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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
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Remember the line from the song Wonderful World, "Don't know much about history..."? I've found an engaging way of filling in gaps; I enjoy historical fiction and also have been reading some excellent history books that a history buff friend recommends, the kind that draw you in and you can't put down.
Did you like History in school? Did you like one class more than another? That was my experience. It takes an outstanding teacher to bring alive our world's exciting history and to help us see similarities between past and current events.
As we move through the grades, high school and college, we go deeper into the complexities of historical periods. We see patterns and gain new perspectives as we study literature, art, music, science and geography. It’s important that we have an understanding of historical successes and failures in order to be an informed citizen in our republic.
As an adult, my favorite genres are mysteries, history, historical fiction and a combination of historical fiction and mystery. I've never run out of a good book to read! Parents, open these doors for your children. Search for "historical fiction for children, tweens, teens, young adults or adults."
Scroll down for two books that make history come alive!
Enjoy exciting reads, Parmalee
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I saw you reading when I walked by your house. . . | |
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And I saw you taking off to go hiking, swimming, surfing, biking and taking your class. Was it art, dance, cooking, baseball or robot building? I saw you going to the park with friends, having movie and popcorn nights, hitting the boardwalk rides and more!
Your parents thought you might be too young to attend a Shakespeare production but they took them anyway and you were enchanted with the drama.
You got so into reading that you looked forward to that wonderful downtime of reading/dozing/reading in the hammock, that "don't-talk-to-me-I'm-reading" zone. What a great summer you are having.
Congratulations! Parmalee
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Hamilton and Peggy, A Revolutionary Friendship
Historical Fiction
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by L.M. Elliott
"Peggy Schuyler is used to being overshadowed by her two older sisters: Angelica is brilliant, Eliza is kind and beautiful, and Peggy is just Peggy. Even when George Washington's aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton contacts her, it's just to find out how to woo Eliza. But Peggy and Alexander become fast friends, and as she watches her father and Alexander take on important roles in the Revolutionary War, she decides she can't sit on the sidelines. Soon, she's helping her father gather intelligence -- and when British Loyalists storm the Schuyler home looking for her father, it will take all of Peggy's courage and cleverness to win the day.
Inspired by the musical Hamilton and backed up by in-depth research, Elliott has crafted a thrilling historical novel that proves Peggy is more than deserving of the spotlight. Elliott's Peggy is daring, brave, and loyal, and teen readers will empathize with her feeling of being overlooked next to her dazzling siblings.
As the story progresses, there are cameos by many important Revolutionary figures, but the focus remains on the story's inspiring heroine, with a detailed afterword providing more information about the real-life Schuyler family.
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Hamilton and Peggy is highly recommended for teen and adult readers, 13 and up.”
For adult readers interested in Peggy's sister, Eliza, we recommend the excellent historical fiction novels: "My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton" and "I, Eliza Hamilton."
To share Eliza's story with children, there are two wonderful picture books "Eliza" for ages 5 to 9 " and "From a Small Seed: The Story of Eliza Hamilton" for ages 4 to 8.
There is also a young adult novel that brings to life the romance between young Eliza and Alexander, "Alex & Eliza," for ages 14 and up.
Thank you to A Mighty Girl.
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Johnny Tremaine
Historical Fiction
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"Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes is a story about the American Revolution and the principles of freedom and democracy it established throughout the world. Other important aspects of Johnny Tremain are resistance to tyranny, individual rights, the political setting, and the social setting.
Johnny Tremain is a 14 year old silversmith apprentice living in Boston during the 1770s. The owner, Ephraim Lapham, no longer takes much interest in running the silversmith shop and so Johnny is left in charge, with authority over the other two apprentices, Dove and Dusty. Because of his skill and status, Johnny is arrogant and impulsive, often bullying his fellow apprentices and the owner's granddaughters.
One night Johnny reveals his family secret to Cilla Lapham, who Mrs. Lapham (Cilla's mother and the widowed daughter-in-law of Ephraim Lapham) wants Johnny to marry. Before Johnny's mother died she revealed that he was related to a wealthy Boston merchant named Jonathan Lyte. She also gave him a silver cup featuring the Lyte coat of arms but told him to not make contact with them unless he became desperate.
As Johnny is creating a silver basin for the wealthy merchant John Hancock, Dove plays a joke on Johnny that was intended to be harmless but humbling. Dove hands Johnny a cracked crucible but the prank goes wrong and Johnny's hand is left deformed. No longer able to work as a silversmith, Johnny Tremain goes from the pride of the Lapham house to the burden. Mrs. Lapham forbids Johnny from marrying Cilla and complains of having to house and feed him.
