I'm a teacher, so this story really resonated with me. Miss Agnes is exactly the sort of teacher I dream of being - she constantly has creative activities which make the learning come alive (and stick) and she does everything she can to help her students and their families. As a result of this, her students are inspired to go beyond what they dreamed was possible. I need to read a book like this every once in awhile to remind myself why I spend hours working on lesson plans and grading papers. The Year of Miss Agnes was just the sort of book I need to encourage me to head back into the classroom tomorrow morning refreshed and ready to teach!
I really enjoyed Little House in the Big Woods. The story was sweet and innocent, and I loved being welcomed into the Ingalls family. I'm also exceedingly glad that I live in a day and age where I have modern conveniences. I'm not sure I could survive doing all the work that Ma has to do to feed and clothe her family. We are truly blessed in the 21st century! Still, there are some parts of days gone by that we are lacking today - such as respect for elders and the willingness to work hard. Things like that should never go out of style. Fortunately, we can return to the little house and the Ingalls family to remind us how we should live our lives surrounded by the love of our family.