The Mystery of the Stalwart - Book Review

The Mystery of the Stalwart by Elbert M. Hoppenstedt

Published by Franklin Watts, c. 1965. Illustrations by Claudine Nankivel

Written at a middle elementary reading level.

Do you remember putting together intricate puzzles? We would work to get the framing pieces all put together, set up the box cover nearby, begin to sort pieces by color/design, and then finishing putting that puzzle together no matter how long it took! Oh, the delight we felt when we found two odd pieces that snapped together. Yay!

Well, this book gave me that same feeling. Recently, I traveled from Rhode Island to upstate New York. On the way, I needed to make a stop in the little town of Haddam, CT, to see the lady at the historical society. I had a book that belonged to a Spencer in the 1800s and wanted to see if she wanted it for the museum.  My ancestor, Gerard Spencer, helped to settle that town in the 1650s. Lots of wonderful stories I could tell. After seeing the historian, I went to the Brainerd Memorial Library nearby to check out their books for sale in the basement. $.25 each! I bought 100 delightful children’s books and continued on my way to NY. My trip later continued on to the southeast shore of New Jersey to be with my daughter at the birth of her first child. While I’m here, I’ve been reading some of the books picked up on my journeys. The Mystery of the Stalwart was one of the books I purchased that day in Haddam. This book takes place right here in NJ where I am now! So a book I bought in my ancestor’s home town is about the town my kids live in now. Such a fun coincidence. Just like two pieces of a puzzle snapping together!

Elbert M. Hoppenstedt, the author of this children’s book, was born in 1917 and died at the age of 96 in 2013. He spent most of his life in New Jersey until retiring to Florida where he was at the time of his death. From his obituary, this information is given:  “Elbert served his country in World War II as an Air Force Bombardier for the Fifteenth Squadron stationed in Italy. At home, he was a dedicated teacher, principal and superintendent for the Shore Regional School District. Throughout his life, he was an artist, an established author, and talented wood worker”.

His books include:

Sunken Timbers

The Mystery of the Deserted Village

Tillicum

Aerial Gunners of World War II

A House Divided

Secret of Stygian River

Mystery at Ten Fathoms

President Harrison’s Horse Race

And several books for teachers.

The Mystery of the Stalwart is the only one I have from this author, but I will definitely watch for more.

From the dust jacket:

“The Pine Barrens of New Jersey are only an hour’s drive from Philadelphia and a little more from New York City. Yet the people who live in this region are largely isolated – often without telephones and electricity – and superstitious. Jesse Shadow and his family are Pineys, and this very fact produces great conflict in the young boy. Jesse’s father wants his son to remain at home to aid his failing boatbuilding business. Jesse burns with an ambition to become a botanist. Jesse’s only hope of pursuing his career seems to rest in the Stalwart, a Revolutionary War boat built by his ancestors. If it is true that the Stalwart treasure is hidden somewhere on the Shadow property – as Jesse’s father believes – then perhaps both Jesse and his father can realize their dreams. An intriguing mystery set against an authentic background, The Mystery of the Stalwart is the story of one boy’s struggle between his environment and his dreams.”

The plot builds well throughout, with an exciting climax and satisfying ending. The characters are believable. Jesse struggles with the tension between his dreams and his obedience to his domineering, unreasonable father. At one point in the story, his father strikes him in anger, which obviously a father should not do. However, the next morning, his father humbly apologizes and Jesse accepts the apology. They work out an agreement for their futures and the story progresses.

The inclusion of salt marsh botany makes this story very interesting. If you had a student interested in that field of study, this story would definitely be enjoyed by him/her.

The sub-plot running through this book is about the Revolutionary War, when the British Raid on Chestnut Neck took place. During the war, boat-owners from the area of the Great Bay on the south shore of New Jersey, about ten miles north of Atlantic City, captured many British supply ships and then loaded up the contents and got them to Washington's army at Valley Forge. The British held New York City and Philadelphia at this time in 1778, so the supplies for General Washington’s army were cut off in this area. The gains from the privateering by American citizens helped the Continental army with badly-needed supplies. The Raid at Chestnut Neck by the British proved fruitless because of prior warning to the privateers of the area. That event plays into the story of this book, so even though the book takes place in the mid-1900s, the reader learns about the history of this remote area and its significance in the War of Independence.

