Unschool Discoveries: Venturing into the Unknown Review

 

Writers: Danii Oliver & Ivy Braithwaite

Artist & Colorist: Danii Oliver

Paperback: $15.99

Kindle ebook: $5.99

Release Date: October 16, 2023

 

Tired of their overcrowded, noisy, and constrained existence, a family sets its sights on a new life together. Can Texas become the land of their dreams? Or will life there prove as dismal as in New York City? Let's pack our belongings, leap into Unschool Discoveries: Venturing into the Unknown, and find out!

 

Story

After a family purchases a plot of land in Texas, the parents do construction work while the children play. Away from the assault on their senses, the children's imaginations soar. Inspired by how their parents are learning new skills, the children help where they can and investigate the world around them. Animals, plants, insects, and birds provide a glimpse into the wonders of nature. Each discovery inspires them to learn more.

 

The British comedy The Good Life (titled Good Neighbors in the United States) inspired families to plow up their lawns, grow their food, and raise animals. It was one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite shows. Sadly, the movement didn't last. Self-sufficiency in the suburbs proved as elusive as Tom and Barbara Good found it. But the family in Unschool Discoveries: Venturing into the Unknown can access tools people in the 1970s didn't have. The family uses power tools and renewable technology. The internet brings all the information they need to solve the problems they encounter.

 

These Techno-Homesteaders may not send their children to school. Still, the parents and children in Danii Oliver & Ivy Braithwaite’s story spend each day learning. They have fun, focus more on each other than the latest music or TV series, and pursue their curiosity instead of subscribing to a system of mandated courses and testing. It’s hard not to admire the family in Unschool Discoveries: Venturing into the Unknown and wish them every success in pursuing their dreams. 

 

 

 

 

Art

Bags of trash form a wall outside deteriorating buildings lacking individuality. Color welcomes the family to Texas. While Danii Oliver paints the sky with luminous hues, colored pencil strokes enliven the plants, buildings, animals, and people. The colors often substitute for shading, suggesting the intense sunlight of the Lone Star State. The children play with their tablets and gaming consoles. Yet they ride in an ATV, run across their land, and help their parents tend to plants and animals.

 

As their parents study each night, figuring out what they must learn to meet tomorrow’s challenges, the children also read, investigate sensory bins, and do art. The children in Unschool Discoveries: Venturing into the Unknown learn responsibility from caring for animals. They learn about their ecosystem by raising plants. As in centuries past, harvest brings rejoicing, as nature rewards the family for hard work and devotion.

 

Large uppercase black letters fill the backgrounds. The rhyming sentences are easy and fun to read. Black-and-white labels identify the plants, insects, and animals that share the techno-homesteaders' lives. When the family gathers in the evening to read, write, work on their computers, or do art, numbers, equations, letters, symbols, and drawings fill the air above their joyous, absorbed expressions.

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Unschool Discoveries: Venturing into the Unknown proposes a new way of life. Most families may not be inclined to brave the pitfalls lining the techno-homesteaders' path. But the story and art make clear that joy and discovery await the adventurous souls who do.

 

Rating 9/10

 

You can purchase a paperback or ebook at Amazon, and enter a world of discovery at the creators' website.

"I was inspired to write this story because my family was struggling to find books about the lived experiences of People of Color," said Oliver. "This monoculture display extended to tv shows and indie web series. Learning abc’s, 123’s, shapes, colors and baby sign language from only European characters did the opposite of showing my kids what they were capable of."

 

About Danii Oliver

Danii Oliver is not just a storyteller; they’re also a wife, mother, queer creative, tech growth entrepreneur, HCI & Bev anthologist, and an advocate for unschooling professional moms. Through their enchanting tales and diverse background, Danii celebrates the joy of curiosity and exploration, inviting both children and adults to embrace learning firsthand. As one of the voices behind the "Unschool Pages of Our Lives" podcast, Danii shares heartfelt stories and insights, fostering a community of lifelong learners. 

Connect with Danii through their newsletter at 

https://unschooldiscoveries.com/community, listen to the "Unschool Pages of Our Lives" podcast, or follow their journey on social media @UnschoolPagesofOurLives. Join Danii on an adventure of endless discovery and learning without limits.