Posts by Janie Cheaney
The Flood of Noah by Bodie Hodge & Laura Welch
Was there a worldwide flood? The various legends of such a phenomenon are explored and compared in this interactive history book. All ages The Flood of Noah: Legends and Lore of Survival by Bodie Hodge and Laura Welch, illustrated by Bill Looney. New Leaf Publishing, 2014, 24 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended…
Read MoreThe Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle by Christina Uss
A ‘girl called Bicycle’s” improbable adventures during a cross-country bike trip shape the narrative of this fictional exploration of luck. Ages 10-14 The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle by Christina Uss. Holiday House, 2018, 303 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-13 The girl is called Bicycle because, when she…
Read MoreScience Picture-Book Roundup
Four new science picture books entertain while informing young readers about microbes, sparrows, hawks, and deep-sea exploration. Ages 6-10 The Bacteria Book: the BIG World of Really Tiny Microbes by Steve Mould. DK, 2018, 71 pages including index. The “yuck” factor is always in play when learning about the bacterial world, especially when it comes…
Read More50 Wacky Things Animals Do by Tricia Wagner
“Wacky facts” about 50 animals introduce young readers to the amazing variety of creation. Ages 6-10 50 Wacky Things Animals Do: Weird and Amazing Animal Facts by Tricia Martineau Wagner, illustrated by Carles Ballesteros. Walter Foster Jr. Books, 2018, 103 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 Did you know . .…
Read MoreThe Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery
The Hyena Scientist takes readers on safari to observe a misunderstood species. Ages 8-14 The Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery, photography by Nic Bishop. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018, 71 pages including index. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-14 Hyenas get a bad rap as vicious scavengers, grave-robbers, and cowardly thieves. Most…
Read MoreFighting the Patriarchy, One Review at a Time
Float is a fun summer read about boys being boys, but some of the reviewers had a problem with that. The protagonist of Float, by Laura Martin (HarperCollins, 2018) is a 13-year-old boy classified as a RISK—that is, one who is afflicted with Recurring Incidents of the Strange Kind. Emerson is RISK Category 5 because…
Read More*Hope in the Holler by Lisa Lewis Tyre
In this lively novel, a recently-orphaned girl finds “hope and a future” in the midst of poverty and bereavement. Ages 10-14. *Hope in the Holler by Lisa Lewis Tyre. Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin/Random House), 2018, 209 pages Reading Level: 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (8 to 14 as a read-aloud) Wavie Conley and her mother…
Read MoreThe American Revolution by Ben Thompson
The latest addition to the “Guts and Glory” series is a readable and engaging history of the American Revolution for middle graders. Ages 10-15 The American Revolution (Guts and Glory #4) by Ben Thompson, illustrations by C. M. Butzer. Little Brown, 2017, 320 pages including appendix Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15…
Read MoreImpossible Inventions by the Mizielinskis
Impossible Inventions, by the same team who brought you Maps, is quirky, informative, and possibly inspiring. Ages 8-12 Impossible Inventions: Ideas that Shouldn’t Work by Matgorzata Mycielska and Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski. Gecko Press, 2017, 119 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 “It begins with a dream or a need—a…
Read MoreCalling All Minds by Temple Grandin
A well-known scientist and autism advocate challenges middle-graders to put down their phones and make something. Ages 10-15 Calling all Minds: How o Think and Create Like an Inventor by Temple Grandin. Penguin, 2018, 230 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism in the 1950s,…
Read MoreRick Riordan Presents: A Pagan State of Mind
Three new series bearing the Rick Riordan name share an interest in pagan deities and a neo-pagan worldview. When Rick Riordan introduced his signature character, Percy Jackson, over a decade ago, he immediately established himself as a one of the best-selling authors ever in the category of middle-grade fantasy. Percy Jackson, as every parent of…
Read MoreSecret Sisters of the Salty Sea by Lynn Rae Perkins
Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea is a beach vacation between two covers, told from an artless childlike perspective. Ages 7-10 Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea by Lynn Rae Perkins. Greenwillow, 2018, 323 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 7-10, or 6-10 as a read-aloud The Treffreys are packing up…
Read MorePower Forward by Hena Khan
