Posts by Janie Cheaney
*The Book of God by Ben Avery
This comprehensive, accessible guide to the history of the Bible in graphic-novel format will have young readers referring to it again and again. *The Book of God: How we Got the Bible by Ben Avery, artwork by Javiar Saltares. Kingstone Media, 2012, 124 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-up “This…
Read More*Miracle Man by John Hendrix
A new “life of Jesus” picture book presents the Son of God as compelling and dynamic in word and deed. *Miracle Man: the Story of Jesus by John Hendrix. Abrams, 2016, 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: all ages The wildly popular Jesus Storybook Bible related the entire Bible narrative to…
Read MoreLearning from John Wycliffe: an Interview with Douglas Bond
Yesterday we reviewed The Revolt: a Novel in Wycliffe’s England. Today we’re happy to have the author of that book answer a few questions for us: RR (Janie): Tell us a little about your research. I know you make frequent trips overseas: did you visit Lutterworth or track down Wycliffe papers at Oxford? DB: This…
Read MoreThe Revolt by Douglas Bond
The England of John Wycliffe is vividly portrayed as a crucible of revolution in this new historical novel The Revolt: a Novel in Wycliffe’s England by Douglas Bond. P&R, 2016, 267 pages Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-up At the battle of Crecy, August 26, 1345, two young men cross paths. One…
Read MoreThe Book of Languages by Mick Webb
In spite of some evolutionary speculation in the first pages, The Book of Languages is a fascinating and comprehensive introduction to a neglected subject. The Book of Languages: Talk Your Way around the World, by Mick Webb. Owl Kids Books, 2015, 63 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 What language…
Read MoreMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
The movie version of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children opens today, and since none of us regular reviewers have read the book, we’re happy to welcome guest reviewer Nathanael White: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Quirk books, 2011, 352 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 At first glance, this novel…
Read MoreFive Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders
Edith Nesbit’s classic characters go ten years into their future in this thought-provoking sequel. Five Children on the Western Front, by Kate Saunders. Delacorte, 2016, 247 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-14 Fans of Edith Nesbit like her breezy style, her comfortable use of Edwardian slang, her humor, and her…
Read MoreHundred Percent by Karen Romano Young
This insightful novel about the awkward years between 11 and 14 could make a useful discussion starter for mothers and daughters. Hundred Percent by Karen Romano Young. Chronicle, 2016, 294 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Does anybody remember what sixth grade is like? Christine Bernadette Gouda (alias Tink) doesn’t remember…
Read MoreDollars and $ense by Elaine Scott
A survey of economic policy through the ages introduces middle-graders to such topics as fractional banking and the national debt. Dollars and $ense: a Kid’s Guide to Using—Not Losing—Money by Elaine Scott. Drawings by David Clark. Charlesbridge, 2016, 98 pages including glossary and index. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-15 Ubiquitous…
Read MoreCity Atlas: Travel the world with 30 City Maps by Georgia Cherry
Cities rather than nations are the focus of this unique, colorful, and lavishly-illustrated oversize volume for elementary grades. City Atlas: Travel the World with 30 City Maps by Georgia Cherry, illustrated by Martin Haake. Wide-Eyed Editions, 2016, 63 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 7-12 Like Maps (Candlewick, 2013), City Atlas…
Read MoreKid Beowulf by Alexis Fajarda
A venerable legend gets a total makeover with this new graphic-novel series that does for early Europe what the Astrix series did for Rome. Kid Beowulf, Vol. 1: The Blood-Bound Oath by Alexis E. Fajarda. Andrews McMeel, 2016, 223 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 The last few years have…
Read MoreKid Owner by Tim Green
A 12-year-old inherits the Dallas Cowboys, leading to a unique set of challenges and opportunities for character growth. Kid Owner, by Tim Green. Harper, 2015, 325 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15, especially boys Talk about fantasy football! In Chapter One Ryan Zinna discovers his dad has just died–and Ryan…