Recommended additional books/resources to aid your studies:

Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing by Martin Gardner, a Dover publication

Codes and Cypher Puzzles – Usborne

Ship by David Macaulay

The Story Book of Ships by Maud and MIska Petersham

The First Book of Ships by Jeanne Bendick

Ships and Life Afloat by Walter Buehr

American Revolution by Alden Carter

The First Book of the American Revolution by Richard B. Morris

The Story of Valley Forge by R. Conrad Stein, a Cornerstones of Freedom book

The American Revolution by Bruce Bliven Jr, a Landmark book

The Winter at Valley Forge by Van Wyck Mason, a Landmark book

Flora Americae Septentrionalis, Or, a Systematic Arrangement and Description of the Plants of North America: Containing, Besides What Have Been ... During Twelve Years Travels and Residence by Frederick Pursh (This botanist is mentioned in the story)

 

A Field Guide to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey: Its Flora, Fauna, Ecology and Historical Sites by Howard P. Boyd

 

Aquatic Vegetation of New Jersey by David E. Fairbrothers

 

A Day in the Salt Marsh by Kevin Kurtz

 

Wetlands by Darlene Stille

 

Following the Coast by Jim Arnosky

 

New Jersey by Bernadine Bailey

 

G is for Garden State by Eileen Cameron

 

The Pine Barrens of New Jersey by Karen F. Riley, Images of America series

 

Pirates and Patriots of the Revolution by C. Keith Wilbur, Illustrated Living History Series

 

Privateers of the Revolution: War on the New Jersey Coast 1775-1783 by Shomette. This is an adult book I have not read.

 

(Book review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 21, 2017)

Hand of the King - Book Review

Book review:
Hand of the King by Barbara E. Morgan, illustrated by Howard Simon

Published 1963 by Random House. 176 pages. Upper elementary through jr high level reading.

The author, Barbara E. Morgan, was a teacher and also served with the British Army in WW II. Her college degree from University of Manchester was in the history and archaeology of Southwestern Asia, Mari specifically. I can’t find any more info on her except this that was included on the dust jacket.

Here is the summary of the book from the dust jacket:

“Twelve-year-old Zak is tending his father’s sheep when two young men, badly wounded, come on the scene. Having escaped from the court of the hated Assyrian king, they hope to deliver a message to the prince of Mari, who is in hiding. If delivered in time, the message could touch off the long-planned revolt against the tyrant’s rule. Enlisting the aid of his friend La’um, Zak becomes deeply involved in the plot to restore the prince of Mari to his throne. Here are adventures and suspense in an authentic setting. For the Assyrian tyrant and the prince of Mari actually lived – 3700 years ago. Through the discoveries of archaeology, much is known about their palaces, their daily life, and even their correspondence. In Hand of the King, Barbara e. Morgan, a trained historian as well as a skilled storyteller, has re-created a thrilling episode from the ancient world.”

And here is the author’s note at the beginning of the book:

“The action of this story takes place in about the year 1750 B.C., roughly the time of Abraham. The story’s background, the site of the town of Mari, on the Middle Euphrates, was located in the 1930s and has been excavated by the French over a period of years. An enormous number of inscribed tablets was found in the palace, including the royal letter that has a place in the plot. All the royal characters mentioned existed. The short period of Assyrian rule in Mari apparently came to an abrupt end, but how Zimrilim, a prince of Mari, regained the throne or where he was during the previous twenty years is not known. This is the mystery which provided the idea for the main theme of the story. Zimrilim proved to be the last king of Mari. After a reign of between twenty and thirty years, the town was completely destroyed by the Babylonians under their great king, Hammurabi. Hence perhaps the richness of the excavated finds dating from the town’s last years. As far as possible, all the details of daily life given in the story are accurate. Little has been mentioned for which there is not direct evidence from Mari itself or which may not reasonably be inferred or vouched for by evidence from kindred sites.”

