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Homeschooler Sails Around The World Update…

Zac Sunderland, 17, had hoped to finish up his around-the-world solo adventure by the end of June. Unfortunately, the last leg of his trip has been plagued with troubles which will delay his arrival at Marina del Rey until sometime around July 14. Since leaving Panama, the winds have been incredibly frustrating. First the winds were fluky and light, so he barely made any progress. As he sailed farther north along the coast of Mexico, strong winds kept sending him in the wrong direction. Then his bulkhead broke, forcing him to stop for repairs. Zac explains how it happened in his blog:

“This morning I tacked over to a port tack to make some northing after a dismal night bearing south no matter how hard I pushed northwards. The wind built during the day and by 10am I was slamming in to 25 knots and 8-10 foot sharp seas…. I hit a huge wave and Intrepid launched out of the water. When we came down I heard a bang like a gun going off. Looking I saw that the deck was flexing about 3 inches up where the shrouds are attached to the deck at the chain plates. I went into the head and saw that the inch thick teak bulkhead that my portside chain plates are tapped into had cracked…. With this damage the mast wouldn’t be able to take the strain of beating in these conditions so I altered course more downwind and now I’m headed for Banderas Bay where I will repair the bulkhead and get back out to sea as soon as possible.”

This unanticipated complication also coincided with a rather nasty tropical depression that would later be upgraded to a Category One Hurricane. Both of these things had Zac heading for a safe harbor. Zac’s father and grandmother flew down to be with him at the Paradise Village Marina in Nueva Vallarta. The repairs were completed in just five days and the weather abated. As of June 27, the conditions were right for Zac to continue his journey toward home.

On July 3^rd Zac was still off the Mexican Coast, 400 miles away from Marina del Rey, when a U.S. Coast Guard ship came up to him. Four armed officers boarded his boat and did a customary search for anything illegal. Zac said, “After checking my paperwork and passport they asked if my parents knew I was sailing around the world alone … which was pretty funny.”

Zac is the youngest American sailor since 1965 to attempt a solo global circumnavigation. That was the year 16-year-old Robin Lee Graham departed Los Angeles, but Graham did not finish his voyage until the age of 21. Graham’s book, Dove, was one of Zac’s inspirations. Zac sailed west from Los Angeles on approximately the same course as Graham, but plans to complete his voyage while still 17 years old.

The eldest of seven children, Zac is a homeschooled straight-A student. He brought books along to study on board so that he could finish his high school education during the 40,000-mile journey. “I have all my books with me. I have one more year to finish at high school and I have to send back my tests (via e-mail) to my mum. She’s going to grade them and make sure I am doing well.”

Visit Zac’s website and check his progress at http://www.zacsunderland.com

“I have spent a lot of time out here thinking about what is important and what I’d like to do with my life. I don’t have all of the answers but I know this…without God in your life, you have nothing and I don’t want to spend my life reading about what other people have done. I want to be the kind of person that people want to read about. I believe that my solo circumnavigation is just the beginning of many more adventures to come. Documenting them and telling others and hopefully inspiring others at the same time is what I want to do.” ~Zac Sunderland

Homeschooled Teen Sails Around The World

Zac Sunderland

Photo Courtesy: www.zacsunderland.com

As of June 1, 2009, Southern California teenager Zac Sunderland is heading toward home in his 36-foot sailboat, with just a few more weeks and about 3,000 miles left to go before he becomes the youngest person to sail around the world alone. The 17-year-old expects to arrive at Marina Del Rey in the Los Angeles area sometime in mid-to-late June. Zac was 16 when he left Marina Del Rey on June 14, 2008.

Zac has spent his whole life on and around boats. His father was always fixing up boats and using them for family cruises before selling them. A sailboat was literally Zac’s first home, and a three-year family cruise was a formative experience during Zac’s preteen years. An experienced young sailor who had already logged over 15,000 sea hours, Zac spent all of his savings to buy a 36-foot sailboat named “Intrepid” for the circumnavigation trip. His father, a shipwright who also runs a yacht management company, retrofitted the ship with sophisticated communications, safety equipment, a water maker, and many other custom upgrades.

Zac is the youngest American sailor since 1965 to attempt a solo global circumnavigation. That was the year 16-year-old Robin Lee Graham departed Los Angeles, but Graham did not finish his voyage until the age of 21. Graham’s book, Dove, was one of Zac’s inspirations. Zac will sail west from Los Angeles on approximately the same course as Graham, but plans to complete his voyage while still 17 years old.

The record for the youngest solo circumnavigation since Robin Lee Graham has been held by an Australian, David Dicks, who was age 18 years and 41 days when he completed his voyage in 1996. Zac Sunderland won’t turn 18 until November 29, so he should easily beat that record. Zac is also following in the footsteps of another hero and friend, Jesse Martin, who completed his own solo, nonstop, and unassisted circumnavigation at age 18.

The eldest of seven children, Zac is a homeschooled straight-A student. He brought books along to study on board so that he could finish his high school education during the 40,000-mile journey. “I have all my books with me. I have one more year to finish at high school and I have to send back my tests (via e-mail) to my mum. She’s going to grade them and make sure I am doing well.”

Zac will have plenty of projects to keep him busy when he returns. He would like to write a book and he also plans to put together a documentary using footage from the eight video cameras aboard his boat. Included in the footage is a pirate ship circling his sailboat between Indonesia and Australia. Locking himself behind the bullet-proof glass of his cabin, he made a call on his satellite phone to notify authorities, who sent a plane that presumably scared off the pirates.

Zac has stated, “My dad says cruising is 80 percent hassle and 20 percent fun, but somehow that 20 percent outweighs the 80 percent. When you’re in port and it’s like a beautiful day and you’ve worked so hard to get somewhere, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Visit Zac’s website: www.zacsunderland.com

See Also: ESPN’s June 15 Cover Story

Robin Lee Graham

Throughout American history, many people who found success at a young age were the result of parents supporting their goals. Such was the case with Robin Lee Graham, a 16-year-old boy who dreamed of sailing around the world in 1965. “At first, he hoped to find a companion to share the adventure, but few schoolboys have parents as lenient as were Robin’s mother and father. Then he made up his mind to do it alone, just as had Captain Slocum back in 1895-1898. But where Slocum had made his voyage at the end of a long career at sea, Robin would be doing it at the beginning of his, and if successful he would become the youngest person ever to sail alone around the world.” [from Don Holm’s The Circumnavigators, chapter 34.]

Growing up in Morro Bay, California, Robin was no stranger to sailing. He first learned how to sail an 8-foot dinghy at age 10. When he was 13, Robin’s dad sold his home and construction business to take the family on a 13-month sailing trip through the South Pacific aboard their 36-foot ketch, Golden Hind. No classroom could ever come close to imparting the skills, knowledge, and self-confidence that Robin gained from that experience. “During that cruise, his father had taught him seamanship, celestial navigation, shipboard maintenance, and all the other skills so vital to bluewater voyaging. Robin was a good student, and along with his lessons, he acquired a deep love for the sea and sailing.” [Holm, chapter 34.]

