Posts by Betsy Farquhar
*Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr
Astrid, the thunderbolt of Glimmerdal, charms readers as easily as she charms those around her in this delightful middle grades novel.
Read MoreJason Reynolds’s Track Series: A Winner for Middle Grades
Jason Reynolds is an author we’ve kept an eye on ever since his debut in 2015 with When I Was the Greatest. That novel, and All American Boys (which he co-wrote with Brendan Kelly) were firmly in the YA category with mature themes and some harsh language. But Jason Reynolds’s “Track” series, based on his…
Read More2019 ALA Youth Media Awards: the Redeemed Reader Team Reacts
This morning, the American Library Association (ALA) announced its Youth Media Awards. The ALA also welcomed awards announcements for titles awarded by the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association and the Association of Jewish Libraries. It will include announcements from the American Indian Library Association on even years when those awards are traditionally awarded. The Redeemed Reader…
Read MorePrognosticating the Newberys, 2019 Edition
Janie, Betsy, and Hayley try their hand at prognosticating the Newbery (and other) awards which will be officially announced Monday. (Updated 1/28 with actual results/how we did.)
Read More2019 Newbery Buzz #7: The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies is a truly beautiful work of art, isn’t it, Megan? For readers who haven’t seen this gem yet, the book chronicles Maria Merian’s life and her contributions to the fields of biology and botany in the 1600s. Maria’s love of insects and plants coupled with her skill as an engraver uniquely…
Read MoreWilliam Wilberforce on Real, Practical Christianity
Meet William Wilberforce William Wilberforce is best known as the 18th century Christian in British Parliament who helped usher in the end of the slave trade. Brought to life in the recent movie Amazing Grace, Wilberforce stands as a tremendous example for contemporary Christians as we seek to live out our respective callings where God has…
Read More7 Books for Thoughtful Teens
Not every teen is hanging out in the YA section of the library, wallowing in teen angst.* Plenty of teens are ready for meaty, engaging works that demand more of the reader. Plenty more teens should be ready for literature that prompts fruitful discussion and thinking, that makes them step up to the plate, reading carefully and…
Read MoreCourage in the Face of Evil by Mark Shaw
Vera König must decide if she can trust the enemy in this moving, true Holocaust story of a Christian in Hitler’s camps. Courage in the Face of Evil by Mark Shaw. Crosslink Publishing, 2018. 263 pages. Reading Level: Adult, Ages 16 and up Recommended For: Teens and adults, ages 14 and up Vera gets “special…
Read MoreMissionary Biographies and Prayer: Love Your Neighbor Book Club Edition
The Biographies and Discussion Questions To start our year off for the Love Your Neighbor Book Club, everyone read a missionary biography of their choice. Our group read a nicely diverse list that included men and women who went on missionary journeys to nearly every continent! Missionaries included: Adoniram Judson, John Paton, Gladys Aylward, Narcissa…
Read More2019 Newbery Buzz #3: Sweep by Jonathan Auxier
Janie, Hayley, and Betsy team up to (virtually) discuss Sweep by Jonathan Auxier: does it have what it takes to win a Newbery? We discuss themes, setting, characters, and more! Sweep is one of those titles that the three of us (Hayley, Janie, and Betsy) read within a week or two of each other; we had…
Read More10 Favorite Christian Biographies
Heaven: A Family Reunion? I don’t know what heaven will be like, but I imagine it as one big family reunion at a feast table. Maybe we’ll be so focused on the Lord himself that the saints who have gone before won’t matter to us. But maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to meet our ancestors…
Read MoreMomlife: A Guest Post about Reading as a Mom
We welcome Bridgette Boudreaux today as she shares about her reading life as a mom. Welcome, Bridgette! To start is great, to finish is divine In the middle of 2015, I realized I had a problem, a serious problem. I was great at finding and starting great books. So good at it in fact, that…
Read MoreReading Aloud to Tweens and Teens: A Guest Post about Kate Seredy’s books
Dawn Garrett joins us today to discuss reading Kate Seredy’s books aloud to her tweens and teens. For more about Dawn, see her bio below the post. Welcome, Dawn! Kate Seredy’s Books I was first introduced to Kate Seredy (Sher-edy) via blogs lamenting the lack of accessibility to one of her books in particular, The…
Read More2019 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens
updated 10/21/19 READERS: Find info about the 2020 Reading Challenge here! The 2019 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens Our 2019 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens is back and better than ever! This is year 3 for our annual reading challenge, and we’ve added some different components to extend your reading life. We’ve also…
