Posts by Janie Cheaney
The 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:…
Read MoreLuther in Love by Douglas Bond
Luther in Love takes us through the life of the great Reformer through imagined vignettes and actual dialogues. Luther in Love by Douglas Bond. P&R, 2017, 328 pages Reading level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-up Our story opens on a cozy domestic scene: a rainy night, a warm hearth, a long-married couple supremely…
Read MoreReformation Day!
I know, we’re not there yet. It was on All Hallow’s Eve (nicknamed Halloween) that the fiery preacher of Wittenberg marched down the cobbled streets with a parchment in one hand and a hammer in the other. How many nails did it take? What kind of attention did he attract while he was standing there? …
Read MoreThe Sweet Taste of Providence by Christine Farenhorst
This unique devotional book uses Christian history as a springboard for relevant perspectives on the Christian life. The Sweet Taste of Providence: 74 Devotional Episodes from History by Christine Farenhorst. Joshua Press (Canada), 2016, 296 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-18 “God acts in history.” Evangelicals may have heard this in…
Read MoreSelznick’s Invention
(Note: This post is reprinted from 2011, in connection with the movie version of Wonderstruck, due to open tomorrow. It’s a larger musing on Brian Selznick’s work in general; if you only want know something about Wonderstruck, scroll down to the book image.) By his own account, Brian Selznick spent six months in a funk…
Read More*You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
In this appealing multicultural novel, three generations of a Bengali family find life and love in America. *You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2017, 303 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-18 They arrived in 1973 from Bengal: Rajeev (Baba) and Ranee (Ma) Das and their…
Read MoreAll’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson
An unusual setting makes this graphic novel a worthwhile perspective on navigating the treacherous waters of those middle years. All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson. Dial, 2017, 248 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Imogene has an interesting life as the homeschooled daughter of two Renaissance fair performers. …
Read MoreRestart by Gordon Korman
A middle-school bully gets a chance to start from scratch—if only he can escape who he was before. Restart by Gordon Korman. Scholastic, 2017, 256 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 13-year-old Chase Ambrose doesn’t remember what he was doing on the roof just before he fell off. He doesn’t…
Read MoreGrowing Friendships: a Kid’s Guide to Making and Keeping Friends
This friendly guide to friendship may help fill in some gaps parents inadvertently miss. Growing Friendships: a Kid’s Guide to Making and Keeping Friends by Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore and Christine McLaughlin. Aladdin, 2017, 170 pages Most of us take friendship for granted: find ‘em, be nice to ‘em, keep ‘em. But in an age of…
Read MoreGarvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes
Garvey’s Choice, a gentle verse novel, charts the course of an overweight African American preteen toward self-respect. Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes. Wordsong, 2016, 105 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Garvey loves reading, sci-fi, music, and StarTrek. His dad loves sports (especially football) and can’t hide his disappointment that…
Read MoreSputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce
In this far-out fantasy, an alien named Sputnik has to prove earth is worth saving. Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Walden Pond, 2017, 316 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Once his eccentric grandfather goes around the bend, Prez (Preston) Mellows enters the foster care…
Read MoreBird Boy Project: Discussion Forum 4 (and an exciting giveaway!)
Okay readers, this is it: yesterday I sent out the three final chapters and those of you who have been clamoring for “one more chapter, please!” (there are a few) have now had all your questions answered. Except . . . you haven’t. Sometimes I read an action-packed page-turner and don’t realize until the end…
Read MoreThe Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library by Linda Bailey
The six-legged “Tiny Hero” of this gentle fantasy takes on a challenge far bigger than his size. The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library by Linda Bailey, pictures by Victoria Jamieson. Greenwillow, 2017, 321 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 The Tiny Hero of the title has the distinction of…
Read MoreThe School Ship Tobermory series by Alexander McCall Smith
The School Ship Tobermory series takes a crew of likable middle-graders to exotic ports in pursuit of adventure. School Ship Tobermory and The Sands of Shark Island (SST #1 and 2) by Alexander McCall Smith. Delacorte, 2016, 250 pages. Reading Level: middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Ben and Fiona (Fee) McTavish are…
Read MoreGod and the Transgender Debate by Andrew T. Walker
God and the Transgender Debate: What Does the Bible Actually Say about Gender Identity? by Andrew T Walker. The Good Book Company, 2017, 171 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 15-18 Recommended for: ages 16-up The issue jumped upon us before we were ready for it: one day we’re debating the viability of same sex couple…
Read MoreBird Boy Project: Discussion Forum 3 (and our third giveaway!)
