Books we are reading this school year (2021-2022)

The Sonlight Curriculum is CHOCKED full of reading. There are SO many books. I am constantly reading. I thought I would try to do a post where I shared the books we are reading this year.  I am also including books I have read in my spare time this year. So here we go. I'll put comments on them to as I can!

I read this book with my 7th-9th graders. I did an oral reading of it which you can view here. Holy cow was this a POWERFUL book about war, community, different cultures coming together ... incredible and so pertinent as our world seems to be falling apart all over again.

Pontius Pilate by Paul L. Maier was a HUGE surprise to me. I never dreamed I could find a book "like this" so interesting. I truly feel every Christian should read this to understand the political climate around the time of Christ. This was a SONLIGHT book (through the Christian History curriculum). I am changed because of this book. Truly had my eyes opened to a lot of things. I actually believe they have phased this book out of the current curriculum (I bought an older version) but it was just GREAT! (Sonlight: 10th grade British Literature/Christian History Curriculum)

The Ravenmaster's Secret was generally received with good reviews by my Language Arts class at co-op. A part of the Sunlight CORE H, it follows the life of a boy in the Tower of London. Did you know this was a real place that people lived (and still live today?) Did you know that people were hung for the entertainment of others? Did you know that the ravens in the tower are full of some great lore and history? A good book with good lessons and good history. An easy read for your middle schooler. (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

This book: A Murder for Her Majesty was SO fun to read. Truly one of the most fun and well-done and cleanest kid's "mysteries" I have ever read. Gives a great look inside the church and boy's choirs in England. Loved this one! (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

Escape Across the Wide Sea was a look at the Jacobites and the French and what it meant to not be Catholic during this time ... and also what it meant to be a slave during this time. Follow a family basically forced out of France unless they convert aboard a ship that first goes to Guadeloupe and then onto the East Coast of the USA where they developed their own colony. Not the best written book ever but a very easy read with lots of eye-opening reminders of the challenges people faced in their journey to America and freedom. In general, the kids thought it was "okay" but the learning from it was substantial. (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

I am not sure HOW in my life I escaped high school and college without reading this book but what a TRAGEDY that I did not. Truly, this is one of the most brilliant pieces of literature I have EVER written. Bronte's writing is simply beyond words. How can she have such a complete handle on the English language so continuously?! How can the story by THIS good?! Blown away. This will rank as one of my all-time favorite books. (Sonlight: 10th grade British Literature/Christian History Curriculum)

What would a good ol' British Literature course be without a bit o' Shakespeare. He's never been my favorite and never will be ... I read Romeo and Juliet with my three tenth graders. We watched the 1964 film as we read it. None of us enjoyed it very much. There are other Shakespeare novels I prefer so we will try another one later. (Sonlight: 10th grade British Literature/Christian History Curriculum)

The Broken Blade was FANTASTIC! A great middle school piece of fiction with lots of adventure and lots of learning. Sidge thought this was one of the best books he read all year. I really enjoyed reading it and learned a lot about the Voyageurs who travelled long distances in a canoe to sell goods to the Native Americans. (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

The King's Fifth was not one of our favorites. It is set in the world of Spanish conquistadors and involves the hunt for gold with murder and adventure. I read it with my 7th-9th graders, and we all liked it "okay enough" but it wasn't our favorite. (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

This version of Anna and the King was "okay." I have not read the more Adult version, but this one was simply "okay." It was interesting to get the general gist of the story (and we watched the musical that has made the book famous) but none of us loved it. I did this book as a read-along for the kids. (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

But Don't All Religions Lead to God

This story just did not work for me OR my students. To be honest, the dialect that the author chose to use made it SO hard to follow along. I tried it on audible and "in the flesh" and just had such a hard time understanding what was happening. I abandoned it, as did all four of the kiddos reading it. We won't read this one again. (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

