perseverance Archives - Redeemed Reader https://redeemedreader.com/tag/perseverance/ Kids' Books. Culture. Christ. Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:22:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://redeemedreader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cropped-favicon-32x32.png perseverance Archives - Redeemed Reader https://redeemedreader.com/tag/perseverance/ 32 32 Cicely Tyson by Renee Watson https://redeemedreader.com/cicely-tyson-by-renee-watson/ https://redeemedreader.com/cicely-tyson-by-renee-watson/#respond Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:30:00 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=44833 Lyrical prose and vibrant collage illustrations introduce young readers to Cicely Tyson.

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To Walk the Sky by Patricia Morris Buckley https://redeemedreader.com/to-walk-the-sky-by-patricia-morris-buckley/ https://redeemedreader.com/to-walk-the-sky-by-patricia-morris-buckley/#respond Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:56:00 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=44821 In To Walk the Sky, young readers learn how Iroquois men became steelworkers.

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*Wild Honey from the Moon by Kenneth Kraegel https://redeemedreader.com/wild-honey-from-the-moon-by-kenneth-kraegel/ https://redeemedreader.com/wild-honey-from-the-moon-by-kenneth-kraegel/#respond Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:14:00 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=44847 Nothing will stop Mother Shrew’s quest to fetch Wild Honey from the Moon for her sick son, Hugo.

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*Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet https://redeemedreader.com/three-tales-of-my-fathers-dragon-by-ruth-stiles-gannet/ https://redeemedreader.com/three-tales-of-my-fathers-dragon-by-ruth-stiles-gannet/#respond Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:10:34 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=44480 Young readers are invited by a narrator into Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon.

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Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear by Trang Nguyen https://redeemedreader.com/saving-sorya-chang-and-the-sun-bear-by-trang-nguyen/ https://redeemedreader.com/saving-sorya-chang-and-the-sun-bear-by-trang-nguyen/#respond Tue, 07 Oct 2025 20:16:15 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=44696 A young Vietnamese wildlife Conservationist sets out on a quest to help one special sun bear return to the rainforest in Saving Sorya, a vibrant graphic novel for middle grade readers.

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*The Black Mambas: The World’s First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit by Kelly Crull https://redeemedreader.com/the-black-mambas-the-worlds-first-all-woman-anti-poaching-unit-by-kelly-crull/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-black-mambas-the-worlds-first-all-woman-anti-poaching-unit-by-kelly-crull/#respond Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:39:00 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=44702 Young readers are introduced to The Black Mambas: The World's First All Women Anti-poaching Unit.

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Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner https://redeemedreader.com/wagon-wheels-by-barbara-brenner/ https://redeemedreader.com/wagon-wheels-by-barbara-brenner/#respond Thu, 24 Jul 2025 19:55:55 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=43794 Wagon Wheels, a classic from the I Can Read series, introduces young readers to the Black pioneer experience.

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*Once a Castle by Sarah Arthur https://redeemedreader.com/once-a-castle/ https://redeemedreader.com/once-a-castle/#respond Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:34:26 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=43898 Readers return to Sarah Arthur's fantasy world with a whole new adventure and cast of characters in Once a Castle.

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*A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim https://redeemedreader.com/a-forgery-of-fate-by-elizabeth-lim/ https://redeemedreader.com/a-forgery-of-fate-by-elizabeth-lim/#respond Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:37:55 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=43792 Beauty and the Beast, with echoes of other fairytales, is spun together with Chinese folklore in an an excellent YA fantasy: A Forgery of Fate.

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*The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin https://redeemedreader.com/the-bletchley-riddle-by-ruta-sepetys-and-steve-sheinkin/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-bletchley-riddle-by-ruta-sepetys-and-steve-sheinkin/#respond Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:24:48 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=42337 An intriguing, code-breaking adventure introduces young teens to the work at Bletchley Park. *The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin. Viking, 2024. 400 pages. England, 1940. Lizzie Novis, at 14, is not about to be packed off to America and the safety of her American grandmother. The first chapter finds her dodging her…

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Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton https://redeemedreader.com/katy-and-the-big-snow-by-virginia-lee-burton/ https://redeemedreader.com/katy-and-the-big-snow-by-virginia-lee-burton/#respond Sat, 14 Dec 2024 20:36:15 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13620 Katy and the Big Snow is pitch perfect as a kindergarten/early elementary age read aloud.

