reluctant readers Archives - Redeemed Reader https://redeemedreader.com/tag/reluctant-readers/ Kids' Books. Culture. Christ. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:57:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://redeemedreader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cropped-favicon-32x32.png reluctant readers Archives - Redeemed Reader https://redeemedreader.com/tag/reluctant-readers/ 32 32 Dragon Slayers by Joyce Denham https://redeemedreader.com/dragon-slayers-by-joyce-denham/ https://redeemedreader.com/dragon-slayers-by-joyce-denham/#respond Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:57:47 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=43620 Dragon Slayers is an earnest attempt to capture Christian theology and history as a battle between dragons and dragon slayers.

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How to Throw a Book-themed Party for Kids https://redeemedreader.com/how-to-throw-a-book-themed-party-for-kids/ https://redeemedreader.com/how-to-throw-a-book-themed-party-for-kids/#comments Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:32:00 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=9315 Beat the summer boredom with a book-themed party!

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Wildfire by Rodman Philbrick https://redeemedreader.com/wildfire-by-rodman-philbrick/ https://redeemedreader.com/wildfire-by-rodman-philbrick/#respond Thu, 14 Nov 2019 12:09:03 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=25526 Wildfire is a fast read that will take even reluctant readers into the heart of a fast-moving catastrophe.

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Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan https://redeemedreader.com/knights-vs-dinosaurs-by-matt-phelan/ https://redeemedreader.com/knights-vs-dinosaurs-by-matt-phelan/#respond Tue, 04 Dec 2018 12:46:53 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=23336 Three boastful knights bite off more than they can chew in this legendary tale by a popular graphic novelist. Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan.  HarperCollins (Greenwillow), 2018, 148 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10, especially boys and reluctant readers It all started the evening Sir Erec told the banquet…

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“Born to Read” by Gladys Hunt https://redeemedreader.com/born-to-read-by-gladys-hunt/ https://redeemedreader.com/born-to-read-by-gladys-hunt/#respond Mon, 24 Sep 2018 11:09:28 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=22977 Gladys Hunt reflects on the importance of reading in a child’s life and shares some of her favorite books for encouraging kids to read.  This is the eighth in our series of previously-unpublished blogposts by the author of Honey For a Child’s Heart. Born to Read by Gladys Hunt Reading to children, taking them to the…

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50 Wacky Things Animals Do by Tricia Wagner https://redeemedreader.com/50-wacky-things-animals-do-by-tricia-wagner/ https://redeemedreader.com/50-wacky-things-animals-do-by-tricia-wagner/#respond Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:59:58 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=22819 “Wacky facts” about 50 animals introduce young readers to the amazing variety of creation. Ages 6-10 50 Wacky Things Animals Do: Weird and Amazing Animal Facts by Tricia Martineau Wagner, illustrated by Carles Ballesteros.  Walter Foster Jr. Books, 2018, 103 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 Did you know . .…

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Power Forward by Hena Khan https://redeemedreader.com/power-forward-by-hena-khan/ https://redeemedreader.com/power-forward-by-hena-khan/#respond Fri, 15 Jun 2018 12:05:27 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=22785 Zayd’s dream of playing basketball on his school’s A-team clashes with his Muslim family’s goals for him.  Ages 6-10 Power Forward (Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream #1) by Hena Khan.  Simon & Shuster, 2018, 126 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Book, ages 7-9 Recommended for: Ages 6-10 Meet Zayd, a third-generation Pakistani-American with a loving Muslim…

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*Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins https://redeemedreader.com/tiger-boy-by-mitali-perkins/ https://redeemedreader.com/tiger-boy-by-mitali-perkins/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2016 13:00:28 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15740 Tiger Boy, set in the Sundarban Islands, is a satisfying tale of courage and responsibility for younger middle-graders. a review from our archives! (originally published June 2, 2015) *Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Jamie Hogan. Charlesbridge, 2015. 144 pages, including author note and glossary Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12…