Zayd’s dream of playing basketball on his school’s A-team clashes with his Muslim family’s goals for him. Ages 6-10 Power Forward (Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream #1) by Hena Khan. Simon & Shuster, 2018, 126 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Book, ages 7-9 Recommended for: Ages 6-10 Meet Zayd, a third-generation Pakistani-American with a loving Muslim…
Read MoreThe Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
A lightning strike turns a 13-year-old girl into a math genius, but she has a lot to learn about human relationships and living in the real world. Ages 12-15 The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty. Random House, 2018, 287 pages. Reading Level:, Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Nana + Uncle…
Read MoreThe Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet
Three “orphans” find their place in their community through music, forgiveness, and doing the right thing. Ages 10-15 The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet. Candlewick, 2018, 435 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Augusta Newbronner was not especially surprised when her father had to disappear on the train…
Read More*Sunny by Jason Reynolds
Sunny takes us into the interior life of a track runner who doesn’t want to run–so how can he stay on the team? Ages 10-14 *Sunny by Jason Reynolds (Defenders Track Team #3). Atheneum, 2018, 159 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Sunny Lancaster is “Master of the Mile.” When…
Read MoreLook at the Weather by Britta Techentrup
This picture book for all ages encourages readers to “look at the weather” while learning the basic causes of it. Look at the Weather by Britta Techentrup, translated and adapted by Shelly Tanaka. Owl Kids Books (Canada), 2018 141 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: all ages Sun, Rain, Snow and Ice,…
Read More*How Sweet the Sound by Carole Boston Weatherford
How Sweet the Sound tells the story of “Amazing Grace” in rhyming couplets and dramatic illustrations. Ages 6-10 *How Sweet the Sound: the Story of Amazing Grace by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison. Atheneum, 2018, 34 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 6-10 Slaveship Greyhound, ocean-faring;/Young John, homeward, brawling,…
Read MoreSuperGifted by Gordon Korman
A “super-gifted” boy genius bites off more than he can chew in this middle school story told from multiple perspectives. Ages 10-15 SuperGifted by Gordon Korman. Balzer & Bray, 2018, 297 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: 10-15 In UnGifted, middle school troublemaker Donovan Curtis was accidentally classified as “gifted and talented”…
Read MoreThe Traitor’s Game by Jennifer Nielsen
This YA fantasy adventure places a spunky nobleman’s daughter in the middle of a “traitor’s game” between her corrupt father and a compromised opposition. Ages 12-15 The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Scholastic, 2018, 400 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 14-18 Kestra Dallisor, the only child of Sir Henry, governor…
Read MoreRethinking School by Susan Wise Bauer
In Rethinking School, Susan Wise Bauer offers practical suggestions and background information for crafting the best education for your unique child. Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child’s Education by Susan Wise Bauer. Norton, 2018, 227 pages. Recommended for: Adults, especially parents of school-age children. If you’ve been homeschooling for a while, you…
Read MoreThe Mad Wolf’s Daughter by Diane Magras
A teenage “Mad Wolf’s Daughter” in late medieval Scotland stakes her claim to legendary status. Ages 10-14 The Mad Wolf’s Daughter by Diane Magras. Penguin 2018, 256 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 On the night the invaders came to raid the Mad Wolf’s camp, only one of the war chief’s…
Read MoreA School for Brides by Patrice Kindl
A fun romantic read for Jane Austen fans, A School for Brides is also very positive about marriage. Ages 12-18 A School for Brides by Patrice Kindl. Viking, 2015, 250 pages. Reading Level: Young adults, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-16 (especially girls) Winthrop Hopkins Female Academy in Lesser Hoo, Yorkshire, exists to “finish” young…
Read MoreThe Monarchs Are Missing: A Butterfly Mystery by Rebecca Hirsch
Why is the population of Monarch butterflies declining? This book invites readers to ponder the mystery, and participate in the solution. The Monarchs Are Missing: a Butterfly Mystery by Rebecca Hirsch. Millbrook Press, 2018, 56 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Where do Monarch butterflies go in the winter? Until…
Read MoreHow Does My Home Work? by Chris Butterworth
