A Solstice Tree for Jenny (Young Readers)

Rating:
Summary: "...so what or who do we believe in?"
Review: I gave this book 3 stars only because I know that it does provide something for those people who are like Jenny's family in the book. I have friends for whom this book really meant something.
But if I judged it on artistic merit or writing style I'd give it a 1.
If I judged it on it's interpretation of "the rest of the world" (meaning those who believe in a god) I'd give it a zero.

It's well intentioned, but the author really has no idea about what Christianity (or other religions) is *really* all about.

Yes, the author is correct that there are some believers who do believe that there is "a father who...looks down on them to make sure they behave themselves" and that they do good deeds because "...they are afraid that their god will punish them if they don't do what he says." But if the author thinks that this is what the religions actually teach, she is mistaken.

I just had to laugh while reading this book. THe misconceptions about believers are just hopeless.

I think that the sequel to this book should be called "Therapy for Jenny" because she is so conflicted in this book and wants to believe in something so badly. I have known adults who were once children like Jenny. In the character of Jenny, I see a girl who is not envious of her friends because of their pretty lights and shiny wrapped presents. I see someone who is envious because her own life seems so superficial.
Jenny does get a "solstice tree". Apparantly, it's ok to create a holiday based on belief in a god as long it's not a Judeo-Christian god. "...people living long ago who thought of the Sun as a god and made offerings to it to return and make the days longer so they could plant their crops. 'They really needed a festival of light,' Jenny thought to herself."

Jenny gets a solstice tree and decorates it with little signs that say, "we believe in education" and "we believe in helping people".
Hey, Jenny. Believers belive in that too.

Merry Christmas

Rating:
Summary: Sun god
Review: My 8 year old loved this book. It shows the real issue that many freethinking families have with the holiday season, and an very innovative way that one young girl created a new holiday tradition around her beliefs. It also shows children why various religions have their holidays and beliefs, and why non-believers are different, as they do what is right because it's the right thing to do, not because they are afraid of a god.

This is an excellent book for children from 5-15.

Rating:
Summary: Simple and yet fairly complete.
Review: This book is some what hokey but it does accomplish what it sets out to do and in a very simple easy to understand fashion. The kids weren't much interested in it, but that was probably because we were trying to ween them off of x-mas and into solstice which was a lot for them to consume.

It will come in handy in the future (every year for a while) to help them understand and feel better about their own families traditions while being surrounded by friends who do it a little different.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story for families
Review: This book is the story of a young girl, who believes her house is the ugliest on the block becuse there are no lights, or menorahs to decorate the windows. Her parents explain why they don�t celebrate the holidays like their neighbors, and even though Jenny understands she still feels left out. The next day at school she tells a teacher about her problem. The teacher gives her a book of solstice stories. Jenny reads the stories and then shares the book with her parents and asks them what they belive. Together the family decides to put up a solstice tree decorated with slips of paper that have what they believe in written on them. The parents recapture the joy they used to feel at this time of year, and pass that joy to their daughter. Jenny can�t wait to share her soltice tree and its messages with all of her friends.
This was a well written book that explained Humanist beliefs in a clear and easy to understand way. It in no way attacked those who celebrate religious holidays but explained clearly why those who are not religious don�t celebrate these days. It also showed how so many of our beliefs are alike, the difference being in the way we learn them.
I believe this story and the tree it talks about will become a tradition in our home, one that our girls can proudly tell their friends and teachers about. Maybe with each telling of the story of their solstice tree they will bridge the gap of intolerance.

Rating:
Summary: Sun god
Review: This book works nicely in serving those people, like Jenny's parents, who find themselves in the minority at Christmas and Hanukkah time. If one doesn't profess a belief in a god, I'm sure such holiday times can be difficult.

But, I am a little confused. Jenny's teacher gives her a book called "Winter Solstice Stories". Jenny learns that people long ago worshiped the Sun as a god and made offerings to it to return after the long winter. So, I'm confused as to why Jenny's parents feel fine about basing a celebration on the religious activities of the sun worshipers but they don't feel ok about basing a celebration on the religious activities of the JudeoChristian god worshipers.
The other beef I have with this book is that Jenny's parents explain to her that they do good works because they are the right thing to do, not because they are afraid of some god's punishment if they don't do good works. They choose to do good because it's their choice not because some god long ago said they had to. This bothers me because I know that the true message of the mainline religions is not based on fear or obligation. It is based on love. I think that's the same thing that motivates Jenny's parents. I have no problem with people embracing pagan religion. I have no problem with people professing no belief. I'm just sorry they have misrepresented my religion.