Posts by Janie Cheaney
Captured by Alvin Townley
The ordeal of Jeremiah Denton in the “Hanoi Hilton” is not for the squeamish, but stands as a witness to courage and faith
Read MoreThe Lady Is a Spy by Don Mitchell
This biography of Virginia Hall for young people tells the little-known story of a daring World War II spy.
Read MoreFBI Files: the Unabomber
A new nonfiction series features puzzling and deadly cases cracked by the FBI.
Read MoreThe Invention Hunters Series by Korwin Briggs
By their wacky misunderstandings, the “Invention Hunters” help kids understand basic principles of applied science.
Read MoreLook! I Wrote a Book! by Sally Lloyd Jones
Sally Lloyd Jones shares the basics of book-writing with simple advice that works for any age.
Read MoreWhen We Were Lost by Kevin Wignall
This tense survival tale illustrates contrasting forms of leadership as teens struggle to find their way out of the Brazilian jungle.
Read MoreSal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Fast-paced and far-out, this series opener mixes theoretical science with human joys and sorrows
Read MoreThe Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Popular children’s author Margaret Peterson Haddix begins another sci-fi/adventure series for middle-graders
Read MoreMax & the Midknights by Lincoln Pierce
A goofy plot and sword-and-sorcery setting make Max & the Midknights a fun series opener.
Read MoreSTEM Girls: a Roundup
Three new series for middle-graders seek to encourage girls’ interest in the STEM fields.
Read More*Super Jake and the King of Chaos by Naomi Milliner
An aspiring magician discovers the real magic in “Super Jake,” his special-needs little brother
Read MoreSuperlative Birds by Leslie Bulion
Superlative Birds is a “Guiness Book of World Records” for our feathered friends, with a fun poetry angle.
Read MoreLiberty Arrives! by Robert Byrd
This oversize picture-book biography of the Statue of Liberty tells how she almost didn’t find a home.
Read MoreTools for Leaving Home: a List for Fledgling Adults
A list of books that might help with the difficult transition from teen to adult in today’s confusing culture
Read MoreGrowing in Godliness by Lindsey Carlson
Compact and practical, Growing in Godliness offers wise advice to girls entering high school or college.
Read More*Transformed by Truth by Katherine Forster
Transformed by Truth offers a lifelong approach to Bible study with practical helps for teens and adults
Read MoreJoshua Harris and the Perils of Idolatry
Our family began homeschooling in January 1985. Our children were in the middle of third and first grade, so it was a matter of grave conviction: something we had to do as soon as possible. We were living in Vancouver, Washington, and even though those were the early days of “the movement,” the homeschooling community…
Read MoreFinding Orion by John David Anderson
Beneath its crazy premise, Finding Orion is a touching look at family reconciliation.
Read MorePie in the Sky by Remy Lai
With humor and heart, Pie in the Sky explores the experience of a young Asian immigrant with much more than assimilation on his mind.
Read MoreMe and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse by Susan Vaught
An autistic girl and socially-awkward boy team up to solve a crime and absolve an innocent man.
Read MoreRocket to the Moon! by Don Brown
Graphic artist Don Brown give us a comprehensive visual account of the Apollo space program.
Read More*Sparky & Spike by Barbara Lowell
Sparky & Spike is about a boy and his dog and the genesis of the world’s best-loved comic strip.
Read MoreDon’t Blame the Mud by Marty Machowski
Don’t Blame the Mud introduces children to the concept of indwelling sin in a way that they can relate to and grasp.
Read More*O Captain, My Captain by Robert Burleigh
O Captain, My Captain encapsulates the Civil War through the eyes of its most famous poet.
Read MoreLast of the Name by Rosanne Parry
The New York City draft riots of 1863 form a dramatic background to this engaging tale of two young Irish immigrants.
Read More*The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
Four homeless children in India find their own “bridge home” in this engaging novel for middle grades.
