series posts

*Beauty by Robin McKinley

By Hayley Morell | Mar 1, 2017

This is one of the retellings of Beauty and the Beast we are featuring as part of our Beauty and the Beast Adventure. We are exploring ...

2017 Newbery Buzz: Some Writer! and Snow White

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 14, 2017

Historically—and overwhelmingly—the Newbery Award has graced the covers of fictional prose novels. And yet, even “back in the day,” there were some outliers. Nancy Willard’s A ...

2017 Newbery Buzz: Pax and Wolf Hollow

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 6, 2017

January is Newbery month—that is, when the American Library Association holds their annual winter conference, the highlight of which is the ALA Youth Media Awards. ...

Pastor, Blogger, Author, Editor: More Church History Recommendations for the Whole Family!

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 31, 2016

We've spent all month reading and learning about church history. It's been such a rich study with interviews and book reviews, but we are not ...

Church History October

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 1, 2016

See below for our list of church history resources! Next year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s well known act of defiance against the church of ...

Newbery Buzz Discussion Series

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 17, 2016

We love discussing books here at Redeemed Reader! We also love "prognosticating the awards": discussing potential Newbery Medal candidates (these are potentials to us; the ...

The Summer of Great Family Reads

By Betsy Farquhar | May 27, 2016

For Everything, There is a Season There are patterns in Scripture of both the Lord and his people resting from their labors. Summer is such ...

Summer Reading Lite

By emily | May 18, 2015

Growing Pains Our regular readers know we've been promising big changes for a while. But this time we mean it! We are working on a ...

By emily | Aug 6, 2014

Reviewing School Book Lists: Part One. Part Two. Part Three.Part Four. This post by Emily Whitten, co-founder of Redeemed Reader, is part of a series ...

By Hayley Morell | Aug 2, 2014

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-- ...

SRC, Week 6: Spy for the Night Riders

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 21, 2014

Welcome to Week 6! Time doth fly . . . We started out with The Blue Comet as our book for this week, but due ...

By emily | Jul 15, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

By emily | Jul 8, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

SRC, Week 4: The House of Arden

By Hayley Morell | Jul 7, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

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 | Jul 1, 2014

Our primary Summer Reading Challenge targets "middle grade" readers (typically ages 9-12) and "teen" readers (ages 13 and up), but we know there are many ...

By emily | Jun 28, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

By emily | Jun 24, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 22, 2014

**Please note: We've added an alternate reading option for this week. Spy for the Night Riders: Martin Luther (Trailblazer Books #3)by Dave and Neta Jackson. ...

SRC, Week 1 (Teen list): The Dragon’s Tooth by N. D. Wilson

By emily | Jun 21, 2014

Welcome Teens! Who's finished the first book??! Not me!!! And that's totally OK, because we've got another week before we post our discussion on The ...

By emily | Jun 17, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

SRC, Week 1: Chitty Chitty And The Race Against Time

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 16, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

New Teen Summer Reading Books!

By emily | Jun 6, 2014

New Plans After taking a second look at our teen Summer Reading Challenge books (Reading List #2), we have decided to take two of our ...

2014 Summer Reading Challenge…For the Whole Family

By emily | May 27, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

Sci-fi Contest Winner and Podcast: From Ender’s Game to Hunger Games

By emily | Nov 20, 2013

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, ...

Teen Sci-Fi Writing Contest & Discussion: From Ender’s Game to Hunger Games

By emily | Oct 26, 2013

***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 ...

Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 4: Conclusions

By emily | Oct 19, 2013

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, ...

Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 3: The Science of the Story

By emily | Oct 12, 2013

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, ...

Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 2: Ender vs. Peter

By emily | Oct 5, 2013

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, ...

Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 1: Considering Sci-fi and Orson Scott Card

By emily | Sep 28, 2013

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, ...

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, ...

By emily | Jul 26, 2013

THANK YOU It's been a fun couple of months during our Summer Reading Challenge, and my family has enjoyed reading along with you all. We're ...

