Posts by Hayley Morell
*Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise
Whooo goes there? It’s Knight Owl and Early Bird in this charming picture book sequel! Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise. Christy Ottaviano Books, 2024. 48 Pages. Owl is very important. He is captain of the Knight Night Watch. One day, just as Owl is turning in, a new bird arrives at the…
Read More*Granny Smith was Not an Apple by Sarah Glenn Fortson
A beautiful picture book chronicling the origin of the Granny Smith apple variety through the life of one determined woman. *Granny Smith was Not An Apple: The Story of Orchardist Maria Ann Smith by Sarah Glenn Fortson and illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod, Peter Pauper Press, 2023. 32 pages. Crunch, crunch, crunch. A sour-faced woman…
Read MoreWormwood Abbey: A Guest Post by Gina Dalfonzo
Today we are happy to share a guest post from Gina Dalfonzo, author and fellow book reviewer. Gina has been a guest at Redeemed Reader before: don’t miss her bio and our Back Porch Book Chat with her, linked below. This review was originally published on Gina’s Substack, Dear Strange Things. Wormwood Abbey, Christina Baehr,…
Read MoreWhere Did the Ratings Go?
This post was first shared in our weekly newsletter. If you’d like to subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates: book reviews, book trivia, and bookish news, click HERE. Over the past couple months, several readers have noticed a change in our reviews. Rather than finish with a numerical rating, we have started using a bottom…
Read MoreThe Luminous Life of Lucy Landry
A sweet middle-grade historical fiction recounting some of the Luminous Life of Lucy Landry, an Ojibwe orphan. The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry, Anna Rose Johnson, Holiday House, 2024. 192 pages. When her guardian dies, Lucy Landry isn’t sure what to expect. Her active imagination is quick to fill in a number of scenarios, but…
Read MoreThe Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelly
A neurodivergent tween finds friends and makes an amazing discovery at summer camp. The Secret Language of Birds, Lynne Kelly, Delacorte Press, 2024. 240 Pages Nina loves birds. People though? And camp? That doesn’t sound very fun. But when Aunt Audrey, a camp director invites her to camp, Nina reluctantly accepts. At first she’s ready…
Read MoreSomething Like Home by Andrea Beatrix Arango
A poignant novel-in-verse explores the question: “What is home when your world turns upside-down?“ Something Like Home, Andrea Beatrix Arango, Random House Books for Young Readers, 2023. 256 pages. We meet Laura in a car. A social worker is driving her to her aunt’s apartment. But why? We don’t know though as the novel-in-verse progresses,…
Read MoreBig by Vashti Harrison
In Big, winner of the 2024 Caldecott medal, one young girl learns to be kind to herself, despite the words of others. Big by Vashti Harrison, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023. 60 pages. Once upon a time there was a little girl who wasn’t so little. She was a big baby. She became…
Read MoreReading K. M. Shea’s Clean Urban Fantasy
Snarky heroines, quick banter, action, adventure, and a dash of romance are all components to K. M. Shea’s urban fantasy novels, but are they suitable for teens? For the past few years, K. M. Shea’s Magiford books have been a guilty pleasure in my free reading. Often available through Kindle Unlimited, for a while I…
Read More*Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur
Sarah Arthur’s YA fantasy novel Once a Queen imagines a world like ours where stories come to life, but individuals have to return to reality. *Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur, WaterBrook, 2024. 384 pages. What happens after stories end? Eva is arriving in England to visit a grandmother she has never met, one her…
Read More2024 Newbery Buzz #4: Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
Simon Sort of Says was longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Could it win the Newbery? We’re continuing our long-running Newbery Buzz Discussion series this year with a book that was longlisted for the National Book Award: Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow. To read the rest in our series…
Read MoreYA Fantasy: Murtagh, Theft of Sunlight, & Wind Daughter
