February 2025 Book Reports

Gilgamesh retold by Stephen Mitchell - I picked this book off my shelf for a reading challenge of my local homeschool friends for "a ballad or epic poem". The introduction of this book gives some good background information on the epic of Gilgamesh, but it often treats Biblical stories as if they were mythical or legendary rather than true, just like Gilgamesh. The version is a retelling, but it sounds like it flows better than a more literal translation. Interestingly, Mitchell doesn't read any of the original language of Gilgamesh and has instead relied on a wide variety of translations. I suppose that means this isn't the edition you want if you are looking for a more academic version, but his extensive notes (more than 80 pages) probably provide more information that most readers care about. (I didn't read them myself.) I ended up with this edition because it's the one that came available on PaperBackSwap, and it was quite enjoyable. There are some versions of Gilgamesh appropriate for children; this is not one of them. We don't even assign Gilgamesh to high schoolers, but I suppose I would allow a mature teen to read this retelling if he or she was particularly interested. (PaperBackSwap.com copy)

The Art of Dying Well by St. Robert Bellarmine - This was a pre-read for a four-year series of religion readings Kansas Dad is compiling. Hopefully we'll include it in future Mater Amabilis high school religion plans. It's a brief book exploring how we should live so that we are prepared to die well, prepared to be closer to our Lord. (free online)

Dune Boy by Edwin Way Teale - I read this back in 2010. It's a delightful book, but it's currently showing as $50 at a number of online bookstores; don't pay that! This is Teale's wonderful memoir of his youth, mainly focused on the time he spent working, dreaming, and learning on his grandparents' farm near the sand dunes in Indiana. It's nature study, natural history, memoir, writing treatise, and American history. I read it aloud to the kids over the past few years. (Finding time to read all together is much harder when they start taking classes at college and participating in so many sports and activities.) (received from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Women of the Catholic Imagination edited by Haley Stewart - I received this as a gift for Christmas. This book includes essays about twelve different authors who were either Catholic or wrote in the Catholic tradition, all from the past two hundred years. I was unfamiliar with three of them entirely and learned a great deal about the lives and writings of the them and the others. Of course, the major problem with a book like this is that is expands your to-read list exponentially, but at least you know the books you are adding are worth your time. As a side note, this Word on Fire edition is beautiful. It's well-made and a joy to read. There's an art to printing a good book; Word on Fire is always a quality publisher. (gifted copy)

Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather - Our reading Bingo included a white elephant category. We each recommended a book which was put on a randomized wheel online. Then we each spun to get our white elephant read. (I put The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery on the list.) My selection was Shadows on the Rock, which was perfect because I'm slowly reading my way through all of Cather's novels. In this one, we trace the life of one girl of Quebec in 1697 as she grows from a girl into a woman. It's beautifully written, though it does have the flaws you would expect of a novel of early America in respect to the Native Americans. There were also a few times when I thought to myself, "I would never send my daughter on an overnight river trip with a grown man." But those are flaws partly imposed by our modern eyes rather than inherent in the novel. I did not like it as well as Death Comes for the Archbishop, but still lovely. I really like the Vintage Classics editions of Cather's novels. (purchased used)

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff - Multiple people in different parts of my life happened to recommend this book around the same time. Looking for something lovely and short, I bought the audiobook. First, I was surprised to find it a series of actual letters (and not a work of fiction), and epistolary books are always questionable to me. Though her letters to a London bookseller begin as relatively benign requests for worthy books, Helene's vibrant personality soon breaks through to become friends with the employees. She shares in their joys and sorrows. It's sweet, but like life, it doesn't always have neat and tidy endings. People come and go, and sometimes you never learn how they ended up. Parts were funny, much was uplifting. I'm not sorry I listened to it, but I don't know that I'd overwhelmingly recommend it. (Audible copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

January 2025 Book Reports

Some homeschooling moms proposed a bingo card reading challenge for the year. We all picked some categories and made a card. I was inspired and started reading a lot more!

My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi by Elizabeth Goudge - This was my book club book for the previous month, but our group pushed the date back because of Christmas, so I finished it in January. The beginning seemed slow to me, but it was a comforting read. Goudge writes beautifully of the landscape of Italy, especially around Assisi. I was disconcerted by her style, though. The book is historical fiction, as she imagines St. Francis's life unfolded, but she wrote it like a biography, so I was constantly thinking to myself, "She's just making all this up!" It would have been easier for me if it had been more obviously fictionalized. (purchased copy)

The Little Juggler by Barbara Cooney - We've had this book for many years, and I read it to the children when they were younger. When I realized they didn't remember it, I read it aloud to my teens this Christmas season. This delightful French tale retold and illustrated by Barbara Cooney is out of print, and vastly more expensive than when I picked up a used copy solely because I love anything Cooney and (for a time) bought anything with her name on it. In the tale, Barnaby (also the name of one of Cooney's sons) is a young orphan who knows only one thing, performing acrobatics and juggling, which he does to earn a few coins. In the winter-time, no one wants to watch a juggler, so he is cold and hungry, but a kind monk invites him to the a monastery, where he receives shelter. In imitation of the monks, and in gratitude for the love of God, he performs before a status of Mary and the Christ child as his Christmas gift. God wants nothing more from us than that we return his gifts out of Love. You can more easily find other versions of this tale, like The Clown of God by Tomie de Paola, but Cooney's will always be my favorite. (purchased used)