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Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger https://redeemedreader.com/fuzzy-by-tom-angleberger/ https://redeemedreader.com/fuzzy-by-tom-angleberger/#respond Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:31:25 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=21412 Fuzzy may seem far-fetched, but it raises some interesting, real-world questions in an entertaining way. Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger and Paul Dellinger.  Amulet, 2016, 253 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 There’s a new kid at school, only it’s not a kid kid but a very sophisticated, top-of-the-line humanoid robot…

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The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick https://redeemedreader.com/the-big-dark-by-rodman-philbrick/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-big-dark-by-rodman-philbrick/#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2016 11:14:26 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19390 A small England Community fights for survival when a solar flare wipes out all sources of power, in this taut thriller with a 12-year-old hero. The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick.  Scholastic, 2015, 176 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15, especially reluctant readers The whole town of Harmony, NH, is…

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The Double Cross by Jackson Pearce https://redeemedreader.com/the-double-cross-by-jackson-pearce/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-double-cross-by-jackson-pearce/#respond Wed, 29 Jun 2016 11:02:05 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19385 A 12-year-old spy trainee proves his calling in spite of obvious physical drawbacks, in this entertaining middle-grade adventure. The Double Cross, and Other Skills I Learned as a Superspy by Jackson Pearce.  Bloomsbury, 2015, 291 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14, especially boys Hale Jordan is, well, fat—a factor that…

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Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor by Jon Schieszka https://redeemedreader.com/frank-einstein-and-the-anti-matter-motor-by-jon-schieszka/ https://redeemedreader.com/frank-einstein-and-the-anti-matter-motor-by-jon-schieszka/#respond Wed, 01 Jun 2016 13:25:45 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19177 Though not to be taken at all seriously, this wacky series by Jon Schieszka threads some real science into its far-out storylines. Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor (Frank Einstein #1) by Jon Schieszka.  Amulet, 2015, 180 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys While his parents are traveling…

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The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John https://redeemedreader.com/the-terrible-two-by-mac-barnett-and-jory-john/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-terrible-two-by-mac-barnett-and-jory-john/#respond Wed, 01 Jun 2016 12:15:39 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19180 A fifth-grade prankster meets his match, joining forces with his rival to pull off the greatest fifth-grade prank of all time. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John.  Amulet, 2015, 217 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys Miles Murphy, age 11, is not happy about moving…

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*McBroom series by Sid Fleischman https://redeemedreader.com/mcbroom-series-by-sid-fleischman/ https://redeemedreader.com/mcbroom-series-by-sid-fleischman/#respond Mon, 30 May 2016 13:00:32 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19208 This post is part of our “Summer of Great Family Reads” series. Don’t miss the initial post full of more excellent recommendations! McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm: Three Tall Tales by Sid Fleischman. Beech Tree Chapter Books, reprint 1997. 64 pages. Here Comes McBroom! by Sid Fleischman. Greenwillow, reprint 1998. 80 pages. Reading Level: Chapter books,…

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Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key https://redeemedreader.com/terror-at-bottle-creek-by-watt-key/ https://redeemedreader.com/terror-at-bottle-creek-by-watt-key/#respond Wed, 18 May 2016 13:12:37 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19174 In a fast, thrilling read, a 13-year-old boy must display courage, ingenuity, and persistence in extremely dangerous circumstances. Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key.  Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2015, 224 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15, especially boys Life on the Alabama coast isn’t so bad, especially if your…

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Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm https://redeemedreader.com/sunny-side-up-by-jennifer-holm/ https://redeemedreader.com/sunny-side-up-by-jennifer-holm/#respond Wed, 11 May 2016 13:55:54 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19167 In this graphic novel with a bittersweet twist, Sunny’s disappointing “vacation” in her grandfather’s retirement community conceals some family secrets. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm, illustrated by Matthew Holm.  Scholastic Graphix, 2015, 216 pages Reading Level: 8-10 Recommended for: 8-12 Sunny, age 10, was anticipating a classic beach vacation with her best friend, but…