This engaging picture book explains in simple terms the complex system that makes a house “work” How Does My Home Work? by Chris Butterworth, illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti. Candlewick, 2017, 26 pages Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 We all take for granted things like light switches, running water, and instant…
Read MoreTransgender Confusion
In the March 31 issue of World Magazine, reporter Emily Belz wrote at length about the slow incursion of books supporting transgenderism into school libraries and awards list (“Battle over Books”). The centerpiece of the article is Oregon’s Battle of the Books competition for 2018-19. Many states and local districts sponsor these reading events, where…
Read MoreVoices of the Second World War
A compendium of recollection from men and women who experienced World War II as children brings the past up close and personal. Voices of the Second World War: Stories of War as Told to the Children of Today, edited by Jeremy Vine. Candlewick, 2018 (American edition), 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, 10-12 Recommended for:…
Read MoreThe Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
A young girl in the middle of the Indian partition of 1947 shares poignant thoughts and fears in The Night Diary. Ages 12-15 The Night Diaries by Veera Hiranandani. Dial, 2018, 264 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 All births are not happy. Like me and Amil. Ours wasn’t. We…
Read MoreStuck in the Stone Age by Geoff Rodkey
Stuck in the Stone Age offers a short course in story writing as well as a wacky time-travel adventure. Ages 8-12 Stuck in the Stone Age by Geoff Rodkey. Rodele Kids, 2018, 267 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Story Pirates is a “motley crew of artists, teachers, and comedians”…
Read More*New Shoes by Sara Varon
A delightful journey into the jungle awaits Francis the Donkey on his quest to make new shoes for his favorite Calypso singer. *New Shoes by Sara Varon. First Second, 2018, 208 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 4-8 (as a read-aloud) “Francis had wanted to be a shoemaker since he was…
Read MoreRaffie on the Run by Jacqueline Resnick
Raffie, an intrepid subway rat, embarks on a fearsome quest to rescue his little brother in this lively animal adventure with memorable characters. Ages 8-12 Raffie on the Run by Jacqueline Resnick. Roaring Brook, 2018, 299 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-12 for independent reading, 5-10 for read-aloud It’s not…
Read MoreWith My Hands by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
With My Hands, a poetry collection for ages 5-10, celebrates the endless creativity of humans from the earliest ages. With My Hands: Poems about Making Things by Amy Ludwig VanDerater, illustrated by Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson. Clarion, 2018, 24 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 5-10 A maker creates something…
Read MoreIt’s National Poetry Month – Let’s Write a Poem! (Free Download)
In honor of National poetry month, here’s a sample lesson from Wordsmith Apprentice to help reluctant writers produce original verse. “Poetry” is a scary word to too many schoolchildren–and their parents. That’s a shame, because poetry is the earliest form of literature, dating back to the smoky halls and sunlit amphitheaters of the ancient world. …
Read MoreThe Wishmakers by Tyler Whitesides
This fantasy series opener sends one young “wishmaker” and his personal genie on a wild ride to save the world—with consequences attached. The Wishmakers by Tyler Whitesides (illustrated by Jessica Warrick). Harper, 2018, 325 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-12 For Ace, it all started when he opened the peanut-butter jar. …
Read MoreThe 11:11 Wish by Kim Tomsic
A wish-granting clock is the unique agent in this tweener story about forming one’s principles against the desire to be popular. The 11:11 Wish by Kim Tomsic. HarperCollins, 2018, 361 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Megan is starting afresh at Saguaro Prep Middle School, a life change at the…
Read More*Sled Dog School by Terry Lynn Johnson
An academically-challenged boy gains confidence and learns responsibility when he opens a sled dog school. *Sled Dog School by Terry Lynn Johnson. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, 195 pages Reading level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Mathew Misco isn’t very good at school. There’s a lot he doesn’t get, especially in math class. …
Read MoreStrongheart by Candace Fleming
Strongheart, a real movie-star dog, acts out a movie scenario in this fun tale. Ages 7-11 Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming with illustrations by Eric Rohman. Schwartz & Wade, 2018, 233 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages7-11 Once he was a puppy, cuddled with his mother…
Read MoreMega List of Bible Reviews!