In search of a new trade, Johnny comes across a print shop where a Whig newspaper, the Boston Observer, is published. Johnny is intrigued by Rab Silsbee, the nephew and apprentice of the owner Mr. Lorne. After Johnny tells the story of his accident Rab promises to give Johnny a job delivering newspapers if Johnny can find no better work.
In desperation, Johnny approaches Jonathan Lyte and produces the silver cup as evidence that they are related. However, Jonathan Lyte accuses Johnny of stealing it and has him arrested. With the assistance of Rab and Cilla, Johnny is cleared of the charges in court. After this Jonathan Lyte then steals the cup after Johnny tries to sell it to him. At this point Johnny takes up the offer of delivering newspapers for Mr. Lorne.
Through delivering the Boston Observer, Johnny becomes acquainted with key members of Boston politics and turns into an enthusiastic Whig supporter. The Lornes treat Johnny like he is one of the family and Johnny is soon doing tasks for the Whigs of Boston. He also takes part in the Boston Tea Party, where a group of Boston citizens board English merchant ships and throw the tea overboard, in protest of the tax England was imposing on the tea. "No taxation without representation!" was the cry of the citizens.
During this period Johnny changes from an arrogant, self-centred boy to a selfless, idealistic man. Rab's personality influences Johnny to calm his temper and the Whigs give Johnny a purpose larger than himself. Johnny also comes to realize and appreciate the feelings he has for Cilla Lapham." Read the book!
forAges 11+
Thank you to JohnnyTremaine.org!
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Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Student Matinees are back! Students, teachers and school administrators are invited to join us in The Grove this summer for morning performances of Shakespeare's Hamlet & As You Like It; Oscar Wilde’s The Important of Being Earnest; and Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. Student matinees take place in August and September at 10AM. All performances are followed by a unique Q&A with the actors. Tickets are free to Title I schools and $10/student for all others. To learn more and apply, visit https://santacruzshakespeare.org/student-matinee/
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Fun with CineLux Summer Kid’s Series! How to Train Your Dragon, July 24 & 25, $5 includes Movie and Junior Popcorn & Soda, Check out the schedule. Wednesdays & Thursdays, through August 8, See the lineup, Watsonville ~ Scotts Valley
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Free Resource Recovery Center Tours, Fridays 10am & 1pm through August 23, Join us for Public Tours of the Resource Recovery Facility. Tours are limited to 20 people. Children must be at least 8 years old. Youth ages 8 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited. Visitors will see what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruzians place into their blue recycle bins every single day. Details
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Enter Contests at Santa Cruz County Fair, Entry deadlines: August 22, Don’t be shy! Make this the year you finally enter the Santa Cruz County Fair! The 2024 Exhibitor’s Entry Guide is available now!
There are so many exciting divisions… Livestock, AgHort, Amateur Wine, Fine Arts, LEGOs, Photography, Poultry, Floriculture, Collections, Home Arts and Innovation… just to name a few! Details
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National Carousel Day, Thursday, July 25, Celebrate National Carousel Day at the Beach Boardwalk. First 100 riders on the Carousel will receive a brass souvenir carousel ring. Normal ride pricing and restrictions apply. Details
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Start Smart Driving Education for Teens and Their Parents, Thursday, July 25, 5:30-7:30pm, In an effort to prepare young drivers to drive responsibly, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is offering new driver education class for Start Smart new drivers and their parents. Start Smart, presented by the CHP, addresses such topics as the safe driving practices, the rules of the road, and new driver license requirements. Details
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Parenting Workshops, These parent workshops offer outstanding skills, tips and support in our parenting path. We are fortunate to have these resources. Even if everything is going well, it's good to know what's available! July
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In the Heights, Sundays 2pm and Thursdays-Saturdays 7:30pm, July 11 – August 4, “An exuberant, animated shrine to the importance of family ties and being faithful to where you come from.” In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. Details
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Food Truck Friday – Skypark, Last Friday of the month, 5-8pm, Join Food Truck A-Go-Go’s biggest community event the last Friday of each month at Skypark. Food Truck Fridays feature: a beer and wine garden 100% benefiting SVEF; Food trucks and Music Details
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Summer Farm Robotics Challenges with X Academy and Farm NG, Saturdays 10am-12pm (or later), July 20 through August 31, For high school students. Join the Summer Farm Robotics Challenge with X Academy and Farm NG. This will give you the opportunity to learn how to build the “Amiga” robot, program it to operate and create applications that will work in a field or greenhouse. No experience necessary! Details
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Jack Spareribs: Pirate 4 Hire, Tuesday, July 30, Join Pirate-4-Hire Jack Spareribs for swashbuckling magic, mayhem, and comedy… and ventriloquism with Maynard, his talking Monkey! This show will have a little something for everyone and is sure to delight the whole family!
1:30pm Boulder Creek and 3-4pm Capitola
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