The Blackbird and Other Stories by Sally Thomas - link to my post (purchased copy)

You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir by Melissa Ohden - Melissa is an abortion survivor. She tells her story of self-destruction, redemption, forgiveness, and hope with great compassion for her mother and all who seek an abortion. (free e-book for Plough subscribers)

The Pearl by John Steinbeck - I read this with my book club. I do not like Steinbeck's books. He writes beautifully, but his characters suffer terribly, both of which are as true of this book as of the others I've read. I dreaded reading this book because I remembered enough of it to know it was tragic. Kino is assaulted on all sides after he finds The Pearl, and his life is destroyed through little fault of his own. I don't think there's a way to read this story and find a way to live or a way to make the world better or the truth of our redemption. (purchased copy)

The Basic Book of Catholic Prayer: How to Pray and Why by Lawrence G. Lovasik - This book gives many examples of the results of productive prayer and examples of actions you can take to begin praying or move more deeply into prayer. I still like The Hidden Power of Kindness better, but this would be a good option for someone interested specifically in prayer. (purchased used)

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup - My daughter has followed the author of this book for a while. I borrowed this book from her to fulfill a Bingo card category for a reading challenge I'm doing with some homeschool moms, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's funny, sweet, and has happy endings for all the good guys and unhappy endings for the worst of the bad guys. It's a good thing I read it when we were still slowing transitioning out of winter break, because I finally just gave up on all the things I should do and read until I finished the book. (borrowed from my daughter, who pre-ordered it)

Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness by Josh Sundquist - The author shares his story with humor and heartfelt thankfulness. I can understand why he made a young reader's edition; there were a few parts with references and language I wouldn't want to share with younger kids, but the story itself is wonderful. The author seems like a down-to-earth, hard-working, fun guy. (You've probably seen his Halloween costumes, even if you don't know who he is.) He endured a year of chem after the amputation of his leg, cancer scares later, and then his mom had chemo for her own cancer. His family is amazing. His faith stays strong, and he is brave enough to seek therapy and treatment when he needs it. Making an Olympic or Paralympic team takes enormous amounts of perseverance, practice, and money, and is worth celebrating, even when an athlete doesn't earn a medal. One of my favorite parts is in the acknowledgments, "I wish to acknowledge my many Winter Park and Paralympic teammates and coaches, all of whom I will never forget, and all of whom will be justified in their inevitable doubts as to whether my short and lackluster skiing career deserves to be recorded in a book."  (PaperBackSwap.com)

33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Divine Mercy Consecration by Michael Gaitley - I read this on the recommendation of a friend. Hopefully I can put some of it into practice. (gift copy from my friend)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie - Some of the local homeschool moms came up with a reading challenge bingo game for the year. One of the categories was a classic detective book and this one was recommended. I didn't remember reading it, but had a solid guess for the murderer within a few chapters...which means I did read it before, probably in high school, because I am terrible at guessing the murderer. It was fun to read, though, especially when I was sick and wanted something to distract me without being too heavy. (library copy)

The Father's Tale by Michael D. O'Brien - This enormous (and relatively expensive book) was a book club selection. It was far longer than it should have been. Some paragraphs impressed me, but the writing was not as excellent as one would hope given it's enormous length. In the book, a rather distant father, with sons who seemed shockingly uncaring, abandons his safe life to follow his younger son, fearing he has been caught up in a cult. He travels through Europe and into Russia on his trail. When he's finally about to give up and go home, he's attacked and ends up stuck in Russia after his long recovery. Then he gets stupidly sucked up into international intrigue. Before he makes it home, he experiences a profound closeness with the crucified Lord and learns God may have used him to save oblivious Western countries from Russian military forces, somehow. I was so anxious early on for his son I almost couldn't keep reading, so be assured his son is alright. I'm not entirely sure I recommend this book. There are those moments of insight and brightness...but it's so very very long. (purchased copy)

The Gods of Winter by Dana Gioia - I like to think of myself as the kind of person who reads poetry, but I rarely pick up a book of poems collected, prepared, and published by a single poet. It's a different experience than an anthology, and probably one I don't understand as well as I could. Dana Gioia is a prominent American Catholic poet, so this book seemed a good one to try. I liked some of the poems more than others, but they all made me think. (purchased used)

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley - This is a re-read of a book I adored as a girl, and it did not disappoint. It's a lovely retelling! (borrowed First Daughter's copy)

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene - I picked up this book because I suspected it was one I remember from my teens that I haven't been able to identify. It wasn't, and there are some hard parts of the book. Patty is abused and neglected by her parents. She finds solace in the friendship and kindness of an escaped Nazi soldier. (library copy)

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - A re-read, and a delightful one. (discovered in a Little Free Library)

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July 2024 Book Reports

The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis - Read on the recommendation of Kansas Dad and just about everyone, this is a metaphorical book about heaven and hell. Risking alienating all of my friends (though luckily not many of them read this blog), I will admit that I don't love reading Lewis. (I can't even read the Narnia books anymore, though I do like to listen to them.) This book was fine. I have no real argument with it. (First Son's copy)

No Bullet Got Me Yet: The Relentless Faith of Father Kapaun by John Stansifer - link to my post (purchased new)