The Gammage Cup was an enjoyable read for me, but the 10th graders I had read it, weren't impressed. I really think it has to be intended for a younger audience. It's a witty tale about a race of people called the Minnipins -- small people who become BIG heroes. It's an introduction to fantasy for kids (and actually, the word "muggles" is first introduced here), but I am not sure I would have my students read it again. Really didn't offer anything historical and just sort of a dud for my high schoolers. (Sonlight: 10th grade British Literature/Christian History Curriculum)

 Enchantress from the Stars is a book I will read with my kids, but I read it on my own in preparation, and I loved it. (Sonlight: 10th grade British Literature/Christian History Curriculum)

The Sherwood Ring was a VERY fun story. Told with ghosts and flashbacks. Peggy finds herself involved with Colonial ancestors and personally witnesses the unfolding of a centuries-old romance. This was brilliantly spun, and a bit older than some of the other CORE H books we read insomuch as following the story. (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

The Ramsay Scallop follows a young betrothed girl on a pilgrimage to far off Spain. This book was a good read, easy to follow, and presented a thorough explanation of what a pilgrimage actually looks like with a bit of adventure and romance intertwined. (SONLIGHT: Core H World History 2 designed for students in grades 7-9).

Still working through this one with my high school students but REALLY enjoying it. I am learning SO much about all the contributions of Christians/Christianity to our history. Women's rights, human rights, the rights of the unborn ... the first scientists were definitely Christians as a matter of fact. Really outstanding. My 10th graders are really enjoying it as well. This is definitely a book for kids old enough to discuss sexual topics/sexuality/perversion/ etc. (Sonlight: 10th grade British Literature/Christian History Curriculum)

Flame Over Tara

I’m honestly, nearly sad, I didn’t discover the SONLIGHT curriculum sooner. Or that I didn’t listen more clearly to my friends and get on board sooner — every single book is fantastic. 

Hannah Kotynski and I have already decided to majorly incorporate Sonlight into our future as homeschooling Mamas. It’s just sooo good. 

This one is a 1964 historically based piece of fiction surrounding Saint Patrick and the history of the shamrock. Goodness gracious I loved it. 

https://www.ancient.eu/Hill_of_Tara/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4010418

Book #2

The second book I read on our trip was actually a school book I had assigned the kids with our World History 1 Sonlight School Curriculum: 

https://www.sonlight.com/GC4

I have read every book with my six kids along the way. I love to read. I also love learning. In addition, I have not read the vast majority of these books, and they are just fantastic. 

This particular book is about life during along Arthur’s time and specifically about the beginnings of putting shoes on horses in Arthur’s army. 

An easy read. Nothing earth-shattering, but quite entertaining, educational, and well-written. 

Corona Virus Books

I'm hoping to be able to get some extra reading in during this time of quarantine. There are no libraries open at this time, but I used my cousin Hannah's as a library and got a hold of some great recommendations! 

My friend LaShea suggested that for my reading list, I try to find an African American author. She recommended THE HELP which remains one of my favorite books AND favorite movies of all time. I'd already read it, so I did a little searching myself and stumbled upon March Forward, Girl. The writing in this book was a little "young" for me, but I actually think that's great. I think this would be a FANTASTIC book for high schoolers to read to understand what was happening in the South in the 60's. Melba Pattillo Beals gives a great understanding of how, while the rest of the country had "moved away" from outright segregation, the south was still alive and well. The frustration of a black woman in Little Rock not being able to take their own food off the shelves (because they were dirty) or for them to have to step aside ANYTIME a white person got into the line is just absolutely unimaginable. Also, the idea that the KKK could come into your church (which they did at one point) and hang a member of your church right in front of women and children? It was so difficult to read. In another scene, she barely escapes a rape situation with KKK when she finds herself on the wrong side of town after dark. One of the "Little Rock 9", you can truly FEEL the strength this young woman would have had to have during this time. OUTSTANDING, EASY read that will REALLY open your eyes to what the south was like during this time.

Mara, Daughter of the Nile. MANnnn do I wish I could have read these kind of books when I was in school for history. This was part of our SONLIGHT World History Curriculum, and it was just OUTstanding. Beautiful book. Clean enough for anyone to read Although it is written at a high school level, my sixth graders handled it without too much trouble. Fantastic read! An awesome look at while life in Egypt with the Pharaohs may have been like. 