Read MoreOur 9/11 Book List
If you’ve been with us for the last few months you doubtless saw Betsy’s reviews of two recent, highly-regarded middle-grade novels about the worst foreign attack on American soil ever. But if you’re looking for good books to introduce children of all ages to what happened on September 11, 2001, we’ve been reviewing them all along.…
Read MoreThe Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers
Friendly pirates, malicious magicians and imaginative geography make this middle-grade series starter fun and even a bit thought-provoking. The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers. Henry Holt, 2016, 311 pages Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10 and up As a small child, Brine was found in a rowboat at sea. …
Read MoreSteeplejack by A. J. Hartley
A classic mystery unfolds in this historical fantasy for teens, with an appealing heroine, a multi-racial cast of characters, and an exotic setting. Steeplejack by A. J. Hartley. Tor Teen, 2016, 334 pages Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 15-18 Anglet Sulonga, 17, is a “steeplejack in the city of Bar-Selehm—the old part,…
Read MoreWe Will Not Be Silent by Russell Freedman
Russell Freedman covers the White Rose student movement, a German anti-Nazi protest during World War II, with an emphasis on the organizers’ Christian faith. We Will Not Be Silent: the White Rose Student Resistance Movement that Defied Hitler by Russell Freedman. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016, 104 pages including index Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended…
Read MoreSpirit Week Showdown by Crystal Allen
Mya Tibbs is the perky, enthusiastic narrator of this family- and school-based series for advanced chapter-book readers. Spirit Week Showdown (Magnificent Myra Tibbs #1) by Crystal Allen. Balzer & Bray, 2016, 227 pages Reading Level: Chapter Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 6-10 Mya, just starting 4th grade, is totally looking forward to Spirit Week…
Read More*Calvin by Martine Leavitt
A schizophrenic teen embarks on a quest for self-discovery and truth that becomes a struggle for survival. Calvin by Martine Leavitt. Farrar Strauss and Giroux, 2016, 181 pages Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 13-up In the middle of a high-achieving high school career, Calvin slides off reality and ends up in a…
Read MoreKatie Friedman Gives up Texting by Tommy Greenwald
Middle-graders who swear of texting for one week have to discover other means of communication, with mixed results. Katie Friedman Gives up Texting by Tommy Greenwald. Roaring Brook, 2015, 227 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 When Katie accidentally sends a dismissive text to her supposed boyfriend Nareem, with predicable results,…
Read MoreBible Review: *HCSB Essential Teen Study Bible
The HCSB Essential Teen Study Bible presents 99 “Essential Doctrines” with extensive scriptural backup and application. *The HCSB Essential Teen Study Bible. B&H Kids, 2016, 1312 pages. (Available in several softcover and one hardcover edition) Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-17 The Holman Christian Standard translation (now available as the Christian Standard) is…
Read MoreQuiet Power: the Secret Strengths of Introverts by Susan Cain
Susan Cain adapts her adult best-seller Quiet for a younger audience, sharing thoughts and tips on making the most of an introverted nature. Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts by Susan Cain. Dial, 2016, 272 pages including index and notes Reading Level: Young Adult, 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-18 When the author was nine,…
Read MoreJosh Baxter Levels Up by Gavin Brown
A 12-year-old video gamer learns to “level up” his academic and social skills to meet real-life challenges. Josh Baxter Levels Up by Gavin Brown. Scholastic, 2016, 172 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys Reality isn’t easy for a compulsive gamer, especially when your single mom is holding down two…
Read MoreIt Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozah Dumas
An Iranian girl in a California middle school struggles to bridge cultures in this compelling, semi-autobiographical narrative. It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozah Dumas. Clarion, 2016, 370 pages Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-up Zomorod Yousefzadeh has a complicated history: born in Abadan, Iran, she has moved between Iran and…