A Pound of Paper: Confessions of a Book Addict by John Baxter - This book was kind of fun, especially if you know a lot of authors in science fiction or in Australia, but he spent too much time collecting books of the sort I wouldn't allow in our home. I do not recommend it, and I've decided not to link to it. (purchased used)

The Borrowed House by Hilda van Stockum - This is the author of some of my favorite middle grade books like the Mitchells series and The Winged Watchman. This book is also set during World War II. Janna is the daughter of actors who are living in the confiscated home of a Jewish family, though Janna doesn't understand that at first. Janna must confront her German indoctrination when she meets a member of the Dutch underground. This book provides many perspectives and helps us ask of ourselves, how would we behave in a situation like this? I have often thought it likely that I would not be as brave as I might hope. (purchased copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

May 2024 Book Reports

Patterns for Life: An Orthodox Reflection on Charlotte Mason Education by Lisa Rose and Laura E. Wolfe - link to my post (gift copy from Kansas Dad)

The Ghost Keeper by Natalie Morrill - This was a second read (first read here), along with my book club. I enjoyed it as much or more than the first time through. Discussing it with my book club opened up even more thoughts and perspectives for me, so I do recommend reading it with a friend or a group. I haven't given it to my daughter to read. She's definitely old enough (eighteen year old senior), but very busy and tends to read much lighter things in her free time, which is fine with me. Like any book set in the time of World War II, there is violence, child loss, trauma, and heartbreak. (purchased used)

How I Discovered Poetry by Marilyn Nelson - I heard a poem from this book on the Poetry for All podcast and grabbed it from the library. The poems are set in the 1950s as a young African American girl grows into her early teen years, based loosely on the poet's own life as a young girl when her father was in the Army and they lived in many different places. They are readable and enjoyable, even though they cover some difficult topics. Recommended. (library copy)

The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World by David Robson - link to my post (library copy; then purchased a copy)

The Kate in Between by Claire Swinarski - This is a middle grade novel that explores social media, bullying, friendship, and relationships. It's surprisingly good. Kate is trying to figure out who she wants to be in middle school. Her parents are divorced, but her dad is a steadying and supporting influence. It's probably not great literature, but it does encourage the reader to ask questions about how we live in today's world. (library copy)

Seren of the Wildwood by Marly Youmans - Youmans is the author of Charis in the World of Wonders, one of my favorite books, so I immediately added this book to my wish list. It's a narrative poem intertwining myth and fairy tales. It's wonderful, but also weird and tragic. The book itself is gorgeous, and not just the cover. The poem's stanzas fit on facing pages, or sometimes a single page with woodcut-type illustrations. A well-made book is a treasure in a world that puts so many of our words on screens. My ability to understand or explain the poem is inadequate, but I found some useful and interesting reviews online: Front Porch Republic, Strange Horizons, and The Catholic World Report. I will definitely be reading it again. (received as a gift from my family)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

October 2023 Book Reports

Charis in the World of Wonders by Marly Youmans - This was the second time I read this book (first review here). This time I wasn't recovering from Covid and I was able to read it with my book club. I enjoyed it just as much. Charis is able to see the glory and beauty of Creation, and to feel God's loving presence, even in the midst of pain, suffering, and abandonment. I know she's not real, but she is my hero. (received as a gift)

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov - This was another re-read for me, but I hadn't read this one since I was in high school. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Writing this little review now, more than a year later, I am reminded that I wanted to read more of the robot books. Asimov is a master storyteller and a giant in the sci-fi genre. Everyone should read at least some of his books. (library copy)

Goodnight Mind: Turn Off Your Noisy Thoughts & Get a Good Night's Sleep by Colleen E. Carney, PhD, and Rachel Manber, PhD - This is a nice helpful book on the importance of sleep and the strategies for assessing your sleep and improving it. The part I remember best was the research that showed a person's impairment after a restless night is almost always not as bad as they thought it would be. I have felt so much freer when I can't fall asleep to stop worrying about it, and even sometimes to get up and read a book or watch a little show. I wanted to share it with my kids, but then I found one geared toward teens. I bought that one and my kids will read it as part of their high school Health course, but I actually haven't read it myself. I would also suggest recommending prayer to kids who can't sleep, which isn't mentioned in this book. (library copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

March 2023 Book Reports

The Drovers Road Collection by Joyce West - link to my post (purchased used)

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn - I don't always love novels written in letters, but this one was excellent. As an additional challenge, the plot of the story requires certain "letters" (like p, z, q, and so on) be avoided as the story goes on. I can't imagine how difficult it was to accomplish it! I thought it was excellent and passed it right on to my teenage daughter who agreed. (library copy)

The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure by James Dashner - This series was recommended as a fun dystopian series, but I did not enjoy them that much. The whole plot seemed unlikely and so many of the scenarios contrived. I didn't bother reading any of the other books. (library copies)

Therese by Dorothy Day - link to my post (purchased copy)

Talking with God by Francois Fenelon - This is one of the spiritual books recommended in the Mater Amabilis high school plans for religion. I read it ahead of my older daughter. It's a good book on prayer, but not my favorite. My older daughter felt the same way. I probably won't assign it to the other kids, though it will be on the shelf if they choose it for themselves. (purchased used) 

Apologia Pro Vita Sua by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman - link to my post (purchased copy)