Summer Reading Challenge: One Family’s Experience

By Betsy Farquhar | Jul 25, 2013

As we end our Summer Reading Challenge, I thought it would be fun for you--our readers--to hear a personal reflection from me on how our ...

Two Books about China

By emily | Jul 24, 2013

Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Na Liu, Illustrated by Andres Vera Martinez. Graphic Universe TM, 2013. 96 pgs. Grades 4-7. When I ...

Summer Reading Challenge, Week 7: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

By Betsy Farquhar | Jul 23, 2013

Don't forget to fill out the Redeemed Reader 2013 Survey if you haven't done so! (There's a giveaway involved!) Still hangin' in there with us? ...

It’s Greek to Me!

By Hayley Morell | Jul 18, 2013

This week in our Summer Reading Challenge, we're visiting Greece. So, thanks to our newest addition to the Redeemedreader family, Hayley Schoeppler, for leading us today ...

Summer Reading Challenge, Week 5: The Light Princess

By Megan Saben | Jul 9, 2013

Welcome to Week 5 of our Summer Reading Challenge! If you'd like to see other posts in this series, check out our Summer Reading Challenge ...

Lemonade and Lit, Week 4: Debate on Sexuality in Booked

By emily | Jul 6, 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, 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, ...

Summer Reading Challenge, Wk 3: Nate Saint: Operation Auca

By emily | Jun 25, 2013

Have you seen our new tab for the Summer Reading Challenge? In it, you'll find all the links to our Summer Reading Challenge--both the main ...

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, ...

Eat, Pray, Read…and Eat Again! Around the World Food Facts with Nive Burris

By emily | Jun 20, 2013

In our trip around the world (see our Summer Reading Challenge), what could be more fun than using food to explore different cultures? Today, Nive ...

Summer Reading Challenge, Week 3: Mr. Popper’s Penguins

By emily | Jun 18, 2013

Introduction We've added a Summer Reading Challenge tab at the top of our website, to help you keep up with the posts as the summer ...

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, ...

Let’s Take a Road Trip–and Write a Story!

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 11, 2013

Our Around the World reading challenge book this week is The Middle of Somewhere, and it’s written by . . . um . . . ...

Adult-Teen Summer Reading, Introduction: Conversation and a Contest!

By emily | Jun 8, 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, ...

What’s In the Handbag, Nelly Bly? 6 Items For Your Trip Around the World

By emily | Jun 8, 2013

I ran out of time in last week's post to include my travel tips for your Summer Reading adventure. So, taking inspiration from the humorous ...

Summer Reading Challenge, Wk 1: Interview with John Branyan

By emily | Jun 6, 2013

It's Thursday, and that means it's time for our Summer Reading Challenge (SRC) extras! In case you missed it, here is the Introduction, our list of ...

Summer Reading Challenge, Week 1: Around the World by Matt Phelan

By emily | Jun 4, 2013

***To find out more about this challenge, see our Summer Reading Challenge introduction. Other posts related to Matt Phelan's books include our Interview with John ...

100 Great Adventure Books for Kids: Summer Read Along Book Lists are Here!

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 3, 2013

***To read the next post in this series, see our Summer Reading Challenge, Week 1: Around the World by Matt Phelan.*** Summer Reading Challenge June ...

Around the World in 60 Days: Summer Reading Challenge for Kids

By emily | May 23, 2013

***The Book Giveaway below is over (click here to see who won), but the reading adventure is just beginning! Feel free to enter your name ...

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 ...

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 ...

By emily | Jan 14, 2013

THE CHURCH: On to Glory! This is our last part of the yearly study! For those of you who make it this far, congratulations, and ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 48

By emily | Dec 31, 2012

THE CHURCH: It’s hard for most of us to think of the church as a “real” family. But it is! And this week we'll read ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 47

By emily | Dec 16, 2012

THE CHURCH: By Faith Alone If the long history of mankind's failure to keep God's law, from Adam to us, were not enough to prove ...

