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Sam's Secret Journal

Sam’s Secret Journal

By Elizabeth Yates
Level 6
Review:

This is one of those times when you wonder why a book has been out of print for so long. Then you realize a book like this would never sell today in a world that is crazed for books filled with violence, shock value, and fast-paced thrills. Sam’s Secret Journal is a truly wonderful, old-fashioned book of the best kind. Elizabeth Yates, a Newbery Award winning author whose first book was published in 1938, was a gifted writer of wholesome, inspiring books. This is the fictional story of a 13-year-old boy who is inspired to improve himself and writes about it in his personal journal. My 13-year-old daughter found it engaging and couldn’t say enough good about this story. If you can find it, I highly recommend it. My daughter told me the book made her think so much about her own life and how she can be a better person. Wow! This is the effect we want literature to have.

(Reviewed by Jenny Phillips)

Genre Historical Fiction
The Good and the Beautiful Library No
  • Hard to Find
  • Top Picks
  • 5 Moral Value
  • 3 Educational Value
  • 4 Literary Value
Rating System

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Entertainment Value

All books on our list are chosen to be engaging, but books that rank high in entertainment value may be more appealing to reluctant readers and/or those who are new to good and beautiful books.

Moral Value

All books on The Good and the Beautiful Book List are deemed appropriate and wholesome, but some books have more emphasis on moral principles than others. A lower rating for moral value does not mean the book is inappropriate; it only means that moral values are not as highly emphasized.

Educational Value

Although all books on this list have educational value in the sense of increasing vocabulary and other important skills, the educational value scale is based on how well the book helps the reader gain knowledge about historical time periods, cultures, geography, science, etc.

Literary Value

Books that score high in literary value include exceptional writing, use of literary devices, and a rich vocabulary. All books on The Good and the Beautiful Book List are well-written, but some have a higher literary value than others.

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