Read MoreQuiet Family Dramas: Four Recent Middle-grade novels
A roundup of recent middle-grade novels about family formation and dissolution. Stories, like people, begin at home, and no matter how fanciful or adventurous middle-grade fiction may be, its mainstay remains what it’s always been: the family. Four recent novels by award-winning authors present families in the process of bereaving, breaking up, or re-forming, all…
Read MoreWhat Makes a “Strong Girl Character”? Thoughts and a Podcast
Does rejecting gender stereotypes mean there are no distinctions between strong girls and strong boys?
Read More*The Church Mice Series by Graham Oakley
The Church Mice series recaptures a very British way of life through a band of adventurous mice and their loyal protector cat. The Church Mice Spread Their Wings by Graham Oakley. Atheneum, 1976 (first American Edition), 34 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 5-up This is the fourth in a series…
Read MoreThe Survival Guide to Money Smarts by Eric Braun
Practical worksheets and relevant concerns make this “Survival Guide” a useful money primer for middle graders.
Read MoreThe Money-Smart Family System by Steve Economides
“Money smarts” begin at home in this family-oriented guide to teaching wise management.
Read MoreThe Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles
The “last day of summer” turns into a literal race against time for two intrepid, legendary sleuths.
Read More*Time Sight by Lynne Jonell
A disgruntled boy gifted with “time sight” discovers a way back into his own family’s history.
Read MoreRonan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles by Thomas Lennon
Ronan Boyle is the hapless hero of this hilarious new fantasy series that pits special-unit Irish police against nefarious leprechauns.
Read MoreBible Review: NASB Children’s Edition
This brand-new Children’s Edition of the New American Standard Bible is a must-have for NASB users.
Read MoreAnnouncing: The Pilgrim’s Progress Guide from Redeemed Reader!
Order our Pilgrim’s Progress Guide for great resources to use with family, school, or church!
Read MoreAre Graphic Novels “Literature”?
When I was a kid, back in the day, “comic books” did not have a great reputation. In fact, in 1949 a book called Seduction of the Innocent, by psychologist Fredric Wertham, sent a groundswell of concerned parents to their children’s comic stash, looking for hidden (or not-so-hidden) sexual themes and violent content. At best,…
Read MoreThe Odyssey: a Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
This graphic-novel adaptation of The Odyssey has some beautiful panels and a few problems.
Read MoreThe Iliad: a Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
Gareth Hinds’ adaptation of The Iliad is an excellent introduction to Homer’s classic for middle-graders and teens.
Read MoreNine Months by Miranda Paul
Nine Months shows the development of human life, from embryo to newborn, in gentle rhymes and beautiful paintings
Read MoreThe Pilgrim’s Regress by C. S. Lewis
The Pilgrim’s Regress by C. S. Lewis. Eerdmans, 2014, 256 pages. (Originally published 1933 UK, 1935 US) Reading Level: Teen/adult Recommended for: ages 18-up In his spiritual autobiography, Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis recalls one of his earliest memories: his older brother had filled the lid of a biscuit tin with moss and decorated…
Read MoreThe Pilgrim Travels on: Literary References to The Pilgrim’s Progress
Few works of literature have had the cultural reach of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. That’s pretty amazing—who would have thought an adventure story that pauses every few pages for long discussions of Christian theology would have such a grip on the Western world’s imagination? Clearly Bunyan tapped something deep in the human spirit. The…
Read MoreLet ‘er Buck! by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Black cowboy George Fletcher, the “People’s Champion,” is the subject of this story from the old west.
Read More*Crossing on Time by David Macaulay
David Macaulay again turns his drafting ability and clear prose on a massive engineering project, and this time it’s personal.
Read MoreVoices: the Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Eliot
Anachronistic values mar this otherwise compelling account of the short career of Joan of Arc.
Read MoreLovely War by Julie Berry
Lovely War is a satisfying romance that will leave readers with much to think about.
Read MoreDiary of an Awesome Friendly Kid by Jeff Kinney
The Wimpy Kid’s long-suffering best friend takes the narrative helm in the latest from the wildly successful book franchise.