A rapid fire round up of three YA fantasy novels that belong to bigger worlds: Murtagh, A Darkness at the Door, and Wind Daughter. Murtagh by Christopher Paolini. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2023, 704 pages. Set following the Inheritance Cycle, Paolini focuses on Murtagh and his dragon Thorn, now living as fugitives. A cryptic…
Read MoreHayley’s Favorite Books, Old and New
We are excited to be partnering with Story Glory Kids for our Winter Book Fair this year! In the past, we linked to amazon for all of our Christmas gift suggestions, but this year, whenever possible, we’ll be directing you to Story Glory for your book-related shopping. Like amazon, we get a small commission. Unlike…
Read More*Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith & Boulet
Calvin and Hobbes meets the Nickelodeon channel to retell Beowulf in a colorful, creative, graphic novel. Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith & Boulet. First Second, 2023, 208 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade, Ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 10 and up If you’ve read, Beowulf, you know it begins with an injunction: “Hwæt” Open the pages…
Read MoreYA Graphic Novels: Graceling, Cheshire Crossing & Lore Olympus
A rapid fire round up of three YA graphic novels for mature teen readers. Graceling by Kristin Cashore, adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds. Clarion Books, 2021, 272 pages. A gorgeous, lyrical graphic novel about a girl graced with a deadly gift. In Cashore’s fantasy world some people are “gracelings,” strange-eyed and possessing a magical…
Read MoreOnce There Was by Kiyash Monsef
In the tradition of Susan Cooper, a lyrical, dark fantasy for mature middle grade readers.
Read MoreQuicksilver by R. J. Anderson
In an engaging sci-fi thriller, one girl attempts to outrun her past while discovering her true identity. Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson. Carolrhoda Lab, 2013. 320 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, Ages 16-upRecommended For: Ages 16-up On June 7, the year I turned sixteen, I vanished without a trace. On September 28 of the same year I came…
Read MoreThe Most of P. G. Wodehouse by P. G. Wodehouse
An excellent introduction to P. G. Wodehouse via his short stories and one delightful novella.
Read MoreMr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mysteries (Books 1 & 2) by Claudia Gray
Mysteries involving Jane Austen characters? That is the premise of Claudia Gray’s recent mystery series suitable for mature teen readers as well as adults.
Read More*Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins
Hope in the Valley captures one girl’s momentous summer as she processes grief, grapples with change, and finds her own voice along the way.
Read MoreIn the Blue by Erin Hourigan
In the Blue gently explores what it is like for a child to experience the depression of a loved one.
Read MoreUnderstanding Ukraine
A year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, here is an updated booklist from Hayley’s 2014 series of posts about Ukraine. In 2014, as Russia invaded the Crimean peninsula, Redeemed Reader provided a series of posts to help readers understand Ukraine and the conflict occurring in Europe. Some of the titles were Ukrainian-specific while others helped…
Read MoreWhen Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods
History and a summer adventure combine in an engaging, slim, novel-in-verse for middle grade readers.
Read MoreThe 2023 ALA Youth Media Awards
The big winners and runners-up from the most prestidgious awards in children’s literature
Read More*A Dragon Used to Live Here by Annette LeBlanc Cate
In a whimsical tale within a tale, two royal children discover that their castle (and their own mother!) have a very interesting past. A Dragon Used to Live Here by Annette LeBlanc Cate. Candlewick, 2022, 256 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended For: ages 6-12 as a read-aloud, 8-12 independent readers Noble children…
Read More*The Star that Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson
In a debut novel reminiscent of Maud Hart Lovelace and Laura Ingalls Wilder, a young girl discovers new friends, family, and hope. The Star That Always Stays is one of our Readers’ Choice Top Ten Picks for 2025! Check out the rest and be ready to cast your vote in March. *The Star that Always…
Read MoreCozy and Clever Books for Teens and Adults
During uncertain times, there’s something reassuring about a cozy book. But even better than a cozy book is a cozy, clever book . . .
