2019 Newbery Buzz #2: The Book of Boy

By Janie Cheaney | January 10, 2019

Janie: The Book of Boy is one of the more unusual middle-grade novels to appear this year.  The main character is (not surprisingly) Boy, a foundling raised by the village priest, who never bothered to give him a name.  Now that the Black Death has carried away his guardian, Boy is a goatherd at the…

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10 Favorite Christian Biographies

By Betsy Farquhar | January 7, 2019

Heaven: A Family Reunion? I don’t know what heaven will be like, but I imagine it as one big family reunion at a feast table. Maybe we’ll be so focused on the Lord himself that the saints who have gone before won’t matter to us. But maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to meet our ancestors…

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2019 Newbery Buzz #1: The Season of Styx Malone

By Janie Cheaney | January 3, 2019

It’s that time again!  Children’s book titles are pouring into every librarians’ website as the kidlit community speculates on who will win Newbery gold this year (announced on January 28).  At Redeemed Reader, we’re no exception.   Every Newbery committee is different and it’s almost impossible to predict what will tickle the panel’s fancy (or prick…

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2019 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens

By Betsy Farquhar | December 27, 2018

updated 10/21/19 READERS: Find info about the 2020 Reading Challenge here! The 2019 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens Our 2019 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens is back and better than ever! This is year 3 for our annual reading challenge, and we’ve added some different components to extend your reading life. We’ve also…

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The 2018 Reading Challenge: Interview with a Teen

By Betsy Farquhar | December 26, 2018

I (Betsy) interviewed my teen daughter about her experience with the 2018 Reading Challenge. She’s a 13-year-old voracious reader who has clear genre preferences, but who is also receptive to suggestions from me. We both did the same challenge level, and it’s been a fun year together! Which level of the 2018 Reading Challenge did…

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The Books Worth a Library Fine

By Hayley Morell | December 20, 2018

This post really happened.  It was written at the library with a stack of books and without coffee. It has been left close to its original form for your amusement.   Yes, it’s happened again.  I’m bound and determined to review a book, to mention it on Redeemed Reader because I know you’d like it.…

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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street: the Love Your Neighbor Book Club Edition

By Betsy Farquhar | December 15, 2018

December is such a wildly busy month: Christmas concerts and recitals and school performances and parties. Travel plans and/or welcoming extended family into your home. Exams and final projects. Christmas baking…. The Love Your Neighbor Book Club December Pick Which is why the December choice for the Love Your Neighbor Book Club is a fun,…

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The Year in Books – RR Staff Reflections

By Janie Cheaney | December 12, 2018

Are you the kind of person who asks, “What have you been reading lately?”  Betsy, Megan, Janie, and Hayley took some time to reflect about some of the outstanding books of the year so soon to be over, and here are our thoughts.  We thought you might be interested, too–and, not incidentally, pick up some…

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Miss Betsy’s Book Nook, 2018 edition

By Betsy Farquhar | December 10, 2018

It’s time for the annual reporting of what books I, as the Redeemed Reader Managing Editor, buy for those on my gift list! I do this partly to show you, dear readers, that we put our money where our mouth is: that is, we buy the same books we often recommend that YOU buy. We…

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One-Size-Fits-All: Read Aloud Gift Books for the Whole Family!

By Betsy Farquhar | December 6, 2018

Need a book idea you can give as a “whole family” gift? Perhaps you want to take along a little “happy” to the friend and her family who’s putting you up for the night during your Christmas travels. Or, perhaps you want to give a little something to each of your siblings and their families…

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