Mari is in ancient Mesopotamia, between Aleppo and Babylon on the Euphrates River, and the story takes place in the 18th century B.C. I seldom find children’s literature about this time period or about the Fertile Crescent so this one grabbed my interest.

You can read more about the king Zimrilim here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimri-Lim

And about the town of Mari in what is now Syria here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syria.

Excavations were made in the area beginning in the 1930s. Mari was known as the far-western outpost of the Sumerian civilization. Many of the archaeological finds are housed in the Louvre in France, in Aleppo and in Damascus. Excavations continued even to as recent as 10 years ago. Now, however, the area of Mari is occupied by armed gangs following the Syrian Civil War and much of the area has been looted.

The book does describe the character’s belief in the gods and mentions Ishtar, the goddess of love, beauty, sex, desire, fertility, war, combat, and political power. Ishtar is mentioned in the Scriptures and also plays a role in the Gilgamesh epic. In this book by Morgan, none of Ishtar’s immoral behavior is mentioned. The main character prays to her for protection as he tries to outwit the forces of evil he is battling in the story line.

I highly recommend this book for your studies of ancient world history. The plot moves quickly from event to event, with just enough suspense and surprise twists to keep a young person reading and enjoying. The book tells enough details of daily life to help the reader learn about that era.

Other books to read for follow-up studies:

They Lived Like This in Ancient Mesopotamia by Marie Neurath

Mesopotamia, Calliope magazine from 2000

The Gilgamesh Trilogy by Ludmilla Zeman

Ishtar and Tammuz, A Babylonian Myth of the Seasons by Christopher Moore

The Tigris & Euphrates Rivers by Melissa Whitcraft

Buildings of Ancient Mesopotamia by Helen and Richard Leacroft, Ancient Architecture Series

The Sumerians: Inventors and Builders by Elizabeth Landing, Early Culture Series (this civilization was to the south of Mari but same time period)

Song of Abraham by Ellen Gunderson Traylor (same time period as this book)

Review and book list compiled by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved.

Old Number Four - book review

Old Number Four by George I. Putnam

Illustrated by R. Alden Burt. Published by Equity Publishing Corporation, Orford, NH, c. 1965.  164 pages. Upper elementary/junior high reading level. Historical fiction.

In my now-favorite book story in Niantic, CT, I came across this book. It was signed by the wife of the author and was priced a little higher than I usually go, but I had never seen the title and since historical fiction is my very favorite genre, I decided to get it. So glad I did.

The author, George I. Putnam, “was born on the 24^th day of April 1860 in the town of Napanoch, New York. After spending his early years in Charlestown, New Hampshire, he embarked upon a colorful and adventurous life. He graduated from West Point with the Class of 1885 but resigned from military service in 1889. He wrote two books, “In Blue Uniform” and “On the Offensive”, before taking a job as reporter for the Denver Times, and later, the New York Times.  For eleven years, 1895-1906, he owned, edited and published the weekly, Claremont Advocate. After selling this enterprise in 1906 he married Miss Isabella Grieve O’Neil of Claremont and moved to Charlestown where they resided until 1923. During World War I he formed and trained a company of State Guards and after the war was over, became editor of the Claremont Daily Eagle for several years. The remainder of his seventy seven years was spent in San Diego, California.” (author information from the dust jacket). Don’t confuse him with George P. Putnam, the widower of Amelia Earhart, a generation later. Perhaps they were related though??

“The outstanding illustrations for this book were done with imagination, skill and great ability by R. Alden Burt, a northern New England artist, known for his fine pen and ink technique.” (artist information from the dust jacket).

Amazon’s review of the plot:

“A bulwark on the frontier of American civilization during the French and Indian War-more than just a fortress to the pioneers of its day-home to many-loved by all-attacked by her enemies-defended by her stalwart inhabitants-the memory of Old Number Four is not among the missing when history calls its roll. Proud, and justly so, she stood to the fore in America's early march toward destiny. In the early 1700's life on the frontier was not easy. King George's War, 1744-1748, and the French and Indian War, 1754-1763, both left indelible marks on the pioneers of that period. Too, it is impossible to erase the enviable record of an old wooden fort located on the eastern shore of the Connecticut River where Charlestown, New Hampshire, now stands. Old Number Four was one of the last strongholds against a savage wilderness inhabited by shadowy Indians and ruthless French. Numerous pen and ink illustrations excite the imagination and provide a delightful sense of sharing in an era of inland conflict, exploration and settlement.”