Read MoreUkraine: Lessons in Liberty and Compassion, Part 1
This post was originally published in 2014, shortly after Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution. Emily’s reflections and application are still timely today. From Emily: As my kids are solidly in the middle of Medieval History in our home schooling, they haven’t had many opportunities to hear the the words, “Cold War.” But with the events unfolding over…
Read MoreGetting to Know Shirley Hughes (1927 —2022)
Quintessentially English, Shirley Hughes delighted generations with her charming stories and beautiful illustrations. Growing up near Liverpool, England in the 1930s -40s, Hughes enjoyed such illustrators as Arthur Rackam. She dreamed of being an illustrator but didn’t think the dream possible. Hughes’ family was relatively well-to-do. Her father, T. J. Hughes founded a department…
Read MoreFavorite Classics for Book Lovers
We review primarily new books here on Redeemed Reader, not because we don’t love the old books, but because resources for the new books are sometimes hard to find. We’re reading ahead for you, as it were. But we know that many of you–like us–love the old books, too! Here are some of our very…
Read MoreWhat about Aru Shah?
This is a question we often get at Redeemed Reader. In fact, there’s a whole comment thread asking if we’ve reviewed it. Part of the Rick Riordan Presents Series, Aru Shah and the End of Time welcomes readers into the dazzling and rather baffling world of Hindu mythology and reincarnation. Roshani Chokshi is a gifted…
Read MoreLooking Behind in The Hobbit
This essay was originally written by Hayley for the Redeemed Reader 2012 Writing Contest. We hope you’ll enjoy it as we revisit The Hobbit this week, just in time for Bilbo’s birthday. Looking Behind As Bilbo Baggins clings to a barrel, increasingly cold and entirely wet, he wonders if he will die. Quite a predicament,…
Read MoreJ. R. R. Tolkien for Kids by Simonetta Carr
An interactive biographical introduction to Tolkien with 21 activities, J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids is perfect for middle grade Tolkien enthusiasts. J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids: His Life and Writing with 21 Activities by Simonetta Carr. Chicago Review Press, 2021. 144 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade (Ages 12 and up) Recommended For: Ages…
Read More*Steeped in Stories by Mitali Perkins: a Discussion
Steeped in Stories is a winsome, thought-provoking celebration of some beloved classics: a Redeemed Reader discussion. *Steeped in Stories: Timeless Children’s Novels to Refresh Our Tired Souls by Mitali Perkins. Broadleaf Books, 2021. 240 pages. Reading Level: Adult Recommended For: YA/Adult Hayley: Why read the classics? Aren’t they out of date? Let alone, how do we…
Read MoreA Visit to the Printers
Last Monday, I set off for a visit to our local printers. While I’ve written about going to the printer’s before, this time I wasn’t just picking up a proof. A Basement Tour Instead, it was time for a behind-the-scenes tour of SUN Printing with our printing contact, Carl. Past the lobby, down a corridor,…
Read More*Reading and Talking about Sexuality
*Note, this post engages with sexuality and includes conversation and books that are suitable for teens and adults. I was hiking in Europe. A French friend was telling me about a messy hook-up pseudo relationship. I listened and sympathized and then said, thoughtfully, “That kind of thing wouldn’t happen for me because I believe that…
Read MoreAnother Kingdom series by Andrew Klavan
Andrew Klavan’s recently concluded gritty fantasy trilogy is a series for adults, not teens. Another Kingdom series by Andrew Klavan. Turner Publishing. Reading Level: Adult Recommended For: *Adults (see below) As Another Kingdom begins Austin Lively is just a Hollywood wannabe closing soon on a has-been. Then, he stumbles through a portal into a kingdom…
Read MoreLearning to Find Good Books
How do we find good books? We get this question often at Redeemed Reader. Many of you are on the hunt for books: to satisfy a voracious reader, interest an apathetic reader, find a new read aloud —the list goes on and on. But how do we find good books? And how can you do it? Honestly, this…
Read MoreThought-Provoking YA Fantasy
Between the two, The Theft of Sunlight and Into the Heartless Wood take on fairytales, humanity, and the complex web of sex trafficking. Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer. Page Street Kids, 2021. 368 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, Ages 14-17 Recommended For: Ages 15 and up Imagine a world where railways plunge…
Read MoreThe Hedgehog of Oz by Cory Leonardo
The Hedgehog of Oz is a tribute to Oz from the perspective of a very small but determined hedgehog.