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*I Worked Hard on That! by Robyn Wall https://redeemedreader.com/i-worked-hard-on-that-by-robyn-wall/ https://redeemedreader.com/i-worked-hard-on-that-by-robyn-wall/#respond Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:03:00 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=41666 Kiara the spider keeps trying to make a web that is beautiful, not just practical, and her efforts are repeatedly foiled. Playful language, lovely illustrations, and encouragement to keep trying to create make this a lovely story. *I Worked Hard on That! by Robyn Wall, illustrated by A.N. Kang, Simon and Schuster, 2024. 32 pages.…

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*The Wild Robot by Peter Brown https://redeemedreader.com/the-wild-robot/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-wild-robot/#respond Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=41554 A wild robot explores an island and learns more than how to survive nature from the animals; she develops relationships and makes it home. A delightful story full of kindness and humility. *The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. Little, Brown, and Company, 2016. 269 pages. A storm and a shipwreck are a great way to…

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*Granny Smith was Not an Apple by Sarah Glenn Fortson https://redeemedreader.com/granny-smith-was-not-an-apple-by-sarah-glenn-fortson/ https://redeemedreader.com/granny-smith-was-not-an-apple-by-sarah-glenn-fortson/#respond Fri, 30 Aug 2024 20:39:05 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=41414 A beautiful picture book chronicling the origin of the Granny Smith apple variety through the life of one determined woman. *Granny Smith was Not An Apple: The Story of Orchardist Maria Ann Smith by Sarah Glenn Fortson and illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod, Peter Pauper Press, 2023. 32 pages. Crunch, crunch, crunch. A sour-faced woman…

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*One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome https://redeemedreader.com/one-big-open-sky-by-lesa-cline-ransome/ https://redeemedreader.com/one-big-open-sky-by-lesa-cline-ransome/#respond Tue, 26 Mar 2024 11:21:15 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=40641 One Big Open Sky fills a history gap with the story of black settlers heading west in wagon trains.

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*William’s House by Ginger Howard https://redeemedreader.com/williams-house-by-ginger-howard/ https://redeemedreader.com/williams-house-by-ginger-howard/#respond Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:46:00 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=39060 Wouldn’t it make sense that a house built in the style of a home in England would work just as well in America? *William’s House by Ginger Howard, illustrated by Larry Day. Millbrook Press, 2001. 32 pages. Wouldn’t it make sense to think that a house built in the style of a home in England…

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Longitude by Dava Sobel https://redeemedreader.com/longitude-by-dava-sobel/ https://redeemedreader.com/longitude-by-dava-sobel/#comments Tue, 19 May 2020 23:34:00 +0000 https://redeemedreader.com/?p=28049 Longitude, a recommended book for our "Hope on the Horizon" summer reading challenge, is a classic true tale of persistence rewarded.

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*Nya's Long Walk: A Step at a Time https://redeemedreader.com/nyas-long-walk-a-step-at-a-time-2/ https://redeemedreader.com/nyas-long-walk-a-step-at-a-time-2/#respond Wed, 04 Dec 2019 14:24:31 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=25516 Nya faces tough choices when her little sister falls ill near the remote water hole. Nya’s Long Walk: A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Clarion 2019, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 What do you do when the little sister who accompanies…

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Captured by Alvin Townley https://redeemedreader.com/captured-by-alvin-townley/ https://redeemedreader.com/captured-by-alvin-townley/#respond Fri, 30 Aug 2019 12:13:00 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=25225 The ordeal of Jeremiah Denton in the “Hanoi Hilton” is not for the squeamish, but stands as a witness to courage and faith

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Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille https://redeemedreader.com/six-dots-a-story-of-young-louis-braille/ https://redeemedreader.com/six-dots-a-story-of-young-louis-braille/#respond Fri, 09 Nov 2018 21:48:30 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=23241 What if God took the very instrument that caused your suffering and turned it into a tool of blessing for many? Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant, ill. by Boris Kulikov. Alfred A. Knopf, 2016.  Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 The warning of every parent…

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*Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larsen https://redeemedreader.com/hattie-big-sky-by-kirby-larsen/ https://redeemedreader.com/hattie-big-sky-by-kirby-larsen/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2016 14:29:44 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14822 Hattie Big Sky draws upon the experience of the author’s own grandmother to create this enthralling story of hard-won optimism and frontier grit. a review from our archives, first appearing on April 13, 2012 *Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. Delacorte, 2006.  283 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-15 and up…