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My Life in Pictures by Deborah Zemke https://redeemedreader.com/my-life-in-pictures-by-deborah-zemke/ https://redeemedreader.com/my-life-in-pictures-by-deborah-zemke/#respond Wed, 11 May 2016 11:21:28 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19158 Bea Garcia learns to deal with disappointment and make the most of her artistic gifts in this first cartoon-illustrated installment of a series. My Life in Pictures (Bea Garcia #1) by Deborah Zemke.  Dial, 2016, 134 pages Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 6-10 It’s bad enough when your best friend moves…

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Reading Outside Your Preferred Genre https://redeemedreader.com/reading-outside-your-preferred-genre/ https://redeemedreader.com/reading-outside-your-preferred-genre/#respond Fri, 06 Nov 2015 19:17:15 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=16596 As a teacher, I’ve had various conversations with parents about how to get their children engaged in reading.  The flip side of that conversation comes when a student is interested in reading, but won’t venture outside a specific genre. Now, at first, this might not seem like a concern. If the student is reading, isn’t…

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SIX by M. M. Vaughan https://redeemedreader.com/d-six-by-m-m-vaughan/ https://redeemedreader.com/d-six-by-m-m-vaughan/#respond Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:00:54 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=16123 SIX by M. M. Vaughan. Simon & Shuster (Margaret K. Elderberry Books), 2015. 361 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-14 Bottom Line: SIX, a science-fiction novel for middle-graders, offers likeable characters and the intriguing possibility of teleportation. Parker Banks has had a lot of adjusting to do over the last…

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Fort by Cynthia DeFelice https://redeemedreader.com/fort-by-cynthia-defelice/ https://redeemedreader.com/fort-by-cynthia-defelice/#respond Fri, 24 Jul 2015 12:29:11 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=16119 Fort by Cynthia DeFelice. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2015. 200 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-12 (especially boys and reluctant readers) Bottom Line: Sweet-but-rough justice is served up in this boys-only summer tale that pits three losers against two bullies. Wyatt Jones, age 11, is enjoying the last of his summer…

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The Fog Diver by Joel Ross https://redeemedreader.com/d-the-fog-diver-by-joel-ross/ https://redeemedreader.com/d-the-fog-diver-by-joel-ross/#respond Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:00:11 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15982 The Fog Diver by Joel Ross. Harper, 2015. 323 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-16 Bottom Line: The Fog Diver imagines a dystopian world of Haves and Have-nots, with plucky heroes, a wealth of detail, and a dash of humor. Hundreds of years ago, mankind proposed to meet a crisis…

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Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace https://redeemedreader.com/d-wilder-boys-by-brandon-wallace/ https://redeemedreader.com/d-wilder-boys-by-brandon-wallace/#respond Fri, 05 Jun 2015 12:00:35 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15784 Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace. Aladdin, 2015. 220 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (especially boys) Bottom Line: Questionable premises aside, Wilder Boys is a fast-paced adventure novel for middle-graders and reluctant readers. Jake, 13, and his younger brother Taylor are looking forward to summer break—or would be, if it…

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Lucky Strike by Bobby Pyron https://redeemedreader.com/lucky-strike-by-bobby-pyron/ https://redeemedreader.com/lucky-strike-by-bobby-pyron/#respond Fri, 24 Apr 2015 08:01:10 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15487 Lucky Strike by Bobby Pyron. Scholastic (Arthur Levine), 2015. 263 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: A “lucky” lightning strike changes a lonely boy into a celebrity, with results no one would have predicted. Nate Harlow figures he’s the unluckiest boy on the whole Gulf Coast, starting when…

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Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James Swanson https://redeemedreader.com/chasing-lincolns-killer-by-james-swanson/ https://redeemedreader.com/chasing-lincolns-killer-by-james-swanson/#respond Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:00:50 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15342 Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson. Scholastic Press, 2009. 194 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: The young reader’s version of the author’s best-selling Manhunt offers all the drama of Lincoln’s assassination and the ensuing search for John Wilkes Booth. One hundred and fifty years ago, on…

