I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
As a homeschooling parent I absolutely love introducing my kids to good historical fiction instead of reading dull textbooks. Churchill’s Children, The Phantom Zeppelin definitely fits the bill for our studies of World War II. I learned more about World War II by reading this book than I can ever remember learning in school. A.R. Grogan has added a lot of history in this novel, but it is not dull or flat. Readers learn about what is happening in London in 1939 through stories told by Christopher’s grandfather, the Sergeant Major; by Christopher’s mother; and through narration that flows seamlessly throughout the novel.
The author really brings the characters, the settings, and the storyline to life. I felt as if I was actually there-- a fly on the wall-- as I followed the adventures, struggles, heartbreak, and successes of Christopher Finch. While reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I cringed, and I became emotionally attached to the characters. The dialogue flowed easily and naturally, and was believable. I didn’t want the book to end. I felt as if I were saying goodbye to good friends.
At the end of the novel, there is mention that this if the first book in a series about the exploits of Christopher Finch and the other “Churchill Children” during World War II. Continuing in chronological order, the next book slated to be published is 1940- The Battle of Britain. I look forward to reading the series with my children. If they are as well written as this first book, I could envision using them as the backbone of a study of World War II. The book’s target market seems to be the young teen/middle-school age group. However, my high-school age children were also engrossed in the story.
I also found the book’s cover intriguing. The enormous zeppelin emerging from the clouds gives readers a foreshadowing of what they might find once they begin to turn the pages of the book.
I used to work as an assistant editor for educational publications before becoming a full-time homeschooling mom. Although no longer a professional editor, I still find it hard to hang up the editing hat, even when reading for pleasure. Churchill’s Children, The Phantom Zeppelin is a brilliantly written book, however I did come across some minor editing errors:
On page 80. Christopher’s father, Richard, is talking to his wife, Julia, and refers to the Sergeant Major as his Julia’s grandfather instead of her father. On page 9, the Sergeant Major is identified as the Julia’s father.
Confusion over familial relationships continues on page 165 when Christopher and his father, Richard head to America. At the end of the first sentence readers are told that they are going to “Christopher’s father’s ranch.” In the very next sentence we read that “Christopher loved staying at his grandfather’s ranch.” The ranch, indeed, does belong to Christopher’s paternal grandfather, not his father who accompanies him on the trip.
On page 175, Christopher and his father visit President Roosevelt in the White House. Readers are told that Christopher is escorted out of the room by “an aid” so that his father and the President may speak in private. This is just a minor typographical error that must have been missed in editing.
As a homeschooling parent I absolutely love introducing my kids to good historical fiction instead of reading dull textbooks. Churchill’s Children, The Phantom Zeppelin definitely fits the bill for our studies of World War II. I learned more about World War II by reading this book than I can ever remember learning in school. A.R. Grogan has added a lot of history in this novel, but it is not dull or flat. Readers learn about what is happening in London in 1939 through stories told by Christopher’s grandfather, the Sergeant Major; by Christopher’s mother; and through narration that flows seamlessly throughout the novel.
The author really brings the characters, the settings, and the storyline to life. I felt as if I was actually there-- a fly on the wall-- as I followed the adventures, struggles, heartbreak, and successes of Christopher Finch. While reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I cringed, and I became emotionally attached to the characters. The dialogue flowed easily and naturally, and was believable. I didn’t want the book to end. I felt as if I were saying goodbye to good friends.
At the end of the novel, there is mention that this if the first book in a series about the exploits of Christopher Finch and the other “Churchill Children” during World War II. Continuing in chronological order, the next book slated to be published is 1940- The Battle of Britain. I look forward to reading the series with my children. If they are as well written as this first book, I could envision using them as the backbone of a study of World War II. The book’s target market seems to be the young teen/middle-school age group. However, my high-school age children were also engrossed in the story.
I also found the book’s cover intriguing. The enormous zeppelin emerging from the clouds gives readers a foreshadowing of what they might find once they begin to turn the pages of the book.
I used to work as an assistant editor for educational publications before becoming a full-time homeschooling mom. Although no longer a professional editor, I still find it hard to hang up the editing hat, even when reading for pleasure. Churchill’s Children, The Phantom Zeppelin is a brilliantly written book, however I did come across some minor editing errors:
On page 80. Christopher’s father, Richard, is talking to his wife, Julia, and refers to the Sergeant Major as his Julia’s grandfather instead of her father. On page 9, the Sergeant Major is identified as the Julia’s father.
Confusion over familial relationships continues on page 165 when Christopher and his father, Richard head to America. At the end of the first sentence readers are told that they are going to “Christopher’s father’s ranch.” In the very next sentence we read that “Christopher loved staying at his grandfather’s ranch.” The ranch, indeed, does belong to Christopher’s paternal grandfather, not his father who accompanies him on the trip.
On page 175, Christopher and his father visit President Roosevelt in the White House. Readers are told that Christopher is escorted out of the room by “an aid” so that his father and the President may speak in private. This is just a minor typographical error that must have been missed in editing.