Here in one handy post are all the children’s Bibles reviewed over the last six years by RedeemedReader, with links. I (Janie) started reviewing children’s Bibles five years ago, never imagining what an involved task it would be. The first post, “Sorting Out the Children’s Bible Market,” was one of our top-rated posts ever, which…
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Kids’ Quiz Bible
The NIV Quiz Bible challenges readers with over 1000 questions to answer from the text. NIV Kids’ Quiz Bible. Zonderkidz, 2018, 1795 pages Recommended for: ages 8-14 With its flashy metallic cover, this is a version serious Bible students may be tempted to pass by, but not so fast—it could have its uses. For a…
Read MoreBible Review: NIrV Adventures in Odyssey
Though mostly for die-hard Odyssey fans, this edition of the NIrV includes some valuable kid-friendly features. NIrV Adventures in Odyssey Bible. Focus on the Family, 2017, 1568 pages. Recommended for: ages 5-10 If your kids have spent any time at Whit’s End, they’ll recognize old friends right away. Odyssey characters pepper the pages of this…
Read MoreBible Review: CSB Read-to-Me Bible
Designed for parents of preschoolers, the CBS Read-to-me Bible offers a straight path from familiar Bible stories to the text itself. CSB Read-to-Me Bible. B&H Kids, 2017, 1696 pages. Recommended for: ages 0-6 (and their parents) With 1696 pages and a 5 x 8.5” cover dimension, this Bible makes quite a little chunk, and is…
Read MoreBible Review: CSB Kids’ Bible
The CSB Kids’ Bible, in various formats, provides ease of reading with helpful inserts. Ages 8-12 CSB Kids’ Bible. B&H Kids, 2018, 1568 pages. Recommended for: ages 8-12 If you like a clean and uncrowded look, along with CSB readability, check out the several editions of Holman’s children’s Bibles for upper-elementary grades. Rather than interspersed…
Read MoreBible Review: CSB Big Picture Interactive Bible
The CSB Big Picture Interactive Bible presents an update of a respected translation with study helps and a story-telling app. Ages 6-10 CSB Big Picture Interactive Bible. B&H Kids, 2017, 1350 pages. Recommended for: ages 6-10 It’s the year of the CSB! The Christian Standard Bible debuted last year, but it’s actually an update of the…
Read MoreChasing King’s Killer by James L. Swanson
The life-paths of Martin Luther King and James Earl Ray converge on a fatal day in Memphis, in this gripping account of a manhunt. Ages 10-15 Chasing King’s Killer by James L. Swanson. Scholastic, 2017, 255 pages plus 109-page appendix. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Though the title is specific…
Read MoreBible Review: NIrV Seek and Explore Holy Bible
The NIrV Seek & Explore Bible takes a learning-styles approach that will be helpful for some kids but distracting for others. Ages 6-10 NIrV Seek and Explore Holy Bible: Hunting for God’s Treasure. Zonderkidz, 2018, 1824 pages. Recommended for: ages 7-10 This edition of the NIrV (simplified translation for primary grades) is brand-new, and it…
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Kids’ Visual Study Bible
The NIV Kids’ Visual Study Bible presents helpful notes, illustrations, and infographics in a unique layout. Ages 8-12 NIV Kids’ Visual Study Bible, Zonderkidz, 2017, 1952 pages. Recommended for: ages 8-12 The New International Version (NIV) has slipped a bit from its near-universal pulpit dominance in the 1980s and 90s (does anyone remember memorizing whole…
Read More*Big Picture Bible Crafts by Gail Schoonmaker
A great resource for Sunday school or art class, these Bible crafts will help kids learn while they create. All ages *Big Picture Bible Crafts: 101 Simple and Amazing Crafts to Help Teach Children the Bible by Gail Schoonmaker. Crossway, 2018, 251 pages. Recommended for: ages 3-10 (learning), 11-up (teaching) Gail Schoonmaker, illustrator of the…
Read More*Bible Review: ESV Big Picture Bible
The ESV Big Picture Bible for pre-through-primary ages, features over 315 age-appropriate illustrations of unusual perspective and appeal. ESV Big Picture Bible. Crossway, 2015, 1375 pages. Recommended for: ages 5-8 The ESV Big Picture Bible has been out for a few years, but I’m just now catching up. It’s the full-text edition spinoff of the Big…
Read More*God’s Timeline by Linda Finlayson
God’s Timeline is a valuable resource that pulls together the entire sweep of church history from the Resurrection to the early twenty-first century. *God’s Timeline: the Big Book of Church History by Linda Finlayson. Christian Focus, 2018, 79 pages plus foldout chart. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-up How many times…
Read More*Exploring the Bible by David Murray
Exploring the Bible, a “DIY” guide for 8-12 year-olds, introduces a practical, workable way for kids to start studying the Bible for themselves. *Exploring the Bible: a Bible Reading Plan for Kids by David Murray. Crossway, 2017, 219 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 The author begins with a dramatic true…
Read More8 Great Smarts by Kathy Koch
8 Great Smarts shows parents how to recognize, encourage, and build on their child’s particular kinds of “smart.” 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child’s Intelligences by Kathy Koch. Moody, 2016, 236 pages including notes and appendices. Recommended for: adults, especially parents and teachers I first encountered the notion of “learning styles” when my…
Read MoreLittle Activists Raising Little Fists
Yesterday’s post on Leadership asked the question: “What, exactly, is leadership?” It’s not as easy a definition as it looks, but you might not know that from current political rhetoric. With children earning kudos for walking out of school and marching on Washington to demand change (today it’s gun control, tomorrow it’s LGBT rights or…
Read MoreLearning to Lead: Another RedeemedReader Booklist!