Read MoreThe 2018 Reading Challenge: Interview with a Teen
I (Betsy) interviewed my teen daughter about her experience with the 2018 Reading Challenge. She’s a 13-year-old voracious reader who has clear genre preferences, but who is also receptive to suggestions from me. We both did the same challenge level, and it’s been a fun year together! Which level of the 2018 Reading Challenge did…
Read MoreChristmas Book Flood (or, Betsy’s Family’s Christmas Eve Book Extravaganza)
Traditions Traditions are marvelous things, aren’t they? The best traditions anchor our celebrations, our family and church life, and even our culture’s collective experience. Sometimes, though, traditions become Traditions with a capital “T.” In this age of Instagram and Pinterest, it’s easy to look at other people’s traditions, particularly those around the holidays, and think,…
Read MoreThe Vanderbeekers of 141st Street: the Love Your Neighbor Book Club Edition
December is such a wildly busy month: Christmas concerts and recitals and school performances and parties. Travel plans and/or welcoming extended family into your home. Exams and final projects. Christmas baking…. The Love Your Neighbor Book Club December Pick Which is why the December choice for the Love Your Neighbor Book Club is a fun,…
Read MoreMiss Betsy’s Book Nook, 2018 edition
It’s time for the annual reporting of what books I, as the Redeemed Reader Managing Editor, buy for those on my gift list! I do this partly to show you, dear readers, that we put our money where our mouth is: that is, we buy the same books we often recommend that YOU buy. We…
Read MoreOne-Size-Fits-All: Read Aloud Gift Books for the Whole Family!
Need a book idea you can give as a “whole family” gift? Perhaps you want to take along a little “happy” to the friend and her family who’s putting you up for the night during your Christmas travels. Or, perhaps you want to give a little something to each of your siblings and their families…
Read MoreThe Not-So-Boring Letters of Private Nobody by Matt Landis
Oliver realizes he doesn’t yet know everything about the Civil War in this engaging middle grades novel. The Not-so-Boring Letters of Private Nobody by Matt Landis. Dial, 2018. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades and up, ages 10-14 Oliver’s favorite subject is the Civil War. He might be a…
Read More*Tales of Wonder edited by Phillips, Bianco, and Kern
Tales of Wonder provides parents and teachers a wonderful resource to use as they enjoy fairy tales with their students and children. *Tales of Wonder, volume 1 edited by Brian Phillips, Matthew Bianco, and David Kern. CiRCE Institute Publishing, 2018. 130 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Classrooms, homeschools, and those wishing to…
Read MoreBookish Christmas Gifts for the Whole Family
Sometimes, it’s hard to pick out a book for a book-lover. What if she already bought herself that book? What if he has already read that series and moved on? These are the sorts of questions that stymie our own families when it comes to giving us books for Christmas. Sure, each of us here at Redeemed…
Read MoreThe Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean
Fresh, colorful illustrations decorate this reprint of The Jesse Tree as told by master storyteller Geraldine McCaughrean. The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean and illustrated by Bee Willey. Lion Hudson, 2018. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: All ages as a read aloud or ages 8 and up as an independent read The Jesse Tree…
Read MoreGood News for Little Hearts: A New Christian Picture Book Series
Three new picture books in the Good News for Little Hearts series help us coach children through difficulties and point them to Christ. Zoe’s Hiding Place: When You Are Anxious (Good News for Little Hearts) edited by David Powlison and illustrated by Joe Hox. New Growth Press, 2018. 32 pages. Jax’s Tail Twitches: When You Are…
Read MoreChristmas Books for All Ages: A Booklist
Readers, we are thankful for YOU! And, in honor of our appreciation for you, your faithful support of Redeemed Reader and encouragement to us, we’re posting a first for Redeemed Reader: a READER-generated* Christmas Books Booklist for your enjoyment over the holidays. After all, our readers have great taste and often recommend terrific books to…
Read MorePopular Middle Grade Fantasy Series
Kids banding together to help one another, particularly if the grown-ups are somehow unavailable = the biggest common denominator in middle grade fiction. Not every book fits this oversimplified definition, but many popular middle grade fantasy series certainly do. Middle Grade v. YA Books And what distinguishes a middle grade book from a teen (or…
Read MorePreparing for Jesus by Walter Wangerin, Jr.
