Discussion Starters
Saints and Heroes to the End of the Middle Ages by George Hodges
By Hayley Morell |
An engaging account of notable figures from the ancient church to the end of the Middle Ages. Saints and Heroes to the End of the ...
Read More 
Trial and Triumph/ *Radiant by Richard M. Hannula
By Betsy Farquhar |
Church history anthologies of men and women from all over the world in story format for middle grades and up! Trial and Triumph: Stories from ...
Read More 
*Brother Andrew: Behind Enemy Lines by Nancy Drummond
By Betsy Farquhar |
Read the remarkable story of a man who helped smuggle millions of Bibles into restricted countries in this middle grades biography. Brother Andrew: Behind Enemy ...
Read More 
Brother Andrew: Taking Bibles to the World by Renee Taft Meloche
By Megan Saben |
Brother Andrew's life comes alive for young readers through the rhyming text in this picture book. Brother Andrew: Taking Bibles to the World (Heroes for ...
Read More 
God’s Story: A Student’s Guide to Church History by Brian Cosby
By Hayley Morell |
An engaging flyover of church history for young teens. God’s Story: A Student’s Guide to Church History by Brian Cosby. Christian Focus Publications, 2014. ...
Read More 
Monks and Mystics by Mindy and Brandon Withrow
By Betsy Farquhar |
Book 2 of the History Lives series offers an exciting look at the Medieval Church: its movers and shakers and controversies. Part of our Church History ...
Read More 
Peril and Peace by Mindy and Brandon Withrow
By Betsy Farquhar |
Book 1 of the History Lives series is full of brave martyrs, famous figures, and early church activity. Peril and Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient ...
Read More 
Hundred Percent by Karen Romano Young
By Janie Cheaney |
This insightful novel about the awkward years between 11 and 14 could make a useful discussion starter for mothers and daughters. Hundred Percent by Karen ...
Read More 
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
By Betsy Farquhar |
A rich historical fiction work that offers hope in the midst of war-torn France. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Scribner, 2014. 531 ...
Read More 
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
By Betsy Farquhar |
A compelling--and ultimately hopeful--crossover title for teens and adults about Hitler's evacuation of Germany and the biggest maritime disaster in history. Salt to the Sea ...
Read More 
Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
By Betsy Farquhar |
A tender exploration of the aftermath of 9/11 as one girl begins to understand her father's connection to the events. Towers Falling by Jewell Parker ...
Read More 
Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin
By Betsy Farquhar |
Four seemingly unconnected middle school kids are each connected to the events of September 11 in ways that help them mature and learn compassion. Nine, ...
Read More 
*The Ology by Marty Machowski
By Hayley Morell |
In The Ology, children and families can access deep Biblical truths, carefully explained and gorgeously illustrated. The Ology by Marty Machowski, illustrations by Andy ...
Read More 
*God’s Design by Sally Michael and Gary Steward
By Betsy Farquhar |
Sally Michael's newest Making Him Known family devotional delicately handles roles of men and women, sexuality, and gender issues in a manner that invites whole ...
Read More 
Steamboat School by Deborah Hopkinson
By Betsy Farquhar |
Inspired by true events, this is the story of a St. Louis reverend who moved his school off shore to neutral waters when the law made ...
Read More 
Katie Friedman Gives up Texting by Tommy Greenwald
By Janie Cheaney |
Middle-graders who swear of texting for one week have to discover other means of communication, with mixed results. Katie Friedman Gives up Texting by Tommy ...
Read More 
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
By Betsy Farquhar |
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead. Wendy Lamb Books, 2015. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12Recommended For: Ages 12-15 Bottom Line: Three best friends attempt ...
Read More 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis
By Janie Cheaney |
10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis. Thomas Nelson, 2014. 197 pages. Reading Level: 12-15 Recommended for: 15-18 Bottom Line: Blogger Kari Kampakis ...
Read More Faithgirlz! Big Book of Quizzes
By Janie Cheaney |
Big Book of Quizzes: Fun, Quirky Questions for You and Your Friends (Faithgirlz!) Zonderkidz, 2014. 127 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages: ...
Read More *What’s Up? by Jack Klumpenhower
By Janie Cheaney |
*What’s Up?: Discovering the Gospel, Jesus, and Who You REALLY Are (Teacher Guide), by Deborah Harrell and Jack Klumpenhower. New Growth Press, 2015. 228 pages. ...
Read More Seeing the Gospel in Cinderella (Discussion Starters!)
By Betsy Farquhar |
Why Cinderella? —a joint post from Betsy, Hayley, and Megan We at Redeemed Reader love a good fairy tale. Cinderella is perhaps the quintessential fairy tale ...
Read More 
All the Answers by Kate Messner
By Betsy Farquhar |
All the Answers by Kate Messner. Bloomsbury, 2015. 256 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12Recommended For: ages 10-12, especially girls Bottom Line: In this middle-grades ...
Read More 
*Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
By Janie Cheaney |
Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt’s masterpiece first published 40 years ago, is as timeless as its title characters. *Tuck Everlasting (40th Anniversary Edition) by Natalie Babbitt, ...
Read More The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
By Janie Cheaney |
The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Shane Evans. Little, Brown, 2014. 319 pages, including notes and glossary. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages ...
Read More Threatened by Eliot Schrefer
By Janie Cheaney |
Threatened by Eliot Schrefer. Scholastic, 2014. 278 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 15-18 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) One-line Summary: Threatened, one of this year’s ...