Mission to Cathay by Madeleine Polland - This is a lovely fictionalized account of the first Catholic mission to mainland China. It would appeal to a wide range of ages, even into the teens. (purchased copy)

Round Building, Square Buildings, and Buildings that Wiggle Like a Fish by Philip M. Isaacson - This is a fantastic book for introducing architecture to young students. It's full of gorgeous photographs illustrating the concepts explained in the book. My kids were a little over the age range, but they enjoyed it anyway. I read it aloud as a break from more traditional picture study. (PaperBackSwap.com)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

February 2023 Book Reports

A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh - Based on a recommendation from a good friend, I requested this book from another member at PaperBackSwap.com. I don't read many mysteries, but this was a fun little book to distract me at the end of stressful days of unpacking at a new house. (PaperBackSwap.com)

They Loved to Laugh by Kathryn Worth - This book is one of the many historical fiction reprints from Bethlehem Books. I wanted to love it. I chose it to read because I wanted something relaxing and easy during our move. Sadly, I think it hasn't aged very well. There were far too many remarks about how women shouldn't be too smart or too educated. The delightful heroine was chastised for bothering to learn French, painting, and how to play an instrument. I'm fully in support of learning how to bake bread and cook well, but there's also value in culture. Worst of all, the young men of the Gardner household practically abuse her with practical jokes from the beginning of her time with them, when her parents have only been dead a few weeks. I was a little horrified. There is one delightful chapter on the raising of silkworms, but it is not enough to redeem the book for me. (purchased new)

Judith Lankester by Marjorie Hill Allee - Judith's mom frees the slaves and moves the family to her father's Quaker home. Judith is angry and resentful; she wants to return to her grandmother's house and a life of ease. Instead, she moves in with another Quaker family and begins to learn how to care for herself, a home, and a family. It's a sweet story of growth and virtue. (purchased new)

East of Eden by John Steinbeck - I was excited to see this on the book club list, because it had been on my shelf for many years, but I hadn't yet read it. Now that I have, I can fairly confidently say, I do not like reading books by John Steinbeck. He's brilliant and writes beautifully, but it all seems to have such a sardonic unhappy tone. This book is supposed to be a kind of retelling of the story of Cain and Abel with two sets of brothers in two generations, but the man who is supposedly the best person anyone has ever met is a dreadful father, and I just can't believe a person is truly good who so completely fails at his primary vocation. I spent most of the book angry at him. Everyone should read one or two books by John Steinbeck; he's a master novelist and an influential American literary figure, but I will not be seeking out any more of his books myself. (purchased used)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

A Hundred Years Ago in New Zealand: The Drovers Road Collection

The Drover's Road Collection

by Joyce West

This collection includes three books: Drovers Road, Cape Lost, and The Golden Country (audiobook linked for the third). This edition is out of print, but Bethlehem Books has reprinted the three books individually and has audiobooks available as well. (The audiobooks are narrated by an Englishwoman. She has a lovely voice, based on the sample, but it would have been so fun to hear them narrated by someone from New Zealand.)

These books share the adventures of Gay Allan, a lively child who grows to adulthood and inherits a ranch in 1920s and 1930s in New Zealand. After her parents divorced, she went to live with her uncle, who had already taken in the three children of his oldest brother after a tragic car accident. Their lives are not tragic, though. They are filled with love for each other, delight in their land, and plenty of excitement (and hard work). 

I was captivated by these books. New Zealand is about as far away from Kansas as you can get and still be on earth, so I loved reading about this wild and faraway land. Gay and her cousins ramble about the land and getting into mischief. More than anything, I loved how much they care for each other, even when they had their disagreements.

There are a few interactions with and references to Maori people that might feel awkward today, but for the most part they are treated with respect.

I picked this book from our shelves because I wanted something heart-warming, and it was perfect. The reading level is a little light for high school, but I still think you could use one of these books for high school geography. (The third might be a good option.)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affilliate links.

November 2022 Book Reports

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - I had read this book a few years before we had kids, so it had been almost twenty years when I read it again with my book club. It seemed a little more trite to me this time around, though generally I think the main protagonist is a much more virtuous person than I would have been in her situation. (read free Kindle copy)

Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants by George W. Bush - link to my post (borrowed copy from my dad) 

A Mercy by Toni Morrison - I read this as I was deciding on an African American literature selection for senior year. This book presents the stories of a single 1680s household from the differing perspectives of the master, mistress, and slaves. It is often difficult to read, both because the text can be challenging and because the events are harsh and tragic. Few people of privilege, wealth, or power are portrayed positively. But it is beautifully written. I think a high school senior could read it, though some will struggle in understanding some of the voices. There are also some pointed criticisms of Catholics that, while I think they are valid, would need context for a teenage Catholic reader. That is all in addition, of course, to all the content considerations you might imagine: rape, violence, slavery, witchcraft, intimacy outside of marriage and with people of the same gender, etc. (library copy)

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - This was my second time through this audiobook and I loved it just as much as the first time. I picked up on many more of the jokes this time through because I had recently listened to Jerome K. Jerome's original travelogue, Three Men in a Boat. Back in 2020, I wrote:

This may be my favorite audiobook of all time. I enjoyed every single minute of it, invented chores so I could listen to it, and was both delighted with the ending and sorry it was over. It's a quirky tale of time-travel, Victorian England, the Blitz, and romance, "to say nothing of the dog" (and cat). (purchased from Audible during a sale)