Preparing for Jesus is a fresh, imaginative Advent devotional that looks at each of the biblical characters in the Christmas story, trying to learn from them and anticipate Christ’s birth with them. Preparing for Jesus: Meditations on the Coming of Christ, Advent, Christmas, and the Kingdom by Walter Wangerin, Jr. Zondervan, 2011. 202 pages. Recommended For: Older…
Read More*Wild Bells: A Literary Advent by Missy Andrews
Wild Bells: A Literary Advent offers a beautiful Christian literary work, such as a poem, along with a reflection for each day of the Advent season. *Wild Bells: A Literary Advent by Missy Andrews. Center for Lit., 2017. 92 pages. Recommended for: Teens and adults who love literature What can I give him, poor as I…
Read More*Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski
Celebrate the birth of Christ with stories, Scripture, and song in this Advent family devotional guide, perfect for busy families or used in a classroom setting. *Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus by Marty Machowski. New Growth Press, 2014. 88 pages. Recommended For: Families, Christian school, and Sunday School classrooms with third-eighth graders.…
Read More*Hallelujah: A Journey Through Advent with Handel’s Messiah by Cindy Rollins
Enjoy both Handel’s Messiah and the season of Advent with this succinct-yet rich-guide to both. A good Advent family devotional option for busy families! *Hallelujah: A Journey Through Advent with Handel’s Messiah by Cindy Rollins. Blue Sky Daisies, 2020. 96 pages. Recommended For: All ages. Handel’s Messiah is the first piece of “Christmas music” we turn on each…
Read MoreTangerine: Love Your Neighbor Book Club Edition
To date this school year, our Love Your Neighbor Book Club has read Save Me a Seat and A Long Walk to Water, both of which raised good questions about loving our neighbors near and far who are different from us. Tangerine adds a new element: loving our siblings and family members and our competitors on…
Read MoreNonfiction Picture Book Round-Up (Fall, 2018 edition)
It’s National Picture Book Month, so we’re celebrating picture books–both fiction and nonfiction! Nonfiction picture books are a truly exceptional–and often overlooked–way to introduce a subject or person. Even to grown-ups! We’re particular fans of picture book biographies, and they appear on our booklists regularly. Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson. (2016) We’ve mentioned the Poetry…
Read MoreNew Picture Books Round-Up (Fall, 2018 edition)
November is National Picture Book Month! Here’s a collection of new picture books for the whole family. We don’t think you need an “excuse” to read a picture book, no matter what age you are (or what ages your children are). The National Picture Book Month page hasn’t been updated this year as of this…
Read MoreRabbit & Robot and Ribbit by CeCe Bell
Rabbit and Robot’s friendship is tested when a new friend, Ribbit, enters the scene in this funny easy reader. Rabbit & Robot and Ribbit by CeCe Bell. Candlewick Sparks, 2016. 48 pages. Reading Level: Easy reader, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 Rabbit thinks she’ll sneak over and surprise her best friend, Robot. But Robot…
Read MoreWe the People … A U.S. Government Booklist
Election Day is just around the corner, and our national media outlets love nothing more than a juicy political story. Gossip and slander aside, though, our U.S. government is worth cherishing, protecting, and studying. Despite the claims of some, it has done more to safeguard various freedoms than most other nations in history, particularly the…
Read More"Never Underestimate a Gift Book" by Gladys Hunt
We’re nearing the end of this fantastic series by Gladys Hunt. If you’re just checking in, please do check out The Hive for a list of all the posts to date! In today’s installment, she reflects on gift books. “Never Underestimate a Gift Book” by Gladys Hunt It’s not easy to go into a bookstore cold…