In his Confessions, Augustine wrote this on the subject of “time”: “I understand well enough what time is, so long as no one asks me.” In the same way, we recognize leadership but find it hard to define. “Leadership” takes different forms in different circumstances, and it has many components. The best leaders are also…
Read MoreThe Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution by Jonathan Stokes
This jokey introduction to the American Revolution, latest in the “Thrifty Guide” series, presents accurate history along with the laughs. Ages 10-15 The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution by Jonathan W. Stokes, illustrated by David Sossella. Viking, 2018, 137 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Suppose you’re walking along…
Read More*The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
The Book of Boy breathes life into the squalor and splendor of the late middle ages, with the tale of a parentless child and a mysterious pilgrim on a search for relics. Ages 10-up *The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. HarperCollins, 2018, 273 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, 10-12 Recommended for: 10-up This…
Read MoreBecoming Madeleine by Charlotte Jones Voiklis and Lena Roy
This biography by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughters draws on the author’s scrapbooks, journals, and memories to recount her life. Ages 12-up Becoming Madeleine by Charlotte Jones Vioklis and Lena Roy. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2018, 159 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-up Being the only child of two talented, passionate people can…
Read MoreThe Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse
U.S. Senator Ben Sasse diagnoses a serious problem with today’s young adults and writes a prescription for restoring the American spirit. The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance by Ben Sasse. St. Martins Press, 2017, 306 pages, including index and bibliography. Recommended for: ages 18-up When the…
Read MoreA Wrinkle in Time at Fifty Years
A Wrinkle in Time was published 55 years ago and gets the full movie-treatment this month. In this repost from 2012 Janie wonders how well it holds up. Madeline L’Engle was a little-known novelist and mother of three when she and her actor husband, Hugh Franklin, decided to move from rural Connecticut back to New…
Read MoreSurvivor Diaries by Terry Lynn Johnson
The Survivor Diaries series present 10-and-11 year olds in life-threatening situations, who find the courage to persevere and . . . survive! Ages 7-11 Survivor Diaries: Overboard! and Avalanche! by Terry Lynn Johnson. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, about 100 pages. Reading Level: Chapter books, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 7-11 Each book in this series begins…
Read MoreClassic Reads: The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit
This often-overlooked classic by the beloved fantasy writer introduces six children with lively imaginations and not much prudence. Ages 10-14 The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit. Puffin Books, 1986 (originally published 1899), 208 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-14 or 6-12 as a read-aloud There are some…
Read MoreGrand Canyon by Jason Chin
A father-daughter hike from Phantom Ranch to the south rim of Grand Canyon reveals its geological wonders. Grand Canyon by Jason Chin. Roaring Brook, 2017, 56 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-up In the opening pages of this beautiful picture book, a mountain lion makes its way down from the…
Read MoreInvictus by Ryan Graudin
Invictus takes science-fiction to the max with a wild ride that involves time travel, doppelgangers, and parallel universes. Ages 15-up Invictus by Ryan Graudin. Little, Brown, 2017, 454 words. Reading Level: teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 15-up Time travel is dicey, as everyone knows. And, as everyone knows, you must never fall in love…
Read MoreEvery Day by David Levithan
The movie version of Every Day, based on David Levithan’s YA novel of the same title, opens today. Here’s our review from 2012 that addresses some of the interesting questions raised by the book. Every Day, by David Levithan. Knopf, 2012, 322 pages. Age/interest level: 14-up “We all contain mysteries, especially when seen from the…
Read MoreThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give, one of this year’s most acclaimed YA novels, offers a well-rounded, realistic picture of challenges faced by the black community (see cautions). Ages 18-up The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Blazer & Bray, 2017, 444 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 18-up Starr Carter lives between words:…