Read More*Frank and Lucky Get Schooled by Lynn Rae Perkins
Frank and Lucky’s close friendship leads them into countless adventures in learning, where “school subjects” never see the inside of a classroom. *Frank and Lucky Get Schooled by Lynn Rae Perkins. Greenwillow, 2016, 32 pages Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 5-8 Frank was a boy without a dog. Lucky was a…
Read More*The Boy Who Became Buffalo Bill by Andrea Warren
This accessible biography reveals the extraordinary, historically significant, and surprisingly admirable life of an American legend. *The Boy Who Became Buffalo Bill: Growing Up Billy Cody in Bleeding Kansas by Andrea Warren. Two Lions Press, 2015, 241 pages, including notes and index Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-15 His father, Isaac, was…
Read More*A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen
The building of the Berlin Wall pits lovers of freedom against an oppressive regime in this gripping novel for middle graders. *A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen. Scholastic, 2015, 317 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-16 Berlin, 1961: Gerta’s father knows they should escape the Communist iron grip that is…
Read MoreMayday by Karen Harrington
In Mayday, 13-year-old Wayne discovers that even a plane crash can have a silver lining, and treasures may hide under life’s hard knocks. Mayday by Karen Harrington. Little, Brown, 2016, 344 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 While flying home from the funeral of his Uncle Reed at Arlington National Cemetery,…
Read MoreRoller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
The rough, tough world of girls’ roller derby is the setting for this surprisingly sweet depiction of friendship, breakup, and change. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Dial Graphic, 2015, 240 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Astrid and Nicole have been best friends since kindergarten, but not necessarily because they…
Read MoreFantastic Frame #1: Danger! Tiger Crossing by Lin Oliver
The Fantastic Frame chapter-book series introduces early-elementary-age readers to great works of art. Fantastic Frame #1: Danger! Tiger Crossing by Lin Oliver, illustrated by Samantha Kallis. Grosset & Dunlap, 2016, 122 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 Tyler and his family have moved to a new neighborhood and right off the…
Read MoreCommander in Cheese #1: the Big Move by Lindsey Leavitt
Commander in Cheese, a new series for beginning readers, pairs a mouse family in the White House with the family of a brand-new president. Commander in Cheese #1: the Big Move by Lindsey Leavitt, illustrated by A. G. Ford. Random House, 2016, 97 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, Ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 6-10 The…
Read MoreWhat Elephants Know by Erick Dinerstein
Lowland Tibet is the exotic setting for this coming-of-age story featuring an 11-year-old boy and the elephants he loves. What Elephants Know by Erick Dinerstein. Disney Hyperion, 2016, 268 pages Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Nandu Sindh was only a baby when he was found by Devi Kali and the…
Read MoreTalking about Books That Talk about Race
Not a “Newbery Buzz” post because these titles were published before 2016 and are already award winners! But, for similar posts in which Janie and Betsy discuss books, check out our Newbery Buzz series. Janie: Earlier this week, we reviewed two novels about what might be called “the black experience.” One of them, When I Was…
Read MoreWhen I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
A black teen in the ‘hood struggles to maintain his focus when his best friend takes a wrong turn with potentially serious consequences. When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds. Atheneum, 2014, 230 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: mature teens, ages 15-18 Even though Allen (Ali) and his little sister…
Read MoreHilo: Saving the Whole Wide World by Judd Winick
The exuberant boy-robot Hilo is back from “the void,” pursuing his mission to destroy his arch-enemy Razorwark and discover his own origin and purpose. Hilo Book 2: Saving the Whole Wide World by Judd Winick. Random House, 2016, 193 pages Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-12, especially boys In this second…
Read MoreThe Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
In this series opener, four sixth-grade girls discover that reading the classics can change contemporary attitudes.
