Jan 29, 2004

ON MY BOOKSHELF

“Martha Washington: America’s First First Lady”
By Jean Brown Wagoner

Sean O’Connor, 9
Graystone Elementary School student, aspiring orthodontist

Sean O’Connor is smart and busy. He knows what he likes and gets what he wants. Currently in the fourth grade, O’Connor enjoys playing soccer, video games, and tag [both regular and freeze]. In addition, the rather articulate 9-year-old prefers “hanging with his buds” to reading, however, he sees the place for that too.

“When I grow up I want to be an orthodontist,” said O’Connor, whose mother revealed the source of Shawn’s motivation, finally admitting that his orthodontist has a Ford Boxster.

“I want the cash,” said O’Connor.

When asked what his favorite subjects in school are, O’Connor modestly replied, “math and science. I like the experiments in science, but math comes to me. I guess I’m kinda good at it.”

Recently, while suffering through other subjects, O’Connor was required to read Jean Brown Wagoner’s “Martha Washington: America’s First First Lady.”

In the book, Wagoner outlines the early life of America’s first matriarch, illustrating exciting events and detailing the turning points that shaped the life of America’s very first lady. The book is organized in an easy-to-read format, and is great for kids to reference in reports, or even for sheer entertainment value.

Early on, readers discover that Martha Washington was actually quite the adventuress. Wagoner makes a special point describing scenes of Washington’s unauthorized exploration of her grandparents’ gun room, and later, we learn that Washington and her brothers kept a bear for a pet.

“I liked the book,” said O’Connor. “I like it when Patsie [Martha Washington’s family nickname] finds the gun room. It was a mystery and I like mysteries. I also liked seeing her [Washington] with the bear. It was fun to see him and what he does. But I don’t want a bear. The book says you can’t tame them and that they do pretty wild things. A dog’s fine.”

–By Justin Petersen