Robin had already been restless at school and bored by traditional book-learning. After taking a year off during his family’s excursion, those feelings intensified and sailing became an obsession. He yearned to see the world and get away from the regimented society in which he lived. Robin wanted to do something different, special, and totally his own. When Robin dropped out of school and attempted to run away from home, his father said, “I figured if I didn’t help him to do it right, he’d do it on his own in a leaky boat.” So Robin’s dad purchased and outfitted a 24-foot sloop, Dove, for his son.

Robin’s father had once dreamed of undertaking an around-the-world voyage himself, so he understood how his son felt. Robin’s mother, on the other hand, wasn’t quite so keen on the idea. Single-handed sailing is hard enough, but sailing alone around the world? The goal is simple, and yet it’s a difficult ordeal of at least 21,000 miles and many months. While circumnavigating the globe is one of the oldest challenges of all time, it has cost even some of the most experienced sailors their lives. More adventurers have actually traveled into space than sailed solo around the earth, and only a handful of people have done it under the age of 20.

Nevertheless, whether a reckless teen or brave explorer, Robin set sail from San Pedro, California, with two kittens for company. After a successful shakedown cruise to Hawaii, it was September 14, 1965 when he left Honolulu on his solo ocean circumnavigation. Graham’s first landfall was two weeks later at Tabuaeran, also known as Fanning Island or Fanning Atoll. From there he sailed to Western Samoa and Pago Pago. Robin had to stop for a while to repair damage to his boat caused by a sudden squall, and then he stayed in the area to wait out the hurricane season.

In the spring of 1966, Robin sailed from Tonga to Fiji while visiting many small islands along the way. Once in Fiji, he met and fell in love with a girl named Patricia Ratterree from Los Angeles who also happened to be traveling around the world. Just like a typical romantic teen, from that moment forward all he could think about was Patti. They kept in touch, and Patti hitched rides on airplanes and steamers to meet Robin at his ports of call. By this time a whole year had gone by.

On October 22, 1966, Robin sailed to New Hebrides and then to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. While in the Solomons, Robin visited Florida Island, Savo Island and Tulagi Island. He arrived in New Guinea on March 24, 1967. After leaving New Guinea, Robin landed at Darwin, Australia on May 4. On July 6, Robin sailed toward the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and traveled 1,900 miles in eighteen days. But eighteen hours out of the Cocos, his boat lost its mast during a storm. Under jury-rig, Robin had to sail 2,300 miles to reach Mauritius. After repairs, Robin sailed 1,450 miles to Durban, South Africa.

Robin spent nine months in South Africa. He married Patti and they spent their honeymoon at Kruger National Park. Robin’s father had opposed the marriage thinking that it might interfere with the voyage. If it had been up to Robin, the trip would have come to an end way before it did. But Robin was pressured by his father and by National Geographic who had picked up the story – and both of whom were helping finance the trip – to complete the circumnavigation. Nevertheless, Robin’s strongest motivation to sail on was his wife who inspired him to keep going.

On July 13, 1968, Robin left Cape Town and headed northward along the west coast of South Africa. On August 5, Robin landed at Ascension Island, then he continued across the Atlantic. Later that month, he sailed up the Surinam River and visited Barbados. National Geographic magazine had commissioned Robin to keep a record (pictures and journal) of his trip. Upon arriving in Barbados, his sloop was in such bad shape that Robin used the money from National Geographic to buy another boat in which to complete his circumnavigation. Continuing his trip in the 33-foot Return of Dove on November 20, 1969, Robin reached the San Blas Islands of Panama where he spent two months exploring. After spending Christmas and New Year’s Day at Cristobal in the Canal Zone, Robin sailed through the Panama Canal and finally reached Balboa, California on January 17, 1970.

Robin was just a 16-year-old teenager when he left on his voyage around the world. Five years and 33,000 miles later, he was a 21-year-old married man (and expectant father) who had accomplished what few would dare attempt. Alone at sea for as many as 38 days at a stretch, he survived many hardships and obstacles – including the doldrums, loneliness, sleepless nights, stormy seas, two broken masts, circling sharks, and a near collision with a freighter. He also saw innumerable stars, tropical islands, spectacular reefs, and experienced countless adventures in some of the most beautiful places on earth.

Along the way, Robin learned about many different cultures and customs by personally visiting places that were rarely seen and virtually unknown at the time. More amazingly, Robin did this without a 2-way radio, GPS, Internet, or even a life raft, in a boat barely bigger than a bedroom. All he had was a sextant, charts, and a chronograph. A navigation error of only half a degree would have left him miles from his destination, yet he did the navigation without giving it a second thought. Robin even invented a simple auto pilot for the boat.

Robin was a courageous, honest young man with a lofty ambition that did not include seeking fame and fortune for himself. Just like his circumnavigating predecessors Joshua Slocum and Harry Pidgeon, Robin Graham simply took an ordinary boat with minimal resources and set out on an excellent adventure. Refreshingly, at that time there was none of the extreme hype that surrounds similar ventures nowadays. Robin and Patti, both with down-to-earth values, didn’t care about material wealth; all they wanted was the freedom to “do their thing.” This is in sharp contrast to many people who are primarily concerned with money and social status.

Nevertheless, the voyage brought Robin and Patti immense intangible wealth – that of discovering a companion for life as well as a Shepherd for all eternity. God led the couple to find each other and through their experiences He also drew them both to Himself. Robin wrote that he and his young wife began to read the Bible together: “Our finding a belief in God – becoming Christians – was a slow thing…. We want to work out our lives in the way God intended us to. In reading the Bible together we were fascinated by the prophecies made two thousand years and more ago, prophecies which seemed to be coming true, like the Jews returning to their own country. We have no idea where these new thoughts and ideas and practices will take us…. But we are open to whatever direction God will give us. Our belief is simple. It is the belief that so many of our own generation are discovering – a belief that God isn’t dead as some of the older generation have told us. In a world that seems to be going crazy we are learning that Jesus showed men the only way they should live – the way we were meant to live.”

Robin probably inspired more people to leave the mundane land-life and travel the oceans than any other person this century or the last. Yet ironically when he arrived back home, “I had no desire to be around the ocean,” Robin recalled with a laugh. Robin and his wife briefly attended Stanford University but after having roamed the world, found that they had acquired a maturity of attitude which did not fit in with the liberal college atmosphere. Wishing once again to get away from civilization, they decided to settle on a rugged timbered homestead near Kalispell, Montana, where the nearest neighbors were three miles away. “With a mail order course, they planned to help educate their daughter, Quimby, and themselves, and meanwhile they would build a new and simple life style based on understanding and enjoying the natural world.” [Holm, chapter 34.] National Geographic did one last interview with Robin and Patti at their home.

