Customer Reviews

A Lion to Guard Us

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is about three children whose father is in America helping to settle the colonies. Shortly after he leaves for America the children's mother dies leaving them with nothing and no one to look after them. The oldest child Amanda decided to take a boat to America and find their father. On the ship ride to America, there is a terrible storm and the ship is wrecked. The three children are forced to live in a hut on an island with other families from the ship until a new ship can be built.
This historical fiction is a great adventure for children in 3-5th grade. I enjoyed the vivid details that helped draw me into the story. I couldn't put the book down. It is a story of courage sure to get the imaginations of children going.
The author of this book conveyed a strong message of courage and a determination to live your dreams. This adventure had an inspiring tail of overcoming struggle and working together to survive.

Did you ever notice how exciting adventure books are written for older and middle readers only? The second and third graders really seem to miss out. This book is a wonderful find. Written at a late 2nd grade or early 3rd grade reading level, it provides a wealth of excitement and adventure. My daughter loves Bulla. We have read all of Bulla's children's books and this is one of the best. We also recommend "Sword in the Tree" and "Ghost Town Treasure". For a more contemporary style novel, try "Shoeshine Girl"

A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla tells the story of Amanda, Jemmy and Meg who live in England in the 1600's. Their father goes to Jamestown, and their mother becomes very ill, falls on the stairs, gets sicker and dies. They live with Mrs. Trippett, a rich, cold-hearted lady that Amanda works for. Mrs. Trippett won't give them the money bag that was around their mother's neck when she died. They want the money to go to Jamestown. Mrs. Trippett kicks them out, but Dr. Crider finds them and takes them to his home. Then they get on a ship to Jamestown. Dr. Crider falls overboard during the trip, and Amanda doesn't know what to do next. A horrible storm hits, and they crash on Bermuda. Read this book to find out if they ever get off the island and find their father. The book shows how people had some hard times going from England to Jamestown in the New World. This book made me feel like I was there in the story. I like how Amanda didn't give up. I think that when you read this book it will inspire you and interest you.

My children and I read this as part of our unit on the Colonial History of the U.S. We found it well-written without being bogged down with facts, and the plot was strong enough to keep the entire family interested in listening, from the Ph.D. to the three year old.

This book tells the story of when the Sea Venture crashed and how they landed on Bermuda. The main characters are Amanda, Gemmy and Meg. They were commoners (that means they are not really wealthy). The 3 main characters lived in a gentry woman's house (the woman was wealthy). Their mother was a servant in the house until she fell down the steps. Then Amanda became the servant. Amanda's father has been in Jamestown for 3 years. Before Amanda's father left for Jamestown, he gave his family a lion's head doorknocker to guard them. When Amanda's mother dies, they run away from the woman's house and end up in Jamestown. On the way to Jamestown their ship, The Sea Venture, crashes and they end up in Bermuda. They build a ship to carry them to Jamestown. When they arrived on Jamestown, many of the men were wounded from a fight they had with the Indians. Amanda's father was badly injured.

As a homeschool mom, it is alway as struggle to find a great book that also reinforces a history lesson. This book is both! After the death of their mother, three children struggle to get to America (Jamestown, VA) in search of their father. If your children are or will be studying this time in history this is a must read. I would recommend this book for 2nd graders through 6th graders depending on the reading level of your child. Or better yet read it together outloud. What a great historical fiction book for children.

I have both read aloud A Lion to Guard Us and have listened to the book as my son read it to me. Both times, I was impressed by the simplicity of its structure, which allowed the storyline and history surrounding England, Bermuda, and Jamestown to come alive. The author did a superb job, and this book is on its way to becoming a classic in historical children's literature.

Bulla always does a great job of writing history in a way that the kids can't wait to hear the next chapter. And this book is no exception. The chapters are short and packed with adventure. My kids ranging 5 to 9 loved this story.

I think A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla was a good book because it has a lot of action. And it has mystery. I also liked it because it was an exciting adventure. In the book, Amanda leaves England on a boat with Jemmy, Meg and Dr. Crider going to the New World to find the children's father. They had to sleep in the hold of the ship. They went on the boat and then they crashed on an island named Bermuda. Next they built houses for people to live in. Then they made ships. Then the two boats set out to Virginia. Did they find their father? Find out by reading the book. I think the best part was when they were in the big storm at sea. In comparing this book to others I have read by Bulla, I think it is the best because it has action and lots of other things like boats. I like boats a lot.

The book I read is called A Lion To Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla. This story is about three children named Amanda, Jemmy, and Meg. Their mother works as a servant for a woman named Mistress Trippett. Their Father has left them in London, England and has gone to the "New World"[Virginia]. Their mother has gotten ill. Will she survive the sickness or not? Now Amanda has to take her place as a servant. Will they ever find their father or not? If you would like to find out read this book it's great. Will they ever get to America?