The Golden Goblet is an easier read than Mara (listed above) but an equally outstanding look into life in Ancient Egypt. My kids loved this. Middle schoolers can easily handle it. Used this for our history curriculum, and I strongly recommend it.

Quarantine Book 16 / Vacation Book 2: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. THIS was an incredible book that I could not stop myself from reading. But mannn was it painful. It really puts a "face" to the sex trafficking and stealing of children that can go on in the USA and the world. It was written incredibly well, and did a fantastic job jumping back and forth between the past and present. I was incredibly impressed with the writing but this book IS a downer despite some love and happy moments. 

Quarantine Book 16 / Vacation Book 2: Wow! Wow! Wow! I was really shocked when I jumped over to Amazon by how mixed the reviews were for this book. It was INCREDIBLY well-written, and I was unable to put it down and read way too late into the night last night. It is a mostly "sad" book -- not a feel good book. It also does have enough sex in it that I wouldn't recommend it for non-adults. Some people who left negative reviews said she didn't get some of the "facts" right about life in that era. I am not sure about all of that, but I thought it was really interesting. I thought that "natural" side of it was incredibly well-done. Owens is an AMAZING writer. Even if you didn't love the story, the writing is simply amazing. A strong recommendation fro me.

Quarantine Book 15 / Vacation Book 1: I am really torn about how I feel about this book. It was an incredibly inventive and interesting idea. The cover made me pick it up. It is written well. As far as "young adult" literature (of which this is), it is pretty clean. Nothing too much to shy away from. I did feel that the author was trying to "preach" a little about her politics through some of what she was writing. The ending also falls a little flat for me. But as a "Little House" fan, this was interesting and an easy read.

Quarantine Book 14: I am really enjoying the GREGOR books. Just finished Book #3 and brining book #4 on my trip with me! This is a FANTASTIC middle school book. Very clean. Nothing for a parent to be worried about other than some very typical battle scenes. I think boys would like it a bit more than girls, but I am falling in love with the main character in this book. Well done!

Quarantine Book 13: My friend Anni's Mom gave me this book as a "teaser" for this author. I wish I would have realized it would end with a cliff hanger. I need to get a hold of the whole story now! I haven't read Dee Henderson before -- Christian author. I enjoyed her! I will definitely give a longer of her works a good chance.

Quarantine Book 12: This book was DARLING! "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be" by Farley Mowat was superbly written and incredibly uplifting and funny! A great one for your middle school aged kid on up. (Or you can do a read-aloud with younger kiddos.) Very clean and appropriate book for a middle-schooler. The story of a boy and his hilarious, almost-human dog.

Quarantine Book 11: I decided to read a favorite series of my son Elijah's (Sidge). This was the first time he had "fallen in love" with a series. I'll never forget, when the series was over, he started crying -- like he was losing an old friend. He said to me: "Why couldn't the author have written more books?!" Clean. PERFECT for middle schoolers.

 

 

Quarantine Book 10: I decided to browse our own library for our next read. I found this book. I had always loved the movie as a child, so decided to give this a try. It was GREAT. Maybe a little bit "long" on the different animals they meet and encounter but really fascinating. It was similar to the movie with a few big changes including the book has four sons not three and they have multiple houses in the book, not just the famous tree house. I was also surprised with how many memorable quotes I took from this book. Here's one of my favorites: "What can be more delightful than to find harmony of opinion in those we love, when a great and momentous decision has to be taken?" Here's another one that I think is REALLY good for this time: “If it be the will of God,” said my wife, “to leave us alone on this solitary place, let us be content; and rejoice that we are all together in safety.”

Quarantine Book 9: This was a simple read. The author was an incredibly sarcastic writer which mostly worked but sometimes didn't. It was a fascinating look at living as a missionary kid in the jungle. My Aunt and Uncle gave this to me YEARS ago. I don't think I ever read it. But I read it now. Good read. Apparently it is Book 2 in the series. Oh well!