Graham’s book about his voyage, Dove, was published in 1972. It is to Robin’s credit that this book has been in print for nearly 40 years and is among those recommended on homeschool reading lists for young adults. Robin’s voyage was also depicted in a film called “The Dove.” Another book, Home is the Sailor, was published in 1983 as a sequel to Dove. Now hard to find, it continued the story of Robin and Patti’s life in Montana, sharing their trials and triumphs as they followed the Lord and learned to live off the land.

The Grahams are remarkable people and provide us all a wonderful story of courage, perseverance, and hope. Robin and Patti are still married and living in the log home that they built for themselves, framed in the shape of a cross. They have two grown children, Quimby and Ben. Quimby is married to a doctor and lives in Michigan with two sons. Ben lives in Montana and is married with a little girl. Robin is in the construction business. He and Patti are both actively involved in Christian service projects. Seeking to positively influence the lives of people around the world, they do volunteer work for international aid organizations and frequently fly overseas for that purpose.

If you go to Google Images and search for “robin patti graham” you will find a photo, circa 1995, of a grey-bearded but smiling Robin Lee Graham, and beside him Patti – who, despite being middle-aged, retains the blonde good looks that attracted Robin to her when they met in Figi about 30 years before. Their story of adventure and romance is a classic and it’s great to know that he and Patti managed to live happily ever after!

Homeschooled Teen Profile: Tim Tebow

If you’re a sports fan, you’ve probably heard of football quarterback Tim Tebow. Besides being an outspoken Christian athlete, Tebow is a homeschool graduate. Although he did not attend public school classes, he played on the Nease High School football team which won the 2005 State Championship. In his freshman year at college, Tim joined the Florida Gators, the team that won the National Championship in 2006. As the starting quarterback, Tim has been leading the Gators to victories ever since. On January 11, 2009, Tebow announced that he would return for his senior season at the University of Florida rather than making himself eligible for the NFL draft.

Tim grew up in a close but competitive family and athletics have always been a big part of his life. At five years old, he was begging to play organized sports. Like his other siblings, he was homeschooled until college. Fortunately for him, in 1996 legislation was passed in Florida allowing homeschooled students to compete in local high school sporting events. This Florida law allowed Tim to play baseball, basketball, and football, and he received numerous county and state awards for each sport.

Tim’s parents, Pam and Bob Tebow, have been called “homeschool pioneers” because they began homeschooling in 1982 before this form of education became popular. Teaching their children to honor God was the main reason for their decision to homeschool. “If I could get my kids to the age of 25 and they know God and serve God and had character qualities that pleased God, then I knew God would be happy and I would be happy,” explained Bob Tebow. “The only way I could do that was to do it myself, commit to God that this is my job,” the senior Tebow continued. “Traditional academics had to take a back seat to God’s Word and character building.”

In addition to family values and character training, the Tebows focused on each child’s individual learning styles, interests, and goals. All five of the Tebow children went on to receive college scholarships. Tim was the first underclassman ever to be awarded the Heisman Trophy for most outstanding player in collegiate football. He earned the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top football player twice. He also won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s best quarterback, and the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s most outstanding amateur athlete in any sport.

Tim remains humble in spite of all the national attention he has received for his accomplishments. Tim credits the Lord, his family, his coaches, and his teammates for his success. Although football is important to him, his first priorities are faith, family, and academics. A favorite verse from the Bible that he often quotes is Philippians 4:13, which credits the true source of his strength, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Just like in the movie, “Facing the Giants,” Tim’s main goal is to give glory to God.

The Tim Tebow Bill

Football season may be over for now, but Tebow is still in the news with an Alabama Senate bill named after him. Senate Bill 305, a.k.a. the “Tim Tebow Bill,” would allow homeschooled students to participate in public and non-public school athletics. Kentucky and Arkansas also have Tim Tebow bills in the works. Similar legislation is currently being proposed in the states of Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

At least 24 states already have laws allowing homeschoolers equal access to athletic activities. These include: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.

Despite the fact that the Alabama Education Association and many high school principals are opposed to the idea of homeschooled students playing sports without being enrolled full time in public school, the Tim Tebow bill seems to be gaining acceptance in the Alabama legislature. State Senator Hank Erwin, the bill’s main sponsor, said “We’re moving the ball forward. It’s slow, but … we’re moving it down the field one yard at a time.” On April 22, 2009, the Senate Education Committee will vote on this bill, in what will be their third attempt.

Tim has spoken in favor of homeschool students being able to play on public school teams. Tebow’s father said that if Florida law had not allowed homeschoolers to participate, he would not have enrolled Tim in public school just so that he could play football. Tebow’s mother stated, “It has been my experience that the families who home school are a positive addition to an athletic team, school band, or interest club.” Tim regularly was the spokesman for his football coach’s team goals of “character, strength, and honor,” and he continues in a similar role at the University of Florida.

Tim’s Family and Faith

Timothy Tebow was born on August 14, 1987 in Manila, Philippines, where his parents were Christian missionaries. While pregnant with him, his mother suffered a life-threatening infection compounded by a severe placental abruption. Expecting a stillbirth, doctors recommended that she have an abortion to save her own life. She refused, and through the miracle of prayer, both mother and baby survived. “It was … a really a great beginning because you know when something is hard to come by, you value it so much,” said Pam Tebow, adding, “all of our children value Timmy because they’d all had a part in praying for him.” Tim has two older brothers and two older sisters.

When Tim was three, the Tebow family moved back to Florida, the home base for his father’s his twenty-five year ministry. All of the Tebow children regularly go to the Philippines on mission trips. Tebow has worked at the orphanage there since he was 15. Each summer, Tim returns to lead evangelistic crusades and minister to the children. On one of Tim’s mission trips, the highlight for him was preaching to 10,000 high school students in Digos, Mindanao. At home in Florida, he regularly visits schools, hospitals, and even spoke at a prison.

Tim’s faith is the driving force in his life, and he is acutely aware that “To whom much is given, much is required.” Tebow keeps a poem on his bulletin board that reminds him of an athlete’s accountability to be a role model for the boys who want to be just like him. He is a tough but tenderhearted guy who likes to greet young fans at his games. Tim also leads fellow college students in Bible studies each week and has a desire to remain involved in ministry.

In a one-hour documentary about Tebow that aired on ESPN, Tim is seen studying the Bible as part of his homeschool curriculum and devotional reading. The football team is shown praying before and after practice. After almost a year filming Tim’s senior season in different settings, ESPN producer Ken Murrah said, “I made the decision that it must be heavily based on their faith and beliefs.” Murrah explained, “I knew he was a good football player in his strength, size and unique skills, but I was amazed at his natural ability and maturity to speak publicly, go into schools, be comfortable in being a role model and talk so openly about his faith.” Timothy is a name that means “honoring God,” and Tim Tebow is doing just that.