Read More*A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
Young readers will find kindred spirits in A Place to Hang the Moon, a story of three displaced children in wartime Britain. A Place to Hang the Moon is one of our Readers’ Choice Top Ten Picks for 2025! Check out the rest and be ready to cast your vote in March. *A Place to…
Read MoreThe Golden Age Detective Stories
This is an abridged version of the article Reading the Golden Age that originally appeared in our Fall 2020 Quarterly. Who murdered ____? Is it the estranged relative? The thwarted lover? The embittered neighbor? But the more immediate question for you, dear reader: what mystery to read? Let me introduce you to some of the…
Read MorePicture Book Biographies for Black History Month
Learn about Aretha Franklin, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Elgin Baylor in these new picture books biographies.
Read MoreAmari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston
Move over Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, there’s a new girl on the block in Amari and the Night Brothers!
Read MoreEnclave Escape Round-up: YA Fantasy & Dystopia
Two series end and one begins in this round-up from Enclave Publishing, a Christian publishing house.
Read MoreFriday Introductions: Hayley
Team Spotlight What does it look like behind the scenes at Redeemed Reader? We’re taking some time on Fridays to give you a glimpse behind the curtains. What happens when a bookworm grows up? In my case, I joined the Redeemed Reader team. I’m Hayley, staff writer and the face behind the newsletters as well…
Read More*Catherine’s War by Julia Billet
n excellent new graphic novel translated into English, Catherine’s War tells the story of one Jewish girl’s life in occupied France, often through the lens of her rolodex.
Read MoreMeet the Team: Hayley at Christmas
We wrap up our Meet the Team, Christmas 2020, with Hayley, our administrative assistant and staff writer, answering her own questions!
Read MoreMeet the Team: Megan at Christmas
Hayley plays interviewer to introduce the Redeemed Reader team. Today let’s chat with our Associate Editor and Staff Writer, Megan Saben.
Read MoreMeet the Team: Betsy at Christmas
As 2020 draws to an end, we know we’ve added a lot of new readers. So, just in time for last minute Christmas ideas, here is Meet the Team, Christmas 2020 edition!
Read More*The Simple Art of Flying by Cory Leonardo
A charming middle grade debut featuring a fractious, poetic parrot and a lonely little boy. *The Simple Art of Flying by Cory Leonardo. Aladdin, 2019. 384 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Alastair is bound and determined to escape the pet shop. Even though it’s the only world…
Read MoreMeet the Team: Janie at Christmas
As 2020 draws to an end, we know we’ve added a lot of new readers. So, just in time for last minute Christmas ideas, here is Meet the Team, Christmas 2020 edition!
Read MoreWhat Happens Next
A debut MG novel tackles eating disorders from the unique perspective of a younger sibling.
Read MoreTwo Excellent YA Fantasy Sequels
The second book in a series faces a lot of pressure; here are two YA fantasy follow-ups that satisfy.
Read MoreThank You, C. S. Lewis
This morning, doing devotions, I was reflecting on the resurrection. The phrase Deeper magic, before the dawn of time drifted unbidden into my reflections.
Read More*Swift by R. J. Anderson
A young piskey girl searches for truth as danger threatens her home and loved ones.
Read MoreDust by Kara Swanson
Neverland spills into modern day life and sets two young people on a collision course.
Read MoreMortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Secrets, shadows, and Milton’s Paradise Lost are woven together in a YA fantasy.