Read MorePiecing Me Together by Renee Watson
In Piecing Me Together, a Newbery honor book, a black teen in a low-income neighborhood carves out a place in the world through art and mentorship. Ages 12-15 Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson. Bloomsbury, 207, 261 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-15 “The only thing fancy about me is my…
Read MoreThose Love Stories We Loved
The RedeemedReader ladies recall our favorite “love stories” as teens, and rejoice that we grew out of them! But what do we like now? You may have noticed that last Wednesday was Valentine’s Day. Perhaps you celebrated with chocolate and a good book (and we offered you plenty of selections to choose from)! Even if…
Read More*Honey for a Teen’s Heart by Gladys Hunt
Honey for a Teen’s Heart applies the wisdom of Gladys Hunt’s read-aloud approach to the adolescent years. Adult *Honey for a Teen’s Heart: Using Books to Communicate with Teens, by Gladys Hunt and Barbara Hampton. Zondervan, 2002, 288 pages plus index. Recommended for: adults, especially parents and teachers When Honey for a Child’s Heart was…
Read MoreFive Red Flags to Watch for in YA Christian Romance Fiction
Christian romance fiction feels “safe,” but it’s not always without pitfalls . . . and it’s not always Christian, either. I remember when Jeanette Oke and “deliverance” stories were about the only options teenage girls had if they wanted to read some Christian romance. The inventory has greatly expanded and almost every secular literary genre…
Read MoreGive Me Wings by Kathy Lowinger
The little-known story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers demonstrates black talent, initiative, faith, and determination. Give Me Wings: How a Choir of Former Slaves Took on the World by Kathy Lowinger. Annick Press, 2015, 145 pages Reading Level: young adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-18 Even though the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865…
Read MoreFamily Game Night by Mary E. Lambert
A trio of siblings and their detached father come to the breaking point with their mother’s hoarding habit. Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes by Mary E. Lambert. Scholastic, 2017, 245 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: 10-14 When her little sister Leslie is almost killed by a stack of newspapers, Annabelle…
Read MoreLittler Women by Laura Schaeffer
Littler Women pictures the four March girls as 9-to-13-year-olds growing up in a tight-knit family in modern-day Massachusetts. Littler Women: a Modern Retelling by Laura Schaeffer. Simon & Schuster, 2017, 215 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for ages 8-12, especially girls The March girls live in a large, drafty old house in…
Read MoreThe Road to Ever After by Moira Young
Myth and mystery haunt this road-trip story about an orphan boy, a lovable dog, and a bitter old woman. Ages 12-15 The Road to Ever After by Moira Young. Feiwel and Friends, 2017, 211 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Davy David, orphaned as long as he can remember, lives…
Read More2018 Newbery Buzz #3: Refugee
Janie and Pamela continue our Newbery discussions with Refugee, a novel that carries political significance as well as literary value. Ages 12-15. Janie: Alan Gratz wrote the World War II thriller Projekt 1065, which we reviewed a couple of years ago. Refugee is more thoughtful and also more emotionally compelling. We follow the journey of…
Read MoreHer Right Foot by Dave Eggers
Her Right foot introduces pre-readers and early readers to the Statue of Liberty and what she stands for. Ages 4-8 Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris. Chronicle, 2017, 104 pages Reading Level: ages 6-8 Recommended for: ages 4-6 (as a read-aloud), 6-9 (independent reader) Let’s pretend we know nothing of the…
Read MorePodkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood
Podkin One Ear is the first volume in an exciting fantasy series that celebrates individual courage and determination. Ages 8-12 Podkin One Ear (Longburrow #1) by Kieran Larwood. Clarion, 2018, 244 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys (with cautions) All the rabbits of Thornwood Warren, are getting ready…
Read MoreWelcome to Lizard Motel by Barbara Feinberg
Barbara Feinberg’s memoir offers a fresh look at realistic children’s fiction and how much literary suffering children should bear. Welcome to Lizard Motel: Children, Stories, and the Mystery of Making Things Up by Barbara Feinberg. Beacon Press, 2004, 207 pages including notes Recommended for: adults When Barbara Feinberg, an urban Jewish liberal barely out of…
Read More*Irenaeus by Simonetta Carr