 I'm sure the book is good, but the audiobook is an absolute delight.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - I've never been much of a mystery reader; I can never guess the murderer! But so many people rave about Agatha Christie, I thought I'd give a few of her books a try. I enjoyed this one, though of course I didn't figure out the solution until it was revealed. (library copy)

Leona by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino - I was looking on PaperBackSwap for books by this author because I love her book My Heart Lies South. This little out of print book about a brave but often over-looked woman in Mexico's history was available. It's written at about a middle school level, though the romance means it might be more interesting to older children. I enjoyed it, but I don't know that you have to seek it out. (received from another member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - link to my post (library copy)

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis - I read this with my book club. The story tells of the perseverance of two women left alone in the Alaskan wilderness, the revival of their skills to survive, and the flourishing of their friendship. It's also a story of the healing of family relationships. I added this book to my Geography of the Americas shelf in case any high schoolers want to select it as a free-read (Level 5 or Level 6). (purchased used)

The Yellow Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang - I have read fairy tales aloud to all my kids regularly since the very beginning of our homeschooling journey, but we don't read one every day, or even every week, so it can take a long time to get through a book. Fairy tales seem to be enjoying something of a moment, especially in the homeschooling crowd, but nothing can teach you about the wonderful and the weird as much as reading through a collection from beginning to end. I picked something different to read aloud after this one, but I'm considering returning to the Blue Fairy Book after that because my younger kids don't remember it. (purchased used)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

September 2022 Book Reports

Talking Leaves by Joseph Bruchac - link to my post (library copy)

The Foundations of Western Civilization by Thomas F. X. Noble (Great Courses audiobook) - This is one of the honors selections for high school history in the Mater Amabilis plans for Level 5 and Level 6. It provides an overview of the history of Europe from the flourishing of Mesopotamia through the beginning of the modern world. (The history plans then introduce a few other audiobooks for more recent history.) I listened to these lectures relatively slowly alongside my student and enjoyed them. (purchased audiobook)

Works of Mercy by Sally Thomas - link to my post (purchased copy)

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe - I didn't assign this book to my older three kids, but decided to assign it to my youngest in Level 3 for one of his classic books. (We recommend three a year in Level 3.) Most of the book was rather slow, compared to more modern books, but there was value in reading it. (copy received from another member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Herodotus and the Road to History by Jeanne Bendick - I read this aloud to my kids back in 2016. I never assigned it for independent reading, so I read it aloud once more for the benefit of my youngers. (purchased copy)

Post Captain by Patrick O'Brien - This is the second in the Captain Aubrey series, which begins with Master and Commander. Sometimes I think I miss half of what goes on in these novels, but I love them. They're exciting and funny, though certainly not for young ears. (copy received from another member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein - This book points out all the ways our judgment is flawed, and not just for the kinds of biases you anticipate. Despite finding it a bit repetitive at times, I am glad I listened to it and definitely think about how my current state of mind or circumstances can make a difference in how I'm making decisions. It's a worthwhile book to check out. (purchased audiobook)

The Pink Motel by Carol Ryrie Brink - This book by the author of Caddie Woodlawn was recently republished. I saw it shared on Facebook and asked our local library to buy a copy, which they did! It's a fun little story with a fair bit of excitement and adventure, parents who are a bit flakey, and kids who discover all the answers. There is a black character depicted in a way that is friendly, but not up to modern standards. The publishers have a little explanation and warning in the publisher's note before the story. I enjoyed this little book and encouraged my younger kids to read it on their own. (library copy)

Walking the Nile by Levinson Wood - Mr. Wood wrote this book about his attempt to walk the length of the Nile from its source to the Mediterranean Sea. His struggles with the weather, the terrain, and the people remind the reader that traveling in Africa still presents difficulties to the earliest European explorers. It's riveting. At first I was considering including it in the geography supplemental reading for my high school students, but by the end I decided the violence and griefs were a little too real. There is also a documentary, but I haven't watched it. (library copy)

Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition) - I read this ahead of the school year because I decided to assign it to my younger daughter (eighth grade, Level 4). It was a nice change from our usual selections. (purchased copy)

Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness by Kevin Nye - link to my post (library copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

June 2022 Book Reports

The Hearthstone of My Heart by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino - link to my post (purchased used copy)

Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Jerome K. Jerome - This book is the source of the title, and much of the plot humor, of one of my absolute favorite books, To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. When I found out, I had to listen to it and then follow it up with another re-listen of the Willis book. Jerome's original book was intended as a useful travel book, but was instead loved for its hilarity. It was a wonderful summer listen. (Audible audiobook)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly - These are the first two books about a clever young girl living in a time when her career options seem limited. The books are full of exploration of the natural world of Texas. In the second book, the family is touched by the effects of the hurricane that his Galveston in 1900. If you are reading aloud to young children, you may want to be prepared for chapter 24, in which two of the family's hunting dogs have to be shot after a rattlesnake attack. Calpurnia's hopes for a career and education are still out of reach. We must wait for another installment in the series. (library copy)