Read MoreHeroes of WWII: A Book List for Tweens and Teens
World War II is perennially interesting and not just to history buffs! We’ve focused on church history the past couple of years during October, first on the early church and general church history in 2016 and then Reformation church history in 2017. This year, we’re honing in on Christians–and other heroes–during World War II in this…
Read MoreThe Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller
Natalie is desperate to win an egg drop contest so she can use the prize money to help cure her mom’s depression in this sweet middle grades novel. The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller. Random House, 2018. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Step 1: Observe…
Read More“Sarah, Plain and Tall Series” by Gladys Hunt
We’ve got another post from Gladys Hunt for you today about a series beloved to many. For the other posts in this series, please check out The Hive for a complete list to date. “Sarah, Plain and Tall Series” by Gladys Hunt The nine-to-twelve year old readers are getting heavy-duty reading lists from librarians across…
Read More"Words That Build People" by Gladys Hunt
Gladys Hunt gently reminds us that our words make a big impact on our children; let us use words that build up instead of tear down. This is part of our series of previously-unpublished blogposts by the author of Honey For a Child’s Heart. “Words that Build People” by Gladys Hunt The other day I heard a…
Read MoreGladys Hunt: Grammar Does Matter
Gladys Hunt reflects on the importance of grammar, plain and simple, in this essay. It’s not as hard as you might think! This is the next in our series of blogposts by the author of Honey For a Child’s Heart. “Grammar Does Matter” by Gladys Hunt Every family has its own way of speaking. It’s partly…
Read MoreReading as "Mother Culture": A Bibliographic Essay
Mother Culture In September, I was privileged to give a talk on the practice of reading as it relates to “Mother Culture” at a Charlotte Mason retreat. The phrase “mother culture” is a popular one in Charlotte Mason educational circles, but it should be practiced by everyone, particularly those of us who tend to pour…
Read MoreJohn McCain: An American Hero by John Perritano
John McCain had more guts and more patriotism than most of his American contemporaries–read all about him in this detailed young adult biography. John McCain: An American Hero by John Perritano. Sterling, 2018. 192 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Young adults and history buffs, ages 12+ John McCain left his mark on…
Read MoreGladys Hunt: Early Literacy with Preschoolers
Gladys Hunt shares some tips for encouraging early literacy in young children in this latest post. For more in our Gladys Hunt series, see The Hive. Please note: the title for this post was created by Redeemed Reader since Hunt didn’t title it. Preschoolers develop an awareness and an interest in reading at different times. A child’s…
Read MoreSave Me A Seat: Book Club Tips and Questions
Readers, it’s almost October! Let me pour myself some Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea. (You can have your pumpkin spice lattes!) Are you reading along with my kids and me for the Love Your Neighbor Book Club? We read Save Me a Seat for September, and it was a fantastic choice for the start…
Read More“Boys and Books” by Gladys Hunt
This latest in our Gladys Hunt series, which we affectionately call The Hive, looks at the types of books boys enjoy and muses over why so many boys quit reading as they grow older. “Boys and Books” by Gladys Hunt Little boys like books as much as little girls! There’s no gender issue in books for…
Read MoreLively Lists: a Key Part of the New Redeemed Reader Companion!
