Book Reviews
Middle Grade Winners: Cheesie Mack and Jack Strong
By Janie Cheaney |
We've written about "middle-grade losers" before--those feckless, clueless fifth-and-sixth grader boys (exhibit A being The Wimpy Kid) so popular with boy readers of that age ...
Read More Portrait of the Fantacist as a Young Man: Carpet People
By Janie Cheaney |
The Carpet People, written and illustrated by Terry Pratchett. Clarion, 2013, 261 pages. Age/interest level: 11-up Sir Terry Pratchett, grand old man of fantasy/science fiction, ...
Read More *The Man with the Violin
By Megan Saben |
One ordinary Friday morning in January, a famous musician in disguise descended into the busy Metro station in Washington D.C.to share the glory of his music ...
Read More Dragons and Time Fetches: More Middle-Grade Fantasy
By Janie Cheaney |
Handbook for Dragon Slayers, by Merrie Haskell. HarperCollins, 2013, 226 pages. Age/interest level: 10-up. When our story begins, Tilda, age 13, has no interest in ...
Read More Cinder by Marissa Meyer
By Hayley Morell |
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Square Fish, 2012. 387 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12 – 15 Recommended For: 6 (ages 15 – 18) and up Bottom ...
Read More Cyborg Cinderella
By Hayley Morell |
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Square Fish, 2012. 387 pages. Age/interest level: 14-up. Linh Cinder is a teenage mechanic, the best mechanic in New Beijing. ...
Read More Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
By Betsy Farquhar |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by ...
Read More Presidents Day–What the Hayes?
By Janie Cheaney |
There didn’t used to be a Presidents Day; instead, Americans observed Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Washington (Feb. 22) separately. But since those two had thoughtfully ...
Read More Be My Valentine: The State of Teen Romance
By Janie Cheaney |
If you go back as far as I do, you remember the YA novels before there was any such category as “YA.” These were mostly ...
Read More Middle Grade Fantasy: Twistrose and Jinx
By Hayley Morell |
Fantasy for middle grades (4th-8th/ages 9-12) is ever expanding. Hayley and Betsy look at two new additions to the field, both of which look light ...
Read More *Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel
By Janie Cheaney |
Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel. Scholastic (Graphix), ask 2013. 238 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) and up Bottom ...
Read More Valentine’s Day
By Megan Saben |
As Christians we are called to practice so many forms of love besides the romantic kind. Themes for Valentine's Day can be broadened to emphasize ...
Read More Award-Winning Science Picture Books
By Janie Cheaney |
The Animal Book: a Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest—and Most Surprising—Animals on Earth, by Steve Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013, 208 pages. ...
Read More A Quick Trip around the World
By Janie Cheaney |
Maps, by Eleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski. Candlewick, 2013, 107 pages. Age/interest level: 4-up You like maps? We’ve got maps! After a view of the ...
Read More Ghosts: Real or Make Believe?
By Betsy Farquhar |
Ghost stories: most of us relish that slightly spooky feeling we get when an urban legend or hair-raising tall tale is well told around a ...
Read More Walk Like an Egyptian–and a Roman
By Janie Cheaney |
It’s nonfiction week at Redeemed Reader—or not entirely, but we’ve got a lot of nonfiction titles to review, including a quick trip around the world ...
Read More On the Court and in the Woods: Books for Teen Boys
By Janie Cheaney |
Will in Scarlet, by Matthew Cody. Knopf, 20134, 272 pages. Age/interest level: 12-up. We’re introduced to William Shackley as a callow, nervous 14-year-old on his ...
Read More Second-Grade Perils: The Year of Billy Miller
By Janie Cheaney |
The Year of Billy Miller, by Keven Henkes. Greenwillow, 2013, 229 pages. Age/interest level: 6-8. Kevin Henkes’ name on a book jacket automatically gets attention. ...
Read More Newbery Buzz: The Truth of Me, plus one more
By Janie Cheaney |
This is our last "buzz" post, but tomorrow Betsy and I are going to go out on a limb and make some predictions about the ...
Read More The Spiritual World of The Hobbit + Giveaway
By Hayley Morell |
(Giveaway is now closed) The ever-increasing popularity of Middle Earth has brought a profusion of books written about both J. R.R. Tolkien and his created ...
Read More Newbery Buzz: True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp
By Betsy Farquhar |
We're coming down to the wire with our Newbery discussions. The ALA Youth Media Awards (which include the Newbery and Caldecott) will be announced Monday ...
Read More Newbery Buzz: Counting by 7’s
By Janie Cheaney |
(Janie and Betsy are continuing their chat about some of the outstanding children's literature being touted for the coveted Newbery award--yes, there are people who ...
Read More Twerps and Bullies: Middle Grade fun for boys
By Betsy Farquhar |
I'll admit it: I cracked up when I read Wimpy Kid. Clearly, my sense of humor is rather juvenile (or, maybe I've just spent a LOT of ...
Read More Eyes of Lightning
By Hayley Morell |
I have issues . . . more than I can count. I’m stubborn, prideful, a so-called religious fanatic, and a tomboy with freakish eyes. My family and upbringing ...
Read More Tough Times: Two Middle-Grade Historical Novels for Boys
By Janie Cheaney |
River Rats, by Leslie J. Wyatt. Royal Fireworks Press, 2013, 212 pages. Age/interest level: 10-14. Kenny Barton would be the first to admit he doesn’t ...
Read More Newbery Buzz: The Center of Everything
By Janie Cheaney |
Betsy and I are back to dialogue about childrens' books that the American Library Association may delight to honor. This year's ALA Youth Media Awards ...
Read More Nurturing a young reader’s literary tastes
By Megan Saben |
Parents with avid readers often find themselves with a dilemma: after my child has read all the age-appropriate books, where do we go from here? ...
Read More The Case for Christ for Kids: 90-Day Devotional
By Janie Cheaney |
The Case for Christ for Kids 90-Day Devotional, by Lee Strobel and Jesse Florea. Zonderkidz, 2013, 199 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 8-10 Recommended ...
Read More The Doctrines of Grace by Shane Lems
By Janie Cheaney |
The Doctrines of Grace, Student Edition, by Shane Lems. P&R Publishing, 2013, 143 pages, included appendices. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages ...
Read More Who Do Men Say That I Am?
By Janie Cheaney |
Christmas brings into focus the mystery of the incarnation, when God, in the person of Jesus Christ, took on human flesh in order to meet ...
Read More C. S. Lewis at War: Radio Theatre for Teens and Adults
By emily |
C. S. Lewis at War: The Dramatic Story Behind Mere Christianity (Radio Theatre) by C.S. Lewis and Paul McCusker. Tyndale Entertainment, 2013. Ages 12 and ...
Read More Rounding Up Some Good YA Reads: *Nine Days, Nobody’s Secret, The Lucy Variations
By Janie Cheaney |
As Hayley noted earlier this week, the much-heralded final volume of Veronica Roth's Divergent trilogy was a disappointment. Much-heralded final volumes often disappoint, but what's ...
Read More Newbery Buzz: Flora & Ulysses
By Betsy Farquhar |
Newbery Award Janie and I are back to discuss another potential Newbery contender (see our discussion of The Real Boy). The prestigious Newbery and Caldecott ...
Read More Nostalgic Christmas Picture Books
By Betsy Farquhar |
Many of our cultural Christmas celebrations are just that--cultural, not biblical. That being said, we can be Christians and still enjoy many of our cultural ...
Read More Far as the Curse is Found: Two Novels Dealing with Death
By Janie Cheaney |
This seems like an odd time of year to talk about death, but the joy of the Christmas season wouldn’t be joyful at all if ...
Read More Pilgrim’s Progress adapted by Anna Trimiew
By Janie Cheaney |
Pilgrim’s Progress: John Bunyan’s Classic Story Adapted for Children, by Anna Trimiew, illustrated by Drew Rose. Great Commissions Press, 2013, 109 pages, including glossary and ...
Read More *Pilgrim’s Progress: a Retelling by Gary Schmidt
By Janie Cheaney |
Pilgrim’s Progress: a Retelling, by Gary Schmidt, illustrated by Barry Moser. Eerdmans, 1994, 96 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, Ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12 ...
Read More Newbery Buzz: The Real Boy
By Janie Cheaney |
If you have any interest in youth literature at all, you know that the Newbery Award, announced in January by the American Library Association, is ...
Read More *Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed
By Janie Cheaney |
Twelve Kinds of Ice, by Ellen Bryan Obed, illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Houghton Mifflin, 2012, 64 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, Ages 10-12 Maturity Level: ...
Read More Call of the Klondike: a True Gold Rush Adventure by David Meissner
By Janie Cheaney |
This middle grade history uses original letters and contemporary news accounts to recreate the drama of the Alaska Gold Rush. Call of the Klondike: a ...
Read More *Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
By Janie Cheaney |
The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Anderson, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Harpers, 2013, 34 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Maturity Level: All Bottom line: ...
Read More Truth in the Tinsel: A Family Advent Tradition
By emily |
Truth in the Tinsel Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I suppose the Christmas race has officially begun now, and with that in mind, ...
Read More Classics in Comics
By Janie Cheaney |
We round out Picture-book month at Redeemed Reader with a look at some recent comic-book adaptations of enduring literary works--even though graphic novels, technically speaking, ...
Read More The Thing About Luck: National Book Award Winner
By Betsy Farquhar |
The National Book Award Finalists were announced earlier this fall, and this past week, the winners were announced. This year's winner for Young People's Literature ...
Read More Librarians’ List: Favorite Picture Books of 2013
By Betsy Farquhar |
It's time for another Librarians' List! Since it's picture book month, we're indulging our list-making hobbies and bringing you yet another list of our favorites. ...
Read More November 22, 1963
By Janie Cheaney |
Fifty years ago a president was violently assassinated. John F. Kennedy’s place in history is mostly emblematic: baby-boomers remember his ease and charm and clever ...
Read More Reading Rapunzel
By Megan Saben |
Today I'm going to demonstrate a close reading of one version of a classic fairy tale. My favorite book to use in demonstrating the illustrative ...
Read More Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon
By Betsy Farquhar |
Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon. Atheneum, 2013. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Take Me Out to the Yakyu is a colorful, ...
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 Character in the Midst of Diversity: 8 Titles to Note
By Betsy Farquhar |
2013 has given us lots of excellent diverse picture book titles: books about minority cultures, folktale retellings, and books by (or illustrated by) people of ...
Read More *Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt
By Janie Cheaney |
Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt and Isobelle Arsenault (translated from the original French). Groundwood, 2014, 101 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ...
Read More Flood by Alvaro F. Villa
By Janie Cheaney |
Flood, by Alvaro F. Villa. Capstone, 2013, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 8-10 It’s hard to imagine rain doing ...
Read More Mr. Wuffles! by David Weisner
By Janie Cheaney |
Mr. Wuffles! by David Weisner. Clarion, 2013, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, Ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 and up Bottom Line: Mr. Wuffles, ...
Read More Bluebird by Bob Staake
By Janie Cheaney |
Bluebird, by Bob Staake. Schwartz & Wade, 2013, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 and up Bottom Line: This ...
Read More Journey by Aaron Becker. Candlewick, 2013. 26 pages
By Janie Cheaney |
Journey, by Aaron Becker. Candlewick, 2013, 26 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 and up Bottom Line: Journey uses luminous illustrations--and ...
Read More *Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley
By Janie Cheaney |
*Hank Finds an Egg, by Rebecca Dudley. Peter Pauper, 2013, 36 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-4 Recommended for: ages 0-4 and up ...
Read More Sci-fi Short Story Finalists: VOTE FOR A WINNER!
By emily |
New to Redeemedreader? Sign up for our biweekly newsletter on our homepage! You can also like us on Facebook or follow along on Twitter to keep up with ...
Read More Some Words About Wordless Books
By Betsy Farquhar |
For our purposes, wordless books are either entirely wordless or have very little text. A classic example is Peter Spier's Noah's Ark which begins with ...
Read More *Unspoken by Henry Cole
By Janie Cheaney |
*Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad, by Henry Cole. Scholastic, 2012, 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, Ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-10 and ...
Read More Looking Forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas
By Janie Cheaney |
Every holiday season brings forth a crop of shiny new picture books, and we're on the beat. Today, two for Thanksgiving and two for Christmas--the ...
Read More Veterans Day: The Warrior’s Heart
By Janie Cheaney |
The Warrior’s heart: Becoming a Man of Compassion and Courage, by Eric Greitens. Houghton Mifflin, 2012, 263 pages. Age/interest level: 15-up. You stand in freezing ...
Read More How NOT to Read a Picture Book
By Megan Saben |
Ten guaranteed ways to destroy a good picture book (without a Sharpie or a bonfire) Always read in the same tone of voice, without expression or ...
Read More The Power of a Picture
By Janie Cheaney |
It’s picture book month! And boy, do we have a lot of picture books to talk about. I keep hearing that the pb market is ...
Read More Middle-Grade Losers, or, What Hath Greg Heffley Wrought?
By Janie Cheaney |
The Wimpy Kid phenomenon keeps on going, and so far has outlasted the dystopia phenomenon, the vampire phenomenon, and the zombie phenomenon. Volume 8 in ...
Read More Graphic History: Bluffton and *Boxers/Saints
By Betsy Farquhar |
As we conclude our History Month here at RedeemedReader, I hope you've enjoyed learning about historical fiction, church history, picture book biographies, general history, and ...
Read More Ghost Stories
By Janie Cheaney |
Do you believe in ghosts? I discount many of the ghost stories I hear, but can’t quit discount the whole phenomenon. That is, there is ...
Read More Teen Sci-Fi Writing Contest & Discussion: From Ender’s Game to Hunger Games
By emily |
***NOTE: AN ANONYMOUS DONOR HAS JUST UPPED THE 2nd AND 3rd PLACE PRIZES IN THIS CONTEST TO A $30 AMAZON GIFT CARD!*** Introduction It's been ...
Read More Hear That Lonesome Whistle: Locomotive and Train
By Janie Cheaney |
Every year children’s publishing offers at least one major picture book related to trains, but this year we’ve been blessed with three. One of them, ...
Read More Empire of Bones (Ashtown Burials, #3)
By Betsy Farquhar |
Empire of Bones (Ashtown Burials #3) by N. D. Wilson. Random House, 2013. 448 pages. Reading Level: Middle gradesRecommended For: age 10 and up. We've ...
Read More The Dogs of History
By Janie Cheaney |
Duke, by Kirby Larson. Scholastic, 2013, 229 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Boy loves dog; boy loses dog. That’s what ...
Read More Lara’s Gift by Annemarie O’Brien
By Janie Cheaney |
Lara’s Gift, by Annemarie O’Brien. Knopf, 2013, 193pages, including appendix Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12, Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Bottom ...
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 Early America: Friendship and War
By Janie Cheaney |
Friends of Liberty, by Beatrice Gormley. Eermans, 2013, 184 pages. Age/interest level: 8-14. Sally Gifford, as the daughter of an honest craftsman in 18th-century Boston, ...
Read More How God Used a Thunderstorm by Joel R. Beeke and Diana Kleyn
By Megan Saben |
*How God Used a Thunderstorm and Other Devotional Stories by Joel R. Beeke and Diana Kleyn, illustrated by Jeff Anderson (Building on the Rock Series). ...
Read More Anselm: An Interview with Simonetta Carr
By emily |
Anselm of Canterbury (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) by Simonetta Carr. Reformation Heritage Books, 2013. 64 pgs. Ages 8-up. Simonetta Carr recently published Anselm of ...
Read More Church History for Everybody
By Janie Cheaney |
This 12-volume set documents the church from its earliest days to 2001, with lavish illustration, original source material, and literate commentary. The Christians: Their First ...
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 Sugar and P.S. Be Eleven: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
By Betsy Farquhar |
It's another dual review by Janie and Betsy today! We're teaming up to bring you reviews of two middle grade historical fiction novels during our ...
Read More *A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
By Betsy Farquhar |
*A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Knopf, 2013. 32 pages. Reading Level: ...
Read More Little Histories
By Janie Cheaney |
One thing we’ve lost, in our modern fragmented world, is a sense of the story of history. Between the rock of political correctness on one ...
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 Three delightful picture books based on historical events
By Megan Saben |
Candace Fleming is blessed with a wonderful combination of skills as a writer. Since she enjoys both writing and research, as a result she writes fun ...
Read More Fun But Not Fantastic: Mr. Lemoncello and the Family Whipple
By Janie Cheaney |
The American tradition of the “tall tale,” which you may think died with Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill, is alive and well in a genre ...
Read More Our Favorite Science Book Picks (and a Printable List!)
By Betsy Farquhar |
We've thrown a lot of titles at you during our Science September for science-related informational texts. Because we know many of you, like us, love ...
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 God in Dystopia: Captives and Aquifer
By Janie Cheaney |
Two weeks ago Hayley, Joseph, and Abby discussed two inaugural titles from Blink, Zondervan’s new YA title. Today they’re back with two more. Both these ...
Read More Scientific Fiction or Fictional Science? Three Genre-Busting Reads
By Betsy Farquhar |
Janie and Betsy team up once again to bring you reviews of three recent scientific fiction works! Janie does the first and Betsy the second ...
Read More The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer
By Janie Cheaney |
The Reluctant Assassin (W.A.R.P., #1), by Eoin Colfer. Hyperion, 2013, 352 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Appropriate for: ages 15-up Bottom Line: ...
Read More More Favorite Science Books
By emily |
Welcome back to Science September at Redeemedreader! Last week, we heard from Janie on Science Biographies, as well as Betsy on some of her favorite ...
Read More Solving Mysteries with Science (and a disappointing collective biography)
By Megan Saben |
One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! by Eric Yoder and Natalie Yoder. Science Naturally, 2013. When I was growing up, ...
Read More The Enemy Stone: An Interview with Robert Treskillard
By Janie Cheaney |
Last Friday we had a fascinating discussion with our interns about some of the first titles of a brand new YA imprint from Zondervan. One ...
Read More The Secret Lives of Scientists
By Janie Cheaney |
On a Beam of Light: a Story of Albert Einstein, by Jennifer Berre, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky. Chronicle, 2013, 50 pages. Age/interest level: 6-9 Despite ...
Read More Science Picture Books: Authors and Illustrators of Note
By Betsy Farquhar |
It's Science September at RedeemedReader! The world of picture book nonfiction (or "information books, " as nonfiction is being called now) is exploding with very ...
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 Taking a Look at “Blink”–with Our Own YA Readers
By Janie Cheaney |
This fall, Zondervan Publishers is introducing a new imprint called “Blink.” According to Zondervan marketing v-p Chrisynethia Floyd, “They are for anyone, regardless of faith ...
Read More New Worlds, Spirit Animals, and Frog Warriors: New Middle-Grade Fantasy
By Janie Cheaney |
Betsy and Janie, the middle-grade readers, are joining forces today to tell you about three brand-new fantasy series for middle-graders. Betsy reviews the first two, ...
Read More Space Odyssey for Little Ones: An Interview with Kevin Luthardt
By emily |
THE BOOK REVIEW When Edgar Met Cecil. Peachtree Publishers, 2013. 32 pgs. Ages 4-8. Kevin Luthardt is an author-illustrator who has had a pretty big ...
Read More The Rithmatist, Bubble World, and A Corner of White: Science Fiction or Fantasy?
By Janie Cheaney |
As Emily informed us yesterday, September is science and science-fiction month, featuring our read-along of Orson Scott Card's classic novel, Ender's Game. To celebrate, we're ...
Read More *Little Britches by Ralph Moody
By Megan Saben |
*Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers by Ralph Moody. Bison Books, 1991. 260 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10, ages 10-12 and upRecommended ...
Read More Boy Overcoming
By Janie Cheaney |
Paperboy, by Vince Vawter. Delacorte, 2013m 224 pages. Age/interest level: 10-14 "I'm typing about the stabbing for a good reason. I can't talk." Life is ...
Read More