Simonetta Carr continues her outstanding series of Christian-History biographies with Irenaeus of Lyon, a hero of the early church. Ages 8-12 Irenaeus (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) by Simonetta Carr. Reformation Heritage, 2017, 62 pages including appendix Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-up Irenaeus’s story actually begins with the twelve apostles commissioned…
Read More2018 Newbery Buzz #1: Tumble & Blue by Cassie Beasley
It’s that time of year again! The American Library Association Youth Media Awards will be announced on Monday, Feb. 12, including the coveted Newbery Medal. As usual, we’ll be watching to see how close our predictions come, but in the weeks to come we’ll discuss our best guesses about who is in the running. Today…
Read MoreBound by Ice by Sandra Neil Wallace
This gripping true tale of first North Pole exploration takes middle-graders into the frozen wastes for a saga of endurance. Ages 10-15 Bound by Ice: a True North Pole Survival Story by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace. Calkins Creek, 2017, 169 pages plus index and author note Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended…
Read MoreExploring Space by Martin Jenkins
Future astronauts will find many of their questions answered in this comprehensive, informative picture book, with fascinating cutaway illustrations. Ages 8-12 Exploring Space: from Galileo to the Mars Rover and Beyond by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Stephen Biesty. Candlewick, 2017, 54 pages plus index, glossary and timeline Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for:…
Read MoreLong Way Down by Jason Reynolds
In Long Way Down, a grief-stricken and confused 15-year-old in “the projects” has a desperate choice to make after the death of his brother. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Simon & Schuster, 2017, 306 pages Reading Level: YA, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 16-up Note: This novel falls under our definition of “discussion starters.” Click…
Read MoreLandscape with Invisible Hand by M. T. Anderson
The always-interesting M. T. Anderson serves up another intriguing science-fiction concept that touches on economics, art, and religion. Landscape with Invisible Hand by M.T. Anderson. Candlewick, 2017, 149 pages Reading Level: YA, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 16-up Note: This novel falls under our definition of “discussion starters.” Click here for our rationale for reviewing…
Read MoreThe Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson and Bobbi Behr
A fun middle-grade series mixes classic mystery elements with wacky situations and wordplay. The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson and Bobbi Behr. MacMillan Imprint, 2017, 323 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 (with cautions) As winter break at Tiddlywhump Elementary School approaches, Moxie McCoy has two goals: to become a…
Read MoreRedeemed Reader Christmas Vacation
This year has been a whirlwind for us, with a record number of book reviews, rising readership, website updates, and two special reading challenges built around Proverbs and Beauty and the Beast. We’re ready for a vacation! So we’ll go easy on new posts for the next two weeks, but we’ll still have good reading…
Read MoreCulture Making by Andy Crouch
Andy Crouch poses questions that should get Christians thinking about their role as “culture makers.” Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch. Intervarsity Press, 2008, 268 pages. Reading Level: adult Recommended for: ages 16-up “Culture” is a notoriously difficult word to define, partly because it’s so elastic. Social changes, fine art, a malevolent…
Read MoreWorthy YA: the Best Teen Reads of 2017
The world of Young-Adult publishing can be dicey territory for Christian readers. Nowhere are the latest cultural trends more vigorously promoted than in books marketed to this age group. YA has long been a haven for gritty “realism” depicting every depravity known to man: abuse (from parents and boyfriends), exploitation, suicide, murder, rape, incest .…
Read More*Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork
Disappeared offers teens a complex look at making moral choices amid drug crime and kidnapping along the Mexican border. *Disappeared by Francis X. Stork. Scholastic, 326 pages, 2017 Reading Level: Teen, ages 15-18 Recommended for: ages 15-up Juarez is safer than it used to be, since the drug wars have cooled down and tourists are…
Read More*The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
The Vanderbeekers, a loving family with normal unloving moments, face a Christmas-eve challenge with humor and heart. *The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser. HMH, 2017, 209 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (independent readers), 6-up (family read aloud) The Venderbeekers live in a century-old brownstone smack in…