Read MoreThe Fellowship: A Discussion
Reading about the Inklings, Hayley and Megan discuss The Fellowship, an excellent book for Tolkien and Lewis enthusiasts. The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams by Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015. 656 pages. Reading Level: Adult Recommended For: Ages 16…
Read More*Dorothy and Jack by Gina Dalfonzo
An excellent introduction to the friendship between C. S. Lewis and Dorothy Sayers. Dorothy and Jack by Gina Dalfonzo. Baker Books, 2020. 208 pages. Reading Level: Young adult – Adult, Ages 15 and up Recommended For: Ages 15 and up The first time Douglas Gresham saw his stepfather, C. S. Lewis, cry was at the…
Read MoreFinding Truth for Toddlers: Why Good Stories Matter
A children’s book is the first time you can introduce your toddler to someone beyond yourself —beyond a person they know— who understands them.
Read MoreRapid Fire: YA Fantasy, July 2020
Two series starters that fizzled and two new authors to enjoy.
Read More*The Bootlace Magician by Cassie Beasley
Welcome back to the magic that enchanted us in Circus Mirandus. The Bootlace Magician by Cassie Beasley. Dial Books, 2019, 416 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, age 10-12Recommended for: all ages Micah Tuttle is dealing with grief at the loss of his beloved grandfather. He is also struggling to find his place in the amazing magical…
Read MoreBack Porch Book Chat: W. R. Gingell (Author)
Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all love! Our guest today is W. R. Gingell from Australia. She chats with us about fantasy, books and authors that shaped her, why she writes “clean” fiction and more! Interview…
Read MoreBooks We Loved
Ever wondered what it’s like to listen in on our conversations? Here’s a chance! Hayley, Janie, and Betsy talk about some of their favorite books from the past year. Books That Made Us Cry Hayley: I think the older I get, the more books make me cry. This past year a couple books stand out: Pay…
Read MoreThose Literary Couples We Loved
Darcy and Elizabeth Lord Peter and Harriet Katniss and Peeta . . . or was it Gale? I know, I know! NOT The Hunger Games. But what are our favorite literary couples?I’ll start off: Lord Peter and Harriet —I love the character development throughout the Lord Peter Wimsey series that culminates in Gaudy Night. I especially love…
Read More2020: Meet the Team —Betsy
Hayley plays interviewer to introduce the Redeemed Reader team. Today, she’s chatting with our managing editor and staff writer, Betsy Farquhar.
Read More2020: Meet the Team —Janie
It’s time for Meet the Team, January 2020 edition! Hayley plays interviewer to introduce the Redeemed Reader team. We’re starting off with our editorial advisor and senior staff writer, Janie B. Cheaney. As Betsy likes to ask in her Back Porch Book Chats, what is your preferred drink as you sit down with a book? …
Read More*John Ronald's Dragons: The Story of J. R. R. Tolkien by Caroline McAlister
Lovely illustrations and beautiful narrative prose tell the story of Tolkien, from boyhood to The Hobbit.
Read MoreSong of the Abyss by Makiia Lucier
Song of the Abyss is a sequel that does not disappoint and yet succeeds in its own right as a standalone novel.
Read MoreWe Met Dragons: A Celebration of Children’s Literature
Last week, in our newsletter, we asked our readers what books they thought of when they saw this poem by Jack Prelutsky. Here are some of their answers, combined with some of our own: Dragons The Hobbit by J.R. R. Tolkien The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis The Reluctant Dragon by…
Read MoreRobin Hood: Twice Told
The legend of Robin Hood has gone through countless re-tellings. Here are two for older readers.
Read MoreHouse of Salt and Sorrows by Erin Craig
A dark YA fairytale retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. In a haunting, gothic setting, a family mourns as yet another daughter is interred to the sea. This time, Annaleigh is convinced there is something amiss with her sister’s death.