Readers, we’ve been hinting at our upcoming Redeemed Reader Companion on social media, our newsletter, and, finally, an official post here on the website…. Wait. You’re not following us on social media or getting our newsletter? You should fix that! We update Instagram and Facebook when posts are published as well as the occasional platform-only…
Read More“A Good Book is a Magic Gateway” by Gladys Hunt
This latest in our Gladys Hunt series, which we affectionately call The Hive, looks at the possibilities inherent in book discussions and how books can help us educate our children about big ideas. The title for this post below, “A Good Book is a Magic Gateway,” is our title. Her original blog post below was…
Read More*Tending the Heart of Virtue by Vigen Guroian
How do the classic children’s stories awaken a child’s moral imagination? And how does that awakening contribute to their spiritual development and training in virtue? *Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child’s Moral Imagination by Vigen Guroian. Oxford UP, 1998. 198 pages. Reading Level: Adult Recommended For: Adults interested in the…
Read MoreBooks and Stories: Reflections by Gladys Hunt
Readers, we are beyond thrilled to bring you some of Gladys Hunt’s last writing on books! See The Hive for more information on this opportunity. We’ll also be linking to her books in each of these posts as well as other titles she mentioned in the post. The title for this post below, “Books and…
Read More“The Mystery of the Library” by Gladys Hunt
Readers, we are beyond thrilled to bring you some of Gladys Hunt’s last writing on books! See The Hive for more information on this opportunity. We’ll also be linking to her books in each of these posts as well as other titles she mentioned in the post. The Mystery of the Library by Gladys Hunt…
Read MoreThe Hive: A List of Resources from Gladys Hunt
The Hive is exclusive content from the late Gladys Hunt that we are privileged to feature on Redeemed Reader.
Read MoreThe Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings by Sarah Prineas
An entertaining middle grades fantasy in which the books are alive, the librarian is a snarky but smart kid, and the queen isn’t sure what she thinks. The Lost Books (The Scroll of Kings) by Sarah Prineas. HarperCollins, 2018. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Book lovers and fantasy fans, ages 10…
Read MoreThe Love Your Neighbor Book Club: Its Beginnings
Love God. Love your neighbor. Those, in brief, are the two greatest commandments, the commandments that sum up all the Law and the Prophets. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord…
Read MoreGreat History Authors for Kids
With school back in session, let’s talk history books for kids! No matter who or what your kids or students are studying this year in history, there’s a book out there on the same subject. But are they good books? Are they interesting books? Are they worth reading for their own sake and not just because they…
Read More*A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
This popular middle grades story poignantly recounts the stories of a young boy and a young girl in Africa as one flees civil war and the other hauls water. *A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park. HMH Books for Young Readers, 2010. Reading Level: Ages 10-12 Recommended For:…
Read MoreInside Out and Back Again by Thanha Lai
Inside Out and Back Again is a beautiful, timely middle grades verse novel about a young Vietnamese girl’s refugee experience. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanha Lai. HarperCollins, 2013 (reprint). 288 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 10-12, and up! 10-year-old Hà and her family desperately flee South…
Read MoreCode Word Courage by Kirby Larson
Code Word Courage highlights the important contribution of the Navajo Code Talkers during WWII as Billie and her dog Bear find comfort back home. Middle grades. Code Word Courage (Dogs of World War II) by Kirby Larson. Scholastic, 2018. 252 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Billie feels bereft: her…
Read MorePicture Book Round-Up: Back to School Picture Books!
Back-to-School time means new pencils, new lunchboxes, new classrooms (or a new look for the dining room table!), and… new emotions. Scared and excited students, anxious and eager teachers, sad and glad parents, new kids, returning kids…. Check out one of these back to school picture books from your local library (or buy it for…
Read MoreBook Party Idea: Swallows and Amazons Forever!