If reading this book with your family, I encourage you to get your maps out to help understand the significance of this distant outpost of the northern New England frontier of the times. Also, help your readers understand the bigger picture of what was going on in Europe, especially between England and France, and of the War of the Austrian Succession, and how these events eventually influenced the American frontier of the Connecticut River valley.  The author also documents at the bottom of some of the pages his sources for the historical information presented, including some primary source records of letters and town records. These would be fun to find and take a look at as well.

The main characters with whom young people will identify are James and Little Susannah. These two young people come to Old Number Four under very different circumstances. They meet and eventually fall in love and marry following the book’s end. Their relationship over the two years of the book’s plot is pure and sweet, and fired by their growing understanding of the courage and character of each other.

I was impressed with the characterization that Putnam presents. He has a wonderful way of describing and developing the characteristics of each major person in the plot. From the foolish traitorous Jasper Dyke, to the loyal dog Traynor, to the two men in charge of the fort Captain Stevens and Colonel Stoddard, the author paints a distinct picture in the reader’s mind of these and their strengths and weaknesses. Here is a quote of his description of Captain Stevens, “…rose with the dignity of the born commander and assumed control. He was a four-square man; a yes-and-no man; post-true; short, compact, very ruddy, with a keen blue eye as clear as ice. He said little, running to deeds rather than words; yet he could speak, and speak well, when occasion called. His was the spirit of calm dominance. The respectful attention and obedience of men was his birthright. Few would run counter to him by thought, word or deed.” Many of the characters Putnam presents are real-life people of the age and events. That, along with his thorough knowledge of the times, make the book’s story believable.

I highly recommend this book for your American history studies of this time period: 1744-1763. If you do read it, please let me know what you think and if your family enjoyed it.

Recommended additional books to aid your studies:

The Young Gun-Bearer by Browne. King George’s War and the Siege of Louisburg.

Colonial Living by Edwin Tunis

Colonial Craftsmen by Edwin Tunis

Mill by David Macaulay. Since the newly-built mill at Old Number Four plays an important part in the story. This book seems to cover the 1800s more but still it might be helpful for younger readers to see what a mill actually looks like and how helpful and important it was to frontier families.

Courage to Command: A Story of the Capture of Louisbourg by MacDonald. Winston Adventure series.

Fantastic Breeds: Americans in King George’s War by Phillips.

Northern Lights by Rawlyk. I have not read this but it comes recommended by someone I highly respect.

The Story of the French and Indian War by Reeder

Master of the Peaks by Altsheler

Rogers’ Rangers and the French and Indian War by Bradford Smith, a Landmark book.

River of the Wolves by Stephen Meader

Master Entrick: An Adventure 1754-1756 by Michael Mott

The French and Indian Wars by Russell, American Heritage Junior Library

The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds, Newbery Medal book

The Gold-Laced Coat, a Story of Old Niagara by Helen Fuller Orton

In Enemy Hands, a Story of the French and Indian War by Natalia Belting

Forts in the Wilderness by Edith McCall

New Hampshire by Bernadine Bailey

Massachusetts by Bernadine Bailey

The Colony of New Hampshire by Lengyel. A First Book.

The Colony of Massachusetts by Dickinson. A First Book.