Erik Demaine

Erik Demaine, named “one of the most brilliant scientists in America” by Popular Science magazine, is a rising star in the area of theoretical computer science – specifically computational geometry, data structures, and algorithms. As a child, he had an unconventional educational background of homeschooling on the road followed by entering college at an early age. However, he shies away from the term “genius,” explaining “I didn’t show any sign of being particularly smart or anything, [except that I had] an unusually long attention span.”

Erik was born on February 28, 1981, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His parents divorced when he was young, so Erik was raised by his father, a sculptor and glassblower whose only degree was from high school. Together, father and son traveled to art shows around Canada and the United States where they sold crafts to support their journey. Erik’s father instructed him for as little as an hour each day from a homeschool manual, leaving Erik free to pursue his own interests and spend time reading in local libraries.

Describing formal school as “just an excuse to meet kids and hang out with them,” Erik says, “I learned to read early, but it never was as interesting to me as personal experience. I didn’t read textbooks as an undergrad. My father, Martin Demaine, had home-schooled me until I went to university. He was against the whole school thing, [and] wanted to be engaged in my education. Also, my father wanted to travel, so around Grade 2 we started traveling around North America, Canada, and the United States. I got to see a lot of different cultures, meet lots of different kinds of people, different backgrounds, different ages.”

At a young age, Erik became intensely interested in computer games and computer programming. Erik wrote his first computer program at age seven, a text-based “Choose Your Own Adventure”-style game. When Erik’s ambitions began to outpace his knowledge, his father enrolled him in math and computer science classes at Dalhousie University in their hometown of Halifax, and dad attended class alongside his son. Although Erik was only twelve years old, he aced his courses and recalls “my fellow students were great and treated me like anyone else.”

Erik earned his bachelor’s degree at age 14, then he went to the University of Waterloo for his master’s degree in math (1996) followed by a Ph.D. (2001). He joined the MIT faculty as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science that same year. At age 20, he was the youngest professor ever hired by the renowned university. “I primarily came because it’s the top place for computer science, but now I realize I like the culture here,” he said of MIT. “People are excited about projects and love to jump in on them.”

Dr. Erik Demaine is best known for his work involving algorithms and computational geometry in which he gets to combine art, science, and play. He proved mathematically that it is possible to create any conceivable straight-sided shape by folding a piece of paper and making a single scissor cut. This launched the specialty field of computational origami, an interdisciplinary endeavor on the boundary of computer science and mathematics. Dr. Demaine is particularly interested in abstract geometry problems related to folding and bending that have practical applications in fields as diverse as manufacturing (sheet metal fabrication) and biology (protein-folding).

In 2003, Dr. Demaine became one of the youngest people ever selected for the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, commonly called “the genius grant.” The award cited him as a “computational geometer tackling and solving difficult problems related to folding and bending-moving readily between the theoretical and the playful, with a keen eye to revealing the former in the latter.” The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awards the grants to “recognize the importance of individual creativity in society by finding people who are creative in their field… and will go on to do great things …to enable recipients to exercise their own creative instincts for the benefit of society at large.”

In 2008, Carnegie Mellon University, in cooperation with the Tokyo University of Technology (TUT), awarded the second annual Katayanagi Prize in Computer Science to Dr. Demaine. The Katayanagi Prizes “honor the best and brightest in the field of computer science,” said Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon. “Computer science plays a critical role everywhere in the world today, but its greatest researchers and practitioners often go unsung.” TUT President Hideo Aiso added, “I have been very much interested in Dr. Demaine’s research in the emerging field of origami mathematics, since origami is a part of Japanese traditional art and culture.”

Martin Demaine is now a technical instructor and artist in residence at the MIT Glass Lab. Erik and his father continue to work closely together, having collaborated on 43 papers over the years. “[My dad's] background is in visual arts, so he’s been my art influence,” says Erik. “Then I got him interested in algorithms and computer science. Lately we’ve been trying to combine these two.”

Although his appreciation for the beauty and joy of mathematics may seem a little geeky, Erik is actually quite down to earth with his sand-blond ponytail and fuzzy beard, jeans, t-shirt, and hiking books. He likes to defy what’s popular: “I used to not eat chocolate because it was too popular – therefore it couldn’t be good!” However, he is fond of beef jerky. “Whenever I eat it, I have this image of being in an adventure,” he explains. Erik’s hobbies include: puzzles, game theory, origami, knot tying, string figures, glassblowing, juggling, card tricks, improvisational comedy/theater, and programming. Visit his website at http://erikdemaine.org/

The Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers band is an incredibly popular trio of three homeschooled brothers: Paul (Kevin) Jonas, 21, Joseph (Joe) Jonas, 19, and Nicholas (Nick) Jonas, 16. The Jonas Brothers grew up in a home where music was a large part of everyday life. Their father, Rev. Kevin Jonas, is co-founder of Christ for the Nations Music ministry, as well as a pastor in the family’s hometown of Wyckoff, NJ. Their mother, Denise Jonas, is a church singer and sign language teacher. As music ministers, their parents travelled everywhere. Kevin was born in Teaneck NJ on November 5, 1987; Joe was born in Casa Grande AZ on August 15, 1989; and Nick was born in Dallas TX on September 16, 1992. A younger brother Franklin (Frankie), known as the “Bonus Jonas,” was born on September 28, 2000.

The Jonas Brothers perform a mixture of pop, rock and punk music for which they write their own music and play their own instruments. Kevin plays lead guitar and does backing vocals. Joe performs lead vocals, percussion, and sometimes guitar. Nick does lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and piano. These brothers are powerful balladeers, upbeat and energetic in their approach. The Jonas Brothers are often compared to the Hanson brothers, another homeschool sibling singing group, and they have even been compared to The Beatles, although that may be a bit of a stretch. Like their 60’s counterparts, the Jonas brothers elicit piercing shrieks from pre-teen girls wherever they go, and although some believe they are overrated, others think the Jonas Brothers may be the next big act that will explode.

The boys are starring as themselves in the new Disney Channel’s “JONAS.” This series was inspired by the Beatles films “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Help!” as well as the zany American made-for-TV group the Monkees. In “JONAS,” the boys play members of a popular band trying to live normal lives at a regular school, despite being trailed by throngs of ardent fans. Described as a fusion of situation comedy and music video, the show also features previously unknown Frankie Jonas playing their younger brother. The three older brothers originally gained popularity on the Disney Channel when they made their film debut in the movie, “Camp Rock.”

While the chart-topping trio are obviously helped by Disney’s marketing clout, the band’s catchy tunes laced with muscular guitar riffs have moved beyond Radio Disney to Top 40 stations. Despite their Christian background, the Jonas Brothers decided not to go the Contemporary Christian Music route. Rev. Jonas explains, “I was called to preach. My kids are not called to preach,” he said. “They are Christians who happen to be in a band.” Nevertheless, one of the reasons for the genre direction was to reach more teenagers. The Jonas Brothers are aware of the positive impact they can have on millions of kids, and it’s a responsibility they take seriously.