Read MoreThe Mother-Daughter Book Camp by Heather Vogel Frederick
The Mother-Daughter Book Club series wraps up with all five members of the club serving as camp counselors together before launching their adult lives. The Mother-Daughter Book Camp by Heather Vogel Frederick. Simon & Shuster, 2016, 321 pages Reading Level: Middle Grade, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 11-16 (especially girls) Emma, Jess, et al., take one…
Read MoreThe Revolutionary War by Mort Kunstler
Key events of the American Revolution are celebrated by one of our nation’s preeminent historical painters. The Revolutionary War 1775-1783 (See American History Series) by Mort Kunstler, text by Alan Axelrod. Abbeville Press, 2016, 45 pages including appendix. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 5-12 Mort Kunstler is perhaps best known…
Read MoreThe Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick
A small England Community fights for survival when a solar flare wipes out all sources of power, in this taut thriller with a 12-year-old hero. The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick. Scholastic, 2015, 176 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15, especially reluctant readers The whole town of Harmony, NH, is…
Read MoreThe Double Cross by Jackson Pearce
A 12-year-old spy trainee proves his calling in spite of obvious physical drawbacks, in this entertaining middle-grade adventure. The Double Cross, and Other Skills I Learned as a Superspy by Jackson Pearce. Bloomsbury, 2015, 291 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14, especially boys Hale Jordan is, well, fat—a factor that…
Read MoreThe Magic Mirror by Susan Hill Long
A few language cautions aside, this medieval fantasy tale illustrates some profound truths about finding oneself in the journey. The Magic Mirror: Concerning a Lonely Princess, a Foundling Girl, a Scheming King, and a Pickpocket Squirrel by Susan Hill Long. Knopf, 2016, 308 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-up…
Read MoreThe Goblin’s Puzzle by Andrew S. Chilton
This lively tale combines a fairy-tale plot and likeable characters—even a likeable dragon—with philosophical musings. The Goblin’s Puzzle: Being the Adventures of a Boy with No Name and Two Girls Called Alice, by Andrew S. Chilton. Knopf, 2016, 279 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 The Boy has nothing, not…
Read MoreLittle Dee and the Penguin by Christopher Baldwin
Sunny and warm, this graphic novel combines a wildly implausible plot with distinct personalities—and lots of laughs. Little Dee and the Penguin by Christopher Baldwin. Dial, 206, 128 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: 8-up Little Dee, who appears to be about 5, lives happily with her park-ranger dad until the night…
Read MoreThe Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach
A thrilling tale set in 1920s New York pits three children against a foe that bears an uncanny resemblance to modern-day Islamism. The Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach. Delacorte, 2016, 234 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 New York City, 1929: Cousins William and Maxine barely remember their grandfather, with…
Read MoreAstrotwins: Project Blastoff by Mark Kelly
Solid science fiction is delivered by an author who knows his stuff, though the materialist worldview is worth talking about. Astrotwins: Project Blastoff by Mark Kelly and Martha Freeman. Simon and Shuster, 2015, 201 pages Reading Level: 8-10 Recommended for: 8-12 If the name Mark Kelly sounds familiar, it’s because he’s a former astronaut married…
Read MoreFrank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor by Jon Schieszka
Though not to be taken at all seriously, this wacky series by Jon Schieszka threads some real science into its far-out storylines. Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor (Frank Einstein #1) by Jon Schieszka. Amulet, 2015, 180 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys While his parents are traveling…
Read MoreThe Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
A fifth-grade prankster meets his match, joining forces with his rival to pull off the greatest fifth-grade prank of all time. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John. Amulet, 2015, 217 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys Miles Murphy, age 11, is not happy about moving…
Read MoreTerror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key
In a fast, thrilling read, a 13-year-old boy must display courage, ingenuity, and persistence in extremely dangerous circumstances. Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key. Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2015, 224 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15, especially boys Life on the Alabama coast isn’t so bad, especially if your…
Read MoreSoar by Joan Bauer
In this cozy sports story, Jeremiah has learned through difficulty, but may not be able to pass the lessons on to his teammates. Soar by Joan Bauer. Viking, 2015, 237 pages Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Jeremiah Lopper has an unusual origin story: At the age of nine months or…
Read MoreSunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm
In this graphic novel with a bittersweet twist, Sunny’s disappointing “vacation” in her grandfather’s retirement community conceals some family secrets. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm, illustrated by Matthew Holm. Scholastic Graphix, 2015, 216 pages Reading Level: 8-10 Recommended for: 8-12 Sunny, age 10, was anticipating a classic beach vacation with her best friend, but…
Read MoreMy Life in Pictures by Deborah Zemke
Bea Garcia learns to deal with disappointment and make the most of her artistic gifts in this first cartoon-illustrated installment of a series. My Life in Pictures (Bea Garcia #1) by Deborah Zemke. Dial, 2016, 134 pages Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 6-10 It’s bad enough when your best friend moves…
Read MoreSweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg
Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg. Penguin, February 2016, 296 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: An 11-year-old discovers the pioneering spirit in the last frontier, in this entertaining historical adventure that echoes Laura Ingalls Wilder. Terpsichore Johnson’s family is down to their last pumpkin. Mr. Johnson…
Read MoreTru and Nelle by G. Neri
Tru and Nelle by G. Neri. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016, 336 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: Based on the childhood friendship of Harper Lee and Truman Capote, this middle-grade novel highlights the experiences that shaped an American classic. Tru (short for Truman) is a fussy little clothes-horse…
Read MoreRaymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Three 10-year-old girls cope with life’s ups and downs by learning to rely on each other, in a story with “magical” elements. Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick, 2016, 263 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Raymie Clarke, age 10, has one goal: by winning the Little Miss Central Florida…
Read MoreBible Review: *The NLT Jesus-Centered Bible
*NLT Jesus-Centered Bible. Group Publishing, 2015, 1440 pages. (Available in hard- and soft-cover editions.) Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 12-17 Bottom Line: The NLT Jesus Centered Bible is a serious attempt to revel Christ as the centerpiece and main character of both Old and New Testaments. The New Living Translation (see…
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Bible for Teen Girls: Growing in Faith Hope and Love
NIV Bible for Teen Girls: Growing in Faith, Hope and Love. Zondervan, 2015, 1728 pages. (available in hard- and soft-cover editions) Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 11-16 Bottom Line: The NIV Bible for Teen Girls is physically attractive and encouraging, but the added features are not as deep and thought-provoking as other…
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible
NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible. Zonderkidz, 2016, 1344 pages. (Soft- and hardcover editions available) Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Bottom Line: The prayer-focused goal of this Bible is laudable, but the execution leaves something to be desired. As advertised, the focus of this Bible is all about…
Read MoreBible Review: NKJV Courage Bible/NKJV Faith Bible
NKJV Courage Bible/NKJV Faith Bible. Holman Bible Publishers, 2014, 1568 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Bottom Line: An accurate, readable translation, comfortable text size and helpful inserts make this a good choice for reading along in family devotionals and church. “Courage” is a red cover with a blue star…
Read MoreBible Review: NKJV Study Bible for Kids
NKJV Study Bible for Kids. Thomas Nelson, 2015, 1536 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 10-12 Bottom Line: The movie-themed features can be a bit distracting, but the study notes and supplements are sound and the rainbow colors appealing. This is a “themed” Bible, and the theme is the wonderful world…
Read MoreBible Review NIrV Faith Builders/ NIrV Under the Sea
We’re back!! Thanks again for your patience while we cleared up our site hack problems. You’ll notice a rather stripped-down version of RedeemedReader, but be aware we’re working on some big improvements for the future. This week, we’re back with our annual crop of children’s Bible reviews–two today, three more throughout the week, and next…
Read MoreBible Review: NIrV Study Bible for Kids
NIrV Study Bible for Kids. Zonderkidz, 2015, 1789 pages. Available in hardcover, soft cover and ebook editions Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 Bottom Line: Though it’s a sizeable chunk for a young child, the NIrV Study Bible contains some helpful features appropriate to the recommended age group. Unlike other NIrV…
Read MoreHow Dark is Too Dark?
The Michael J. Prinz medal is awarded every year by the ALA for excellence in YA literature. “Excellent,” to the ALA, often means edgy, trendy, or outright grim: it’s a sure bet that at least one title in each year’s selection (of one winner and 2 or 3 honor books) will be seriously depressing. This…
Read MoreWho’s Your Daddy?
Of all the charges hurled against Christianity in the modern age, one of the most potent is “paternalistic.” Christianity, it’s said, has kept women in the kitchen and society in the dark ages; I recall listening to a radio program long ago in which a caller insisted that the whole point of the faith was…
Read MoreGood Reading for Teens–Except for One Thing . . .