The American Indian Story by May McNeer

Indian Summer by Monjo, An I Can Read book

Pathfinder, Leatherstocking Tale of the French & Indian War by Cooper

Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare

and this youtube video about the historic site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0V3V0OgtQ

And perhaps do some research about Captain Phineas Stevens and Colonel Sampson Stoddard. Very interesting and influential men of their time. Also the French officer that led the campaign against Old Number Four, Joseph Boucher de Niverville and whose career was the longest of any Canadian officer in the 1700s. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/boucher_de_niverville_joseph_5E.html

(Book review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 18, 2017)

The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat

Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat

First published in 1847. This book has been reprinted by Yesterday’s Classics and is also available on Kindle, at Project Gutenberg, and Librivox. Some claim it to have been the first historical fiction book for children/young people, and it has endured. The book has also been made into a series for television four times by the BBC.

Frederick Marryat, born in 1792 and died in 1848, was a British naval officer, and gained promotions for his bravery for the British in the War of 1812. He was also a novelist and an acquaintance of Charles Dickens. Marryat wrote an autobiographical novel in 1836 entitled Mr. Midshipman Easy which was admired by Mark Twain and others, and was said to be the prototype for many other authors who wrote naval stories such as Forester. For his own children he wrote Children of the New Forest.

The book begins in England in 1647 when King Charles I was defeated in the Civil War and fled into the New Forest region, on the south shore of England, near Southampton, about 100 miles SW of London.  Soldiers are sent to find him and decide to burn Arnwood, the home of a Charles sympathizer. Four children of Arnwood are rescued from this disaster and taken to live in the New Forest with a man who had been a worker on the estate. Most thought these orphaned children had died in the flames. Under their caretaker, these children of nobility learn self-sufficiency in the forest and on his farm. The rest of the story tells of their growing up there, eventual involvement in the political affairs of the times, and how they gained back their estate.

I found most interesting the descriptions of all that they learned of the forest and farm, how to raise animals and crops. Their growing wisdom and confidence, their in-bred training of grace and courage, and their plans to do right no matter the cost are very inspiring. The book moves along slowly with sudden spurts of action and adventure. There is bloodshed at the cost of self-defense. And there is romance, but all done properly, according to the customs of the times.

The writer’s knowledge of the political chaos of the times is well-evident and clearly explained. This provides a good value to the book for any studies of this time period. Interestingly, the main characters, the four children, are against the Cromwell side of the Civil War, which is different from most of the books of this time period that I have read. In that sense, it does provide a good balanced view.

The independent reading level of this book is upper elementary through jr high. Because the plot moves so slowly most of the time though, I would expect older students to enjoy it better. The book could also be read aloud and enjoyed as a family. There are many exemplary lessons of character and the defense of right to be discussed, as well as the political events surrounding the story line.

Recommended additional books to aid your studies:

Cromwell’s Boy by Erik Christian Haugaard

A Messenger for Parliament by Erik Christian Haugaard

Friends though Divided: A Tale of the Civil War by G.A. Henty

Two Jackdaw collections: The English Civil War 1642-1649 (#33) and Cromwell’s Commonwealth and Protectorate (#27)

              If you have never seen these Jackdaw collections, you might not realize what a wonderful resource they are of primary sources to aid your studies. They are pamphlets published over the years in England on many historical events and people, many about English history but some also on American and Canada. The packet contains a short document of the history of the event or person, and a list of the document facsimiles included in the packet. I highly recommend them – a little hard to find – but well worth the effort.

Kate Rider by Hester Burton

Death to the King: The Story of the English Civil War by Clifford Alderman

Puritan Revolution by C. Walter Hodges

Escape of Charles II After the Battle of Worcester by Richard Ollard

For the King by Ronald Welch

With the King at Oxford by Alfred J. Church

Island Story: A History of England for Boys and Girls by H.E. Marshall

The Flight and Adventures of Charles II by Charles Norman, a World Landmark book

I think I have a few more on my shelves but am not home at the moment to double check. I’ll try to add to this later. I know have some on the history of England for children to add to this list. Most of the above titles are for older students.

Also during your studies of this time period of the 1640s, you could add these topics: Scottish Covenanters – The Crown and Covenant series by Douglas Bond

 John Bunyan and Pilgrim’s Progress,

Princess Ann,

the Treaty of Paris,

and other people such as Blaise Pascal, Galileo, and John Locke. In America at this time period, Of Plymouth Plantation was being written by William Bradford.

(Book review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 14, 2017)