by Stephen King

I really enjoyed reading this book. Stephen King is undeniably a good writer, and even though I didn't like his Dark Tower series, he has redeemed himself with this time travel fantasy.

Those who avoid Horror have nothing to worry about in this one. Even a couple of violent scenes aren't overly graphic. What King has written is an atmospheric snapshot of life in 1958-1963 with some interesting concepts about the Physics of time travel. Can you really change the present by changing something in the past? That is the question that is constantly asked through this story. You'll have to read it to get the answer.

Some of the elements near the end were not completely explained and I'm sceptical about the yellow card man. However, the book kept me gripped and took me on a journey through a time long before I was born so that it felt like being there, which is what I look for in a time travel novel.

I had mixed feelings about the characters, but the plot was superb. Definitely a recommended read.

Another enjoyable couple years for the Peanuts gang. Charlie Brown gets "Eraserphagia" and "Little Leaguers Elbow", Lucy discovers Rachel Carson, Linus gets stage fright at the Christmas pageant, and Snoopy has bird problems. Many plot points for the soon-to-be-produced "Charlie Brown Christmas" special were pulled from these years as well.

The only really odd, unique thing about this volume was the introduction of '5' and his sisters '3' and '4'. They were renamed by their father because of the country's new mania for zip codes. 5's full name is 555 95472. It makes sense that the gang are Californians.

The rest of the strips are engaging and funny, of course, Schultz didn't need to reinvent the wheel to get laughs. My favorite strips were when Lucy and Frieda are commenting on the baseball game and how they might even win, and they ask each other if they even like baseball, and then Charlie Brown's finally one-upping Violet by pointing out that his father doesn't have to be the best bowler, because his dad loves him and that's enough. D'awww.

These are still a great investment, beautifully packaged and the end-papers keep getting better.

And, because Linus is on the cover - here's my Hungerford Vinyl Linus doll from ~1961, he's missing his blanket, but he's great and I'll keep my eyes out for the rest of the set: there's a Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, baby Schroeder (with detached piano) and Sally and Pigpen.

The Complete Peanuts

Next: 'Volume Eight: 1965-1966'

Previous: 'Volume Six: 1961-1962'

Another from NPR's Ultimate Backseat Bookshelf. 

When I saw the In Memory note at the beginning of the book, I knew whatever I had expected of this book was wrong. Parts were very difficult to read, mainly the end, but some of the family parts at the beginning. This was balanced out by the school scenes and most of the family dynamics in the book. There are a few mentions of an Uncle Bud which made me wonder if this book is related to Bud, Not Buddy, but if it is, nothing comes of the connection. 

The Watsons Go To Birmingham is a historical fiction book that should be introduced to every child in 4th or 5th grade. The story is about a family and their journey back to the south. The story takes place during 1963, and gives a perspective of what life was like during the Civil Wars era. I would use this book for fifth grade. It would be a great book to incorporate reading and history into one lesson. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 920L)

This is a book with many themes such as coming of age, society and morality. The narrator is a nine year old named Kenny Watsons. Kenny's family has to go south to Birmingham when Kenny's older brother gets in trouble. The family so happens to come into down when troubles of the civil rights movement was in full swing and their grandmothers church is in shambles Leveling system Lexile, reading level 920L. An activity a classroom can participate in is creating a time of the civil rights movement through the characters of the book.