Charles Dickens – Scenes from an Extraordinary Life by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom

This graphic biography for middle grade heartens with the story of Charles Dickens – one of the greatest writers of all time who wrote Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities and Oliver Twist among many other famous stories.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was born in Portsmouth, England during the age of war and Industrial Revolution. He witnessed the poverty and abuse and sympathized with those less fortunate.

His father was the wages clerk for the Royal Navy, and his job moved him and his family from place to place. He inherited his comic voice from his mother, which he used with his talent for story telling from early age. He entertained grow-ups at local inns.

For a while, the family lived close to a small theatre where songs came through the thin walls and the whole family would often join in dancing. When the family moved to London and his father no longer could afford to pay for his education, Charles stayed home, reading books, including Robinson Crusoe.

In 1823, at eleven, Charles got lost in the bustling streets of London which were filled with pickpockets, rogues and other characters which later appeared in his stories.

Theatres were the cheap entertainment of the day. Charles had his own toy theatre. From early age, he wrote and acted in some of his own plays.

His father had no sense of managing money. Thus, leaving family in much debt. Charles was forced by his parents to work at factory at twelve.

His father was sent to debtor’s prison. After he paid his debt thanks to his small inheritance from his mother, Charles was sent back to school. But it was his father’s decision. His mother wanted him to stay and work at factory. Charles felt bitter about this throughout his life.

When his father’s money troubles continued, Charles left school for good in 1827 and became a lawyer’s office boy. In his spare time, with a fellow clerk, they performed at a local theatre.

At sixteen, in 1828, he got a position as a newspaper reporter. He also began to write short stories which began to be published regularly. He became friend of editor whose daughter enchanted Charles, and they got married in 1836.

At twenty-five, Charles wrote a news series for a magazine. He immersed himself into creating characters by mimicking them. He looked in the mirror and made facial contortions or talked rapidly in a low voice.

In 1838, he visited the infamous Yorkshire schools to which unwanted boys were sent and treated badly. This led him to writing Nicholas Nickleby.

In 1842, he visited the US and was treated like a superstar followed by a multitude.

In 1843, A Christmas Carol became favorite Christmas fairy tale.

In 1850, he wandered for miles at night, revisiting some old sites, including the factory and the place nearby where he stayed. This place continued to haunt him even when he was happy. This led him to write David Copperfield.

In 1851, his fascination for detectives inspired him to invent one of the first fictional police detectives.

In 1865, he narrowly escaped death while travelling by steam train. Only five years later, at fifty-eight, worn out by his hectic life-style and before completing The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dickens dies.

This is a graphic novel for ages 8-12. Thus, illustrations are big part of this storytelling, and both are beautiful and touching. Presented with fairly simple sentences, this story can be read by the target audience. Some painful memories that stayed with Dickens are well-dramatized so it touches human emotions. And it’s well-presented how Dickens used his painful experiences and observations as tool in his storytelling which touched multitude of people.

Source: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2011

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Dickens used his painful experiences and observations as tool in his storytelling which touched multitude of people.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         He grew up during the time of wars and Industrial Revolution. He witnessed the poverty and abuse and sympathized with those less fortunate. Those observations influenced his writing.

·         He used his comic voice with his talent for story telling from early age.

·         When his father no longer could afford to pay for his education, Charles stayed home, reading books.

·         When he got lost in the bustling streets of London which were filled with pickpockets, rogues and other characters, what he observed later appeared in his stories.

·         From early age, he wrote and acted in some of his own plays.

·         In his spare time, with a fellow clerk, they performed at a local theatre.

·         While working as a newspaper reporter, in his spare time, he started to write short stories which began to be published regularly.

·         When he wrote a news series for a magazine, he also immersed himself into creating characters by mimicking them.

·         His fascination for detectives inspired him to invent one of the first fictional police detectives.

·         Throughout his life, he found jobs that kept him close to what he loved to do and meanwhile was writing what was close to his heart.

 

 

 

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” – A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

“Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

 

 

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Discover Your Dharma – A Vedic Guide to Finding Your Purpose by Sahara Rose – host of Highest Self Podcast.

The dharma discovery journey talks about five stages: self-awareness, self-improvement, awakening, higher consciousness, stepping into your dharma. As you read those descriptions, you can identify at which stage you are.

It further explains, three paths to following dharma: leap – as it sounds, for example, quitting a job, investing all money, moving to a new country. Transition – for example, you keep your regular job and use your free time for what you love to do, but you have to be committed to do it on regular basis. Accidental discovery – for example you take a class that was required or someone asked you to do it with them, and you fell in love with what was done during that class and it becomes your passion and way of living.

Then, dharma is connected with three phases of dosha: vata – visionary who thinks outside the box; pitta – ambitious, driven individual; kapha – empathetic, generous soul.

Our life should be a cycle through those three phases of dosha, but some of us get stuck in one phase for life.

Thus, understanding ourselves and our actions, which comes down to consciousness/awareness, will make us move naturally through those phases.

This book gives a lot of practical examples, so it’s easy to grasp. Everything is encoded inside us. They key is to discover what it is. One of the ways of finding out is to pay attention what triggers us. Everything happens for a reason, good or bad, and you need to ask yourself what was the lesson to be learned. A lot of times, we assume or project things, which is a distortion, opposite of discovering the truth. When you feel being pulled towards something, then you should follow it. Keep exploring. Be curious. Those are directions of your dharma.

Who Was Joan of Arc? by Pam Pollack

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade encourages with the story of Joan of Arc – a poor peasant girl who after having visions became a warrior who led an army into battle.

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) was born in the village of Domremy, France, where she cared for the family’s cattle and sheep.

In 1420, a treaty was signed that France would be ruled by Charles of England who was part French. But some French people felt betrayed by the French king, Charles VI. After his death, French people fought between themselves who should be the king of France.

During this turmoil time, in 1425, one day when Joan was working in the garden, she heard someone calling her name, but she only saw a bright light.

The third time, she heard the voice, she recognized the archangel Michael. In her time, visions from God didn’t seem so extraordinary.

When she was sixteen, she was told to be destined to help the dauphin become king. She didn’t know how she could do such thing but her faith was very strong and she kept praying.

In 1428, her village of Domremy was raided by the French soldiers who sided with England. She was able to make her way to the commander Robert de Baudricourt, but he didn’t believe her vision. She was so determined that he wrote to the dauphin about her. Charles agreed to the meeting.

Per saints’ request, she was to cut her hair and dress like a boy. She was given directions from saints each step of the way.

A letter was sent to the English commanders telling them to leave France on God’s orders. Her request was ignored.

On April 29, 1429, she arrived outside Orleans with two hundred soldiers. They won the battle but Charles had to be crowned at cathedral in order to be the king of France. Many cities were still occupied by the English. Joan and her army captured one town after another.

On July 16, 1429, they arrived in Reims, and a day later, the dauphin was crowned King Charles VII at the cathedral.

Many cities were still held by the English, including Paris, which Joan wanted to give back to the French people. There were a few attempts to approach the city, but Joan was failing for the first time. She grew impatient as she didn’t like waiting.

Over in England, in November 1429, the young son of Henry V was crowned king of France. Now, France had two kings.

In the spring of 1430, Joan was given permission to capture a French town from the English. She was captured and put on trial. She was nineteen. The Catholic Church tried to prove that she was a witch. And being dressed in men’s clothes was seen as crime. She was found guilty. When she faced a horrible death and was scared, she signed a note promising to stop wearing men’s clothes, to never fight in a war again, and the all voices she heard were lie.

Her head was shaved and she was sent back to the tower. Three days later, the saints told her that she had done a terrible thing by signing the false confession. She took it all back. She was burned at stakes.

In 1453, when the English were driven out of France, Charles VII finally came to her defense and reopened her case.

In 1456, the Church reversed its decision and declared Joan innocent.

In 1920, she was declared a saint by the Catholic Church.

This biography exemplifies a young girl who had incredible strength, was very courageous, and was strongly religious. Her faith led her to achieve what would seem unachievable for a peasant girl who couldn't read and write. The strong connection to the Higher Power is what creates miracles. 

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2016

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Spend time in nature in order to reconnect with natural instincts. In Joan of Arc’s time, visions from God seemed natural.  

 

 

 

Traits:

·         She was a poor peasant girl who didn’t know how to read and write yet showed incredible strength, courage and faith.

·         Without training or experience, she stood up to enemy soldiers, kings and the powerful Church.

·         Despite Charles VII not coming to her defense when she was captured, she still believed him to be the right king.

·         Despite so many powerful men holding power over her, she parted with the last words to forgive everyone who had hurt her.

·         She proved that even the most disadvantaged can accomplish great things, be part of something very meaningful.

·         Her impatience might have been the reason why she got captured. Patience is something that many of us have to work on.