Peter Duck by Arthur Ransome - The kids and I listened to this together. In this third book in the series, the Swallows and Amazons join their uncle for a cruise around the British isles, but instead end up following the trail of buried treasure when a wise old sailor joins the crew. This tale is meant to be an imaginary one, but it's full of summertime fun. Alison Larkin is the narrators of all the Swallows and Amazons books we have from Audible, and I could listen to her all day long. (Audible audiobook)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

May 2022 Book Reports

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck - The author modified a truck into a camper and took off across America with his dog, Charley. My experiences with Steinbeck in the past were mixed, but this was a delightful book. His descriptions of the Badlands, the Redwoods, San Francisco, and many other places were a joy to read. Though confirmed in most of his opinions, he relished conversations with people from all backgrounds and walks of life, listening carefully to their stories. The book is as rambling as his journey, including a protest of school integration in New Orleans along with the magnificent vistas of the west. (purchased used)

A Priest in the Family: A Guide for Parents Whose Sons are Considering Priesthood by Fr. Brett A. Brannen - link to my post (gift from our diocese)

The Conscience of Israel: Pre-exilic Prophets and Prophecy by Bruce Vawter, C.M. - I thoroughly enjoyed Vawter's A Path through Genesis, which I assign to my ninth graders, so I went hunting for a few of his other books. This one examines the role of the prophet in Israel and then specifically explores the lives (such as we know them), the contexts, and writings of  Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah. Vawter reveals enduring messages from these men of God beyond predicting the coming of the Messiah. I appreciated this book for myself and may offer it to my high schoolers when these books of the Bible show up in our high school plans. Unlike A Path through Genesis, this book does not contain the prophetic books discussed, so you would need a Bible for the texts. (purchased used)

The Chosen by Chaim Potok - This is one of the suggested supplemental books for Mater Amabilis's Level 4 history plans (eighth grade, twentieth century). This is the story of two young Jewish boys in 1940s New York City who become friends despite being from different (and often opposed) schools of thought. Over the years, their friendship is shaped by and shapes their families and each other in profound ways. This is a good option for the Level 4 student because it's provides insight into life in America during World War II and the creation of the state of Israel without reveling in the violence of warfare and the concentration camps. (requested from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Door to the North: A Saga of 14th Century America by Elizabeth Coatsworth - This is one of the many quality historical fiction books brought back into print by Bethlehem Books. In this book, Coatsworth imagines the journey of a young Scandinavian to Greenland and a grand new world. First Son read this as a complement to his early American history study this year (sixth grade). (purchased new)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Daughter, Wife, Mother: Kristin Lavransdatter

Kristin Lavransdatter (The Wreath, The Wife, and The Cross)

by Sigrid Undset

translated by Tiina Nunnally

This book is a masterpiece of historical fiction set in fourteenth century Norway. Kristin Lavransdattar is a beloved child who becomes a loving wife in a marriage between two deeply flawed people, a mother full of love and anxiety, and a wayward child of Christ. 

I first read this book as a young wife without children. I enjoyed it, but didn't realize it's true worth until this second reading. I don't know if it's my own maturity or the new translation, but I understood and loved Kristin much more.

But always with that secret, breathless anguish: If things go badly for them, I won't be able to bear it. And deep in her heart she wailed at the memory of her father and mother. They had borne anguish and sorrow over their children, day after day, until their deaths; they had been able to carry this burden, and it was not because they loved their children any less, but because they loved with a better kind of love. (p. 854)

A simple search online will reveal hundreds of sites sharing great thoughts on this book; I won't bother to attempt anything to compete with them. I do, however, encourage you to read this trilogy if you haven't already, or if you haven't read it in many years. If the single volume intimidates you, find some copies of the three books individually. The new translation is more accessible than previous translations.

Feeling of longing seemed to burst from her heart; they ran in all directions, like streams of blood, seeking out paths to all the places in the wide landscape where she had lived, to all her sons roaming through the world, to all her dead lying under the earth. (p. 1062)

Highly recommended. 

I have received nothing in exchange for this review. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links. I purchased this book with a gift card from my brother's family.

April 2022 Book Reports

Katharine Drexel: Friend of the Oppressed by Ellen Tarry - I read an older version of this book from Ignatius Press's Vision Saints series with the subtitle Friend of the Neglected. The books in this series are written at a good level for 4th-8th grades. I pre-read it before assigning it to my seventh grader last year as part of her American history studies. The book describes the life and calling of St. Katharine Drexel, who gave her life and her great wealth to teach and care for Native Americans and African Americans at a time when many others discriminated against them. She is one of my favorite saints. I liked this book, even though I think if it was written today some of the language used would be different. (purchased used)

Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery - This was my very favorite book in the Anne series when I was a teenager. In the past few years, I've read the entire series again, looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint. A few of the incidents poor Rilla endures in the book seem to depict her less highly as a woman than I would like, now that I'm a mother myself, but the strength and courage of the people who suffered at home during World War I is inspirational. It would be an excellent choice for a sensitive young reader not ready yet for a more graphic book about the war itself. (purchased audiobook)

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry - link to my post (received as a gift)

Beowulf: A New Translation by Seamus Heaney - link to my post (purchased new)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

A Chapter Book on Sequoyah: Talking Leaves

Talking Leaves

by Joseph Bruchac

I was chatting in one of my Facebook groups about how much I love James Rumford's picture book Sequoyah: The Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing when someone told me I should read Talking Leaves. (The group is Living Books for All Peoples, and I have learned a tremendous amount there; I highly recommend it.)