Chapters 14-19 This section sees Roy Ray delivered to an entirely new setting, with new characters that, as we learn, are not entirely new. We’re still in the “mushy middle” of the story, where the action could bog down if an author isn’t careful. I hope that’s not happening for you, but let me know…
Read MoreRefugee by Alan Gratz
Refugee weaves the stories of three children fleeing intolerable situations in their home countries, from 1939 to the present. Refugee by Alan Gratz. Scholastic, 2017, 317 pages Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Berlin, 1939: Josef Landau’s father continued to give legal advice after he was forbidden, as a Jew, to…
Read MoreThe Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
A town where qualities disappear every seven years is the setting for The Disappearances, a clean, thought-provoking teen mystery. The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, 385 pages Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-up Aila Quinn knows only one thing about Sterling: it’s her mother’s home town. And it’s…
Read MoreBird Boy Project: Discussion Forum 2 (and another great giveaway!)
By chapters 8-13, we’re well into the development part of the novel, which (you may recall) I mentioned is the often the most difficult part to write. Every story has a beginning, middle, and end, and when an author begins a novel, she usually has the beginning part clearly in mind. The ending may be…
Read MoreBen’s Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
This young-reader history of the early days of the American Revolution views events through the experience of 12-year-old Ben Russell. Ben’s Revolution: Benjamin Russell and the Battle of Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick. Penguin, 2017, 64 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-12 Benjamin Russell was 12 when the trouble started—all…
Read More*Almost Paradise by Corabel Shofner
This funny but thoughtful novel takes Christian faith seriously as a factor in the lives of real people. *Almost Paradise by Corabel Shofner. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2017, 293 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-up From the moment Ruby Clyde Henderson woke up in the backseat of a car, she knew something…
Read MoreThe Bird Boy Project: Discussion Forum 1 (and book giveaway!)
At last count, thirty families and individuals (and a few classes) have signed up to receive daily chapters of my latest in-progress novel. (If you don’t know anything about this and would like to know more, see the Introductory post and the Signup post.) Today you receive chapter 7, and that brings us a little…
Read MoreHell and High Water by Tanya Landman
A biracial lad in 18th-century England, suddenly on his own, struggles to make his way and foil the evil machinations of his “betters.” Hell and High Water by Tanya Landman. Candlewick, 2017, 312 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-18 Caleb Chappell, age 17, doesn’t remember his mother, but can’t imagine life…
Read MoreMagellan: over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen
This young reader edition of an adult nonfiction book explores the glory and agony (mostly the latter) of Magellan’s epic voyage. Magellan: Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen. Roaring Brook, 2017, 170 pages plus notes and Bibliography Reading level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-up Here’s the subtitle: The True Story…
Read MoreLeo: Dog of the Sea by Alison Hart
A “sea dog” adventure chronicles a key event during the age of explorers: Magellan’s epic voyage around the world. Leo: Dog of the Sea (Dog Chronicles) by Alison Hart. Peachtree, 2017, 163 pages including historical notes. Reading level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 The dog was homeless and friendless when he first…
Read MoreLabor Day Repost: Heart of a Shepherd
(Originally published on Labor Day 2012) Labor Day, according to Wikipedia, was born of the Management/Labor battles of the late 19th century–particularly the Pullman strike of the 1880s. Back then, strikes were not just a matter of shutdowns and picket lines–people got killed. The root problem at the bottom of the labor wars was that…
Read MoreProject Bird Boy: Launch! (with one free download)
To be fair, doubts about Roy Ray Rappaport were perfectly understandable. Except for bats, winged mammals are so rare they’re assumed to be myths. Even seeing is not always believing. Besides, Roy Ray was not born rare, or not in a way anyone noticed. His father worked in a paint factory and his mom raised…