Read MoreThe Explorer by Katherine Rundell
Nonstop action, intriguing characters, and startling observations raise this adventure tale above the pack. The Explorer by Katherine Rundell. Simon & Schuster, 2017, 324 pages Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Four children take off in a six-seater plane, headed for Manaus, Brazil. They don’t know each other and the reason…
Read MoreAuma’s Long Run by Eucabeth Odhiambo
Auma, a bright girl living in a remote Kenyan village, seeks to escape a cycle of poverty made desperate by the AIDS epidemic. Auma’s Long Run by Eucabeth Odhiambo. Carolrhoda, 2017, 293 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-13 Recommended for: ages 12-15 In some ways the village of Koromo suits Auma just fine. She…
Read MoreCaleb and Kit by Beth Vrabel
Caleb and Kit brings together a boy struggling with Cystic Fibrosis and a girl over-compensating for a neglectful parent. Caleb and Kit by Beth Vrabel. RP Kids, 2017, 254 pages Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Caleb was just out for a walk in the woods the day he met Kit. …
Read MoreWishtree by Katherine Applegate
The gentle story of a sympathetic red oak makes a fun read-aloud for ages 4-12. Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Feiwel and Friends, 2017, 211 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Every May day, people come from miles around to tie their wishes to a venerable red oak. Too bad they…
Read More*The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible by Jared Kennedy
The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible strikes the right balance between scriptural faithfulness and a preschooler’s comprehension. *The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible by Jared Kennedy, illustrated by Trish Mahoney. New Growth Press, 2017, 313 pages Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 3-5 What’s the Bible all about? Jesus! (The all-purpose Sunday-school answer) But…
Read MoreCome Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp
This new book of Advent readings takes us deep into the theological and spiritual meaning of Christ’s Incarnation. Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp. Crossway, 2017, 153 pages. Reading Level: 16-up Recommended for: Ages 16-adult Sadly, many of us aren’t gripped by the stunningly magnificent events and truths of the birth of…
Read MoreThe Biggest Story ABC by Kevin DeYoung
The full-Bible sweep covered by Kevin DeYoung’s The Biggest Story is back, in board book format! The Biggest Story ABC by Kevin DeYoung, illustrated by Don Clark. Crossway, 2017, 26 pages. Reading level: Picture Book, ages 0-4 Recommended for: ages 2-6 Two years ago, Kevin DeYoung published The Biggest Story, a picture book for early-elementary…
Read MoreBeneath by Roland Smith
A unique YA series-opener, Beneath takes us below the streets of New York City where trouble is brewing. Reading level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Patrick O’Toole has an unusual family, but at least they’re together. Or they were, until that incident with the tunnel. His 19-year-old brother Cooper (or Coop) had…
Read MoreThe Trail by Meika Hashimoto
A boy takes to the Appalachian Trail to ease a guilty conscience, in this adventure novel for middle grades The Trail by Meika Hashimoto. Scholastic, 2017, 229 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Toby and Lucas had a list of ten things they were going to do before graduating middle…
Read MoreFrogkisser! by Garth Nix
Popular children’s author Garth Nix raids a storehouse of fairy-tale elements to roll out this fresh and funny quest tale. Frogkisser! by Garth Nix. Scholastic, 2017, 372 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Princess Anya wants to be a wizard, and since her older sister Princess Morven is heir to…
Read MoreBrave Red, Smart Frog by Emily Jenkins
Seven classic fairy tales are retold in a concise but winning style that highlights both their humor and sympathy. Brave Red, Smart Frog: a New Book of Old Tales by Emily Jenkins. Candlewick, 2017, 94 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: all ages “Some kisses break enchantments. And other kisses begin them.” …
Read MoreSlider by Pete Hautman
Slider uses the world of competitive eating as a context for exploring the agony and ecstasy of family relationships. Slider, by Pete Hautman. Candlewick, 2017, 275 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Everybody is good at something, and David Alan Miller is a competitive eater. He knows all about it:…
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