I’m always on the alert for good book party possibilities; we throw one about once a quarter. This past Friday, we threw a lovely Swallows and Amazons book party for our summer event. (If you’ve never read Swallows and Amazons, don’t miss our review!) A Book Party? What sort of books make for good book parties,…
Read MoreBehind the Bookcase “Read-Alikes”
Unfortunately, we have removed the series “Behind the Bookcase,” but we invite you to read one of the articles below instead. They are also by Emily Whitten (author of the Behind the Bookcase series). How to Skim a Book: The Lost Medallion by Bill Muir and Alex Kendrick Home Mission: Letter to the Helpless Mom…
Read MoreThe Tragic Tale of Narcissa Whitman by Cheryl Harness
The Tragic Tale of Narcissa Whitman eloquently captures the hardships the early pioneers faced, the missionary ardor that inspired the Whitmans, and the unfortunate events that led to a terrible massacre. The Tragic Tale of Narcissa Whitman and a Faithful History of the Oregon Trail by Cheryl Harness (Cheryl Harness Histories series). National Geographic Children’s Books,…
Read MoreRetro Reads: *The Book of the Ancient World by Dorothy Mills
The Book of the Ancient World is just what it sounds like: an interesting book about the ancient world, including Ancient Egypt, Israel, Persia, and more. Perfect for middle grades! *The Book of the Ancient World by Dorothy Mills. Memoria Press, 2012 (originally published 1920s). 204 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For:…
Read MoreNew Picture Book Biographies Round-up (2018)
We love picture book biographies here at Redeemed Reader, and, thankfully, publishers seem to love them, too! Below are several new picture book biographies, some by established authors in the field (such as Demi), some stand-alone titles, and a new picture book biography series. Interestingly, TWO titles are about Marie Curie. Most of these are…
Read MoreHow to Make a Brown Paper Bag Book Cover in 10 Simple Steps
The school year is just around the corner, and you know what that means: new (to you) books! (Of course, we here at Redeemed Reader think every day is a day for new-to-you-books, ahem.) The difference between school books and leisure reading books is significant: one of those books might linger peacefully on a nightstand…
Read MoreFruit in Season: Worth the Wait
A State of Abundance I live in beautiful Washington state, in the part of the state that grows many of the cherries and apples the rest of the country enjoys. We also have grapes, berries, peaches, pears, apricots, plums, and more. From the time the cherries ripen in June to the last of the grapes…
Read MoreThe Princess Bride by William Goldman
The Princess Bride is just as delightful in book form as it is in movie form (or vice versa, depending on which you’ve already experienced!). The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman. 1973. Reading Level: Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 10 and up The Princess Bride book was…
Read MoreDiversity in Mini-Biographies: Refugees, African Americans, and More!
Diversity is a siren call these days, and, in regards to standard history book treatment of ethnic minorities and women, it’s often needed. Check Your History Books A quick glance back through the history of American (and Western) children’s lit shows a pretty vanilla landscape. When people of color are featured, it often isn’t through the…
Read MoreRetro Reads: The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s adventure classic, The Lost World, a book that has clear links to Jurassic Park! The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Originally published 1912. (Multiple versions available now.) Reading Level: Teens, ages 12-15 Recommended For: Middle grades and up, ages 10+ When newspaper reporter Edward Malone’s beloved Gladys refuses…
Read MoreDinosaur Book List for All Ages
Is your child keenly aware that a new Jurassic Park movie is hitting the big screen this week? As if kids needed more motivation to be interested in dinosaurs! Not to fear, we’ve got you covered: a dinosaur book list! Check out some of these fun books for a dinosaur-themed reading experience this summer, no matter what…
Read MorePhilosophy, Science, Ethics: the Need for Science Fiction
Are You a Sci-Fi Fan? Are you a Trekkie? A Star Wars fan? Perhaps you’ve faithfully watched Dr. Who, Stargate, or Battlestar Galactica. Or perhaps you are a sci-fi fan along the lines of Jurassic Park, eschewing intergalactic technology for “real world” technology? My husband and I both find sci-fi fascinating (admittedly, he is more into it than I…
Read MoreJurassic Park by Michael Crichton
The story that inspired the movie chain: Jurassic Park is more complex than the movie in every way–and not for kids. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. Ballantine, 2012 (25th anniversary edition). 464 pages. Reading Level: Ages 16 and up/adult Recommended For: Ages 16 and up/adult Summary + Review Most of us know the basic story of Jurassic…
Read More*Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry
A well-written, engaging middle grades biography of Harriet Tubman, conductor on the Underground Railroad, that tells young readers about her life from birth to death. *Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry. Amistad, 2018 (revised edition). 272 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 8-12, and up!…
Read MoreFairy Tales (and More!) for Summer: A Booklist for Family Read Alouds
Lovely, Literary, and Light-hearted: Fairy Tales are a Perfect Match for Summer Fun Looking for some fun, low commitment reading for this summer? Perhaps you have a beach trip planned, or you just want something for those tired afternoons after a day at the pool? Summer schedules can be delightfully irregular, but that same spontaneity…