Despite their foray into the world of rock ‘n’ roll – long a refuge for teen angst and rebellion – the Jonas Brothers are known for their straight-laced, squeaky-clean image. “They don’t hide their faith,” said Rev. Jonas, who noted the challenge his sons face with their newfound teen-idol status. The trio vows that they want to continue being a positive influence and will stick to the wholesome ideals they have set for themselves despite the trappings of fame that derailed other Disney alumnus like Britney Spears.

The Christian faith is very important to the entire Jonas family. The brothers are all committed Evangelical Christians, and their father is an ordained minister with Assemblies of God. Before being homeschooled by their mother, all three Jonas brothers used to attend Eastern Christian High School. For a peek into their real lives, watch “A Day In the Life of The Jonas Brothers” by shineon-media on YouTube. About halfway through this video you can see the brothers using the Accelerated Christian Education homeschool curriculum (PACE workbooks) by ACE ministries. With such a busy schedule, they really have to focus on getting a certain amount of work done whenever they can. (Although the two older brothers have since graduated.)

The Jonas Brothers abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. In addition, they are committed to remaining chaste before marriage and they all wear purity rings on their left-hand ring finger. Kevin says it’s to signify “a promise to ourselves and to God that we’ll stay pure till marriage.” Joe explains, “our parents asked us if we wanted to and we were like “yeah,” saying “People are like ‘no way, that’s impossible.’” Besides being great conversation starters, Nick added: “We use it as a chance to witness. We want to be a Christian influence in the pop music world. It’s definitely a mission field.”

The brothers stay away from controversial subjects and politics in their lyrics, instead sticking to youth issues like teen love, heartbreak, forgiveness, peer pressure, and the trials of growing up. Other songs take a light-hearted look at the craziness of fame and fortune. While romantic songs may seem somewhat out of character considering their pledge, Kevin says “It’s more from the lack of our relationships [that we're able to write such great love songs]. We just dream about those situations.” He adds, “We know the bloggers are watching, so we have to be careful and not do anything stupid.” Time will tell if they maintain their morals in such an immoral industry, but so far they have been really good role models.

The Jonas Brothers donate 10% of their earnings to their non-profit Change for the Children Foundation “to support programs that motivate and inspire children to face adversity with confidence, determination, and a will to succeed.” Nick Jonas had the idea to start this charity after seeing a homeless family on the streets of New York City. His heart was touched by a desire to see kids saving up their pocket change to help other less fortunate kids. The Change for the Children Foundation supports “Nothing But Nets” (mosquito nets), “American Diabetes Foundation,” “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” “Children’s Hospital Los Angeles,” and “Summer Stars: Camp for the Performing Arts.” Since Nick was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 13, he also teamed up with Bayer Diabetes Care as a diabetes ambassador for young people.

Although Nick is the youngest brother in the band, he was the first to make his debut into show business. When Nick was six years old, he was discovered while singing at a barber shop and referred to a professional show business manager. At the age of 7, Nicholas began performing in Broadway musicals. In 2002 while appearing in “Beauty and the Beast,” Nick wrote a song with his father called “Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer)”. With background vocals from the “Beauty and the Beast” cast, Nick performed the song on the album, “Broadway’s Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 4.” In November 2003, “Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer)” was released to Christian radio, where it quickly became popular on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

Nick recorded the single “Dear God” when he was only 12 years old. It is described as “a powerful prayer sung from a child’s heart concerning the many troubles happening in our world today with the hope that is found in bringing our concerns to God.” Initially released for Christian radio, the song is now available for free on Rhapsody.com. Nick said, “I hope this record touches a lot of people and I’ve been praying that the Lord will use it in a big way.”

Kevin and Joe did some Broadway performances of their own, and the Jonas brothers also appeared in commercials for Burger King, LEGO, Battle Bots, and Clorox Bleach. But shortly after Nick’s solo project, they decided to start a band. When he was 13, Kevin had read the book “Teach Yourself Guitar” and did just that with one of his parents’ guitars. The trio learned to hone their rock band skills at home in the basement because their garage was too crowded. Nick, Kevin and Joe wrote several songs, some of them with their father. In early 2005, Columbia Records offered to sign the three as a group act. In today’s age of pre-manufactured pop groups, the Jonas Brothers are a breath of fresh air since they lend their own “voice” to projects through their singing and songwriting.

The Jonas Brothers won a 2008 American Music Award for breakthrough artist and received a 2009 Grammy Award nomination for best new artist. The Jonas Brothers have released three albums: It’s About Time (2006), Jonas Brothers (2007), and A Little Bit Longer (2008). On the credits for It’s About Time they write: “We would like to thank our best friend in all the world-our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We see everyday the blessings you give us. We know you will always be there for us. There is no greater love than the one from above.”

In the wake of their bestselling self-titled album, the Jonas Brothers set out on their first headlining tour a year ago. The group kicked off its national tour in Tucson, AZ on January 31, 2008. A Disney Digital 3-D production crew filmed two shows in Anaheim, California on July 13-14, 2008. The footage will be released in theatres on February 27, 2009 as a 3-D Concert Experience. The G-rated movie will include a behind-the-scenes look at the Jonas Brothers. Let’s support these fellow homeschoolers by going to see their movie the first weekend it comes out. Be sure to tell all of your friends!

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Breaking News! The Jonas Brothers want to give back to their homeschool fans. As homeschoolers themselves, they share a special connection. In spite of an increasingly busy schedule after a performance at the Grammy Awards and preparing for the release of their 3D movie on the weekend of February 27, they are giving a “shout out” to homeschoolers on an exclusive conference call scheduled for Thursday morning, February 19. For details about how you and your homeschool family can get on the call, contact Rebecca Kochenderfer at www.homeschool.com/registration who is hosting the family-to-family chat. The Jonas Brothers and their mom, Denise Jonas, will be on the call and want to connect with you and your family.
Details for the conference call:
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2009
Time: 11:00am PST
Registration: www.homeschool.com/registration

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Jonas Brothers Q&A

What is it like to play in a band together?

Joe: “The best part about being in a band with my brothers is the support that we give each other.”
Nick: “It’s awesome to have my brothers on stage and in the studio with me. You have a security that everything is going to be okay, even when you mess up.
Kevin: “We really love being brothers, but, beyond that, we love being one big family.”

How would you describe your home life?

Kevin: “Our parents are pretty strict, but they’re also very trusting. They’re all about communication. If we talk to them and let them know where we’re going or what we’re doing, there’s no problem. That’s the one simple thing some kids don’t do.”
Nick: “Our mom really likes to cook for us whenever we’re at home. [Jonas family dinners] are big with us. We’ve done that our whole life. We talk about normal stuff and about work.”
Joe: “It’s awesome. It’s a lot of laughing and talking. Our house is definitely a loud house.”

