The White Stag (1938)

Written and illustrated by Kate Seredy, The White Stag recounts the movement of the Huns and Magyars from Asia across Europe.  Although not in the "fiction" section of the library, the author definitely makes it her own.  In the forward, she states, "Those who want to hear the voice of pagan gods in wind and thunder, who want to see fairies dance in the moonlight, who can believe that faith can move mountains, can follow the thread on the pages of this book.  It is a fragile thread; it cannot bear the weight of facts and dates."  That is indeed the essence of the book as the Huns are led from place to place by a magical white stag, told by their gods of leaders and men to lead them in battle, and led to a final valley of peace and plenty.  Those who lost the vision and faith in the future success of the people are punished by the gods.  Battle is glorified.

There were times of softness, as when Bendeguz and Alleeta fall in love in the moonlight, and his despair at her death.  I loved the illustrations and thought they added depth to the book.

Seredy, Kate. The White Stag. The Viking Press, 94.

Roller Skates (1937)

(Trouble getting a picture of the book.  I'll try later.)

In Roller Skates we meet Lucinda--eager for excitement, impulsive, kind-hearted.  The story is set in 1890s New York City.  Lucinda's parents depart for Europe and leave Lucinda to live with Miss Peters and Miss Nettie.  Lucinda, now "orphaned," pretty much has the run of New York City.  In Lucinda's mind why walk when you can run, why run when you can roller skate?  She loved to roller skate and used them as her main mode of transportation.

She makes friends with everyone she meets--the cabbie, Mr. Gilligan; the policeman, Patrolman M'Gonegal; Tony, the boy whose father runs the fruit stand; even the junkman, Rags-N'-Bottles.  Each of these help Lucinda and are helped by her in return.  Mostly they love how she is so carefree, just as a young girl ought to be, without inhibition or affectation.

One of Lucinda's favorite people is her Uncle Earle.  He rescues her from sewing sessions with Aunt Emily and her prissy girl cousins.  He seems to know that she was not made in the mold of his own daughters, and loves her just the same.  He introduces her to Shakespeare, which she loves and decides to put on her own theatrical version of Twelfth Night.  They read some comedies and then Uncle Earle introduced her to tragedy.  He said, "In fine tragedies, such as the Greeks and William Shakespeare wrote, what happens must be inevitable--unescapable.  It must make you feel right about the ending.  And great tragedies must have beauty in them; otherwise what's the use?"(p. 150)

Lucinda takes a special liking to a 4-year-old upstairs neighbor girl.  When she discovers this family is very poor, she begins to do little things to help them.  She watches "Trinket" and takes her to the toy store.  She makes a Christmas tree for her.  Spoiler:  Do not read the next paragraph if you don't want to know a major plot line.

Trinket gets very sick and Dr. Hitchcock, called in on the last day, is not able to save her.  Dr. Hitchcock tells Lucinda that the Eskimos believe that when a person dies her soul becomes a white gull.  Lucinda replies, referring to Trinket's parents, "I could tell them about the gulls.  That would be putting beauty into it, wouldn't it?  Uncle Earle said there must be lots and lots of beauty to make it great, and it must be inevitable; that in the end it must all add up right.  Do you think it will add up some day, Doctor Hitchcock?"  He replies, "I think we must believe that.  Otherwise, what would be the use of going on?" (p166-167)

Maybe I liked theses quotes on tragedy because they remind me to see beauty in life in the face of tragedy, and we all have tragedy.  To look for the beauty and that it will all add up, "otherwise, what's the use?"

One other quote, just because of how odd it is.  "Lucinda always got excited over a soda at Huyler's.  To lean on the counter and gaze at the cake of ice with a red rose frozen inside always made her think of lovely things: like Snow White in her little crystal coffin; and Alpine climbers who had fallen down a crevasse and came out years afterwards in a Swiss glacier, looking fresh and perfect, just like the red rose." (p. 179-180)  Lucinda obviously did not have a subscription to National Geographic in which there has been at least one article on frozen Alpine climbers, who do not look perfect, like the red rose.

Sawyer, Ruth. Roller Skates. Viking, 1936.

Caddie Woodlawn (1936)

I loved this book!!! This is the first of the Newbery's in my project that I have read and said to myself, and others, "What a great book!"  Based on a true story, Caddie Woodlawn is about a year in the life of an 11-year-old girl in Wisconsin in the 1860s.  It reminded me of Little House on the Prairie books, but better.

Caddie is one of a large family living on the brink of civilization.  News is sparse, winters hard and adventure plentiful.  Mr. Woodlawn persuaded Mrs. Woodlawn to let Caddie "run wild" for health reasons.  An older brother and a younger brother made up the threesome.  Caddie shows spirit, pluck, patriotism and a great deal of kindness and generosity.

Near the end of the book, Caddie was punished for playing a particularly bad practical joke on a visiting girl cousin.  When her dad went up to talk to her, he gave a great speech about what is important about women.  "It's a strange thing, but somehow we expect more of girls than of boys.  It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful.  What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way!  A woman's task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness...It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things...A woman's work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man's...I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind." (p. 244)

This is a Must-Read book!  (Although now you will probably be let down since I've praised it so highly.)

Brink, Carol Ryrie. Caddie Woodlawn. Macmillan Publishing Company, 1935.