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Guts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson https://redeemedreader.com/guts-glory-the-american-civil-war-by-ben-thompson/ https://redeemedreader.com/guts-glory-the-american-civil-war-by-ben-thompson/#respond Tue, 14 Apr 2015 12:55:37 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15339 Guts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson. Little, Brown, 2014. 317 pages, including index. Reading Level: Middle Grades,  ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (especially boys) Bottom Line: The Guts & Glory overview of the Civil War is as readable and as “not boring” as promised, though the casual slangy style may be…

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Bible Review: The Action Bible ESV https://redeemedreader.com/bible-review-the-action-bible-esv/ https://redeemedreader.com/bible-review-the-action-bible-esv/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2015 21:02:55 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15027 The Action Bible Study Bible ESV, edited by Catherine deVries, illustrated by Sergio Cariello. David C. Cook, 2015. 1248 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 9-13 Bottom Line: The ESV study version of the successful Action Bible features a reliable translation, dramatic illustrations, and standard text notes. The phenomenally successful Action…

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Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff https://redeemedreader.com/absolutely-almost-by-lisa-graff/ https://redeemedreader.com/absolutely-almost-by-lisa-graff/#respond Tue, 03 Mar 2015 14:49:16 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14635 Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff.  Penguin, 2014, 305 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Bottom Line: Absolutely Almost is a reassuring tale for middle graders who fear they are hopelessly academically challenged, with a relatable and likeable hero. Albie’s mother always tells him he is “caring, thoughtful, and good.” But he’s not smart, a…

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*You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang https://redeemedreader.com/you-are-not-small-by-anna-kang/ https://redeemedreader.com/you-are-not-small-by-anna-kang/#respond Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:00:31 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14401 *You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant.  Two Lions (Amazon), 2014. 30 pages. Reading Level: Easy Readers, ages 4-8 Recommended For: ages 0-4 Bottom Line: Beginning readers will love this confrontation between two hairy creatures that proves size is relative. You are small, says one bear-like critter to another.  And from…

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*Rise by Trip Lee https://redeemedreader.com/rise-by-trip-lee/ https://redeemedreader.com/rise-by-trip-lee/#respond Tue, 27 Jan 2015 17:00:03 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14221 *Rise: Get Up and Live in God’s Great Story by Trip Lee.  Thomas Nelson, 2014.  240 pages.  Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 and up Maturity Level: 4 (ages 11-12) and up Bottom Line: Trip Lee’s Rise is a gospel-based, conversational book set to a hip-hop album soundtrack in which Lee challenges young adults to rise above low expectations and “get up and live” for God’s glory. Early in…

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Arcady’s Goal by Eugene Yelchin https://redeemedreader.com/arcadys-goal-by-eugene-yelchin/ https://redeemedreader.com/arcadys-goal-by-eugene-yelchin/#respond Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:31:32 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14038 Arcady’s Goal by Eugene Yelchin. Henry Holt, 2014. 234 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) and up Bottom Line: Arcady’s Goal exposes the fear and bleakness of Stalinist Russia through the eyes of a 10-year-old soccer prodigy. Arcady is routinely called a “criminal” by his keepers though he has…

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The Scavengers by Michael Perry https://redeemedreader.com/the-scavengers-by-michael-perry/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-scavengers-by-michael-perry/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2014 15:00:03 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13706 The Scavengers by Michael Perry. Harper, 2014, 322 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages10-12) and up One-line Summary: The Scavengers is middle-grade dystopian fiction with a warm heart and laughs scattered among the thrills. Maggie, at 13, is a self-described dirty-fingernailed, roughneck girl who has recently taken up residence in…

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The Paladin Prophesy: Book 1 by Mark Frost https://redeemedreader.com/the-paladin-prophesy-book-1-by-mark-frost/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-paladin-prophesy-book-1-by-mark-frost/#respond Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:11:10 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13188 The Paladin Prophesy: Book 1 by Mark Frost. Random House, 2012. 560 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) One-line Summary: If they can sift the humanist worldview and dismiss the occasional profanity, discerning teens and reluctant readers may enjoy this action-packed, save-the-world fantasy scenario. One sunny morning in southern California,…