Audiobooks and Caricatures (Hobbit Read Along Finale, pt. 2)

By emily | Dec 13, 2012

Today is the release date of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit! But you probably already know that if you've been on our Hobbit journey. It's been ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 46

By emily | Dec 3, 2012

THE CHURCH: Christ the Center We've moved now from Acts to the Epistles, and this week we'll talk about how Paul, Peter and the other ...

Hobbit Radio Theater Finalists

By emily | Nov 29, 2012

The entries are in! As you probably know, we're running a contest in which kids were invited to record themselves reading a few pages of ...

Hobbit Read Along, Week 4: How to Make Hobbit Feet and More!

By emily | Nov 26, 2012

Now that the turkey feathers have settled, it's time to get back to The Hobbit! In case you're running behind, here's a recap: 1) Introduction, ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 45

By emily | Nov 26, 2012

THE CHURCH: To the uttermost ends of the earth Again, the gospel finds fertile ground as it spread through all the earth! Study Guides: pdf. ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 44

By emily | Nov 19, 2012

THE CHURCH: To the Gentiles The gospel, now spreading out of Jerusalem and into Samaria, is now extended even further--from Jews to Gentiles. Great news ...

Hobbit Read Along, Week 2: Finding God in Tolkien’s Villains

By emily | Nov 12, 2012

Welcome to Week 2 of our Hobbit Read Along! (If you missed it, here's Week One.) How's the reading going at your house (or school ...

By emily | Nov 12, 2012

THE CHURCH: From Jerusalem to Samaria Now that the Holy Spirit is directing their hearts and minds, early Christians spread the gospel from Jerusalem and ...

Hobbit Read Along, Week 1: How to Read For an Audience

By emily | Nov 5, 2012

Are you interested in joining our Hobbit Read Along? Sign up to receive weekly emails during the event either below or in the comments of ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 42

By emily | Nov 4, 2012

THE CHURCH: Resurrection and Pentecost Study Guides: pdf. download, Sorry guys...this will return next week! pdf. download, Ages 9-13, Week 42 Make-Your-Own-Story-Bible Resources: .pdf download: ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 41

By emily | Oct 28, 2012

MESSIAH: The Lamb of God ?By the end of the week, the worst thing that they could ever imagine had happened. And they were right: ...

Hobbits, Hot Chocolate, & The Bookshelf Giveaway

By emily | Oct 22, 2012

The Hobbit Read Along Two weeks from today on Monday, November 5th, our Great Hobbit Read Along Adventure begins! We'll cover two or three chapters ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 40

By emily | Oct 21, 2012

MESSIAH: The Last Week ?During Jesus's last week, His enemies finally get the upper hand. It's a week of sorrow and suffering for Jesus--a week ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 39

By emily | Oct 14, 2012

MESSIAH: The Road to Jerusalem ?Life is good for the disciples and the people following Jesus this week. Christ is healing the sick, online raising ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 38

By emily | Oct 7, 2012

MESSIAH: Signs and Wonders When Jesus brought the Kingdom of Heaven near, he did more than teach. He healed the sick and raised the dead. ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 37

By emily | Sep 30, 2012

MESSIAH: The Kingdom of Heaven ?What is the kingdom of heaven? And what did Christ teach us about it during His earthly ministry? We'll learn ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 36

By emily | Sep 23, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Messiah–Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation ?Why was Jesus baptized if he didn't need to be born again? And why did the Devil bother tempting ...

By emily | Sep 22, 2012

Sign up and find out more HERE. This is just a quick note to say, we're doing lots of behind the scenes work these days ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 35

By emily | Sep 16, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Messiah–Jesus' Birth and Childhood The Messiah is here! Study Guides: pdf. download, use the older version this week for Ages 4-8 (I'm out ...

By emily | Sep 8, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Messiah--The Forerunner In Malachi's book of prophecy, God has fulfilled another promise. He's brought His people back out of Babylonian captivity and into ...

By emily | Aug 26, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Daniel Daniel is the prophet among kings. Rather than speaking to God's people primarily, God sends Daniel to witness to the pagan kings ...