Read MoreI Dared to Call Him Father by Bilquis Sheikh
A Pakistani Muslim woman recounts how God spoke to her, calling her out of her Muslim background, and how she dared to call him “Father” in this moving memoir. I Dared to Call Him Father: the Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman’s Encounter with God by Bilquis Sheikh. Chosen Books, 2003. 192 pages. Reading Level: Adult (Ages…
Read MoreSummer Books for Refugees
One of our co-founders, Emily Whitten, has a great opportunity for you, readers, to help support a book-based ministry this summer! Read on for her project and a personal note about her experience with this program. Summer Books for Refugees Summer reading is as American as apple pie…and this summer, Servant Group International…
Read MoreCosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Liam, a super tall 12-year-old, goes on a cosmic adventure in this light-hearted British science fiction story that includes subtle emotional weight. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Walden Pond Press, 2011 (reprint edition). 336 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Middle Grades, ages 8-12, especially as a book for boys and their…
Read More*Tangerine by Edward Bloor
A realistic sports story that is so much more than a sports story, Tangerine blends soccer, environmentalism, bullying, racism, and physical disability into a well-written, thought-provoking middle grades read. *Tangerine by Edward Bloor. HMH Books for Young Readers, 2006 (reprint; originally published 1997). 312 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 10-15,…
Read MoreThe Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall
Longtime readers will enjoy Birdsall’s Penderwicks at Last, a charming finale to this beloved middle grades series. The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall. Knopf, 2018. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: All ages, especially as a read aloud or independent read for ages 8-12. Eleven year old Lydia loves to dance. Naturally,…
Read MoreSummer Fun Booklist: Full of Activities and Things to Do!
Summer Days Ahead The glorious weeks of summer are upon us (if you live in the Southeast) or soon to be (if you live in the rest of the U.S.). In my house, this means blissful visions of peaceful days with children busily and happily occupied, mom on the porch sipping tea whilst chatting on…
Read MoreHunger by Donna Jo Napoli
Hunger stalks Lorraine and her family as they struggle to cope during Ireland’s potato famine in this historical fiction middle grades novel. Hunger: A Tale of Courage by Donna Jo Napoli. Simon & Schuster, 2018. 272 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 10-12, and up Lorraine is starving. Her little brother,…
Read MoreThe Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis
Little Charlie wants to do the right thing even as he agrees to go fetch runaway slaves up north in this gritty middle grades historical fiction novel. The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis. Scholastic, 2018. 256 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 10-12 and up Little Charlie Bobo…
Read MoreMarvelous Math for Middle Grades
The Language of the Universe The language of the universe is math. Little else in the natural world reflects such a unique combination of truth, order, and beauty–all of which point to God’s handiwork. We can praise God for math! When kids hit upper elementary, many of them suddenly start complaining about math. Let’s think…
Read MoreNavigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
Early Auden is Jack’s guide to Pi as they voyage to find the giant bear and complete their quest in this thought-provoking, intricate historical novel. Ages 12-15 Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool. Yearling, 2014 (reprint). 336 pages. Reading Level: Early teen, ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 12-15 (and mature 10-12 year olds) Set just at the…
Read MoreThe Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
Matthew, housebound because of his OCD, uses his detailed observations of his neighbors to help solve the disappearance of a toddler in this middle grades mystery. Ages 10-12 The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson. Scholastic, 2017. 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 10-12 If someone enters Matthew’s room,…
Read MoreRebound by Kwame Alexander
Charlie is struggling to rebound after his dad’s death in this well crafted, middle grades verse novel full of comics, basketball, and a strong family center. Rebound by Kwame Alexander. HMH, 2018. 416 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 10-12 (and up!) Charlie Bell just can’t rebound after his…
Read MoreHidden City by Sarah Grace Tuttle and Amy Schimler-Safford
Hidden City is an exuberant, colorful picture book that looks at the hidden and overlooked moments of beauty around us. Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife by Sarah Grace Tuttle and illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford. Eerdmans, 2018. 38 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: All ages, particularly ages 4-8 Do you take the time to…
Read MoreMartin Rising by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney
Martin Rising is a exuberant, poetic homage to Martin Luther King for middle grades. Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Scholastic, 2018. 128 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: middle grades, ages 8-12 The Pinkneys’ formidable skills appear to great effect in this beautiful and…
Read MorePicture Book Biographies Booklist!