Read More*Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
Rebecca McLaughlin confronts some of the hardest questions faced by Christians today with thoughtful, engaging responses rooted in Scripture. *Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin. Crossway, 2019, 240 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 15-18 Recommended for: ages 18-up So you are a Christian? Chances are, you’ve encountered someone who believes…
Read MoreOur Favorite Mice: A Booklist
Have you ever stopped to consider how many mice are in children’s literature? There is something about these small, unlikely protagonists that captures the imagination. From Aesop’s Fables to contemporary authors, here are some of our favorite mouse books divided by age level. Picture Books Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem (For many generations, families…
Read MoreSummer Books for Refugees
This month, Redeemed Reader will be donating every part of the commission we earn as Amazon affiliates to the Summer Feed and Read Program that works with refugee children in Nashville. You might remember it from last summer; one of Redeemed Reader’s co-founders, Emily Whitten, is involved with the program, and it’s an excellent gospel ministry seeking…
Read MoreReading Robin McKinley
“I’m reading a book that’s a little slow.” I told a friend. “Why not stop reading it?” It was a fair question, but it hadn’t even crossed my mind. “Because I like the author . . . and she has these wonderful sentences that make the rest of the book worth reading.” In a nutshell,…
Read MoreThe Race That Knows Joseph
Hayley writes of literary crossings, new friends, and other bookish thoughts while she is traveling abroad.
Read More*Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
A beleaguered planet, flight school, and one young woman’s quest to prove herself and clear her family honor.
Read MoreMeet the Team: Hayley
Our Meet the Team post series concludes with Hayley, answering her own interview questions. What is your first reading memory? Are there some books you remember a parent reading aloud to you? I don’t have a first —our house was filled with books and read alouds. I do remember standing in our basement and staring…
Read MoreMeet the Team: Megan
Hayley interviews our Associate Editor and Staff Writer, Megan Saben.
Read More*Monster Blood Tattoo Trilogy by D. M. Cornish
Enter the complex world of the Half Continent where men and monsters clash, yet not all monsters are as they seem in this starred fantasy series.
Read MorePride and Prejudice: The Original and the Others
Three reviews of Pride and Prejudice retellings (Heartstone, Pride, and Unmarriageable) plus a review of the original version!
Read MoreMeet the Team: Janie
We’re taking some time and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the Redeemed Reader team. Today, Hayley (RR’s executive assistant) interviews our Editorial Advisor and Senior Staff writer, Janie B. Cheaney. What is your first reading memory? Are there some books you remember a parent reading aloud to you? I know my parents read to…
Read MoreMeet the Team: Betsy
As we head into 2019, we’re going to take some time and give you a behind-the-scenes look at the Redeemed Reader team. So, with Hayley (our executive assistant) as interviewer, we’re starting off with our Managing Editor and Staff writer, Betsy Farquhar. What is your first reading memory? What are some books you remember your…
Read MoreSign Here: Twenty-Two Unofficially Official Pull-Out Forms
Perfect activity for your list-loving child on a cold winter’s day. Sign Here by Gabrielle Djanogly & Adele Mildred. Prestel Junior, 2018. 48 pages. Reading Level: Ages 8 & up Recommended for: Ages 8 — Adult The subtitle does an excellent job of summing up this fun, tongue-in-cheek activity book, “Twenty-Two Unofficially Official Pull-Out Forms for Dreams,…
Read MoreThe Books Worth a Library Fine
This post really happened. It was written at the library with a stack of books and without coffee. It has been left close to its original form for your amusement. Yes, it’s happened again. I’m bound and determined to review a book, to mention it on Redeemed Reader because I know you’d like it.…
Read MoreFive Favorites: Old and New
With leaves changing and school beginning, our Redeemed Reader intern, Zoe Watters, shares five books that can be enjoyed any time of year. As she says, some lessons, including spiritual ones, are learned better in stories. For example, “it is more fun to have adventures with others, and rescue missions are more successful when kids…