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*El Deafo by Cece Bell https://redeemedreader.com/el-deafo-by-cece-bell/ https://redeemedreader.com/el-deafo-by-cece-bell/#respond Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:50:41 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13096 *El Deafo by Cece Bell. Amulet, 2014. 241 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) Bottom Line: Author/illustrator Cece Bell recounts her experience growing up deaf in this graphic-format memoir that entertains and enlightens. Cece Bell is the main character of her own story, told in graphic-novel format with all characters…

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Young Houdini: The Magician’s Fire by Simon Nicholson https://redeemedreader.com/young-houdini-the-magicians-fire-by-simon-nicholson/ https://redeemedreader.com/young-houdini-the-magicians-fire-by-simon-nicholson/#respond Thu, 30 Oct 2014 14:52:07 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13092 Young Houdini: the Magician’s Fire by Simon Nicholson. Sourcebooks, 2014. 232 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Imagine a pre-teen Harry Houdini as an immigrant shoe-shine boy in New York City, with a showman’s flair and two loyal sidekicks, and you’ve got the gist. The real Houdini grew…

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World War I: An Interactive History Adventure by Gwenyth Swain https://redeemedreader.com/world-war-i-an-interactive-history-adventure-by-gwenyth-swain/ https://redeemedreader.com/world-war-i-an-interactive-history-adventure-by-gwenyth-swain/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2014 02:22:25 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=12917 World War I: an Interactive History Adventure by Gwenyth Swain. (You Choose Books), Capstone, 2012. 112 pages including timeline, index, etc. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 4 (ages 11-12) As in all the “You Choose” history series books, readers have three main paths to travel: as a nursing student in Belgium, a…

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Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi https://redeemedreader.com/shackleton-antarctic-odyssey-by-nick-bertozzi/ https://redeemedreader.com/shackleton-antarctic-odyssey-by-nick-bertozzi/#respond Thu, 09 Oct 2014 12:34:09 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=12858 Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi. First Second, 2014. 125 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages 11-12) and up This is the second of Bertozzi’s graphic series on explorers. (The first is Lewis and Clark: The Greatest Adventure in American History.) His books are notable for a casual style and…

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I Can Read / Made By God https://redeemedreader.com/i-can-read-made-by-god/ https://redeemedreader.com/i-can-read-made-by-god/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:00:06 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=12318     I Can Read! Made by God series, edited by Mary Hassinger. Zonderkidz, 2010-2011, 32 pages. Reading Level: Easy/Leveled Readers, Ages 4-8Maturity Level: Level 2 (Ages 4-8) Each volume in this God-honoring nonfiction series describes four fascinating creatures with plenty of interesting details and colorful photos. The wisdom and goodness of God in his creation…

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Raising “Wild” Readers https://redeemedreader.com/raising-wild-readers/ https://redeemedreader.com/raising-wild-readers/#comments Wed, 21 May 2014 13:00:58 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=11572 How do you teach the pleasure of reading to non-readers? Convinced by research studies and personal experience that worksheets and conventional methods of teaching literary appreciation weren’t working, sixth-grade language arts teacher Donalyn Miller took a different approach. Rather than insisting on award-winning classics or assuming that every child will like a prescribed canon, she had…

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Cinder by Marissa Meyer https://redeemedreader.com/cinder-by-marissa-meyer/ https://redeemedreader.com/cinder-by-marissa-meyer/#respond Fri, 21 Feb 2014 02:40:32 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14748 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 Line:  Lovers of fantasy, science fiction, and dystopia will enjoy Marissa Meyer’s intriguing futuristic retelling of Cinderella. Linh Cinder is a teenage mechanic, the best mechanic in New Beijing.  She…