The book is written from the perspective of Sequoyah's teenage son. When Sequoyah returns to Uwohali's village, they had been separated for many years. Before long, Sequoyah's papers and scratchings bring him under suspicion for witchcraft, a dangerous charge within the community. Uwohali is drawn to his father, but is wary of the peculiar symbols. 

Uwohali's relationships with family members are important aspects to the story. I love when stories are woven around such strong bonds.

That brings a smile to my mother's face, in spite of her concern. If you want to make your mother happy, tell her that you like the food she has made for you. (p. 102)

The book shows how Sequoyah convinces his family and a few key people that the Cherokee can benefit from the power of the written language, just as white people do. Then, they must convince the village.

Joseph Bruchac is an author I trust to portray Native American characters and communities with accuracy and compassion. Not only is this a wonderful book of family and the astounding creation of a syllabary for the Cherokee language, but it reveals the world of the Cherokee at the time of Sequoyah in a valuable way.

It's a chapter book written at a late elementary or middle school reading level, a good choice for independent reading. I plan to assign it to my youngest, Second Son (sixth grade, Level 3 Year 1), as he studies American history this year.

There are some violent scenes (especially when Sequoyah describes a battle) and quite a bit of tension. If you have a sensitive child, you may want to pre-read or read aloud so you can adjust if necessary.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links. I borrowed this book from our library, but then found a copy at a recent library sale.

November and December 2021 Book Reports

Calvary Hero: Casimir Pulaski by Dorothy Adams (American Background Series) - I picked this book up used at a big sale because my grandmother was Polish. I remembered stories she would tell about celebrating Casmir Polaski Day at her Polish school (in Illinois) when she was a little girl. This book is from an older series, well-written and enjoyable, though his life story has many tough times. It's a good supplemental book for a Revolutionary War study, if you happen to be particularly interested in Polish war heroes. (purchased used)

Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave by Virginia Hamilton - I'm not sure where I heard about this book, but I wanted to add it to Second Son's history reading for the year (Level 2 Year 2, when he was still reading This Country of Ours, because I rearrange our history). It provides an interesting perspective of a slave's life in the years before the Civil War, when the patchwork of laws in different states were confusing to everyone, especially to the enslaved. (purchased used)

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - This book is on the Mater Amabilis high school schedule for English in Level 6 Year 2 (twelfth grade). First Son was starting his senior year, but because he started high school on the beta plans and was taking a college writing course in the spring, I adjusted his English assignments. I pre-read this book, planning to assign it to him. It's a tough read, because the language is sometimes fluid and fast, the action is alternatively slow and shocking, and the subject matter is difficult to absorb. It's a masterpiece, but in the end I decided not to overwhelm First Son's schedule by adding it. (He did a semester of English with me in the fall in addition to a whole credit's worth of writing in the spring at a local college.) I feel like most high school students would be overwhelmed by this book without a wise teacher to walk through it with them, and I am probably not that teacher. If First Son continues in the seminary, he will read it in college, and that's probably a good plan. (Kansas Dad's course copy)

Lights in a Dark Town: A Story about John Henry Newman by Meriol Trevor - link to my review (purchased copy)

30 Poems to Memorize (Before it's too Late) edited by David Kern - link to my review (purchased copy)

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery - I've read this book many times, of course, but it's been decades. I think I enjoyed this book more now that I'm a mother; I found it easier to keep the children separate in my head. I encouraged Second Son to read it, even though he hadn't read the books between this one and Anne of Green Gables. He's always on the search for relaxing bedtime reads. He laughed at all the words they considered bad. There are a number of funny stories. If you're reading aloud to younger kids, this is a good book to follow Anne of Green Gables. (gifted copy)

Home by Marilynne Robinson - This is a slow gentle book I found a bit more depressing than Gilead by the same author, but still beautifully written. (library copy)

Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry - I can't remember where I first found this book, either, but it was a good fit for Second Daughter's American History study in seventh grade (Level 3 year 2). I wanted something on the Underground Railroad. This is a well-written biography for middle grade readers that covers Harriet Tubman's life in slavery and freedom. (purchased copy)

Woman and the New Race by Margaret Sanger - link to my review (available free online)

My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - I wanted something funny and light-hearted to listen to while riding in the van with First Son. Neither of us had read or heard any Wodehouse. This had some truly hilarious moments, and we both enjoyed it in our little thirty minute increments. (purchased audiobook)

King Lear by William Shakespeare - This was First Son's final Shakespeare play. He read all three of his senior year plays in the first semester (to finish them before his college writing class in the spring), so it was a quicker read than we usually do. King Lear is an excellent choice for twelfth grade; it's one of the more referenced Shakespeare plays, and therefore a good one to read before going to college, but it's also grim and depressing. So, read it, but save it for your older high school students. (purchased copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop.org, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Truth for a Modern World: Lights in a Dark Town

Lights in a Dark Town: A Story about John Henry Newman
by Meriol Trevor

This is a delightful novel of mid-1800s Birmingham, England, where Emmeline and her mother become friends with Father John Henry Newman. Through conversations and experiences shared with Father, Emmeline and her friends encounter the theological arguments and actions Newman recognized as the response to the modern world.