Lately I read two books for teens, one fiction and one nonfiction, that conformed to time-honored, even classic, storylines. The novel, A Step toward Falling, follows a comedy-of-manners pattern that goes all the way back to Pride and Prejudice. In fact, P&P plays a significant part in the story. Granted, the premise is a bit edgy:…
Read MoreThe Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Though probably the most honored children’s writer of her generation, Katherine Paterson hasn’t seen many of her books translated to film. This weekend will be only the second time, which makes today a good time to talk about it: At the close of the Vietnam war, John and Katherine Paterson of Barre, Vermont agreed to…
Read MoreReading Aloud to Teens, Part Two
Last week I set forth some reasons why older children (ages 12-18) have not outgrown the benefits of reading aloud. If you’re convinced about the why’s, you may be wondering about the how’s. Here are a few ideas along that line: Start early. If you’ve read to your kids as preschoolers, and after, they’ll be…
Read MoreReading Aloud to Teens, Part One
The last time I talked to my daughter on the phone, she said, “Guess what Adriel is doing now.” That’s my nine-year-old granddaughter, and of course I always want to know what she’s doing now. Since they live 800 miles away, I don’t get to see them very much, but it so happened that the…
Read More*Retro Reads: North to Freedom by Anne Holm
North to Freedom (I Am David) by Anne Holm. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1963 (first edition), 256 pages. Reading Level: 10-12 Appropriate for: ages 12-up Bottom Line: After escaping from the soviet prison camp that comprised his whole world, a 12-year-old boy must come to terms with what it means to be free. The Danish journalist,…
Read MoreThe 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
In most science fiction, technological advances are not shown to advance humanity. However, it would be tough to find a more negative view of a future world than The 5th Wave, which chronicles an alien attack on our weak and vulnerable planet. Depressing as it is, the story raises some vital questions about humanity,…
Read MoreThe 2016 ALA Youth Media Awards–What happened??
As we were saying last Saturday . . . you just can’t predict what the Newbery committee is going to do. Trends have been toward diversity, disability, and difficulty; books that show children in adverse, even desperate circumstances often get Newbery nods. (That’s why I was so sure The Thing about Jellyfish would be on…
Read MorePrognosticating the Newberys
On Monday, the American Library Association will announce the winners of their annual Youth Media Awards. The oldest and most prominent of these is the John Newbery medal, given “to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.”* I’m not sure why the ALA words it this way,since the award is…
Read MoreNewberry Buzz: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt
Today wraps up our discussion of middle-grade novels being touted as possible contenders for the 2016 Newbery Award. The awards will be announced early this year: January 11. So on Saturday Betsy and Janie will post their highly-anticipated predictions. Check back next week to see how we did! Betsy: Gary D. Schmidt is yet another…
Read More2016 Newbery Buzz: Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia
Continuing our series of discussions on contenders for the 2016 Newbery Award, Janie and Betsy turn their attention to a previous honor winner . . . Betsy: The Gaither sisters are back in a third installment: Gone Crazy in Alabama. Rita Williams-Garcia took home a 2011 Newbery Honor and a Coretta Scott King Award for…
Read MoreNewbery Buzz: The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Betsy and Janie are continuing their discussion of possible 2016 Newbery Award winners. On deck today is a novel by a debut author which has already been honored as a National Book Award finalist. Janie: I heard someone mention lately that most of the children’s books getting the rave reviews this year seem to be…
Read MoreNewbery Buzz: The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
Continuing our series of middle-grade fiction touted as possible Newbery winners: Janie: Kenneth Oppel is best known for light-hearted steampunk fantasy, like the Airborn series and The Boundless. He showed us a bit of his dark side with This Dark Endeavor and Such Wicked Intent, the first two volumes of a trilogy about young Victor…
Read MoreNewbery Buzz: Most Dangerous by Steve Sheinkin
It’s that time again! Less than a month before the American Library Association announces their Youth Media Awards, and chief among them is the coveted Newbery medal. The speculation has begun, and for the next few weeks, Betsy and Janie are going to be talking about some of the leading contenders. Please note: our discussion…
Read MoreWhat Makes a GREAT Novel?