How does being in the music business affect your family routine?

Kevin: “We have a blast traveling together. We have our own family bus, so we cause mayhem in every city we go to. We just have a really good time.”
Joe: “First of all, we pray together and we have a time to focus and get ready [before a concert]. We call it lockdown, and we have 45 minutes where it’s just us and no one comes in and no one goes out. It’s a cool time to get focused and we just get psyched and really excited about the show.”
Nick: “I am so blessed to have a family that is so loving and supportive of what I’m doing. Sometimes I wonder what this whole journey would have been like without them here with me. It would have been a lot different. I’m really happy that I have them and that we’re so close.”

How would you describe each other?

Kevin: “Joe’s nickname is Danger. It just is. Everything he does is danger. Nick’s not actually shy or quiet. He just chooses his words wisely.”
Joe: “Nicholas is the powerhouse vocal. He’s just got this young, soulful voice that catches everyone’s ears.”
Nick: “Joseph just has this really cool, smooth rock voice. He really knows how to get the crowd going, and Kevin is the one that holds us together.”

What do you look for in a girl?

Nick: “They have to be good to their moms.”
Joe: “This is hard, but if they are nagging and annoying, you’re like, ‘Go away.’”
Kevin: “…you get on the phone and they’re like, ‘My day is awful, blah,’ and you’re like, ‘This is not what I need right now!’”

What can a girl expect from you?

Joe: “Not only is it important to us to respect a girl, but to respect ourselves. We want to be presented in a way that is not sloppy or anything like that. Girls really appreciate table manners.”
Kevin: “A girl needs to understand about brothers. We talk about everything.”
Nick: “I really feel that it is important to be a gentleman – that’s how we were raised. I find that girls really like when you are like that. I’ll open a door for a girl, and she’ll be like, ‘Oh, no one’s done that for me in a really long time.’”

Websites

www.jonasbrothers.com (Jonas Brothers Official Site)
www.changeforthechildren.org (Change for the Children)
www.nickssimplewins.com (Nick Jonas and Bayer Diabetes Simple Wins)
www.fanfamilyexperience.com (Official Jonas Brothers Fan Site.)

The 5 Browns

What happens when you take five uniquely talented siblings in their 20’s and put them on stage with five Steinway pianos? You get a packed concert hall with thousands of excited young fans screaming and dancing in the aisles! The most amazing part is, these performing artists are not the latest rock or pop band, they are classical pianists – and all homeschool graduates! The 5 Browns are a musical sensation the likes of which the world hasn’t seen in many years, breathing new life into the classical music genre. With their youthful exuberance and dynamic stage presence, these fresh-faced musicians awaken the joy of classical music among audiences of all ages.

The 5 Browns are piano virtuosos, adept at performing individually or together in various combinations from duo to five-piano arrangements. It’s their ability to play in perfect synchronization on five grand pianos at once that makes them really stand out. These brothers and sisters can skillfully perform anything from emotionally complex works by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Frederic Chopin, to the jazzy stylings of George Gershwin and contemporary American musicals by Leonard Bernstein. Their traditional repertoire consists of popular classics such as Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue,” Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee,” and Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” These would be a great introduction to classical music, especially for the younger set.

In descending order of age, the 5 Browns include: Desirae (born 1979), Deondra (born 1980), Gregory (born 1982), Melody (born 1984), and Ryan (born 1986). The children of Keith and Lisa Brown, a trained operatic singer, they each began their piano studies at the age of 3. Though the parents never intended on creating a quintet of classically trained musicians – their goal was to simply to raise “five good people” – they did see promise in their children’s talent. Besides showing immense skill, the children’s passion for playing the piano never faltered and it became a big part of their daily routine. The family purchased five pianos so each child would have his/her own on which to play. They usually practiced from 3-6 hours per day. Mom left her job and devoted herself to taking the children to music lessons and recitals. Piano playing seemed to come as naturally to them as eating or sleeping, and as early as age 9 they had each performed with a symphony orchestra.

When Desirae started planning for college, Deondra decided to accelerate her education so she could attend with her sister. As the family began looking into music schools, many of the country’s finest colleges and conservatories offered full scholarships. They decided to attend the prestigious Juilliard School of Music. A year later, Juilliard accepted Melody, Ryan and Gregory. They made history as the first group of siblings to study simultaneously at the Juilliard School for five consecutive years. The entire Brown family, along with their five pianos, moved from Utah to New York.

The 5 Browns’ teachers at Juilliard have praised not only their extraordinary teamwork but also their distinctive personalities as individual artists: “Desirae and Deondra are a fabulous team; they play like they read each other’s minds. Gregory is a real bravura-type performer. Melody is sweet and easygoing, and it comes through in her playing. And Ryan is a storyteller and has a great imagination.” In a Time for Kids article, a journalist wrote: “Although the Browns create beautiful music together, each performer has developed a unique style,” adding, “Gregory’s style is aggressive. Melody’s is graceful. Ryan’s bursts with energy and personality. Desirae and Deondra play many of the duets … Deondra’s style is intense and rhythmic, while Desirae’s is more delicate.”

In 2005, their debut CD self-titled “The 5 Browns” stayed at Number 1 on the Billboard Classical chart for eight weeks. Their second album, “No Boundaries,” was Number 1 for 21 weeks. Their more recent CDs include: “Browns in Blue,” and “5 Stars: Favorites from the 5 Browns.” When asked what it’s like to be so famous and popular, Gregory says “I hope nothing that we ever do, like the concerts or the CDs, ever changes who we are because we’re a happy family.”

The 5 Browns have a website at www.the5browns.com with photos, music videos, tour dates, ringtones, bios, and more. You can also search for 5 Browns videos on YouTube, which show their performances of “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Flight of the Bumble Bee,” “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” “18th Variation from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” and more. Other video clips include a discussion of homeschooling and how they got their start.

One of the Browns’ favorite movies is “Amadeus.” Melody says, “It was a movie that really got us involved in music. You’re seeing Mozart as if he were real.” While most teens would consider classical music to be “old and boring,” the 5 Browns consider it to be current and relevant. Desirae says, “When you start playing without thinking or feeling, then I can see how it could get really boring. But when you’re throwing yourself into it, somehow you find new things in the music and new things that come up in your mind or how you’re feeling that make you come alive…. It’s all about love and hate and anger and joy, all these things that teenagers experience… so… translate it to your emotions, to your experiences.” Melody adds, “You’ve got to live life outside of music. You’ve got to bring other experiences you have with friends and relationships into your music or else you’ll have nothing to speak of. If you’re always just locking yourself in a music room, what are you expressing exactly?”