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*A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen https://redeemedreader.com/a-night-divided-by-jennifer-nielsen/ https://redeemedreader.com/a-night-divided-by-jennifer-nielsen/#respond Fri, 12 Aug 2016 12:00:33 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=19521 The building of the Berlin Wall pits lovers of freedom against an oppressive regime in this gripping novel for middle graders. *A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen.  Scholastic, 2015, 317 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-16 Berlin, 1961: Gerta’s father knows they should escape the Communist iron grip that 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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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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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba https://redeemedreader.com/d-the-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind-by-william-kamkwamba/ https://redeemedreader.com/d-the-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind-by-william-kamkwamba/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2015 12:00:38 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15999 William Kamkwamba’s own story of his efforts to bring reliable electrical power to his impoverished African village makes fascinating reading, especially for mechanically-minded middle-graders. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Reader edition) by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. Dial, 2015. 292 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-up, especially boys…

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The Tortoise and the Hare by Jerry Pinkney https://redeemedreader.com/the-tortoise-and-the-hare-by-jerry-pinkney/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-tortoise-and-the-hare-by-jerry-pinkney/#respond Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:29:56 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15831 The Tortoise and the Hare by Jerry Pinkney. Little, Brown, 2013. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: All Ages Slow and Steady Wins the Race! Nearly wordless, this lively depiction of one of Aesop’s most famous fables starts right away on the front endpapers as the hare bounds over hills and the…

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Fallout (Lois Lane) by Gwenda Bond https://redeemedreader.com/d-fallout-lois-lane-by-gwenda-bond/ https://redeemedreader.com/d-fallout-lois-lane-by-gwenda-bond/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2015 12:00:40 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15856 Fallout (Lois Lane) by Gwenda Bond. Capstone, 2015. 202 pages Reading Level: Young adults, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12 and up Bottom Line: Fallout introduces Lois Lane as a hard-charging teenage reporter with a passion for justice, in this fun, clean YA adventure. Lois, 16, daughter of the famous General Sam Lane, arrives at…

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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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Good Night, Knight by Betsy Lewin https://redeemedreader.com/good-night-knight-by-betsy-lewin/ https://redeemedreader.com/good-night-knight-by-betsy-lewin/#respond Wed, 13 May 2015 10:00:01 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15621 Good Night, Knight by Betsy Lewin. Holiday House, 2015. 24 pages. Reading Level: Easy Readers, Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 Knight and his faithful Horse go on a quest to find the golden cookies that were in Knight’s dream. After looking high and low with perseverance, at last they are successful. Then Horse dreams…

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You Have a Brain by Ben Carson, M.D. https://redeemedreader.com/you-have-a-brain-by-ben-carson-m-d/ https://redeemedreader.com/you-have-a-brain-by-ben-carson-m-d/#comments Sat, 02 May 2015 12:04:23 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15547 You have a Brain: a Teen’s Guide to THINK BIG by Ben Carson,M. D. (with Gregg and Deborah Lewis). Zondervan, 2015. 281 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 13-18 Bottom Line: Ben Carson has achieved an amazing resume of accomplishments in his lifetime, but he claims anyone can accomplish much, if…

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Silent Star by Bill Wise, illustrated by Adam Gustavson https://redeemedreader.com/d-silent-star-by-bill-wise-and-illustrated-by-adam-gustavson/ https://redeemedreader.com/d-silent-star-by-bill-wise-and-illustrated-by-adam-gustavson/#respond Thu, 30 Apr 2015 20:22:06 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15370 Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy by Bill Wise, illustrated by Adam Gustavson. Lee and Low, 2012. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 Baseball games are full of distinctive sounds: the crack as the ball and bat make contact, the roar of the crowd, the umpire’s…

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Swing Sisters by Karen Deans, illustrated by Joe Cepeda https://redeemedreader.com/s-swing-sisters-by-karen-deans-and-illustrated-by-joe-cepeda/ https://redeemedreader.com/s-swing-sisters-by-karen-deans-and-illustrated-by-joe-cepeda/#respond Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:46:23 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15307 Swing Sisters: The Story of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm by Karen Deans, illustrated by Joe Cepeda. Holiday House, 2015. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-10 Recommended for: Ages 4-10 Did you know there was an all-female, interracial jazz band in the early 20th century? A little-known slice of music history comes to life in…