Read MoreIsle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier
Mysterious maps, sea creatures, and an island kingdom where dark secrets threaten to emerge . . . All the makings for an excellent story. Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier. HMH Books for Young Readers, 2018. 400 pages. Reading Level: Ages 16 and up Recommended For: Ages 16 and up Fans of Megan Whalen Turner…
Read More*In the Land of the Blue Burqas by Kate McCord
In a beautifully written memoir full of vignettes, McCord gives readers glimpses of the people and culture of Afghanistan through her eyes as a Christian NGO. *In the Land of the Blue Burqas by Kate McCord. Moody Publishers,2012. 320 pages. Reading Level: Adult (Ages 16 and up) Recommended For: Teens/Adults (Ages 15 and up) What is…
Read MoreDisenchanted by Megan Morrison
Readers eager for more tales from Tyme will be disappointed by a story that is for more political than its precursor. Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella by Megan Morrison. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2016. 416 pages. Reading Level: teen, ages 10-12 While Grounded was a fairytale romp with thought-provoking themes and engaging characters, Disenchanted tackles weightier…
Read MoreRapid Fire: Five Recent YA
Reading YA takes time. Books often stretch to 400 plus pages, and sometimes at the end of the day, those 400 pages aren’t worth an in-depth review. But you’d still like something, right? So, at a glance, here are 5 rapid fire reviews of recent YA novels. Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. Henry…
Read MoreThe Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill
Watch out Chicago, there’s a new amateur sleuth in town for this jazz age mystery! The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill. Blink, 2017. 352 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult (15 & up) Piper Sail, independent and privileged, is enjoying her senior year of high school in 1920s Chicago.…
Read MoreVintage Pies: Classic American Pies for Today’s Home Baker by Anne Haynie Collins
Here’s a fun pie cookbook to help you recreate some of the vintage pies described in older literature and in your history books! Vintage Pies: Classic American Pies for Today’s Home Baker by Anne Haynie Collins. Countryman Press, 2014. 159 pages. Have you ever read an old book, like Little House on the Prairie, Farmer…
Read MoreGetting to Know Beatrix Potter (1866 – 1943)
“My dear Eric, Once upon a time there was a frog called Mr. Jeremy Fisher . . .” A day earlier, Beatrix Potter had written Eric’s older brother. “My dear Noel, I don’t know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits whose names were —Flopsy, Mopsy,…
Read MoreRoll by Darcy Miller
In rural Minnesota, friendship and rolling pigeons combine in an enjoyable middle grade debut novel. Roll by Darcy Miller. HarperCollins, 2017, 224 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10 & up Ren’s parents have moved to the country, 8 miles away from their small town in Minnesota, and 8 miles…
Read MoreReading Diana Wynne Jones: an Author Portrait
You just finished a good book. Now what? Many book lovers can relate to this sad, unsatisfied feeling. But what if you banished that feeling, by reading the same author widely? Some discernment needs to be applied, especially if the author wrote across genres. And unfortunately, it doesn’t apply for an author of limited works. …
Read MoreDefy the Stars by Claudia Gray
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. 512 pages. Noemi Vidal will die for her country, but an abandoned spaceship and a mysterious mech draw her into a quest that could save Genesis yet threatens to overturn everything she believes. Reading Level: Young Adults, 16 and up Recommended for: Ages…
Read MoreWeek 6 : God So Loved, He Gave
Introduction This summer reading challenge has flown by! Can you believe it’s Week 6 already? (Granted, we did take a week off for the Fourth of July, but that means 7 weeks have passed since we began.) We’ve covered a lot of ground since we started. This is true both literally and figuratively; two of…
Read MoreWhich Path & Which Friend Discussion
This week, the Redeemed Reader team discusses what it looks like to take the right path and our favorite friendships in literature. Pilgrim’s Progress is one book with a clear “path” in the story. What are other stories you can think of with both a “right path” and a wrong? Megan: Well, I’ll start…
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