Read MoreThe Collectors by Jacqueline West
The Collectors is the first volume of a duology that explores the limits of human responsibility for the destiny of others.
Read MoreCaterpillar Summer by Gullian McDunn
Biracial siblings connect with their estranged grandparents in Caterpillar Summer.
Read MoreBecause of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord
Home-schooled Emma learns a lot about classrooms and friendship “Because of the Rabbit.”
Read MoreBeast Rider by Tony Johnson
Beast Rider offers a sympathetic take on the immigration issue through the experience of one Mexican boy.
Read MoreBible Review: CSB Defend Your Faith
The Defend Your Faith Bible equips middle graders for apologetics with arguments for the reasonableness and accuracy of the scriptures.
Read MoreBible Review: CSB Study Bible for Girls (and Boys)
Though more of a devotional Bible than a study Bible, this edition offers thought-provoking questions and application features.
Read MoreBible Reviews: NIV God’s Treasure, Polar Adventure, and Incredible Creatures
Three recent editions of the NIV from Zondervan target adventurous kids and fantasy lovers.
Read MoreBible Review: the Stampede of “Creative” Bibles
A coloring/journaling Bible may make a lovely gift for the right recipient, but is it the best choice for reading and studying?
Read MoreEventown by Corey Ann Haydn
Eventown is a place of forgetting, but how much forgetting does that take before you forget yourself?
Read MoreThe Lost Girl by Anne Ursu
Identical twins struggle to re-define themselves in The Lost Girl, a fantasy for middle-grade readers.
Read MoreSomeday We Will Fly by Rachel DeWoskin
Someday We Will Fly explores a little-known chapter of the Holocaust: the Jewish refuge of Shanghai.
Read MoreA Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
Destiny moves in mysterious ways in A Drop of Hope, a fun and engrossing read for middle grades.
Read More*Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins
Mitali Perkins’ latest novel takes two conflicted teens to India to confront human trafficking and challenges to their Christian faith.
Read MoreExplorer Academy: The Nebula Secret by Trudi Truett
Explorer Academy launches an action sci-fi series taking readers to the world’s natural wonders.
Read MoreZap by Martha Freeman
A days-long power outage is the premise for Zap, a STEM-based, character-driven novel for middle graders.
Read MoreThe Author’s Mission: Gary Schmidt
What’s the story behind a Gary Schmidt story? More significantly, what are the questions?
Read MoreChecked by Cynthia Kadohata
In Checked, one family’s deep involvement in hockey provides the background for life questions
Read MoreSpy Runner by Eugene Yelchin
A dauntless 11-year-old boy confronts a possible Russian spy in this Cold-War-era thriller.
Read More*Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary Schmidt
To “pay attention” to the world around you is rule #1 of a life well lived, as this winning middle-grade novel shows
Read MoreRecommended Graphic Novels: a Booklist
I’m old enough to remember a time when “comics” were frowned upon as a cheap, inferior form of literature that kids shouldn’t be wasting their time on. Most kids (including me) ignored those frowns, spending hours at the local drug store pawing through the comics rack for Little Lulu and Denis the Menace. These days,…
Read MoreGraphic Novel Roundup: The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time
Two recent graphic-novel adaptations of classic stories have their strengths, but overall demonstrate the adage, “the book is better.” A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2012, 391 pages. The James Patterson blurb on the back cover praises the “colorful panels” but the first thing a…
Read MoreNew Kid by Jerry Craft
New Kid offers a fresh and funny graphic-novel take on the middle-school blues.
Read MoreThe Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox Gurdon
In The Enchanted Hour, Meghan Cox Gurdon makes the intellectual, social, and emotional case for reading aloud, at any age, to any age.
Read MoreThe Faithful Artist: an Interview with John Hendrix
A chat with the author/illustrator of The Faithful Spy, one of our favorite books from last year.
Read More*The Promise of Change by JoAnn Boyce
The Promise of Change revisits the civil rights era with this poignant memoir of a teenage girl becoming an icon.