When was “The Novel” as a literary form invented? The answer is, it wasn’t. The type of long-form fiction we call a novel was not invented but developed over time with many steps along the way. Epic poetry like Homer’s, satires like Ovid’s, and royal romances like The Tale of Genji (from Japan) have been…
Read MoreHave an Awesome Thanksgiving
In honor of this week’s holiday, a book review post from a few years back: *Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday, by Mike Allegra, illustrated by David Gardner. Whitman, 2012, 32 pages. Age-interest level: 4-up As our story opens, Sarah Hale is gathered with her five children around the Thanksgiving table. No…
Read MoreFlying Ponies and Dump Trucks
Do little kids love fantasy? NPR recently reported on a study done by three academic psychologists on the subject of children and fiction. They asked a group of 4-to-7-year-olds what choose between two stories they might like to read or listen to: one story about a child who found a treasure, and another about a…
Read MoreTempest in a Mixing Bowl
As a book reviewer, I have stars in my eyes. That is, I watch for stars when scanning book review journals, because they are an indicator of what someone finds excellent. Often, what others value is not what I would value, but if a book collects a lot of stars (six is the absolute gold…
Read MoreWhen Is a Story More Than a Story? Thoughts about The Marvels by Brian Selznek
We live in the Age of Narrative. And increasingly, novels stop telling stories and become about story, gazing at themselves with calm adoration. This is nowhere more true than in the celebrated children’s novels of Brian Selznek. Selnek began as an illustrator who, over time, developed a distinctive, detailed, textured style built on shades of…
Read MoreThe Uses of Terror
Yesterday I made a distinction between “terror” stories and “horror” stories—the latter based squarely on our elemental fear of death, often with buckets of blood thrown in. (Suspense is a sub-category of the horror genre, built on the same fear factor but not so brutal). The horror genre lumps together all stories that could be…
Read MoreScary Stuff
In honor of the holiday this week that celebrates spooks and skeletons, here’s a post from a few years ago. Everybody has their favorite C. S. Lewis quotes. Here’s one of mine: “Almost the whole of Christian theology could perhaps be deduced from the two facts (a) That men make coarse jokes, and (b) That…
Read MoreThe Doll People by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin
The Doll People Series, by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin. Disney/Hyperion Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 7-12 (mostly girls) Bottom Line: The Doll People series, rolling out in a leisurely way with four titles since 2003, offers a winning set of “living dolls” and an ideal transition from chapter books to…
Read More“The book is a lot better than the movie” – Usually
I’ve been thinking a lot about movies lately–perhaps because my latest novel, published this month, is set in the early days of the silent film industry. Next week we’ll publish my interview with Betsy about that novel in particular. But on the general theme of movies, and looking forward to the big holiday film season…
Read MoreMatthew Muddles Through by Glenda Mathes
Matthew Muddles Through (Matthew in the Middle #1) by Glenda Mathes. CreateSpace, 2014, 220 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: The everyday adventures of a small-town preacher’s kid acquire eternal significance in this low-key series for middle graders. Matthew Vos belongs to a shrinking culture: the church-going, catechism-learning,…
Read More13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Since its publication in 2006, 13 Reasons Why has become the go-to novel on the subject of teen suicide, but it’s more sensational than useful. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Razorbill, 2006. 336 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 15-up Suppose, when you get home from school one day, there’s…
Read MoreLaid-Back Homeschooling: a Word of Encouragement for the Year Ahead
I’m not quite ready to retire to a rocking chair in front of the general store, bending the ear of hapless passers-by: Yessir, it was rough back in them early homeschoolin’ days . . . But still, it’s fun to off-handedly mention that when we decided to take our third-grader and first-grader out of public…
Read MoreReflections on Selections
It’s not easy being selective, especially when perusing book titles for the honor of World Magazine Children’s Book of the Year. For last year’s pick, The Warden and the Wolf King, the committee assembled a bit late in the process, meaning a rush to scan the field (books published between May 2013 and May 2014),…