Read MoreThe Emperor’s Ostrich by Julie Berry
A light-hearted adventure for middle-graders combines humor and redemption. The Emperor’s Ostrich by Julie Berry. Roaring Brook, 2017, 274 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Something very strange happened the night the emperor disappeared. He was such a rude, overbearing young twerp no one exactly misses him, but the blood-chilling…
Read MoreIn the Shadow of the Sun by Anne Sibley O’Brien
This excellent character-driven adventure saga sheds light on the darkness of North Korea while exploring family and cultural relationships. In the Shadow of the Sun by Anne Sibley O’Brien. Scholastic, 2017, 303 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-up “Please follow all rules, as the consequences for disobedience can be severe.” That’s…
Read More*12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke
Tony Reinke sounds a timely warning about our society’s growing addiction to electronic devices. *12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke. Crossway, 2017, 224 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, age 16-up Recommended for: ages 16-up In his Foreward to this book, John Piper acknowledges the personal computer and iPhone as gifts of…
Read MoreThe Bird Boy Project: Liftoff! (and spectacular giveaways)
One week from today, we’re starting a unique opportunity for young readers (ages 8-12) and their parents, teachers, and/or older siblings. A fuller explanation can be found at the announcement post, but in brief: I’m in the final stages of revising my next children’s novel, a “realistic” fantasy (I know, that sounds like an oxymoron)…
Read MoreNo Good Deed by Goldy Moldavsky
In spite of language and sexuality issues, this satiric YA novel skewers Political Correctness and provides some welcome perspective on “Social Justice Warriors.” No Good Deed by Goldy Moldavsky. Point (Scholastic), 2017, 345 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, 12-15 Recommended for: ages 16-up It’s not about a traditional camp experience for 16-year-old Gregor Maravilla. It’s…
Read MorePosted by John David Anderson
A class of seventh graders deal with verbal bullying in this thought-provoking novel (with cautions). Posted by John David Anderson. Walden Pond (HarperCollins), 2017, 365 pages. Reading level: 10-12 Recommended for: 12-15 They are a tribe, those four: Eric (aka Frost), Avik, Morgan, and JJ, though when he transferred to Branton Middle School after his…
Read MoreDragon Seed by Marty Machowski
Dragon Seed by Marty Machowsky. New Grorwth Press, 2017, 179 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Nick is furious. He’s been furious a lot lately, and one big reason is cancer taking his father. Why did God have to let Dad die? And why does his sister Martha have to…
Read MoreFace Time by Kristen Hadden
Face Time (Your Identity in a Selfie World by Kristen Hadden. New Growth Press, 2017, 127 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12-18 The evidence keeps rolling in: Social medial, which offers everyday folks a wide platform for defining themselves, is leaving more teens feeling outclassed, inferior, and lonely. Teen depression…
Read MoreJoplin, Wishing by Diane Stanley
An 11-year-old girl discovers some truths about herself and her family in this novel with a touch of magic and mystery. Joplin, Wishing by Diane Stanley. HarperCollins, 2017, 249 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Joplin’s grandfather, Martin J. Camrath, was a reclusive novelist with such a powerful mystique (think…
Read MoreHoward Wallace, P.I. by Casey Lyell
A 7th-grade detective and his feisty sidekick sets up shop in this new mystery series with a distinctive, humorous voice. Howard Wallace, P.I. by Casey Lyall. Sterling, 2017, 249 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-14 Howard Wallace has set up shop in an office beside the custodial shed, where…
Read MoreAre Your Kids Reading-Ready for College?
Do you have a high school senior who plans on heading out to college this fall? Or a college freshman who’s already there? If so, you might expect to encounter a “recommended summer reading list” for incoming freshmen. Lately some colleges have gone one step further with common reading programs, in which all first-year students…
Read MoreAnnouncing: The Bird Boy Project!