Speaking of other interests, if the 5 Browns hadn’t gone into music, their careers could have been very different. Desirae seriously considered going to law school, Deondra was thinking of starting a business, Gregory thought about becoming a pediatrician, Melody was interested in becoming a research scientist, and Ryan once wanted to be a weatherman. Deondra says, “Each of us had different areas that we felt were our strong points, that if we didn’t have music we would do. That’s important as a teenager – to have different ideas of what you could do, but then to really focus on one you feel comfortable spending the rest of your life doing.”

The 5 Browns are on a national tour right now. Their concerts are not to be missed and they always sell out! Visit their website at www.the5browns.com for dates and locations. See if you can catch them at a concert hall near you! In addition to touring, the 5 Browns have just finished writing a book for Phoenix Books which will be released in early 2009.

Homeschool Teen Filmmakers win Award

The San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival’s “Best of Festival” Jubilee Award — with its $101,000 cash prize — went to THE WIDOW’S MIGHT, a feature length adventure that tells the fictional story of how a group of young filmmakers came to the aid of an elderly widow in danger of losing her home due to rising property taxes. It’s a western, musical, comedy, drama, and a movie about homeschoolers making a movie! All these things combine to create an exciting, dynamic, and entertaining story. The 101-minute film was made by a team of homeschoolers known as HeuMoore Productions. It was written and directed by 19-year-old John Moore, with 20-year-old David Heustis and Jeff Moreland serving as producers. “We never saw this coming!” said John Moore. “The greatest lesson we have learned at this event over the years is to press on; keep moving forward. Always pursue excellence. The production was very tough; but it brought our families together, and we’re even closer now than ever…. I dedicate this award to my father, the most inspiring man I have even known.” HeuMoore Productions has produced four films previously, but THE WIDOW’S MIGHT was by far their biggest, most intense production to date. In addition to landing the festivals’ top honor, THE WIDOW’S MIGHT was runner-up for “Best Feature” and also came away with the “Audience Choice Award,” receiving more than twice the votes of the closest contender. This marked the third time in four years that a film by HeuMoore Productions was voted as the audience favorite at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. The mission of HeuMoore Productions is to produce films that “…are intended to be wholesome, Christian entertainment that the entire family can enjoy and learn from.” Read a review of THE WIDOW’S MIGHT here: http://www.knowledgehouse.info/review_widowsmight.html

Meet Victoria Kasten: Rising Young Author

Victoria Kasten, a 17-year-old homeschool student who loves horses, wrote her first Mighty Stallion book at age 12, after a trip to the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota. A couple of years later, Victoria’s family decided to self-publish it as a homeschool project to preserve something that she wrote in her childhood. Her uncle, James Krom, a wildlife artist, agreed to illustrate the cover. They printed 500 copies and thought that would be the end of the experience. But God had other plans for Victoria! The last few years have been quite a journey in which she has learned a great deal along the way.

When Mighty Stallion was released in November 2005, the book became so popular that Victoria decided to make it into a ten-book series. Currently, there are five books available: Mighty Stallion, Fury’s Journey, Glory’s Legend, Dancer’s Dream, and A Stallion’s Heart. The next book, Mighty Stallion 6: The Civil War, should be coming out in the Spring of 2009. These are all chapter books of about 70-75 pages each, geared for 7-14 year olds, although quite a few older teens and adults enjoy them too.

Mighty Stallion is the story of a stallion named Sariavo, the first in line of powerful mustangs that struggled to maintain their freedom in a changing and progressing world. In the second book, a fiery red stallion named Fury journeys far into the heart of the American West, determined to carry on the lineage of his ancestors. Book three tells the story of Glory, an albino stallion that became an Indian Chief’s prized possession. In the fourth book, Dancer wants to live a life of solitary adventure but when she meets Titan, a handsome black colt, she begins to question all of her plans. The fifth book is set in the days of the Pony Express as two stallion brothers go off in different directions and a strange chain of events brings them back together again.

Victoria has two horses of her own, a mischievous Quarter Horse/Pony of America gelding named Looky, and a beautiful registered Bay Quarter Horse mare named Katie. She began taking English riding lessons at age 9, continuing with those lessons for the next four years. Victoria discovered her love of writing at age 10, when she wrote a short story called “The Wild Mustang.” She also began to write poems, two of which were published in a nationally circulated Christian newspaper. Her first magazine article, “Life on a Hobby Farm,” appeared in the American Livestock Magazine, which later published another one of her poems as well.

Besides liking horses, Victoria is interested in history – especially medieval history. In November 2007 she published a 300-page non-magical fantasy which is set in a medieval-like time period, though it is an imaginary world Victoria created. In IronHeart, Victoria’s dream world comes to life with more plots and surprises than you could shake a sword at! IronHeart is an epic story filled with heroes, villains, love and courage for teens and adult readers. She received so many requests from her fans for a sequel that she has written a second book, The Iron Spear, to be released in late January 2009. Victoria is currently working on a 1,200-1,500 page historical fiction trilogy, part one of which she plans to release sometime in 2009.

Victoria has sold thousands of copies of her books worldwide. On her website she also sells matching t-shirts to go with the books. Victoria donates a portion of her profits to Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Betsy-Tacy Society and the Northfield Historical Society. Victoria has participated in many events such as homeschool conventions, book tours, and book signings. She has been the subject of a number of newspaper articles, including this one in the Spring Valley Tribune. The June 2008 issues of Minnesota Parent magazine and Women, Inc. Magazine both featured color photos and stories on Victoria. She has also been interviewed on several radio shows and was chosen as a finalist for the Women, Inc. Magazine contest “The Difference is You” in the “Rising Young Star” category.

In 2007, Victoria was hired to teach at two Young Writers Workshops in Minnesota, where she taught approximately 400 schoolchildren about character development in a story. She visited many school districts to speak with hundreds more. This provided an opportunity to witness her faith to many children. In addition, she was invited to teach along with three-time Newberry medalist Gary Paulsen at the 2007 Sinclair Lewis Writer’s Conference. She served on an author discussion panel and taught approximately 100 adults in several classes on character development. One thing that she did not expect was how many well-known secular authors she would meet. She was also able to witness to some of them.

In addition to horses and history, Victoria loves music and plays the violin. She served as the Concert Mistress in her youth Symphony Orchestra and played in a Youth Chamber Ensemble. While Victoria’s writing endeavors have put her violin playing on hold for now, she is still active in her church and in the local 4-H club. Victoria’s 4-H projects have earned several ribbons at the County Fair, while at the State Fair her computer graphics entry – the front cover design for IronHeart – was awarded a purple ribbon, the highest honor she could achieve. When Victoria is home she enjoys spending time outside in the company of the horses, alpacas, rabbits and cats on her family’s farm.