Picture Book Biographies = Fantastic, Diverse Resources Picture book biographies are one of the best ways to introduce a person from history. Why? They bring interesting people to life in a short, succinct, satisfying manner. Illustrations can add tremendously to the information, enabling readers to get a “feel” for the subject. Additionally, the subjects chosen…
Read More*Twelve Days in May by Larry Dane Brimner
For middle grades and up: a photographic, journalistic look at those famous twelve days in May when a group of whites and blacks bravely tried to integrate the bus system. *Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961 by Larry Dane Brimner. Calkins Creek, 2017. 112 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages…
Read MoreThe Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman
A beautifully crafted middle grades biography of a girl who drew butterflies back in the 1600s, changing the study of natural history in the process. The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman. HMH Books, 2018. 160 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 10…
Read More*Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson
For middle grades: A compelling look into the life of Betty before X (Malcolm X) and the influence of the black church in the racially charged 1940s. *Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2018. 256 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 10-12 11-year-old Betty…
Read MorePie-Themed Picture Books for Pi/Pie Day!
“Pi/Pie Day” is coming up on March 14th! Check out one of the pie-themed picture books below from your local library to enjoy with your kids on Pi Day. Be sure to make some pie to go with these tasty-looking books! How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U. S. A. by Marjorie…
Read MoreNonfiction Picture Books Round-up: Biographies, Science, and Words
A round-up of 2018 nonfiction picture books on all sorts of subjects and for all sorts of ages! The Great Dictionary Caper by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Eric Comstock In this lively book, words become art as well as the subject: they are bored and escape the dictionary! Homophones, verbs, contractions, palindromes, and even archaic…
Read More*Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober
Starred review for this young adult biography that showcases a thoughtful–and thought-provoking–Abigail Adams against the backdrop of tumultuous American history. *Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober. Aladdin Paperback, 1998. 272 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 10 and up My dearest friend, as you have been called in…
Read More*Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (Retro Reads)
75 years later, this Newbery-Award winning story about Johnny Tremain is still a great historical fiction read about the birth of America. *Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. HMH Books, 2011 (originally published 1943). 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: All ages as a read aloud, ages 10 and up as an independent…
Read MorePicture Book Round-Up: 6 Multicultural Youth Media Award Winners
The 2018 ALA Youth Media Awards were announced last week, and children’s lit fans around the country live-streamed the event (unless they were privileged to be there in person!). The Youth Media Awards now include a full slate of awards, announced roughly in reverse chronological order: the oldest two awards–and most well known, the Caldecott…
Read MoreHello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
Four sixth graders come together in a serendipitous turn of events in this year’s Newbery award winner, Hello, Universe. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly. Greenwillow, 2017. 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Virgil hates that his parents call him “Turtle,” but the nickname does kinda fit: his…
Read MoreFacing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass by Tonya Bolden
Facing Frederick is a well written, nuanced biography for middle grades that sheds light on both Frederick Douglass and the tumultuous times in which he lived. Facing Frederick: The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass by Tonya Bolden. Harry Abrams, 2018. 208 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 10 and up If we…
Read MoreBlack History Month Nonfiction Book List
Black History Month Nonfiction Book List It’s a month full of book lists here at Redeemed Reader! We hope you enjoyed our Love and Laughter Book List on Valentine’s Day. Today, we’re offering a Black History Month Nonfiction Book List in honor of Black History Month! But first: don’t miss this earlier post, “Why Black…
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