If you’ve been following Redeemed Reader for the last few years, you may remember some of the read-alongs we’ve done, such as The Hobbit, Pilgrim’s Progress, and several books in our reading series. Today we’re announcing a chance to read a novel that hasn’t been published yet—both a preview and an invitation to advise the…
Read MoreLast Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson
Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson. Walden Pond Press, 2017. 336 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 A guest post by Sherry Early, of the excellent Semicolon blog: Really good science fiction for middle grade and young adult readers is hard to find these days. I mean the old-school, space…
Read MoreSuperstar by Mandy Davis
This sympathetic portrait of an autistic youngster explores relationships, coping strategies, and the scientific method. Superstar by Mandy Davis. HarperCollins, 2017, 320 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Lester Musselbaum used to live in Florida but now he’s in Indiana. He used to have a father who was a real…
Read MoreThe Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge
This middle-grade science fiction novel includes enough human interest to make it engaging, enough real science to make it educational. The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge. Delacorte, 2017, 162 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for : ages 10-14 Albert Steven Bright, named for his parents’ favorite scientists (Einstein and…
Read MoreLois Lane: Triple Threat by Gwenda Bond
The third volume of this series about teenage reporter Lois Lane maintains the action level and ups the emotional ante. Triple Threat (Lois Lane #3) by Gwenda Bond. Capstone, 2017, 357 pages Reading Level: Young adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Lois Lane, intrepid reporter of Fallout, is back with a new adventure in…
Read MoreYork: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby
A promising upper-middle grade series gets underway with alternative history, fascinating puzzles, and one big mystery. The Shadow Cipher (York #1) by Laura Ruby. HarperCollins, 2017, 476 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Theodore and Teresa Morningstar made New York the dazzling city it is, with its serpentine Underway, solar-powered…
Read MoreAmerican Eclipse by David Baron
This summer a full solar eclipse will cross the United States. This captivating history examines the last time that happened, and its effect on American science. American Eclipse: a Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baron. Norton, 2017, 323 pages including notes,…
Read MoreVincent and Theo: the Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
A fascinating dual biography captures the triumph and eventual tragedy of brothers who loved and fought fiercely. Vincent and Theo: the Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman. Henry Holt, 2017, 402 pages plus appendix. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 15-up The older brother was mercurial, intense, gregarious, insanely gifted—and sometimes actually…
Read MoreShipwreck Island by S. A. Bodeen
Shipwreck Island (Shipwreck Island #1) by S. A. Bodeen. Feiwel & Friends, 2014, 184 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Sarah is not happy these days. Her widowed father, after two years alone, has just remarried and he insists that his new wife and her two sons are now one…
Read More*Cody and the Fountain of Happiness by Tricia Springstubb
Eight-year-old Cody’s enthusiasm for life is contagious in this sunny chapter-book series. Cody and the Fountain of Happiness (Cody series #1) by Tricia Springstubb, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler. Candlewick, 2015, 151 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 6-8 Recommended for: ages 6-10 It’s the first day of summer vacation and life is beautiful: for irrepressible,…
Read MoreThe Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by Avi
This rollicking adventure tale for middle grades by prolific author Avi takes us back to England of the 18th century. The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by Avi. Algonquin, 2017, 313 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Oliver’s nonconformist father named him for the fierce Puritan reformer who now,…
Read MoreLet’s Talk It over: Honesty and Diligence in Literature
Janie: This week we’re taking up two major themes in Proverbs: honest work and honest words. At first glance they may not seem to be that closely related, but we should know better: laziness is a form of dishonesty, in that the lazy man is cheating his employer and everyone who depends on him. He’s even cheating…
Read MoreWisdom & Wonder Week 5 Booklist
Our Proverbs emphasis for week 5 is “Work and Words,” (or honesty and diligence, which means basically the same thing without the alliteration). Our booklist is weighted toward the Work end, but it’s a stellar lineup: Picture Books and Early Readers (ages 0-10): Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherry Dusky Rinker (picture book, ages 3-5).…