"The present critics of Christianity are not stupid, and what clever men argue today, ordinary men accept the day after. Especially as people increasingly judge everything by what they think is scientific reasoning. They look at the world and find no evidence for a loving Creator. Indeed, they have some justification, for the world as we see it can be interpreted in various ways."

"But doesn't that mean the atheists are right?" Emmeline said, puzzled. 

Father Newman smiled. "No, why should it? Christianity is not a deduction from the world we see. It's a history--almost a drama--about a person. We accept, we obey Him. And we find He is true." (pp. 225-226)

He concludes: 

"There are many other important things to do and say, but this seems to me the most fundamental, for in the end it is the idea people have of the world and their place in it which affects everything they do." (p. 226)

Second Daughter (Level 3 Year 2, seventh grade) read this book near the end of her world history for the year. I think it's written at a level good for a fifth to eighth grade student to read independently, but it would be appropriate for all ages as a read-aloud. I love St. John Henry Newman and am very pleased I had a reason to buy this book for our home library.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book new. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

September 2021 Book Reports

I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino - I added this book to our Level 3 year 2 history reading in time for Second Daughter (and later, Second Son) to read. It was an enjoyable book to read, especially in such a busy month for us. (purchased used copy)

The Office of Assertion: An Art of Rhetoric for the Academic Essay by Scott F. Crider - link to my post (purchased copy)

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey - A bed-ridden detective explores the long-buried mystery of the alleged murder by King Richard III of his young nephews. The book argues for a less-common view of King Richard III. I wasn't convinced, but many are. This is a fun read to complement English history for those students who always want to read more. (received from a member of PaperBackSwap)

The Randy by Dorothy Sanders - I thought this would be a nice addition to our home library because we have relatively few books set in Australia or New Zealand. I picked it up when ordering something else from Living Book Press. There's mystery, excitement, and history as well as a little geography. It would make a good supplemental reading book for Level 4, when Mater Amabilis students are studying twentieth century history. Though not without sorrow and touching on war, there's much less violence and horror than many of the books set in Europe during that time. (purchased new from the publisher; this link is not an affiliate link)

Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - A few years ago, I began to re-read the Anne books, wondering how they'd stand up to my memories. As a girl, this was my least favorite of the series. It might still be my least favorite, but I enjoyed it much more now that I am a mother myself. (copy I was gifted as a girl)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to PaperBackSwap, Amazon, and Bookshop are affiliate links.

Healing: The Ghost Keeper

The Ghost Keeper

by Natalie Morrill

Historical fiction books set during World War II are everywhere. This one was recommended by a friend who said it was worth sharing with her (older) children. My son doesn't need any supplemental reading (since he doesn't read anything not explicitly assigned), but my daughter will (because she can never have a long enough reading list). I decided it was worth reading even if I don't need it for another three years.

The book follows young Josef, a Jew in Vienna who comes of age between the world wars. Though his family is not religious, he comes to believe in God. He marries and becomes a father as World War II looms. His joys, sorrows, and struggles form the thread of the tale, weaving a story of all those close to him. 

All of the usual griefs attend this story. There are those who suffer, those who die, those who live but continue to suffer. Josef's greatest friend, Friedrich, saves him, his wife, and his child. He also saves Josef's cousin, hiding her in his attic. But Josef learns how difficult it is to balance the treasure of the lives saved against everything else Friedrich did during the war, a balance Friedrich struggles to find as well.

This is definitely a book for older, more mature teens. There are intimate scenes and violent ones.

The writing is beautiful. I loved the descriptions of Josef's love for his wife and of his experience of fatherhood.

New life comes into the world, the quiet seems to tell me, but you will be forever counting up and up, because the subtraction at the other end of life will never be un-birth. We go out a different door than the one we came in through. (p. 73)

Josef's faith remains firm, grounding him through his many years of work and waiting. His aching prayers to heaven are sprinkled through the book.

Oh, Lord--he begins to pray, but he has no other words, just his heart between his two thin hands. He offers it up, in case it should mean anything. (p. 138)

This is a book I intend to share with First Daughter when she's a little older, certainly by the time she studies World War II in history in high school.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I purchased the book used. 

Growing Together: A Girl Called Problem

 A Girl Called Problem: A Novel
 by Katie Quirk

I wanted to pre-read this before First Daughter studies Africa in geography next year. It's written by an American who lived in Tanzania for two years, so she's not a native Tanzanian, but has learned much about life there.

In this novel, Shida (whose name means Problem), struggles to support the relationships among her small community when they all move to a larger village. It's mainly a story of personal growth, but is set amidst great upheaval in her village reflecting the changes of the time throughout Tanzania.

There are references to witchcraft. Many of the accusations of witchcraft are presented as scapegoating of the elderly or powerless. While some references seem to indicate witchcraft is not effective, the book really leaves the possibility of it open. I don't think that is inappropriate for the setting or for the sense of respecting another culture, but it may be confusing to a reader inclined to believe in witchcraft.

This book is comparatively easy to read for First Daughter, who will be in ninth grade next year and is an excellent reader. I think some fifth graders could read it (as Mater Amabilis geography for Level 2 Year 2 is that of Africa), though I would be inclined to wait a year or two longer based on the subject matter. I am going to put it on First Daughter's list for additional reading (because the assignments are never enough for her). This would be a good option for high school students studying Africa who need some easier reading options.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop are affiliate links. I checked this book out from my local library.