“I am not afraid… I was born to do this.” – Joan of Arc

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 The story of Joan of Arc and the time that she lived in brought to my mind the ancient wisdom. How much of it reconfirms, for example, having visions as a natural thing, not some kind of phenomenon as it’s seen in modern time. 

Recently, I started reaching more and more for different sources of ancient wisdom. One of them is a podcast with Gregg Braden who has dedicated his life to studying native tribes and the ancient wisdom they hold, and making it accessible by bridging modern science, ancient wisdom, and human potential.

Podcast: @bestofGreggBraden and @GreggBradenOfficial

The God Code by Gregg Braden – A scholar and New York Times –bestselling author shares his shocking theory of an ancient language — found in the decoded elements of our DNA—that shines new light on the mysteries of existence.

What would it mean to discover an ancient language—a literal message—hidden within the DNA of life itself? What we once believed of our past is about to change.
 
A coded message has been found within the molecules of life, deep within the DNA in each cell of our bodies. Through a remarkable discovery linking Biblical alphabets to our genetic code, the “language of life” may now be read as the ancient letters of a timeless message. Regardless of race, religion, heritage, or lifestyle, the message is the same in each cell of every woman, child, and man, past and present.
 
Sharing all-new, fascinating research, Gregg Braden discusses the life-changing discovery that led him from a successful career in the aerospace and defense industries to an extensive 12-year study of the most sacred and honored traditions of humankind.

The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne by Laura Alary

 The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne sheds light on this incredible woman who with her super curious mind found herself among men who told her she couldn’t be an astronomer and those who doubted her discovery, but she knew what she wanted and persisted even when she had moments of doubt.  

At the age of eight, Cecilia discovered bee orchid flower growing in England when her mother said it was impossible. But it turned out to be possible. From young age, she had a natural instinct to trust in what she believed in. This only increased her curiosity in the wonders of nature.

What other children saw as ordinary in nature, Cecilia saw something extraordinary in it.

Her teacher, seeing her inquisitiveness, encouraged her to read anything she wanted. So she did.

At twelve, she moved to London to study. She felt out of place like the bee orchid. Other children didn’t understand her interests, but she knew what she wanted.

Discoveries at Cambridge Observatory made her decide to be an astronomer. There, she began to explore the sky for herself. But often she was the only woman in her astronomy classes at Cambridge, even more not welcomed by some professors. Again, she felt isolated like the bee orchid.

This made her cross the ocean to study at Harvard where she was surrounded by other women studying the stars.

At the time, it was believed that stars were made of the same stuff as Earth, Cecilia reached a different conclusion. Others said it was impossible. As we grow and let others influence us, the same happened to Cecilia for the first time she doubted herself. She didn’t stay true to her natural instincts, but she was right in her discoveries, and it took a few years for others to catch up with her discovery.

When she became a professor at Harvard University, she encouraged her students to look carefully, measure accurately, and to trust themselves even if someone doubted them.

This biography is beautifully written with interesting illustrations supporting the text. I loved it how it began with her discovering a flower out of place and how the meaning of it followed her throughout her life. It’s a symbolic reminder that if a flower can bloom in a place that it never did, then a human being can adapt as well, and flourish even in harsh circumstances. It’s a human nature to doubt oneself. Life is not about the falls (which stops many) but how you rise up and pivot. It’s a truly touching and inspiring biography for children, ages 7-14 years.

Source: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, January 2026

 

 

  

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Cecilia Payne as a child discovered bee orchid growing in England which was unusual. As the plant, she felt out of place throughout her life while pursuing her passion. It’s a symbolic reminder that if a flower can bloom in a place that it never did, then a human being can adapt as well, and flourish even in challenging circumstances.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         From young age, she had a natural instinct to trust in what she believed in, especially after finding bee orchid growing in England and being told it was impossible.

·         What other children saw as ordinary in nature, Cecilia saw something extraordinary in it. She was well connected with nature. Thus, understood her natural instincts better.

·         She was encouraged to nurture her unusual curiosity, and she constantly did.

·         Even if others didn’t understand her interests, she knew what she wanted. She stood steadfast in her believes.

·         As we mature, and let others influence us, we lose our natural instincts, and that’s what happened to Cecilia. When she made a new discovery at Harvard and others said it was impossible, for the first time she doubted herself.

·         When she became a professor at Harvard University, and after learning her lesson not to doubt herself again, she encouraged her students to look carefully, measure accurately, and to trust themselves even if someone doubted them.