Read More If You’re Reading This by Trent Reedy
By Janie Cheaney |
If You’re Reading This, by Trent Reedy. Scholastic, 2014. 296 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) One-line Summary: If ...
Read More Reviewing School Book Lists, Part Four: Reading is Spiritual Warfare
By emily |
Reviewing School Book Lists: Part One. Part Two. Part Three. Part Four. This post by Emily Whitten, co-founder of Redeemed Reader, is the final installment in ...
Read More Ava and Pip by Carol Westin
By Janie Cheaney |
Ava and Pip by Carol Weston. Sourcebooks, 2014, 211 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade (11-12) Maturity Level: 4 (11-12) On the first day of fifth ...
Read More 
*Somebody on This Bus is Going to Be Famous by (our very own) J. B. Cheaney
By Betsy Farquhar |
*Somebody on This Bus Is Going to Be Famous by J. B. Cheaney. Sourcebooks, 2014. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades (8-12)Recommended For: Ages 10-12 Bottom ...
Read More The Castle Behind Thorns
By Janie Cheaney |
The Castle Behind Thorns, by Merrie Haskell. HarperCollins, 2014, 341 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 11-12 Maturity level: 5 (ages 11 and up) Sand ...
Read More Grandmaster
By Janie Cheaney |
Grandmaster, by David Klass. Farrar Strauss and Giroux, 2014, 226 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, Ages 15-18 Maturity Level: 6 (15-18) What if you discovered ...
Read More Thoughts on The Giver
By Hayley Morell |
During the Summer Reading Challenge, Redeemed Reader interns Amos Peck and Grace Olson, Valen Caldwell, intern at Breakpoint.org, and I --Hayley Schoeppler, Redeemed Reader's executive assistant-- ...
Read More 
Genesis in Space and Time by Francis Schaeffer
By Hayley Morell |
This review was originally written by Valen Caldwell as part of the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge. Genesis in Space and Time by Francis ...
Read More 
Sci-fi Contest Winner and Podcast: From Ender’s Game to Hunger Games
By emily |
To listen to our a read along with real teens or find discussion questions about Ender's Game, please see our Ender's Game Read Along. Also, ...
Read More
Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 4: Conclusions
By emily |
Like sci-fi or dystopian stories? Check out our Sci-Fi Writing Contest for teens. You could win feedback from a sci-fi author and Thomas Nelson editor, ...
Read More
Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 3: The Science of the Story
By emily |
Like sci-fi or dystopian stories? Check out our Sci-Fi Writing Contest for teens. You could win feedback from a sci-fi author and Thomas Nelson editor, ...
Read More
Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 2: Ender vs. Peter
By emily |
Like sci-fi or dystopian stories? Check out our Sci-Fi Writing Contest for teens. You could win feedback from a sci-fi author and Thomas Nelson editor, ...
Read More
Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 1: Considering Sci-fi and Orson Scott Card
By emily |
Like sci-fi or dystopian stories? Check out our Sci-Fi Writing Contest for teens. You could win feedback from a sci-fi author and Thomas Nelson editor, ...
Read More
Ender’s Game Read Along: A Galactic Giveaway and Contest!
By emily |
***THE GIVEAWAY PART OF THIS POST IS OVER. *** ENDER’S GAME POSTS: Introduction, Week 1: Sci-fi and Orson Scott Card, Week 2: Ender vs Peter, ...
Read More 
Rose Under Fire: Sequel/Companion to Code Name Verity
By Betsy Farquhar |
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein. Disney, 2013. Age: 14 and up. Last year, I read one of the best books I've ever read: Code ...
Read More 
Lemonade and Lit Read Along, Week 2: Booked Discussion
By emily |
Other Lemonade and Lit posts: Introduction, Week One: Booked, Week Two: Booked Discussion, Week Three: Beauty, Week Four: Sexuality in Booked, Week Five: Beauty Discussion, ...
Read More 
Lemonade and Lit Read Along, Week 1: Booked by Karen Swallow Prior
By emily |
Other Lemonade and Lit posts: Introduction, Week One: Booked, Week Two: Booked Discussion, Week Three: Beauty, Week Four: Sexuality in Booked, Week Five: Beauty Discussion, ...
Read More 
Shark Girl: Drama in Real Life (and in fiction)
By Betsy Farquhar |
This post has been planned for a couple of weeks, but I wanted to acknowledge a potentially sensitive connection with the victims of the recent ...
Read More 
Grace and Law and Two Silver Candlesticks
By Janie Cheaney |
I love musicals—always have, ever since my sister and I sang along to original cast recordings and movie soundtracks for Rogers & Hammerstein and Lerner ...
Read More 
The Giver Concludes
By Janie Cheaney |
Son, by Lois Lowry. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012, 393 pages. Age/interest level: 12-up. Lois Lowry’s The Giver, published in 1993, has become an iconic title ...
Read More Facts of Life
By Janie Cheaney |
Our 50 Shades of Gray discussion this week demonstrates how our sin nature turns God's gifts into perversions. But sex is still a gift, and ...
Read More 
Hoping Against Hope: Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
By Janie Cheaney |
Doug Swietek finds a new life in his new town, despite his boorish father. Perfect for fans of The Wednesday Wars. Okay for Now, by ...
Read More Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
By Janie Cheaney |
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. Harper Collins, 1972 (paperback reissue 2003). 208 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: Young adult, ...
Read More Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
By Janie Cheaney |
Gary Paulsen's classic survival novel Hatchet offers a realistic--as opposed to romantic-- view of nature and what it takes to survive in the wild. Hatchet ...
Read More - « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4