Top Posts from 2024

It’s always fun for us to look back and see what you, our readers, enjoyed most during the year. Below are the top posts of 2024 (and book review categories) based upon our web traffic. Do you agree? Did you like them, too? Did you like a different post or category better? If you’ve missed…

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Gifts for Grownups, Round 2

Even though your Redeemed Reader team is reading a plethora of books for children and teens, we do also read grownup books, too! A few years ago, we crowd-sourced an outstanding list of gift suggestions for adult readers. We benefited from that list ourselves. Today, we bring you part 2, based on our own reading…

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📚Amazon Black Friday BOOK Deals (2024)

We resist posting much Christmas content before Thanksgiving, but we also know that *many* of you are watching those Black Friday deals. Side note: since when did “Black FriDAY” become “Black Friday WEEK”? I digress. A gazillion children’s books are currently on sale on amazon right now. Since we’re reading ahead for you, we’re gonna…

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Gift Books for Grown-Ups

Redeemed Reader exists to “shed a gospel light on books for children and teens.” But you know what? We read books for grown-ups, too! We asked a few friends of Redeemed Reader to help us curate a dynamite list of books for grown-ups that would make great gifts this year. You might also consider this…

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Retro Reads: The Rescuers by Margery Sharp

The Rescuers by Margery Sharp offers fun, old-fashioned storytelling that bears little resemblance to the Disney movie. The Rescuers by Margery Sharp, illustrated by Garth Williams. New York Review Books, 2016 (re-issue). 160 pages. I can sing every word of the songs from the animated Rescuers movie—truly, one of the classics of its genre. So, it…

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Code of Silence and Back Before Dark by Tim Shoemaker

A heart-pounding mystery series, with hidden twists and turns at every corner and a powerful message. Note: this is a guest review. See below for more information! Code of Silence Series by Tim Shoemaker. Zonderkidz. Reading Level: Teens, ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 12 and up; note considerations below. The Code of Silence series, written by Tim…

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Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung

Impossible Christianity is a breath of fresh air for those Christians feeling weighed down by false guilt over unbiblical expectations. Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung. Crossway, 2023. 160 pages. When I was a brand new college graduate, I read Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges with a friend. And it transformed my life. Impossible Christianity reminded…

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*The Carver and the Queen by Emma Fox

cover of the carver and the queen

An adventurous fairy tale set in Imperial Russia, perfect for teens who enjoy books like The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis. *The Carver and the Queen by Emma Fox. Owl’s Nest Publishers, 2023. 304 pages. Petr is doomed to serfdom. All he wants to do is learn to carve malachite, the striking green mineral…

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What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt

What came from the stars

What Came From the Stars is mysterious, offering hope for those grieving and illuminating the strange power of art. What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt. Clarion, 2012. 304 pages. What Came From the Stars alternates in perspective between the Valorim, a far-off creature group in a far-off galaxy on a far-off planet, and…

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Authority vs. Anarchy: A Book List for Teens

authority vs anarchy book list

Authority vs. Anarchy: Opposites? Two sides of the same coin? Romans 13 reminds us to obey our governing (civic) authorities. Exodus 20 and Ephesians 6 remind us to obey our parental authorities. Certain people in the church are given spiritual authority over those they shepherd in their congregations. We’re all to obey the Lord as…

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Reading Ancient Literature with High School Students

ancient literature

Some of us love ancient literature, especially the great Homeric epics. Others shudder at the thought. I’m in the former camp, but I haven’t always been. I dreaded reading ancient literature in high school, especially Homer’s Iliad. I remember very little other than being unimpressed. Now, as I plan to teach not only The Iliad,…

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RR Quarterly Links

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Batter Up! Books About Baseball (a Librarian’s List)

(Originally published at Redeemed Reader on May 27, 2013; updated July, 2023) Aside from the beach, nothing says “summertime” and “American” more than a game of baseball, complete with hot dog, iced beverage, bleachers, and the elusive foul ball dropping into the stands. Our local Minor League team has great promotions all summer that include…

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Beach Books! (Librarians’ List)

Originally published at Redeemed Reader on June 6, 2014. Of course a professional book reviewer and librarian takes books with her to the beach—for herself AND her family. In case you’re of like mind, here are some beach-related books and Dewey numbers to check out before you head to the coast this summer. Kids enjoy…

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High School World Literature: A Thematic Approach

High School World Literature: What to Cut? “World literature” can mean literally any book ever written. The hard part of planning a world literature class is narrowing the focus: Do we cover antiquity to the present? Do we focus on broad world-wide representation? Do we read “the classics” (European classics, that is) that haven’t already…

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Two Books about Sexuality for Kids and Teens

Books about sexuality for kids and teens are not new, but these days, it’s getting harder to separate the wheat from the chaff. Well-meaning titles might include a lot of valuable, helpful information, only to toss in tidbits about the viability of abortion for unwanted pregnancies, birth control options for teens who choose to be…

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The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade

What if a book writes itself, but is determined that no one should actually read the final product? The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade. Walker Books, 2023, 128 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10 and up … I can say with all modesty that this…

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Practical Graduation Gifts: A Book List

We have a robust list of book recommendations for graduation gifts. Why another? This book list is all about practical graduation gifts: books that offer some down-to-earth advice for starting off on one’s own (with some philosophy and Christian wisdom thrown in!). Note: If you haven’t seen our other graduation gift lists, see Janie’s post…

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*A Little More Beautiful by Sarah Mackenzie

Lou Alice loves to make the world a little more beautiful. But what happens when she’s old and bedridden? *A Little More Beautiful by Sarah Mackenzie and illustrated by Breezy Brookshire. Waxwing Books, 2023, 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: All ages Lou Alice is one of those lovely ladies who…

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Do Not Be True to Yourself by Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung reminds young adults to be true to Christ and His church, not true to their own selves, in this short, engaging read. Do Not Be True to Yourself: Countercultural Advice for the Rest of Your Life by Kevin DeYoung. Crossway, 2023. 80 pages. Reading Level: Teens, Ages 15-18 Recommended for: Ages 15+ Seriousness…

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