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*Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel https://redeemedreader.com/bullies-and-buddies-two-acclaimed-novels/ https://redeemedreader.com/bullies-and-buddies-two-acclaimed-novels/#comments Tue, 11 Feb 2014 16:51:21 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=10904 Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel.  Scholastic (Graphix), ask 2013.  238 pages.  Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) and up Bottom line: This graphic novel’s humor and lively drawing style are made-to-order for middle-grade boys, but it also deals thoughtfully with important themes.  Ely’s best friend is a dog, which seems…

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Twerps and Bullies: Middle Grade fun for boys https://redeemedreader.com/twerps-and-bullies-middle-grades-fun-for-boys/ https://redeemedreader.com/twerps-and-bullies-middle-grades-fun-for-boys/#comments Thu, 16 Jan 2014 14:00:57 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=10691 I’ll admit it: I cracked up when I read Wimpy Kid. Clearly, my sense of humor is rather juvenile (or, maybe I’ve just spent a LOT of time around middle school kids). I still thought the kid was a jerk, though, and didn’t read any more in the series. I’m currently an intern in an elementary school…

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*Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt https://redeemedreader.com/jane-the-fox-and-me-by-fanny-britt/ https://redeemedreader.com/jane-the-fox-and-me-by-fanny-britt/#respond Tue, 19 Nov 2013 17:10:54 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13366 Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt and Isobelle Arsenault (translated from the original French).  Groundwood, 2014, 101 pages.   Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages 11-12) and up One-line Summary: Jane, the Fox, and Me is a graphic novel that shows, through clever use of shading and space, how…

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*Unspoken by Henry Cole https://redeemedreader.com/unspoken-by-henry-cole/ https://redeemedreader.com/unspoken-by-henry-cole/#respond Wed, 13 Nov 2013 22:31:29 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14718 *Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad, by Henry Cole.  Scholastic, 2012, 40 pages.  Reading Level: Picture Book, Ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-10 and up Bottom Line: Unspoken provides a wordless sequence of illustrations about a shelter for refugee slaves, inviting readers to fill in the story with their own imaginations. Henry Cole grew…

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Summer Reading Challenge, Week 6: The Lightning Thief https://redeemedreader.com/summer-reading-challenge-week-5-the-lightning-thief/ https://redeemedreader.com/summer-reading-challenge-week-5-the-lightning-thief/#comments Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:51:33 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=9360 Welcome to Week 6 of our Summer Reading Challenge!  If you’d like to see other posts in this series,

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Church Literacy, Part One: Interview with Mom of a Dyslexic Child https://redeemedreader.com/church-literacy-part-one-interview-with-mom-of-a-dyslexic-child/ https://redeemedreader.com/church-literacy-part-one-interview-with-mom-of-a-dyslexic-child/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:12:28 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=8245 How Is Your Church Affected by Literacy Challenges? How many words do you read in your church worship service?  500 or more?  Don’t forget to count the words of hymns, Bible readings, and bulletins.  If a visitor came to your church, how many words would he read to get to the right parking lot, Sunday…

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Zeus, King of the Gods by George O’Connor https://redeemedreader.com/zeus-king-of-the-gods-by-george-oconnor/ https://redeemedreader.com/zeus-king-of-the-gods-by-george-oconnor/#respond Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:20:41 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13567 Zeus, King of the Gods, (#1 in The Olympians graphic-novel series) by George O’Connor.  First Second, 2012, 80 pages. Reading Level: Picture books (graphic novel), ages 9-12 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) and up Bottom line: This series by a popular children’s illustrator is a great way to introduce middle-grade comic-book fans to the Olympian…

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The Adventures of Achilles by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden https://redeemedreader.com/the-adventures-of-achilles-by-hugh-lupton-and-daniel-morden/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-adventures-of-achilles-by-hugh-lupton-and-daniel-morden/#respond Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:20:35 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13566 The Adventures of Achilles, by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden, illustrated by Carole Henaff.  Barefoot Books, 2012, 96 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages10-12 Maturity Level: 3 (10-12) and up Bottom line: This retelling of The Iliad, illustrated in the classic style. serves as an effective introduction to the story for middle graders,  in spite…