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Audacity by Melanie Crowder https://redeemedreader.com/audacity-by-melanie-crowder/ https://redeemedreader.com/audacity-by-melanie-crowder/#respond Fri, 10 Apr 2015 13:00:43 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15195 Audacity by Melanie Crowder. Philomel, 2015. 389 pages, including historical notes. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Young Adults, ages 15-18 Bottom Line: Audacity tells the story of union organizer Clara Lemlich from her point of view, in a way that communicates her strength and her vulnerability. In 1904 Clara Lemlich reached New…

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Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen https://redeemedreader.com/sam-and-dave-dig-a-hole-by-mac-barnett-and-jon-klassen/ https://redeemedreader.com/sam-and-dave-dig-a-hole-by-mac-barnett-and-jon-klassen/#respond Sat, 14 Mar 2015 21:00:30 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14763 Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen. Candlewick, 2014. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: ages 4-8 (especially boys) Sam and Dave are determined not just to dig a hole, but to find something spectacular. With the company of their faithful, intuitive dog, they dig and…

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*Faerie Gold edited by Kathryn Lindskoog and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker https://redeemedreader.com/faerie-gold-edited-by-kathryn-lindskoog-and-ranelda-mack-hunsicker/ https://redeemedreader.com/faerie-gold-edited-by-kathryn-lindskoog-and-ranelda-mack-hunsicker/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2015 13:00:13 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14754 *Faerie Gold: Treasures from the Lands of Enchantment edited by Kathryn Lindskoog and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker. P&R, 2005. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10, ages 10-12 Recommended For: all Bottom Line: An excellent collection of literary fairy tales by classic writers, tales that are rich with Truth and the best kind of storytelling.…

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How Long, O Lord? When Bibliotherapy Isn’t Enough https://redeemedreader.com/how-long-o-lord-when-bibliotherapy-isnt-enough/ https://redeemedreader.com/how-long-o-lord-when-bibliotherapy-isnt-enough/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2015 20:00:38 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14532 These are dark days. I received an email this week expressing familiar anguish over the haunting reports of 21 followers of Christ who were martyred by ISIS. “I am so grieved by the reports I hear, and I’ve had a hard time explaining to my children (without freaking them out) why we need to pray.…

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*The Green Ember by S. D. Smith https://redeemedreader.com/the-green-ember-by-s-d-smith/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-green-ember-by-s-d-smith/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2015 22:00:07 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14121 The Green Ember is animal fantasy at its best, filled with gripping action and heartwarming rabbits, all deeply informed by the Christian worldview of its author. *The Green Ember by S. D. Smith, illustrated by Zach Franzen.  Story Warren Books, 2014.  368 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 9-12 Recommended for: ages 9 and up…

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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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*Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton https://redeemedreader.com/mike-mulligan-and-his-steam-shovel-by-virginia-lee-burton/ https://redeemedreader.com/mike-mulligan-and-his-steam-shovel-by-virginia-lee-burton/#respond Fri, 19 Dec 2014 15:38:01 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13617 Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (named Mary Anne) are just as beloved by today's generation of children as they were in the 1930s!

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*Choo Choo by Virgina Lee Burton https://redeemedreader.com/choo-choo-the-story-of-a-little-engine-who-ran-away-by-virgina-lee-burton/ https://redeemedreader.com/choo-choo-the-story-of-a-little-engine-who-ran-away-by-virgina-lee-burton/#respond Fri, 19 Dec 2014 15:09:29 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13848 This book is a “Best of the Best” pick from ourWinter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! *Choo Choo: The Story of a Little Engine Who Ran Away by Virgina Lee Burton. Houghton Mifflin, 1964. 48 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Maturity Level: 1, 2 (ages 0-8) With striking charcoal illustrations so appropriate to…

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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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Lulu and the Hedgehog in the Rain by Hilary McKay and illustrated by Priscilla Lamont https://redeemedreader.com/lulu-and-the-hedgehog-in-the-rain-by-hilary-mckay-and-illustrated-by-priscilla-lamont/ https://redeemedreader.com/lulu-and-the-hedgehog-in-the-rain-by-hilary-mckay-and-illustrated-by-priscilla-lamont/#respond Tue, 11 Nov 2014 02:28:52 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=12835 Lulu and the Hedgehog in the Rain by Hilary McKay and illustrated by Priscilla Lamont. Albert Whitman and Company, 2014. 112 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 6-10Recommended for: Ages 4-10 In this latest Lulu installment, Lulu bravely rescues a forlorn hedgehog during the “wettest [day] in sixty-four years.” Her love for animals drives the series,…