 

 

 “No ideas should be suppressed. (…) We must not forget that some of the best ideas seemed like nonsense at first. The truth will prevail in the end.” – Cecilia Payne

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Dear Universe 365 by Sarah Prout; each day presents a transformative force, showing how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The core of this transformation is the Law of Attraction. We’re an integral part of the Universe. “By maintaining awareness of your energetic state and choosing to align with higher frequencies you create a bridge between where you are and where you want to be.”

February is dedicated to connection and relationships.

For example, February 3 brings a message of empathy. “You possess the incredible gift of empathy, a bridge that connects hearts and minds. Empathy allows you to walk in another’s shoes, to feel their joy, their pain, and their dreams. Embrace this gift, letting it guide you in your interactions with others. Show kindness and understanding for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you may know nothing about. Through empathy, you create a ripple effect of compassion and love that touches lives in profound ways. Listen with your heart, offer your support, and be a source of comfort and strength. In practicing empathy, you not only uplift others but also elevate your own spirit, creating a world that is more connected, caring, and humane.”

Who Was Andy Warhol? by Kirsten Anderson

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade captivates with the story of Andy Warhol who was the founder of the Pop Art movement.

Andrew Warhol (1928-1987) was born in Pittsburgh to emigrant family from Slovakia. He liked reading comic books. His mother encouraged him to draw as he had a gift for art.

At nine, he was selected for free art classes at Carnegie Institute.

At seventeen, he entered the Carnegie Institute of Technology where he was studying painting and design. His teachers saw his talent but he had difficulty following the assignments. He struggled during his first year.

During summer time, he worked selling fruits and vegetables with his brother, and at the same time, sketching the customers.

For a city art exhibition, he drew a boy picking his nose. His drawing wasn’t picked but people certainly talked about it. He was learning how to get attention.

After college, he moved to NYC where he got a job for a magazine drawing the ads for different products. He was doing well for himself and winning awards, but he dreamed of his pictures being sold in galleries and displayed in museums.

A friend of his helped him develop his own style in modern art. Andy began to paint his soup cans. He developed his style in something people saw every day.

His first gallery show was at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles in 1962 which wasn’t a success but he continued to make a name for himself. He became part of the Pop Art.

He liked celebrating everyday life through his paintings. Then, he started experimenting with silk-screen process. He used pictures of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. People were noticing his art more and more.

Then, he was offered his own show at the Stable Gallery in NYC. Every painting at this show sold. He was a success.

He kept creating more art work which was showed at the famous Castelli Gallery in NYC.

Then, at gallery in Paris, he announced that he was retiring from painting and going into making movies. But he was creating movies of everyday life, simply recording life which people found boring.

Nevertheless, he continued to make movies, still created silk-screen portraits and worked in advertisement.

He had many friends and became famous like a movie star.

He also became a manager of a rock band. The rock band failed but with time their album became one of the most influential rock albums in history.

He became so famous those rich and famous wanted portraits of themselves made by him.

In 1969, he started a magazine called Interview, interviewing anyone important at the time.

Studio 54 was the most famous club in NYC at the time. People came there to be seen with Andy Warhol.

At fifty-eight, he died of complications after gallbladder operation.

This biography exemplifies a man who dreamed big and persisted in his pursuit of what he believed in.  Growing up, he received a good structure from his mother who encouraged him to draw when seeing his talent. Thus, whenever he had a chance he was drawing something or someone but the subject matter that was at his heart was everyday things or people. Even though it wasn’t something that resonated with people at first, he persisted because he believed in it. He stayed on the path that made him happy and that took him to the very top.

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2014

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: He exhibited what other successful people did: the learning process never stops and new goals need to be set to progress with the learning process.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         From childhood, he exhibited talent for art, and his mother encouraged him to draw.

·         Whenever he had a chance, he’d draw people, even when selling fruits and vegetables during summer break from school.

·         He had his struggles, one of them difficulty following the assignments at school.

·         He took part in exhibitions to make his art visible to others. Even though when it wasn’t picked for award, the subject he was picking was making noise. So he was learning how to grab someone’s attention even when his art wasn’t picked. From early age, he was learning how to pick good out of what another could see as negative or discouraging.

·         His first job in advertisement wasn’t necessarily his dream job, but he was making good money, winning awards, and meanwhile still dreaming big.

·         A friend of his helped him develop his own style in modern art. He was open to suggestions how to develop his own style.

·         After finding his own style, he persisted even when it wasn’t resonating with people at first.

·         After making a name for himself in his own art style which made him very famous, he became setting new goals for himself. He tried making movies, managing rock band, founded a magazine to interview important people.