By emily | Aug 22, 2012

Once again, this week Janie and I have the honor of hosting Evan Hughes as our artist-in-residence. We’ve been covering the scope of the entire ...

By emily | Aug 13, 2012

Once again, this week Janie and I have the honor of hosting Evan Hughes as our artist-in-residence. We’ve been covering the scope of the entire ...

By emily | Aug 12, 2012

Hey guys, this is just a quick note to say that we're not quite finished with the Bible Challenge this week. Since we're working with ...

By emily | Aug 8, 2012

This week Janie and I have the honor of hosting Evan Hughes as our artist-in-residence. We've been covering the scope of the entire Bible in ...

By emily | Aug 5, 2012

Big news about our Bible reading challenge! 1) While Carl is away, we have enlisted Evan Hughes, illustrator of William Boekestein's books among others, to ...

By emily | Jul 30, 2012

Guys, I want to apologize. This week has been extra busy as we've prepared for 50 Shades and dealt with technical woes. We also still ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 22, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Jonah, Amos, Hosea Anybody for minor prophets? When naming the books of the Old Testament, that's the category where we often stall out, ...

By emily | Jul 16, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Elijah ?The great days of the kings are over. God promised to divide the kingdom after Solomon's time, doctor and (surprise!) that's just ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 26

By emily | Jul 9, 2012

THE KINGS: Solomon's Fall ?It's clear this week that although Solomon was the pinnacle of earthly kings, he wasn't the King the Israelites were waiting ...

By emily | Jul 2, 2012

THE KINGS: Wisdom Solomon was the wisest earthly king ever before or ever since. Where did he get that wisdom? And how can we get ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 24

By emily | Jun 25, 2012

THE KINGS: Solomon and the Temple This week we come to the apex of Israel's earthly glory: Solomon's reign as symbolized by the construction of ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 23

By emily | Jun 17, 2012

THE KINGS: David's Fall David sees something he wants. Something he really, really wants. And now we see writ large why, though he is called ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 22

By emily | Jun 11, 2012

THE KINGS: David We've already seen King Saul and what happens when he follows his own heart instead of God. This week we'll see how ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 21

By emily | Jun 3, 2012

THE NATION: Failure Thanks to Janie for covering for me this week! I've been on a very blessed reprieve this week, but Janie and Carl ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 20

By emily | May 27, 2012

THE NATION: Saul The people wanted a king, so God let them have their way. Saul is crowned, and everything is coming up roses for ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 19

By emily | May 20, 2012

THE NATION: Samuel First and Second Samuel represent a transition period from the time of the judges to the first earthly king of Israel. Before ...

Bible Reading Challenge – Week 18

By Janie Cheaney | May 13, 2012

THE NATION: RUTH Happy Mother's Day! This week's Bible Reading Challenge is actually appropriate for the Mother's Day--as long as we include mothers-in-law. How do ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 17

By Janie Cheaney | May 6, 2012

THE NATION: FAILURE! Remember that promise the people made to Joshua after his farewell speech: "We will serve the Lord"? Well, they did, sort of. ...

By emily | Apr 29, 2012

WEEK 16: THE NATION--HOME AT LAST Joshua is installed as leader of the Israelites, and it's time for them all to enter the Promised ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 15

By emily | Apr 23, 2012

WEEK 15: BLESSINGS AND CURSES This week we're reading through Deuteronomy, in which the Israelites are almost ready to enter the Promised Land. Moses ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 14

By emily | Apr 15, 2012

THE NATION: Sacrifice How can an unholy people approach a holy God? Leviticus helped God's people answer that question many years ago, and even though ...

By emily | Apr 8, 2012

No new material this week. We're celebrating the risen Lord--in my case by worshiping and then taking a Sunday nap! If you don't want to ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 13

By emily | Apr 1, 2012

THE NATION: TABERNACLE It's clear God's people can't keep the law. They aren't worthy to be His people. So, is God going to ...