Read MoreInventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden
Inventing Victoria follows a young biracial girl through a seldom-explored period of Reconstruction history.
Read MoreRoundup: Three Novels That Address Mental Illness
Three recent novels for middle-grade through YA feature characters with schizophrenia or depression.
Read MoreChristians and Mental Illness: an Interview with Simonetta Carr
The author of Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends them shares further insights about her experience with schizophrenia.
Read More*Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them by Simonetta Carr
One of our favorite authors documents the nightmare of schizophrenia and offers practical advice for families and churches dealing with it.
Read MoreIt’s Up to You, Abe Lincoln by Tom and Leila Hirschfeld
This unusual biography of Abraham Lincoln frames his life as a series of ten decisions, in which the reader is invited to participate.
Read More*What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper
Moving and beautiful, this post-Holocaust novel offers hope after horror.
Read More*Into the Jungle by Katherine Rundell
In these four tales inspired by Kipling’s Jungle Book, Mowgli the man-cub learns the backstories of his fellow creatures.
Read MoreNowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
A teenage Syrian refugee is the “Nowhere Boy” whose fate falls into the hands of an American 13-year-old.
Read MoreThe Susan Pevensie Problem
A new teen fantasy novel draws inspiration from Susan Pevensie’s rejection of Narnia to spin a similar tale. In the almost 70 years since C. S. Lewis published The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the series has attracted heat as well as love. Uniquely so: Tolkien, his friend and colleague, gets no barbs for…
Read MoreThe Biggest Win by Joshua Cooley
In The Biggest Win, players from the 2018 Super Bowl championship team coach young athlete in winning the kingdom of God. The Biggest Win: Pro Football Players Tackle Faith by Joshua Cooley. New Growth Press, 2018, 158 pages Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-up The story of the Philadelphia Eagles, last year’s…
Read MoreBirds of Pray by Rob Maaddi
A sports reporter who was with the Eagles as their dream team came together tells the story of their amazing Super Bowl Win. Birds of Pray the Story of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Faith, Brotherhood, and Super Bowl Victory by Rob Maaddi. Zondervan, 2018, 208 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 14-up Last…
Read MoreCyrus Field’s Big Dream by Mary Morton Cowan
Nobody said “No” to Cyrus Field once he got his brain around a big idea that transformed the history of communication—and history itself. Cyrus Field’s Big Dream: the Daring Effort to Lay the First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable by Mary Morton Cowan. Calkins Creek, 2018, 199 pages plus notes, index, and bibliography. Reading Level: Teen, ages…
Read MoreThe Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
“The Disappearing Spoon” is one mystery solved by the periodic table, in this entertaining grab-bag of historical oddities from chemistry. The Disappearing Spoon (Young Readers Edition) by Sam Kean. Little, Brown, 2018, 212 pages plus appendix. Reading Level: Teen, 12-15 Recommended for: ages 10 and up Even if you flunked chemistry (the way I almost…
Read More2019 Newbery Buzz #6: Cardboard Kingdom
Cardboard Kingdom (Knopf, 2018) bounced to the top of the book-review radar the moment it was released, and soon after tallied an impressive 5 starred reviews. It’s a book for the times: a graphic novel with vivid colors and diverse characters created by author Chad Sell’s graphic-artist friends. Every race and ethnicity is represented in…
Read More2019 Newbery Buzz #5: The Parker Inheritance
The Parker Inheritance, the latest by Varian Johnson, is a different sort of book from his light-hearted, fun middle grades heist novels (see The Great Greene Heist). Part historical fiction, part realistic fiction, The Parker Inheritance focuses on a small Southern town complete with a checkered past, colorful characters, and a mystery. The book opens…
Read MoreDid I Read That? Tracking Books with Notecards
Even before we started Redeemed Reader, I read a lot of books. Sometimes I reviewed them for my own blog and sometimes I just wanted to jot down my own thoughts as a response to what I read. The best books encourage pushback! With some nonfiction, I would take notes or write summaries, especially if…
Read More2019 Newbery Buzz #4: The Faithful Spy