Read MoreThe Winners’ Circle
World Magazine has chosen a “book of the year” for at least twenty years. In 2013, the magazine diversified a little and chose three books in different categories. And last year, what should come along but a Children’s Book of the Year, chosen by committee with some (ahem) ties to RedeemedReader.com. Last week, World rolled…
Read MoreLilliput by Sam Gayton
Lilliput by Sam Gayton, Illustrated by Alice Ratterree. Peachtree, 2015. 252 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-12 Bottom Line: Lilliput is an entertaining (alternative) window into Gulliver’s Travels, but may be too violent for sensitive readers. Lily’s world turned upside-down when the giant waded out of the sea and snatched…
Read More*The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose
*The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2015. 198 pages including appendices Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: The story of how a handful of schoolboys sparked the Danish Resistance makes thrilling reading for middle-graders interested in WWII history. In…
Read MoreRanger in Time series by Kate Messner
Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail and Danger in Ancient Rome by Kate Messner. Scholastic, 2015. About 125 pages, plus author note. Reading Level: Chapter books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 6-8 Bottom Line: The “Ranger in Time” series is a fun way to introduce early readers to history, as a loveable search-and-rescue…
Read More*Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
*Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley. Dial, 2015, 304 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, age 10-12 Recommended for: all ages Bottom Line: Circus Mirandus, a magical tale for middle-graders, avoids sentimentality and can easily be adapted to a Christian understanding of the Kingdom. Micah Tuttle is swiftly approaching a crisis: Grandpa Ephraim, who raised him from…
Read MoreSIX by M. M. Vaughan
SIX by M. M. Vaughan. Simon & Shuster (Margaret K. Elderberry Books), 2015. 361 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-14 Bottom Line: SIX, a science-fiction novel for middle-graders, offers likeable characters and the intriguing possibility of teleportation. Parker Banks has had a lot of adjusting to do over the last…
Read MoreFort by Cynthia DeFelice
Fort by Cynthia DeFelice. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2015. 200 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-12 (especially boys and reluctant readers) Bottom Line: Sweet-but-rough justice is served up in this boys-only summer tale that pits three losers against two bullies. Wyatt Jones, age 11, is enjoying the last of his summer…
Read MoreThe Chosen Prince by Diane Stanley
The Chosen Prince by Diane Stanley. Harper, 2015, 357 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, 12-15 Recommended for: ages 14 and up Bottom Line: A prince is chosen from infancy to reunite two warring kingdoms and bring peace to his people, but at great cost to himself. At his birth, Prince Alexos is chosen by the…
Read MoreThe Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
William Kamkwamba’s own story of his efforts to bring reliable electrical power to his impoverished African village makes fascinating reading, especially for mechanically-minded middle-graders. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Reader edition) by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. Dial, 2015. 292 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-up, especially boys…
Read MoreThe Founding Fathers! by Jonah Winter
The Founding Fathers! Those Horse-Ridin’,Fiddle-Playin’, Book-Readin’, Gun Totin’ Gentlemen Who Started America, by Jonah Winter, Illustration by Barry Blitt. Atheneum, 2015. 40 pages Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 7-12 Bottom Line: The Founding Fathers! profiles fourteen men who featured prominently in our country’s birth, using a generally fair but perhaps too casual…
Read MoreThe Fog Diver by Joel Ross
The Fog Diver by Joel Ross. Harper, 2015. 323 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-16 Bottom Line: The Fog Diver imagines a dystopian world of Haves and Have-nots, with plucky heroes, a wealth of detail, and a dash of humor. Hundreds of years ago, mankind proposed to meet a crisis…
Read MoreWoof by Spencer Quinn
Woof (a Bowser and Birdie Novel) by Spencer Quinn. Scholastic, 2015. 293 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 9-13 Bottom Line: Bowser, a loveable mutt, gets to tell his own story about how he and his “off the charts” owner, Birdie, started their crime-solving partnership. Two humans stood outside my cage,…
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