Victoria is planning to attend Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, in the fall of 2009. Because of her preparation for college, Victoria has had to turn down several homeschool conventions for 2009, but she will still be at MACHE, CHAP, and the Midwest Homeschool Conference in Cincinnati next year. She is also scheduled to teach in a number of Young Writer’s Conferences again. Victoria hopes to be a full time author after she finishes college, while living on a small farm of her own. Visit Victoria’s website: www.EpicScrolls.com.

Christopher Paolini

“Everything I did was only possible because my parents were dedicated and loving enough to homeschool my sister and me. My mother, a former Montessori teacher and author of several children’s books, took the time to instruct us every day. Aside from textbook lessons, she had us perform many exercises designed to stimulate our creativity.” ~Christopher Paolini

Click here to visit Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle storefront

Meet Christopher Paolini: Homeschool Graduate & Best-Selling Author

How many people do you know who have written a best-selling book, had it turned into a major motion picture, and earned a six-figure income… before the age of 21? Not many, I’m sure, but such is the life of Christopher Paolini.

Christopher Paolini was born on November 17, 1983. He grew up in the remote and scenic Paradise Valley, Montana, where he still lives a relatively secluded life with his family on the edge of the Yellowstone River. His parents, Kenneth and Talita, met as members of the Church Universal and Triumphant, a survivalist sect best known for their extensive mountainside complex of bomb shelters. Kenneth served as a guard and Talita was a teacher in the on-site Montessori school. Later, the couple left the cult lifestyle because “we weren’t willing to surrender our family to the group.”

Kenneth and Talita Paolini homeschooled Christopher and his younger sibling, Angela. They wanted their children to have time “to watch the clouds, to have thinking space.” It also allowed them to tailor lessons around each child’s interests. They made frequent trips to the library where Christopher liked to check out classics, mysteries, fantasy and science fiction. Christopher claims to have read 3,000 books and watched 4,000 videos, and says he’s unbeatable at computer games, although he admittedly knows “nothing about math.”

Christopher and his sister Angela entered the American School independent study program when they reached high school. Christopher finished high school at the age of 15 but postponed going to college. Since he didn’t have anything else to do, Christopher decided to combine his interests in fantasy, mythology, and writing to create a novel for his own enjoyment. This project which started out as a hobby became an incredible educational experience in itself. Christopher even learned iron forging so he could try his hand at making knives, swords, and armor.

Christopher wrote an epic story about the adventures of Eragon, a 15-year-old farm boy, and a dragon named Saphira. All of the characters came from Christopher’s imagination except Angela, named after his sister who happens to like cats. The fantastic world of Alagaesia resembles the dramatic landscape surrounding the Paolini home – broad sweeping valleys, dense forests, and the jagged Beartooth Mountains. Besides gazing out his window at the magnificent view, Christopher likes to go camping and hiking there too.

Though inspired by daydreams, Christopher was very disciplined and methodical in the way he went about teaching himself how to write a novel. First, Christopher read several books on the craft of writing. “I began educating myself with the Writers Handbook series, Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card, and most importantly, Story by Robert McKee. Though Story is intended for screenwriters, I found McKee’s principles and advice invaluable for structuring a novel.” Next, he devised a nine-page plot outline for the entire series. It took Christopher a year to write the first draft of Eragon, followed by another year revising it.

Christopher has said about his prose, “In my writing, I strive for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf.” Just like Tolkien used to do, Christopher invented new languages especially for his tale. He based the Elven language on Old Norse, while Dwarf and Urgal words were made up from scratch.

The story of the title character, Eragon, who has a mysterious parentage and wields a magic sword, was obviously influenced by Tolkien’s Middle Earth, Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders, Bruce Coville’s Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher, Icelandic sagas, Beowulf, Le Morte d’Arthur, and even Star Wars. Christopher says that classical music like Beethoven’s symphonies and Wagner’s “Ring” cycle put him in the mood for writing. He wrote the final battle of Eragon while listening to “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff.

Talita and Kenneth thought their son’s manuscript was unique and well-written, so they decided to publish it themselves. They had already started their own company, Paolini International LLC, by which they self-published two books critical of cults (400 Years of Imaginary Friends and Psychic Dictatorship in America) and another focusing on Montessori techniques (Play and Learn with Cereal O’s).

The Paolinis spent a whole year editing Eragon as a family activity – correcting grammar, moving sentences, fixing continuity, etc. Christopher drew the maps, interior artwork and original cover art, a dragon’s eye. In 2002, the manuscript was finally sent to press. The first edition of Eragon was a paperback priced at $22.95 retail, and discounted to $14.00. Mint signed copies of the first edition Eragon are now worth thousands of dollars!

Promoting Eragon became the family business; and the Paolinis were experts at book marketing. They designed an educational program around Eragon that encouraged children to read and write. Christopher and his dad traveled from town to town for over a year presenting that program in schools, libraries, and bookstores. Christopher would dress up in “a medieval costume of red shirt, billowy black pants, lace-up boots, and a jaunty black cap.” They sold 10,000 copies this way.

Christopher’s big break came when a student at one of the schools he had visited showed the Eragon book to his stepdad, Carl Hiaasen, author of Hoot and Flush. Hiaasen was so impressed that he recommended the book to his publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House. As a result, Knopf expressed an interest in acquiring the rights to the entire series, making Christopher an offer for a three-book deal.

This led to another editing of the novel along with a new cover drawn by John Jude Palencar. Knopf’s edition of Eragon was released on August 23, 2003. Christopher Paolini suddenly became a New York Times bestselling author at the age of 19. Soon after, Eragon was optioned for a movie which was eventually released in 2006.

The sequel, Eldest, was released in August 2005. It also hit the #1 spot on the New York Times best-sellers list. The third book in this series is called Brisingr and was released on September 20, 2008. Visit these web sites to find out more: www.alagaesia.com (the official Eragon web site) and www.shurtugal.com (the largest Eragon fan site).

The Eragon Inheritance series appeals to teens who can identify with the main character. Nevertheless, the books have also developed a strong fan following among fantasy enthusiasts and dragon lovers of all ages. Even younger kids are inspired by the themes of loyalty, trust, and determination in the series. These are books that both parents and children can enjoy reading together.

Christopher Paolini is certainly an inspiration to homeschooled students everywhere. Like many homeschoolers, he wasn’t afraid to tackle projects by educating himself. Christopher was able to pursue his passions and develop his talents to a higher level than is possible in an ordinary school setting. He also learned that a little hard work and persistence pays off. Hopefully, his success story will motivate other teens to try and make their dreams come true.

“I hope that Eragon will leave you with the same sense of wonder that I had while writing it. I do believe in magic—the magic of stories to give you wonder, awe, and revelations. Such feelings can come from small things; in a fey vision of fairy dust swirling in marble moonbeams, or at the end of an epic where a wave of emotion washes over you, sweeping away the mundane world for a moment. Either way, I hope that you find something special in Eragon, something from the other side of the looking glass.” ~Christopher Paolini

The above article courtesy of Teri @ www.KnowledgeHouse.info