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The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr https://redeemedreader.com/the-great-turkey-walk-by-kathleen-karr/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-great-turkey-walk-by-kathleen-karr/#respond Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:12:08 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13077 The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr. Square Fish, 2000 (reprint; original pub. date 1998). 208 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades (ages 10-12)Recommended for: Ages 10-14 Fifteen-year-old Simon Green has just finished third grade for the fourth time, and his beloved teacher Miss Rogers has convinced him he needs to “spread his wings” and move…

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Stay Where You Are And Then Leave by John Boyne https://redeemedreader.com/stay-where-you-are-and-then-leave-by-john-boyne/ https://redeemedreader.com/stay-where-you-are-and-then-leave-by-john-boyne/#respond Fri, 17 Oct 2014 12:13:16 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=12935 Stay Where You Are And Then Leave by John Boyne. Henry Holt, 2014. 245 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 5 (ages 12-14) and up Alfie Summerfield is five when the war starts—July 18, 1914, his birthday. Too young to know that his cozy London neighborhood is about to change forever, but…

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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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Flight School https://redeemedreader.com/flight-school/ https://redeemedreader.com/flight-school/#respond Wed, 20 Aug 2014 13:00:37 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=12129 Flight School by Lita Judge. Atheneum, 2014, 32 pages. Reading Level: picture books, Ages 0-4, Ages 4-8Recommended for: Ages 0-4, Ages 4-8 An ambitious penguin arrives at flight school with visions of success. Teacher and Flamingo stifle their doubts and patiently include him until the truth can no longer be denied: “I’m sorry, birdie,” said Teacher.…

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*A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet https://redeemedreader.com/a-splash-of-red-the-life-and-art-of-horace-pippin/ https://redeemedreader.com/a-splash-of-red-the-life-and-art-of-horace-pippin/#respond Thu, 10 Oct 2013 13:00:10 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=9985 *A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Knopf, 2013. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Maturity Level: 2 (ages 4-8) and up A Splash of Red chronicles the life and art of a man named Horace Pippin who was born in 1888.…

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Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George https://redeemedreader.com/tuesdays-at-the-castle-by-jessica-day-george/ https://redeemedreader.com/tuesdays-at-the-castle-by-jessica-day-george/#respond Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:41:27 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=15739 Tuesdays at the Castle, by Jessica Day George.  Bloomsbury, 2012, 225 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12. Recommended for: Ages 8-14 Whenever Castle Glower became bored, it would grow a new room or two.  The castle has a mind of its own, which can be frustrating when you want to redecorate.  But it’s extremely…

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Hatchet by Gary Paulsen https://redeemedreader.com/hatchet-by-gary-paulsen/ https://redeemedreader.com/hatchet-by-gary-paulsen/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:22:57 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14600 Gary Paulsen’s classic survival novel Hatchet offers a realistic–as opposed to romantic– view of nature and what it takes to survive in the wild. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  Simon & Shuster, 1987 (paperback re-issue 2006). 192 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 12-15 and up (especially boys) In a culture where…

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Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys https://redeemedreader.com/between-shades-of-gray-by-rita-sepetys/ https://redeemedreader.com/between-shades-of-gray-by-rita-sepetys/#respond Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:30:27 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=14045 Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys.  Penguin/Philomel, 2011, 338 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) and up  June 14, 1941, Kaunas, Lithuania: They took me in my nightgown. Fifteen-year-old Lina had no preparation for what would happen that night, but looking back, it added up: her parents had…

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*The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg https://redeemedreader.com/the-year-we-were-famous-by-carole-estby-dagg/ https://redeemedreader.com/the-year-we-were-famous-by-carole-estby-dagg/#respond Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:40:07 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13918 *The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg.  Clarion, 2011, 241 pages with author note. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12-14 and up Bottom Line: This mother-daughter adventure, based on a true story, is a vivid picture of a relationship “forged in adversity” as the two attempt to walk across…

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Peak by Roland Smith https://redeemedreader.com/peak-by-roland-smith/ https://redeemedreader.com/peak-by-roland-smith/#respond Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:20:07 +0000 http://ordinary-fan.flywheelsites.com/?p=13882 Peak by Roland Smith.  Harcourt: 2007, 246 pages.  Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-12 and up One-line summary: Fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello’s adventures on Mt. Everest make compelling reading for middle-graders on up. When we first meet Peak Marcello, he’s clinging to a sheer surface, making his way slowly up its rock…

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