2026 Favorite Reads–Winter Addition!
This book, you guys! I adore YA and Christian YA holds a special place in my heart. This one is absolutely wonderful. Written by my critique partner Jennifer Dyer, my sons heard the premise years ago and were instantly intrigued. Through careful research (yes, she interviewed a professional hacker who tests computer systems) Jenn has created a world where the dangers of the black market organ smuggling trade clash with science and scientists and young hackers who are just trying to find out the truth. Fast-paced action, a snarky female lead, a brilliant but awkward male lead, sparks, danger, and imperfect people doing their best to save the day when the whole world feels against them! I loved it!
OK, my 20-year-old son demanded that I read this book! I told him that I needed to recover with a few romcoms after finally making it through Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson. Which was fabulous, but had like 33 viewpoint characters! He kept hounding me. You guys! Wow, what a book!!! It feels a bit like Hunger Games but with a huge dose of Ancient Rome and some young spy vibes. Twisty and surprising, the story had me messaging my son at university every time something insane happened. So well-written. The author was fabulous with plot before but with this series, he’s dug down deep to make his characters really shine! For parents: there is some language and violence, no sex scenes. An astounding general market YA novel!
It didn’t take me long to jump into book #2! Even though it is a fairly hefty tome, I did not rest with a romcom. No, I snatched it out of my sons grubby paws! So, so good!!!
This story is sooooo fun! Written by my critique partner, Becca Wierwille, this Christian kid’s book is set at a Bible camp! I myself live at a Bible camp and it was really fun to be part of Becca’s team as she created this fun story! This is a delightful mystery for kiddos who want a short, fun, chapter book to sink their teeth into. And they wouldn’t be the only ones. Barnaby, a dog of mysterious heritage and monstrous size, sinks his teeth into ten-year-old Scout’s favorite dictionary. Eating all those words, transforms him into a dog who can understand English! Scout and Barnaby team up to solve the mystery of where he came from and earn a place to call their own. Highly recommend!
In book #2 of the Scout and Barnaby Mystery Series, Scout finally gets to be a camper herself. The only problem, someone is stealing items from the girls in her tent! Can she and Barnaby solve the case or will her love of mysteries and confidence in their abilities be proven wrong before the entire camp and the camp director himself? And this one is extra special. Nessie Grace Karu has her picture in the back of this book! Each story highlights a different dog breed, as Barnaby is something of a mystery himself. Could Barnaby be part Newfoundland? You should read yourself to find out!
Book #3 in the Scout and Barnaby Mysteries Series is just as fun as the previous two but with an even stickier situation than before! When someone’s amazing duct tape dress is stolen, Scout and Barnaby must find the thief and the gown, before the saboteur wins!
A fabulous middle grade mystery by an amazing Christian author! Somehow, Taryn Souders manages to package murder in a way that is both thrilling to read and not too scary for kids. I’m so impressed! A favorite middle grade read, for sure!
This story springs out of the real events of a group of formerly-enslaved people who left Mississippi and bought property in the Appalachian mountains to form their own kingdom where equality and compassion were upheld in their own mountain sanctuary! So amazing!!!