Quarantine Book 8: Ohhhhh, HOW had I had NOT heard of this book before now?! The Scarlet Pimpernel is truly one of the best books I have read in recent memory. Written in 1905, it took a few chapters to really get into and the language makes it possibly a little too hard for middle-schoolers but HOLY COW I did NOT want to put this daring story of love and adventure down. Set during the French Revolution, it will remain one of my all-time favorites.

Quarantine Book 7: Savvy by Ingrid Law was a very fun read. It's a middle school level book. Has a bit of growing up/relationship stuff that would make a bit "old" for kids under 12 I think. It's the first in the series so I am hoping I can get my hands on the rest of the books in the series sometime soon. I am constantly amazed at the CREATIVITY of authors. How do they come up with these new ideas that have never been thunk of before?! (And yes I know "thunk" isn't a word. I wrote it for effect.)

Quarantine Book 5: Not sure how I have gone so long in my life not having read this 1993 Dystopian-style novel. I did a little research and discovered it is the 4th ranked Children's novel of all time. I'm a little confused by that. I thought it was a GREAT book and really made me think, but I'm not sure I would call it a "Children's Book." It has some really heavy topics. I would let my Isaac read it, but I think kids under 10 would probably struggle with the concepts.

Quarantine Book 4: Third book in the series. Well done. Amazing artwork. Kept me reading despite being totally out of character for me to read.

Quarantine Book 3: This was book two in Westerfield's Leviathan series. Again, these shocked me. I was not intending to like them. But I really did. I would let my young boys read this even though there is an underlying love story that feels a little too old for them. 

Quarantine Book 2: I NEVER read books like this but what a fun first try at the genre of "Steam Punk." A young adult book that a grown woman really enjoyed. So creative. And the drawings were AMAZING. The only "Questionable" content is reference to "breasts" being as there is a girl who is disguised as a boy and needing to make sure no one notices she is a girl.

Quarantine Book 1: I Loved this book! A great read for kiddos age 8 and up. A little bit of a crush sprinkled in which might be "too much" for some kids. 

Review: WorthyKids, an imprint of Hachette Book Group

Are you ready for .... Nothing? Well, not nothing exactly but a book that talks about how nothing can separate you from God's love? In fact it is a book entitled Nothing by Natalee Creech published by WorthyKids, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

Written by Natalee Creech and illustrated by Joseph Cowman, this book may be called Nothing, but it is anything but that. This peaceful hardback book features absolutely charming illustrations and focuses around Romans 8:38-39. Here are some pictures of our family enjoying this sweet book:

My four children: ages 5-11 reading with Dad before bed

A close-up of Dad in action!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV). 

This book is constructed incredibly well: hard back with a jacket cover and very sturdy pages. The binding is incredibly sturdy and will not fall apart easily. While it isn't as hardy as a board book, it fits wonderfully in your hands and can stay in a family library for a long time. 


The illustrations are absolutely outstanding. (Like, seriously, some of the best I have ever seen.) They are full of life, colorful, and simply adorable. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the drawings. Take a look at one of my favorite pages from this book:

Whimsical rhyme carries you throughout this 32-page book and will remind you and your family how present our Lord is:

If I dove 

in a submarine

under the sea

in a clever disguise, would GOD'S LOVE follow me? 

Yes!

GOD'S LOVE is EVERYWHERE: 

desert, moon, beach . . . 

there's no place at all 

that HIS LOVE cannot reach!

God's love is unstoppable! God's love never ends! And this book spills over with this message along with peace and tranquility that you can share with your child as soon as he or she is old enough to sit on your lap. Children and adults of all ages will love this book. And it's short and sweet and can be read in just a few minutes. Readers of all ages will love the sweetness that Nothing brings into your home. And while the words are sweet, the illustrations are even sweeter! 

Please take the time to read more about this book yourself on their Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram page. And as always, see what all of the Crew members think by clicking on some of the links below: