Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

Middle School

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The Silver Chair

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Eustace finds himself in Narnia once again, along with a friend, Jill. The great lion, Aslan, assigns them a mission to find a lost prince. To guide them, he gives them four signs to remember and follow at all costs. As they begin, they meet an unlikely guide who lives in a marsh and helps them form a plan. However, Eustace and Jill’s lack of focus and forgetfulness puts them in grave danger.

After a brave escape, they find themselves in an underworld surrounded by earthmen. They are taken to a dark knight and an evil enchantress; their guide encourages them to remember and follow Aslan’s instructions, no matter the cost.

The Light Princess

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A short, funny, and, toward the end, serious story about a princess who loses her gravity, floating when pushed or thrown. Her parents, the King and Queen, don’t know what to do, though their daughter does not seem to mind, laughing constantly and never taking anything seriously.

Eventually, she discovers freedom, joy, and safety in a lake, where she swims day and night, summer and winter. One day, a prince finds her and does something kind that changes her life forever, but at great personal cost.

The Light Princess is a love story that is both entertaining and serious, helping one think about the Bible’s story.

The Wind in the Willows

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live near a river? Or underground? Or in a wild wood? Or in a great house with lots of land surrounding it? Four animal heroes do, and their names are Mr. Rat, Mr. Mole, Mr. Badger, and Mr. Toad.

The story begins when Mr. Mole senses that spring has arrived; he can no longer bear the thought of staying indoors. When outside, he meets Mr. Rat, and Mr. Rat offers to give Mr. Mole a ride on his boat and share a picnic. They become fast friends.

Soon, they realize that the wealthy Mr. Toad is about to embark on a gypsy wagon adventure. Mr. Toad is always looking for ways to add excitement and adventure to his life, and wants Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole to accompany him.

But this adventure is soon ended, and eclipsed by a greater passion: motor cars. Utterly obsessed, Mr. Toad puts himself and others in great danger as he speeds across the countryside. For help, Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole turn to the wild wood, to a Mr. Badger. But first, they must find his underground home under the snow and cold of winter, in a place where danger lurks.

If you want a story that combines adventure, descriptions of nature, humor, a daring prison escape, and a thrilling attempt to return home, underground houses with secret tunnels, tales of friendship and summer, and a marvelous encounter with a special creature, this book won’t disappoint.

The Wind in the Willows is one of the most intriguing stories ever written for students.

The story can be read with benefit more than once. One experiences the effect of good company, the danger of discontent, the importance of preparation, the value of wisdom, the peace and joy of purpose fulfilled, the achievement of civilization, and so much more.

Let me know what you enjoyed most about the story.

Anne of Avonlea

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Anne of Avonlea is a worthy sequel to Anne of Green Gables. Anne, about 17, fills the stage as a teacher, having given up college to help her adopted mother make ends meet and raise two young orphans. 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.

One of her challenges is a new neighbor who does not seem very friendly. He has a talking parrot that upsets Anne. Another is one of her students, a boy, who enjoys making things difficult. Visitors and interesting social situations dominate the book. One of the most moving is a middle-aged woman grieving an early romance gone wrong; the story adds much to the book’s character-building nature.

Overall, the author, L. M. Montgomery, brilliantly hints at the effects of true religion, the purpose of education, and the realities and goodness of love.

Anne of Green Gables

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A young orphan girl is adopted into a home on Prince Edward Island, a stunning place that fuels her strong imagination, sense of beauty, and love of adventure. Anne is independent, creative, intelligent, and heroic. She sees the world through a thick imaginative lens. But her absentmindedness and pride often get her into trouble.

Anne’s imagination, love of life, and virtue, coupled with the delightful story world and the moving and thrilling scenes, have made the story an all-time favorite. According to Wikipedia, more than 50 million copies have been sold. There are eight books in the Anne series; the first two are the most well-known. The movies are fantastic. I recommend the first two after you’ve read the books.

King Arthur And His Knights of the Round Table

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Ancient tales about a king and his brave knights who founded a kingdom in Britain. They established order and freedom, seeking the glory of God, the punishment of wrongdoing, and the promotion of righteousness.

The book begins with Merlin, a mysterious wizard and a young boy who was worthy to wield Excalibur, a mighty sword, and rule as king. His character and leadership attracted a group of men who became the knights of the Round Table. Through many strange quests and adventures, they confronted evil knights and kingdoms, rescued damsels in distress, and achieved heroic acts of bravery.

The stories of many great knights are told, including the greatest of them all, Sir Lancelot of the Lake. The adventures culminate in a quest for the Holy Grail and a final battle.

Which quest did you enjoy the most and why?

1 Samuel For You

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Samuel is part of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament). The story takes place in ancient Israel, one thousand years before Christ. The nation has bounced between war, peace, and bondage. The people have rejected God, want to rule themselves, and have asked for a king to fight their enemies. God tells Samuel, a prophet, to anoint Saul as Israel’s first king; he begins well, but not for long.

During Saul’s reign, a humble shepherd boy named David became popular. In one of many wars between Israel and Philistia, David famously slew a giant named Goliath. The people rejoiced, but Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him. Throughout the story, Saul turns away from God and, over time, loses everything, including his family and self-respect. On the other hand, David endeavors to live a life that is true and good, according to the law of Moses, which required the king to love God and neighbor and to rule justly. Over time, David gained a kingdom, family, and friends.

Significantly, David suffered severe persecution, yet he ascended to the throne and rescued his people from their enemies. Though not a perfect man or ruler, David’s life points to a greater king, Jesus of Nazareth, who would suffer and gain a family (the church) and kingdom.

Samuel is a riveting story, a key book for understanding the Bible as a whole. Tim Chester’s commentary is a marvelous guide, one that I strongly recommend.

Chester’s guide will help you in the following ways: 

  1. Understand the Bible better
  2. Learn how to make friends
  3. Learn how to handle difficulties
  4. Learn how to lead well 
  5. Learn how to become a less anxious, happier person

What did you find most helpful about 1 Samuel?

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

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King Caspian journeys across the sea east of Narnia in search of the seven lords who were loyal to his late father. Joined by Edmund, Lucy, and the bratty Eustace, they have several unusual, sometimes horrifying, and thrilling adventures.

One of the adventures tests Caspian’s leadership on the Lone Islands. In another, they meet a dragon that behaves peculiarly. They also meet a wizard in a strange house and invisible creatures. In addition, a sea serpent, a land of dreams, a lake of gold, and the end of the world are in store. Reepicheep (a talking mouse) shows tremendous courage and behaves like a valiant knight, spurring them on to feats of bravery and honor as he tries to reach Aslan’s country.

For your benefit, pay attention to the contrasts between Eustace (the anti-hero) and the heroic Reepicheep. (Readers are meant to learn from both.) Also, the dragon episode is a key part of the book, alluding to biblical truths about becoming a good person.

This is the third book in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. If you have never read these books before, I recommend reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian first.

What did you most enjoy about this story?

Land of Hope

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This is one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. It’s the story of America from its discovery and founding to recent times. Wildred McClay overviews the significant events, people, and ideas that shaped America, aiming to show what made America a land of hope.

Events include the unsettlement of Europe, Christopher Columbus’s journeys to the New World, the Revolutionary War, Westward expansion, the Civil War, industrialization and modernization, the World Wars, the Cold War, and more. Highlighted leaders include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt.

The book offers a positive account of America’s rise and greatness without glossing over grave issues such as slavery and our national debt. The author reveals the unique ideas, convictions, and traditions that spurred American energy, generosity, purpose, commitment, and self-criticism. Moreover, McClay insightfully describes the role of America’s Christian heritage and its leaders in shaping American destiny. Along these lines, America’s literature is integrated into this retelling of American political and religious history, showing its impact and effect on the generations that followed.

This book is a tremendous educational experience. If you want a fascinating story about the land of hope that is America, this book is for you.

Horseriding

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Horses are magnificent creatures, enjoyed by leaders and everyday people for thousands of years. George Washington and Winston Churchill rode horses in combat. (Virginians considered Washington their best horseman, and Churchill rode in Britain’s final cavalry charge.) Legends, like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, rode horses in battle and on their quests. Princes of history and fiction learned to ride well: Cyrus the Great and Capian are two examples. Paul Revere’s midnight ride marked the beginning of America’s War for Independence and is the most famous horseback ride in American history.

During America’s westward expansion, families crossed the Great Plains and farmed with horses, and young men carried mail across dangerous wilderness in what became known as the Pony Express. Cowboys on horses drove cattle across the Midwest. Horses played a significant role in westerns like The Rifleman, and in classic John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies, like The Searchers.

The world has changed, but horses still play a vital role. Police officers ride strong, beautiful horses in cities to maintain public order and peace. Horses play a critical role in state funerals and parades. And beautiful thoroughbreds are raced in the Ascot and the Kentucky Derby.

After the lion, horses are the most honored of all animals. No creature has helped man as much. They feature prominently in classic literature and the Bible, where it is revealed that Jesus Christ will return on a white horse.

Horseriding is an honorable activity. Churchill wrote,

No one ever came to grief—except honourable grief—through riding horses. No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle. Young men have often been ruined through owning horses, or through backing horses, but never through riding them; unless of course they break their necks, which, taken at a gallop, is a very good death to die.

Learning to ride a horse is exciting and challenging; it takes time and effort to become comfortable in the saddle. It’s important to know that horses are intelligent creatures. An expert rider can guide a horse with the slightest prompting. I recommend giving horse riding a try at a local farm.

Have you ever ridden a horse? What was the horse like?