 

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Dear Universe 365 by Sarah Prout; each day presents a transformative force, showing how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The core of this transformation is the Law of Attraction. We’re an integral part of the Universe. “By maintaining awareness of your energetic state and choosing to align with higher frequencies you create a bridge between where you are and where you want to be.”

February is dedicated to connection and relationships.

For example, February 2 brings a message of community. “You are an integral part of a greater whole, part of a global community that thrives on unity and mutual support. In community, we find strength, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Embrace your role within your community, knowing that your unique contributions make a significant impact. Foster connections with those around you, offering your skills, your time, and your compassion Together, you create a network of support that can overcome any challenge and celebrate every triumph. Recognize the power of collective effort and the beauty of shared dreams. Your community is a living entity, growing and evolving with each act of kindness and cooperation. Stand tall within this circle of life, knowing you are never alone.”

Who Was Paul Revere? by Robert Edwards

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade fascinates with the story of Paul Revere who was a famous American patriot.

Paul Revere (1734-1818) was born in Boston. He was bright and full of energy. His father was a very good silversmith and taught his son the trade. Paul was only nineteen when his father died, and took over the shop.

He married in 1757 and had eight children. When his first wife died, he remarried and had eight more children.

Paul became a very good silversmith. He made whatever his customers wanted, including a silver chain for a pet squirrel or a silver whistle for a child. He even taught himself how to make false teeth.

He was hardworking but he also like the company of friends. After work, he often headed to a tavern where he talked about politics with his friends. He became a member of a few men’s groups. One group opposed taxes imposed by the government in England.

In 1765, the Stamp Act was passed in England, putting stamp requirement on many goods. That got Paul pretty angry. He joined secret group called the Sons of Liberty. Paul designed a medal for all the members. They marched through Boston protesting. It worked. The Stamp Act was over.

Two years later, new taxes were announced on glass, paper, paint, and tea. This put Paul and the other Sons of Liberty into work again. They asked people to stop buying things from England. Letters were sent to other colonies.

This time the king of England didn’t bend. Instead, he sent ships to the harbor of Boston as warning for the Bostonians to behave.

However, an event on March 5, 1770, led to Boston Massacre. Paul made an engraving of the event showing many details. Afterwards, the tax was lifted except a very small tax on tea.

When three ships arrived from England carrying tea, the Sons of Liberty decided that no one would by the tea. They came up with a secret plan to hold a very special tea party. On December 16, 1773, they dumped ten thousand pounds of tea into Boston Harbor.

Afterwards, Paul became the messenger between colonies, delivering news to NYC and Philadelphia about events in Boston. This brought the colonies closer together, uniting against the king of England.

Those events led to the American Revolution on April 19 – ending war in 1781.

Paul was forty-eight when thirteen colonies became the United States.

After the war, Paul opened a foundry making hammers, anvils, stoves, bells and more. Then, he built a copper mill. The Revere Copper Company is still in business today.

He died at eighty-three having more than fifty grandchildren.

This biography demonstrates a man who took actions over just words. He was active in discussions during which decisions were made by many and agreed upon. Then, actions were taken. He was passionate about the cause he took part in, and did it until the country became independent. It wasn’t just the talk. It was the actions that made him the famous patriot.

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2011

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: It wasn’t just the talk. It was the actions that made him the famous patriot.

 

 

Traits:

·         He took part in discussions about freedom.

·         He took active actions, riding his horse for many hours between Boston and NYC and Philadelphia to deliver messages.

·         He took actions when feeling oppressed by government which felt foreign.

·         He continued to take active actions until colonies became united.

 

 

“Americans will always fight for liberty.” – Paul Revere

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Dear Universe 365 by Sarah Prout; each day presents a transformative force, showing how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The core of this transformation is the Law of Attraction. We’re an integral part of the Universe. “By maintaining awareness of your energetic state and choosing to align with higher frequencies you create a bridge between where you are and where you want to be.”

January is dedicated to gratitude and appreciation.

For example, January 23 brings a message of kindness. “Kindness is the purest form of connection between souls. It transcends language and culture, touching hearts and transforming lives. Be kind to yourself – acknowledge your struggles, celebrate your strengths, and forgive your missteps. We’re human and sometimes we make mistakes! It’s okay. Always remember to be kind to yourself. Extend this kindness outward, for every act of compassion echoes into infinity. In a world that often prioritizes self-interest, choose to be the light of kindness. It’s a choice that not only changes others but also redefines your own life’s experience, filling it with warmth and love. Inspired action: Commit a random act of kindness today and make someone smile.”