Janie and Megan talk over one of the most impressive books we read this year: The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler. Janie: Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a name most Evangelicals know—or should know. In the past five years at least two important biographies have appeared, one of them by Christian author…
Read More2019 Newbery Buzz #2: The Book of Boy
Janie: The Book of Boy is one of the more unusual middle-grade novels to appear this year. The main character is (not surprisingly) Boy, a foundling raised by the village priest, who never bothered to give him a name. Now that the Black Death has carried away his guardian, Boy is a goatherd at the…
Read MoreNewbery Roundup – The Books We Didn’t Love (Part Two)
Continuing our series from last Friday about children’s books seen as contenders for the ALA’s coveted Newbery medal. The Truth As Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor. HarperCollins, 2018, 342 pages Mason, according to his Uncle Drum, has a trifecta of problems: he’s large, he sweats a lot, and he doesn’t do well in…
Read MoreNewbery Roundup – The Books We Didn’t Love (Part One)
Then end of the year is the beginning of buildup to the annual American Library Association (ALA) “Youth Media Awards,” culminating in the announcement of the year’s coveted Newbery medal. Library websites and mock Newbery candidates give us an idea of what’s being talked about, and at Redeemed Reader we try to at least give…
Read More2019 Newbery Buzz #1: The Season of Styx Malone
It’s that time again! Children’s book titles are pouring into every librarians’ website as the kidlit community speculates on who will win Newbery gold this year (announced on January 28). At Redeemed Reader, we’re no exception. Every Newbery committee is different and it’s almost impossible to predict what will tickle the panel’s fancy (or prick…
Read MoreEvery Month is a New Year by Susan L. Roth
This picture book gives a neglected holiday its due, celebrating “New Year” around the world with brilliant collage illustrations. Every Month is a New Year: Celebrations around the World by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Susan L. Roth. Lee & Low, 2018, 50 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages From the midnight…
Read More*Inkling by Kenneth Oppel
Imagination literally runs wild in Inkling, the latest middle-grade novel from popular novelist Kenneth Oppel. *Inkling by Kenneth Oppel, with illustrations by Sydney Smith. Knopf, 2018, 239 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (ages 8-15 as a read-aloud) Nobody knows how it happened, because only the cat saw it. Wind…
Read MoreThe Hungry Cities Chronicles by Philip Reeve
The movie version of Mortal Engines opens this weekend. Here’s our original review of the series, originally published in January 2011. The Hungry Cities Chronicles, by Philip Reeve: Mortal Engines (2001), Predator’s Gold (2003), Infernal Devices (2005), A Darkling Plain (2006). Harper Collins. Age/interest level: 14-up. If I were idly browsing shelves, I would…
Read More*God Counts by Irene Sun
More than a simple counting book, God Counts sets out to teach numerically inclined kids what God is like—through numbers. *God Counts: Numbers in His Word and His World by Irene Sun. New Growth Press, 2018, 28 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, 0-4 Recommended for: ages 2-5 as a read-aloud, 6-7 for independent readers “In…
Read MoreSpecial God by Julie Mililli
Special God sets out to explain biblical theological concepts to young children and those with special needs. Special God by Julie Mililli, design by Matt Stevens. Crossway, 2018, 59 pages including grossary. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 5-8 as a read-aloud, 7-10 for independent reading In the Introduction, the author recounts…
Read MoreThe Year in Books – RR Staff Reflections
Are you the kind of person who asks, “What have you been reading lately?” Betsy, Megan, Janie, and Hayley took some time to reflect about some of the outstanding books of the year so soon to be over, and here are our thoughts. We thought you might be interested, too–and, not incidentally, pick up some…
Read MoreCarnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict
This historical novel for teens speculates on a maid who influenced steel magnate Andrew Carnegie to become a philanthropist. Carnegie’s Maid: a Novel by Marie Benedict. Sourcebooks, 2018, 352 pages Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: 12-up Clara Kelly knew it was a risk, sailing to America while that nation is engaged in Civil…
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