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The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy https://redeemedreader.com/just-for-fun-fantasy/ https://redeemedreader.com/just-for-fun-fantasy/#comments Tue, 17 Jul 2012 21:47:13 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=5771 The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy (drawings by Todd Harris).  HarperCollins, 2012, 436 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-14 (especially boys) Bottom Line: A Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom offers a slightly snarky sendup of some beloved fairy-tale characters for middle-grade readers. First, we need…

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Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin https://redeemedreader.com/dark-daysbreaking-stalins-nose-and-between-shades-of-gray/ https://redeemedreader.com/dark-daysbreaking-stalins-nose-and-between-shades-of-gray/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:44:40 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=3921 Breaking Stalin’s Nose, written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin.  Henry Holt & Company: 2011, 154 pages.  Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 5 (ages 12-14) and up Sasha Zaichik, age 10, is writing a gushy letter to Comrade Stalin when the story opens.  His naiveté should be charming but very soon it turns…

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*Hereville by Barry Deutsch https://redeemedreader.com/nice-jewish-girls/ https://redeemedreader.com/nice-jewish-girls/#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 13:48:20 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=913 *Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword (graphic novel), by Barry Deutsch. Abrams (Amulet), 2010, 139 pp. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 and up Bottom Line: The unusual graphic novel series Hereville introduces middle graders to Mirka: “Yet another troll-fighting 11-year-old orthodox Jewish girl.” Hereville will be a very foreign place to…

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The Airborn trilogy by Kenneth Oppel https://redeemedreader.com/the-airborn-trilogy-by-kenneth-oppel/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-airborn-trilogy-by-kenneth-oppel/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:22:36 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13900 Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel.  HarperCollins, 2004, 355 pp.  Skybreaker (2007); Starclimber (2009). Reading Level: Middle grade, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-12 and up One-line Summary: Airborn, Skybreaker, and Starclimber offer fun and adventure in an alternative late-Victorian world for middle grade readers. Some people say it makes them lonesome when they stare up at…

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Stalking the Elusive Boy Reader https://redeemedreader.com/stalking-the-elusive-boy-reader/ https://redeemedreader.com/stalking-the-elusive-boy-reader/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:07:31 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=628 Supposedly, one of the most-asked questions in children’s publishing divisions is, “Will boys read it?”  Will boys read anything?  Or only books that have “butt” or “fart” in the title?  Or only supposed diaries featuring kids with bad attitudes, illustrated by stick drawings?  Or only comic books (or, in their more literary manifestation, graphic novels)?…

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan https://redeemedreader.com/among-the-pagans-percy-jackson-and-the-olympians/ https://redeemedreader.com/among-the-pagans-percy-jackson-and-the-olympians/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:14:55 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=423 Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan: The Lightning Thief (Hyperion/Miramax,2005), The Sea of Monsters (2006), The Titan’s Curse (2007), The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008), The Last Olympian (2009). Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 Bottom Line: Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson stories are an entertaining way to introduce middle-graders…

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*Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen https://redeemedreader.com/three-cheers-for-free-enterprise-lawn-boy/ https://redeemedreader.com/three-cheers-for-free-enterprise-lawn-boy/#respond Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:08:29 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=335 Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. Random House (Wendy Lamb Books), 2007. 88 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 4 (Ages 10-12) Bottom line: Lawn Boy entertainingly teaches middle graders how the stock market works by recounting the adventures of a boy and his developing lawn-care business. The nameless hero of this brief…

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It’s a Book by Lane Smith https://redeemedreader.com/gr8-xpectations/ https://redeemedreader.com/gr8-xpectations/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:40:57 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=281 It’s a Book by Lane Smith.  Roaring Brook Press, 2010.  32 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 10-12 and up Bottom Line: This picture book contrasting the printed page to texting may appeal to the 4-8 reading level, but the point is probably above their heads. It’s a Book, by Lane…

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