The Ribbon Book Club

Historical Note: Ranger Chris Carey on the Oregon Trail

Dear Diary, 
We got to talk to an old friend of Jen's, Chris Carey about his work at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site! Chris had some great facts to share about life on the Oregon Trail and some fresh insight into the story of the Whitman Mission. Chris also had a surprise choose-your-own-adventure game at the end of our conversation! Oregon Trail TTRPG (tabletop role-playing game) anyone? 
Yours Truly, 
Cate and Jen
 
 
RibbonBookClubPod.com
@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 
Edited by Danny Heck  
Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 
Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub
Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell Part 2: Manifesting Gal Pals

Dear Diary, 
It's the second half of our recap of Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell! We get to find out what happens to the Campbells and their wagon train as it continues along the trail. 
Will Hattie ever get a straight answer about what marriage is like? Will Wade ask Hattie to dance? Will the klepto Mrs. Kenker ever get caught? Tune in to find out! 
Yours Truly, 
Cate and Jen 
 
RibbonBookClubPod.com
@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 
Edited by Danny Heck  
Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 
Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub
Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell Part 1: Manifesting Destiny

Dear Diary, 
We took a nice long break but we're back with another season and a new book! This week we're reading the first half of Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell. It was written by Kristiana Gregory and it was published in 1997. This marks our first repeat author! 
In the book, we are introduced to Hattie Campbell, a young girl traveling the Oregon Trail with her family. Hattie learns many valuable lessons during her journey, including overcoming prejudice and the importance of caring for community.
We're excited to be back!
Yours Truly, 
Cate and Jen
 
RibbonBookClubPod.com
@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram
 
Edited by Danny Heck  
Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 
Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub
Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Historical Note: Paul Ringel on Writing the Civil War for Kids

Dear Diary, 
We finished our first season with a great chat with Paul Ringel! Paul is a history professor at High Point University, and an author of books including Commercializing Childhood: Children's Magazines, Urban Gentility, and the Ideal of the Child Consumer in the United States, 1823-1918 and Kid History, Inc.: Selling Children the American Past. 
We talked about Emma and Clotee's stories. What they did well and what they could have done better. We also talked about how to write history for kids that is both engaging and historically accurate. Tune in to hear Paul's thoughts on these Dear America books and hear more about his projects. 
See you again soon for season 2! 
Yours Truly, 
Cate and Jen
 
Check out Paul Ringel's website paulbringel.com
RibbonBookClubPod.com
@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 
Edited by Danny Heck  
Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 
Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub
Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

The Diary of Clotee, A Slave Girl Part 2: Escape from Belmont Plantation

Dear Diary, 
We finished recapping A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl by Patricia C. McKissack, and what an incredible story! So much happened: we learned more about the abolitionists and Spicy's history, and Clotee figured out what freedom looked like to her.
An engaging and essential read. Tune in to hear more! 
Yours Truly, 
Cate and Jen 
 
RibbonBookClubPod.com
@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Join our Facebook Group!
 
Edited by Danny Heck  
Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 
Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub
Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl Part 1: We Friend-ship It!

Dear Diary, 
On to a new book, and boy, this one is different than the last! A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl was written by Patricia C. McKissack and was published in 1997. (a very good year!)
Clotee is a clever 12-year-old girl who works in the Big House on a plantation in Virginia and teaches herself how to read and write. She writes candidly about her opinions on slavery and those who participate in it and about her friends and loved ones. It's a good read! 
Yours Truly, 
Cate and Jen
 
RibbonBookClubPod.com
@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 
Edited by Danny Heck  
Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 
Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub
Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

The Civil War Diary of Emma Simpson Part 2: Frankly My Dear, We Don’t Give a @#$%&!

Dear Diary, 
We're back for part 2 of our discussion of When Will This Cruel War Be Over?: The Civil War Diary of Emma Simpson written by Barry Denenberg. Is it better than the first half? Wellllll...... on the plus side, there's more action! 
Tune in to find out what's in store for Emma, Tally, and Cousin Rachel. What happens when the Yankees come to town? Most importantly, should we care?
Yours Truly, 
Cate and Jen
 
RibbonBookClubPod.com
@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 
Edited by Danny Heck  
Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 
Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub
Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

The Civil War Diary of Emma Simpson Part 1: Gone With the Wind...for Kids?

Dear Diary, 
We've reached book 3 in the series! And it's... certainly something! Author Barry Denenberg tackles a big topic with When Will This Cruel War Be Over?: The Civil War Diary of Emma Simpson. 
We have a lot of thoughts about this book, namely, why did they choose to focus on a slave-owning white girl from the South? Tune in to hear our hot takes, bad southern accents, and odes to Ken Burns' docu-series, The Civil War. 
Yours Truly, 
Cate and Jen 
 
RibbonBookClubPod.com
@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 
Edited by Danny Heck  
Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 
Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub
Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit