(F) Ages 15-18

The Finisher by David Baldacci

By Hayley Morell | Aug 29, 2014

The Finisher by David Baldacci. Scholastic, 2014, 497 pages. Reading level: Young Adults, 15-18 Maturity level: 6 What do you get when you blend a ...

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 19, 2014

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 ...

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 12, 2014

How do you use the label “anti-war?” As in, “Saving Private Ryan is the best anti-war movie ever made, or “All Quiet on the Western ...

*The Warden and the Wolf King

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 11, 2014

An epic finale to an epic fantasy series. *The Warden and the Wolf King,by Andrew Peterson. Rabbit Room Press, 2014, 519 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 29, 2014

Two real-life memoirs of girls living in a turbulent time and place: Hidden Girl: the True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave, by Shyima Hall, ...

Genesis in Space and Time by Francis Schaeffer

By Hayley Morell | Jul 26, 2014

This review was originally written by Valen Caldwell as part of the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge. Genesis in Space and Time by Francis ...

The Story of Owen: Review and Discussion

By emily | Jul 5, 2014

It's officially an off-week here at Redeemedreader. But we've put together one "extra" post for your holiday weekend: a review of The Story of Owen: ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 19, 2014

This post originally appeared in a different format as part of our 2014 Summer Reading Challenge. The content has been adapted slightly to fit our new ...

The Winner’s Curse

By Hayley Morell | May 23, 2014

It began with a simple conversation, Marie Rutkoski explains: . . . while sitting with my friend Vasiliki Skreta on a dark blue gym mat ...

Gifts for Grads, 3rd Edition

By Janie Cheaney | May 9, 2014

If you have a high school or college graduate, you’re thinking about how fast time flies and how bittersweet the occasion of this very special ...

Cress and The Lunar Chronicles

By Hayley Morell | May 1, 2014

When you came to my jail cell and dropped this whole princess thing on me . . . how was I supposed to react? All ...

Boys of Blur and Beowulf: Like Father, Like Son

By Betsy Farquhar | Apr 24, 2014

It's not often that we are privileged to read literary gems from both father AND son. But that is indeed the case here; to make ...

America, the Future: Divided We Fall and Sylo

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 21, 2014

This month we're looking at some YA and middle-grade titles that could be described as "high-interest": stories that grab you and don't let go. But ...

The Lunar Chronicles, continued

By Hayley Morell | Mar 20, 2014

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. Feiwel and Friends, 2013. 452 pages. Age/interest level: 14-up. As a sequel, Scarlet picks up right where Cinder ended. Linh Cinder, now ...

Ukraine: Lessons in Liberty and Compassion, Pt. 2

By Hayley Morell | Mar 15, 2014

Last week, we began our Ukrainian series with a personal reflection from our executive assistant, Hayley. Having recently visited orphans in Ukraine, Hayley gave us insight ...

Retro Reads: The Sword in the Stone

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 11, 2014

This week we begin a series of occasional posts called Retro Reads: those modern-day classics you may have missed in your teen years or before ...

Portrait of the Fantacist as a Young Man: Carpet People

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 28, 2014

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, ...

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

By Hayley Morell | Feb 20, 2014

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 ...

Cyborg Cinderella

By Hayley Morell | Feb 20, 2014

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. ...

Be My Valentine: The State of Teen Romance

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 14, 2014

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 ...

On the Court and in the Woods: Books for Teen Boys

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 31, 2014

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 ...

The Spiritual World of The Hobbit + Giveaway

By Hayley Morell | Jan 23, 2014

(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 ...

Eyes of Lightning

By Hayley Morell | Jan 15, 2014

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 ...

The Doctrines of Grace by Shane Lems

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 7, 2014

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 ...

C. S. Lewis at War: Radio Theatre for Teens and Adults

By emily | Dec 21, 2013

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 ...

Rounding Up Some Good YA Reads

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 20, 2013

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 ...

Far as the Curse is Found: Two Novels Dealing with Death

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 11, 2013

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 ...

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 9, 2013

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 ...

Classics in Comics

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 26, 2013

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, ...

November 22, 1963

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 22, 2013

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 ...

Veterans Day: The Warrior’s Heart

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 11, 2013

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 ...

History in Graphic Format

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 31, 2013

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 ...

Ghost Stories

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 29, 2013

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 ...

Empire of Bones (Ashtown Burials, #3)

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 24, 2013

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 ...

God in Dystopia: Captives and Aquifer

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 27, 2013

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 ...

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 24, 2013

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: ...

The Enemy Stone: An Interview with Robert Treskillard

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 18, 2013

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 ...

Ender’s Game Read Along: A Galactic Giveaway and Contest!

By emily | Sep 14, 2013

***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, ...

Taking a Look at “Blink”–with Our Own YA Readers

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 13, 2013

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 ...

The Rithmatist, Bubble World, and A Corner of White: Science Fiction or Fantasy?

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 10, 2013

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 ...

City of Bones: Movie Review

By Hayley Morell | Aug 24, 2013

As the cinematic version of City of Bones hits theaters this week,

Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 20, 2013

There's a big movie release this week, based on a best-selling series of young-adult fantasy novels. Young-adult fantasy novels have proved enormously profitable for the ...

Beowulf: Legend, Worldview, and Contemporary Narratives

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 19, 2013

When I used to teach high school British Literature back in the day, Beowulf was always our first big study. It's first chronologically, and it's ...

Rose Under Fire: Sequel/Companion to Code Name Verity

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 8, 2013

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 ...

Lemonade and Lit, Week 7: Klavan Discussion

By emily | Jul 27, 2013

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, ...

Three Days in July

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 2, 2013

One hundred and fifty years ago, two great armies collided in a small Pennsylvania town. The actual site of the battle was not planned, but ...

Lemonade and Lit, Week 3: Beauty by Robin McKinley

By emily | Jun 30, 2013

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, ...

Lemonade and Lit Read Along, Week 2: Booked Discussion

By emily | Jun 22, 2013

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, ...

Lemonade and Lit Read Along, Week 1: Booked by Karen Swallow Prior

By emily | Jun 15, 2013

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, ...

Whalesong: A Review by Nathan Huffstutler

By emily | May 30, 2013

Earlier this year, when I first heard the name Robert Siegel doing research for these book reviews last April at World Magazine, I learned Siegel ...

Throwing Strikes with R. A. Dickey

By Janie Cheaney | May 28, 2013

Throwing Strikes: My Quest for Truth and the Perfect Knuckleball, by R. A. Dickey. Dial, 2013, 296 pages. Age/interest level: 12-16. Last year Dickey’s autobiography, ...

Christian Romance: part of a well-balanced “book diet”?

By Betsy Farquhar | May 20, 2013

A Balanced "Book Diet" Reading is like eating: you need a variety of wholesome ingredients, a little sugar, and a little moderation across the board. ...

Hattie Ever After: A Review

By emily | May 16, 2013

Today, I'm happy to welcome our current intern,Hayley Schoeppler, again. You guys may recall that she did a review of Mara, Daughter of the Nile ...

Words for Life: Bibles for Teens and Graduates

By Janie Cheaney | May 7, 2013

In an earlier post I wrote about beginners “Bibles” and Bible storybooks. That was followed up by a post on the methods and merits of ...

No Battlefield Like Home

By Janie Cheaney | May 3, 2013

Chasing Jupiter, by Rachel Coker. Zondervan, 2012, 221 pages. Age/interest level: 12-up. Our story begins in small-town Georgia, 1969—but 16-year-old Scarlett’s world seems even smaller ...

Interview with Judah Ben: Kai’Ro, Christian Rap and the Progress of Urban Pilgrims

By emily | May 2, 2013

Introduction There are very few modern books that I see as really significant. But I see the Kai' Ro series--an urban interpretation of Pilgrim's Progress--by ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 28, 2013

Rock Solid Faith introduces teens to the principles and characters of the Bible in a generally helpful way. Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens. ...

Shark Girl: Drama in Real Life (and in fiction)

By Betsy Farquhar | Apr 22, 2013

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 ...

Poetry Anthologies

By Megan Saben | Apr 10, 2013

A good poetry anthology is like going to a friend's house with a basket, and being told, "Oh, you must read this one, and this one, and ...

The Real Sherlock Holmes

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 9, 2013

Arthur Conan Doyle published the first Sherlock Holmes story in a British periodical in 1887, to moderate interest. Three novels and fifty-odd short stories later, ...

The Hard Work of Growing Up

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 5, 2013

It’s what every child has to do, and they accomplish it with varying degrees of success. In a sense, "growing up" is the theme of ...

Ancient History: Mara, Daughter of the Nile

By emily | Mar 4, 2013

This week, we'll be looking at several books that deal with ancient history--including Greek and Roman culture. Toward that end, I asked our intern, Hayley ...

The Real George Washington

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 21, 2013

When did history get so complicated? Not too long ago, “The father of his country” was a monumental figure deserving nothing but praise. Now, depending ...

Looking for Love . . . in All the Weird Places

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 15, 2013

Since I first wrote about teen paranormal romance--the spark that became a blaze with the Twilight series and all its imitators--we’ve seen the entire Bella-Edward ...

Love in the Age of Roe

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 1, 2013

In our posts over the last two weeks, Emily and I have suggested that Roe v. Wade has changed America profoundly in the ways we ...

Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert

By emily | Jan 24, 2013

The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield. Crown and Covenant, 2012. 154 pgs. An Anomaly In the 1990's, Rosaria Butterfield was ...

Identity and Revolution, part 1

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 18, 2013

“We will triumph with our tongues. We own our lips—who is our master?” Psalm 12:4 We live in an age where reality can be easily ...

Gabrielle Douglas: Grace, Gold, and (God’s) Glory

By emily | Jan 17, 2013

Into the Spotlight Sixteen-year-old Gabrielle Douglas's jaw-dropping performance in the women's all-around gymnastics competition, just edging out her closest Russian competitor to win gold, was ...

On All Fronts: New Nonfiction of World War II

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 15, 2013

My sister, who serves at a docent at a prisoner-of-war museum in Texas, says that her most eager listeners are pre-teen and teenage boys. When ...

Grace and Law and Two Silver Candlesticks

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 21, 2012

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 ...

16th Century Travels: Jepp and Will Sparrow

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 14, 2012

Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, by Katharine Marsh. Hyperion, 2012, 369 pages plus author note. Age/interest level: 12-up. Jepp’s diminutive size has always been a ...

Other Lives: Reading and Watching Anna Karenina

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 7, 2012

The latest movie version of Anna Karenina is not for family viewing, because it deals with "adult" themes more graphically than it needs to. The ...

O Come, Emmanuel

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 30, 2012

Every year advent takes me by surprise--otherwise I would have posted this last week! Family advent readers come down from the shelves this time of ...

Dragon Tale: Seraphina

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 9, 2012

There’s a grand slam (plus one) among children’s book reviewers: Booklist, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, ...

Origin by Jessica Khoury

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 6, 2012

Origin, by Jessica Khoury. Penguin, 2012, 393 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 16-up (please note: the recommended age is not ...

Solomon Kane, Puritan Avenger

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 2, 2012

We're closing out Halloween week with something a little different. About two years ago, I began hearing of a new movie called Solomon Kane, based ...

Burdens of the Past

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 9, 2012

Seventy-three years ago, on September 1, German tanks rolled across the border of Poland and the conflict that soon became known as World War II ...

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 17, 2012

Keeping the Castle: a Tale of Romance, Riches, and Real Estate, by Patrice Kindl. Viking, 2012, 261 pages. Age/interest level: 13-up. Althea Crawley, age 17, ...

Crying Hard: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 14, 2012

Another popular YA novel is soon to be a "Major Motion Picture," opening next weekend. It's not likely to be a blockbuster like Twilight or ...

Survival and Rescue

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 4, 2012

Rescue from certain destruction is the great theme of the Bible. When it happens in real life, it should remind us of how blessed we ...

The Invasion of Fairyland

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 31, 2012

Tuesday’s post about “Twisting Mother Goose” was headed down an alley I didn’t have room to address. So today’s post springs off YA lit-blogger Georgia ...

By emily | Aug 30, 2012

A Few Recommendations Last year Janie and I put together a post on football books for kids and young adults, Tim Tebow to Justin Tuck: ...

Swash and Buckle: the Chronicles of Egg

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 3, 2012

Deadweather and Sunrise, by Geoff Rodkey. Putnam, 2012, 296 pages. Age/interest level: 10-up. Thirteen-year-old Egbert Masterson, or Egg as he will soon be called, is ...

By emily | Jul 30, 2012

Hayley Schoeppler is a 20 year old college student, the oldest in a family of seven kids, and an astute Christian book reviewer at her ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 27, 2012

Readers of this blog may not believe me when I say I’m not a big fantasy fan. Then why so many fantasy reviews? Because that’s ...

Hoping Against Hope: Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 20, 2012

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 ...

Hard Science

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 10, 2012

God particle, Higgs boson—it's been news since Independence Day (no relation to said holiday) and most of us scratch our heads. It’s too hot to ...

The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 26, 2012

The Glorious Fourth, as they used to call it, celebrates the birth of a nation whose independence was only declared with the signing of a ...

Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 12, 2012

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Coming up on Friday, an interview with Andrew Klavan himself! And we have a copy of Crazy Dangerous to give away!! Read on ...

Bad Trips

By Janie Cheaney | May 1, 2012

Summer is the traditional time for road trips, and road-trip novels traditionally roll out in the spring. A title from this year and one from ...

Graduation Gifts for Teens

By emily | Apr 16, 2012

We're fast approaching graduation day at many schools, so I thought it might be worth tossing out a few books to brighten your celebrations. 1. ...

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 3, 2012

As Jesus takes us to the cross this week, I’d like to spend some time looking at recent and classic children’s literature that addresses the ...

Kingstone Part 2: Interview and Babylon

By emily | Mar 29, 2012

By Redeemed Reader intern Jack Mertens Today I continue my series on Kingstone Comics, begun on Monday with reviews of two of Marvin Olasky's graphic ...

Kingstone Part 1: 2048 and Echoes of Eden

By emily | Mar 26, 2012

Today's reviewer, Jack Mertens, is a 17 year old high school student living in Louisiana where he is, among other things, an avid reader and ...

Real or Not Real? The Hunger Games Movie is Good For Teens….

By emily | Mar 23, 2012

***SPOILER ALERT: SOME PARTS OF THE END OF THE STORY REVEALED BELOW To read Janie's review of the book, see Hungry. Today, the much anticipated ...

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 19, 2012

The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary E. Pearson. Holt, 2008, 265 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, 15-18 Recommended for: ages 15-18 and up Bottom ...

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 19, 2012

Unwind by Neal Shusterman. Simon & Shuster, 2007, 352 pages Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 15-18 Bottom Line: Unwind presents a ...

Talking Over the Hunger Games, Part One

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 16, 2012

Since Susanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy (reviewed here) has sparked so much discussion in school cafeterias and dorm rooms (not to mention break rooms and ...

Hungry

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 13, 2012

Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games, Scholastic, 2008, 374 pages. Catching Fire, Scholastic, 2009, 391 pages. Mockingjay, 2010, 387 pages. Age/interest level: 14-up. READER ADVISORY: This ...

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 21, 2012

Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys. Penguin/Philomel, 2011, 338 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) and up June ...

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