Read MoreWisdom & Wonder, Week 5: Work and Words
Introduction: Our two Wise Up chapters for this week are “Looking to the Ants” (Week 8, p. 87) and “Honesty is the Best Policy” (Week 11, p. 125). Diligence and Speaking Truth are the subtitles, and the two concepts can be combined under a single heading: Integrity. A person should act true as well as…
Read MoreThe Quest for Truth by Brock Eastman
For sci-fi fans, The Quest for Truth series offers adventure with a biblical base. The Quest for Truth by Brock Eastman: Taken (2011), Risk (2012), Unleash (2013), and Tangle (2015). P&R Publishing (a Focus on the Family Resource) Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Oliver, Tiffany, and twins Mason and Austin…
Read MoreThe Great Good Thing by Andrew Klavan
Andrew Klavan’s spiritual journey from atheism to Christ takes a particularly literary character, but ends where all good journeys do. The Great Good Thing: a Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ by Andrew Klavan. Thomas Nelson, 2016, 263 Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 16-up Recommended for: ages 16-up How does Jesus get through to…
Read MoreThe Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
The author of Ella Enchanted creates another plucky heroine, whose destiny is to lead her people to freedom (and get the guy). The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine. Harper, 2017, 385 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-16 Peregrine (Perry) was stolen as an infant—actually commandeered by Lady Klausine,…
Read MoreHenry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton
Henry is too shy to share his artistic talent, until one of his creations comes to life and threatens to wreck the whole school. Henry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton. Rabbit Room press, 2017, 223 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Henry’s in trouble at school—not for misbehavior…
Read MoreReal Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham
Newbery-honor author Shannon Hale’s graphic memoir charts the ups and downs of elementary- age friendship. Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. First Second, 2017, 211 pages Reading level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially girls Shannon Hale grew up in the middle of a church-going family, in a peaceful middle-class…
Read MoreWay of the Warrior Kid by Jocko Willink
Underachieving Marc learns how to shape up and think straight in this fictionalized self-help book by a former Navy SEAL. Way of the Warrior Kid: from Wimpy to Warrior the Navy Seal Way by Jocko Willink, illustrated by Jon Bozak. Feiwel & Friends, 2017, 182 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12,…
Read More* My Daddy Rules the World by Hope Anita Smith
Just in time for Father’s Day, this picture-book collection of poems celebrates the daily presence of a loving dad in the household. *My Daddy Rules the World by Hope Anita Smith. Henry Holt, 2017, 32 pages Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 2-10 The name “Daddy” should conjure up all kinds of…
Read MoreBeyond the Bright Sea
An isolated girl, raised by an adoptive father on a remote island, uncovers clues to her origins while learning more about the world and herself. Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk. Dutton, 2017, 283 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 The baby was tied into a skiff that washed…
Read MoreThe Sign of the Cat by Lynne Jonell
In this winning historical fantasy, a bright lad (fluent in the cat language) chafes at his boring life until an unexpected adventure on the high seas puts his unique gifts to the test. *The Sign of the Cat by Lynne Jonell. Henry Holt, 2014, 253 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages…
Read MoreToward a Positive Multiculturalism in Children’s Books (and a Book List)
It’s no wonder classic children’s books feature characters with racist attitudes—the authors of those books also had some racist attitudes. We looked at the problem in last week’s post, ending with the question, what do we do? I’m hoping to make some positive suggestions, but first, a clarification: Racism is said to be “America’s original…
Read MoreStorm Horse by Nick Garlick
Storm Horse pits a boy and a horse against a greedy land developer in the modern-day Netherlands. Storm Horse by Nick Garlick. Scholastic, 2017, 242 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys A tiny, remote island off the coast of the Netherlands is the last place Flip thought he…
Read MoreHistorical Racism in Children’s Books–What do we do?
The website Reading While White dedicates itself to issues involving the dreaded “-isms” in children’s literature: racism, anti-Semitism, ableism, classism, sexism, and more. A post called “Alongside, Not Despite: Talking about Race and Settler Colonialism in a Children’s Literature Graduate Course,” suggests to me another –ism they might want to take a look at: Presentism.…
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