Live It Up

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A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through a list of books on Amazon by the late pastor James Montgomery Boice. I found an interestingly titled book, one of his first, at the bottom of the stack. It’s one of the most helpful short books I’ve ever read.

The book appeared to be about happiness, and I was not far off. Boice introduces the book in the preface as a practical work. Its purpose is to show what the Bible has to say about complex life problems and challenges.

Chapters include How to Become a Christian, How to Pray, How to Know the Will of God, How to Have a Happy Marriage, How to Be Happy as a Family, and How to Be Free From Worry.

The chapters are short, thought-provoking, and systematic. Overall, the book is profound and helpful. Boice was for many years a trusted Bible teacher and leader; his sermons were heard (and still are listened to) across the country on the radio and now via podcast.

Anne of Green Gables

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Anne of Green Gables is the first in a series of eight stories about a young orphan girl who is adopted into a home on Prince Edward Island. Anne is not like other young girls. She sees the world through a thick, imaginative lens, often daydreaming about the beauty she notices around her. She is independent, resourceful, and kind. But her absentmindedness and pride frequently get her into trouble.

The story is full of scenes about friendship, country life, neighbors, school, and adolescent ambition. The dialogue is thrilling and enjoyable. The larger-than-life Anne is a heroic figure, astonishing her adopted parents, friends, and neighbors with her imaginative fervor, love of life, and courage.

One benefit for young readers is that they see Anne flourish in a world without smartphones and social media. Readers notice the fullness and beauty of life, including its difficulties. They experience the power of in-person relationships and the enrichment of nature in a world that is less distracted than our online one.

Through Anne, the reader gains glimpses of rigorous education and Christian upbringing. The author’s powerful and beautiful lines make one think seriously about the gift of life and relationships. And Anne’s self-sacrifice is a powerful picture of living life well. I strongly recommend this book to middle and high school students.