Clearly, Princess Leia Freyja enjoys the good things in life. Snuggling up with one of her boys on the couch while they read or even adding her adorable visage to the various books that her momma is enjoying. So here they are, folks! Some great reads from October to December of 2022! Please be patient with my photography for some of these. I’m learning about how to use the lighting in our new home and some turned out less adorable than others. This does not mean that the books were not good, though!

Oh, the fun of gear punk! Yes, I borrowed this one from Judah, my nineteen-year-old son. This general market title feels a bit like a batman story set in the old west but with magic! It is very fun, but I must mention that this is the only series of Brandon Sanderson’s that does have some inappropriate humor and the occasional swear word. There is that one pesky character, whom we love, but who is a bit rough around the edges in these ways. This series is a bit like reading the old serialized adventures from bygone days, highly dramatic, hilarious, and entertaining. If you are accustomed to general market reads, you will love it (but start with book 1) and if you are wanting more Christian fiction recommendations then stick around! I’ve got tons of those, too!

Quest of the Queen by Dawn Shipman is Christian YA set in a classic horse-and-sword fantasy world with its own different kinds of peoples and races of creatures. This second one was a little harder for me to get into than the first, but before too long I was zipping right along. Perfect for the teen who loves fantasy and wants Christian themes woven throughout.

Looking for a swoony Christian romance with tons of action? Well, Sunrise by Susan May Warren fits the bill. Set in the wilds of Alaska, I was just as delighted with the fun Alaskan life details as with the romance. A fun read!

Spooky Christian fiction? Yes, please! The Premonition at Withers Farm is now one of my favorites by Jaime Jo Wright. Hurting characters, spooky situations, deep matters of faith, and a God who shows up in the hard times. She describes her stories as “Christian Scooby-Doo” which basically means that you will get spooked during the read, but don’t worry because there are not actually any ghosts. I always zip right through this author’s stories. So good!

One of my favorite Christian authors! Carrie Stuart Parks is a forensic artist herself and so she brings so much interesting info to her characters from the field. This one took place at an Idaho ranch in the mountains which felt a lot like home for me since I live at a Bible camp in Eastern WA … which is also in the mountains! Lots of action with just a tiny wink of romance. Such a great read!

Oh, my! This book!!! So, not my normal type of read at all but part of the movie was filmed up at our house and so after REALLY enjoying the movie and what our neck of the woods looks like from the air, I just had to read the book. Wow, what an amazing story and Jesse and Daisy Brown were people of faith as well! Their relationship with God shone through in the book like it couldn’t on the screen and I loved it. Prepare for tears though, so many tears!

This one was just plain fun. Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen, yes please! A delightful and satisfying read all around.

Now, you guys know about my love of RomComs … this one was just exactly what I needed! Sweet, hilarious, awkward, heartwarming. All the feels and the laughter and the romance. Loved it!

Scruff lay down by the fire after long, grueling hours plowing our remote mountain road and so Princess Leia Freyja took a break from her reading to snuggle up at his side. Aren’t they adorable! Where is your favorite place to read … or nap?

OK, prepare yourself for all of the tears folks! Linda Byler doesn’t just write Amish fiction, she is Amish (she writes her novels in a notebook) and so she has all of the honesty and warmth of someone who loves her community but is real about the struggles that accompany the joys. Clearly, I picked up this book because there was a Newfoundland on the front of one of the three Christmas novellas (A Dog for Christmas) but all three books in Amish Romance At Christmastime were good. But yeah, so much crying!!! Prepare yourself, my friends!

This one made me laugh and cry, which is my favorite I think! A young woman looking for her biological father doesn’t realize how much trouble she might be walking into. I think this is my favorite of Robin Jones Gunn’s many wonderful stories.

More Father Christmas from Robin Jones Gunn! The perfect story for snuggling up by the fire or sitting and enjoying the glow of Christmas lights. I was so glad that the story continued after the first book.

Speaking of snuggling up by the fire … Princess Leia Freyja is such a loyal dog, dutifully helping her guy get some much-needed rest.

And the final book in the series! This one has a different POV character but still has the nostalgia and warmth of the other books and that same amazing small town British setting.

I loved this book! It was funny, it was sweet, it was thought-provoking, and romantic! She is such a good writer and so good at bringing out the struggles and warmth of the holidays in this great Christmas read! Plus, there is a home re-design and TV competition fun!

This is a trilogy of unrelated Christmas novellas. Now, the middle novella was absolutely hilarious and delightful. It is written by the well-known author Melissa Ferguson. The first and final novellas are not quite at the same level of writing craft, but might still provide what you want for a sweet Christmas read so it is well worth it to give them a chance, especially since you get the more polished Melissa Ferguson story with them!

I have heard a lot about Mimi Matthews before but never tried one of her stories. I was also a little bit concerned by the title. Would there be gaslighting? Reading about emotional abuse is not my favorite thing and so I was cautious. Nope, no gaslighting!!! Yay! There is a plot element where someone is converting their country estate to gaslight and although there are secrets kept, much drama, and of course swoony romance, the insidious manipulation one sees when one person gaslights another was absent. I will definitely be reading more by this talented author!

And that’s all folks! So many good reads and such good snuggles with my reading buddy Princess Leia Freyja. Don’t worry, she will be back soon to share some wonderful books from our 2023 reading list. Happy reading, friends!

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5 Classics Your Kids Will Love

Treasure Island

A classic adventure story in every sense, Treasure Island is a family favorite. This is one of the fastest paced classic books that I have ever read. Never a dull moment and full of pirates and mystery and the terrible lure of treasure and the ache of betrayal. Yes, there is some violence with all the swashbuckling pirates and their evil plans. But if your kids enjoy adventure stories, they will love Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale. Treasure Island would be a great choice if you are looking for that first classic novel for your kids.

A Christmas Carol

Our family’s favorite way to read classics is by listening to them on audio book in the car. After only watching the various movie versions of this story, it was a bit of a shock to realize that this classic tale is in essence a ghost story. My children were perhaps a bit young when we first jumped into this amazing story of greed and redemption, but we stuck with it and were so very glad that we did. Yes, it is spooky, but beautifully written with enough action to keep my three boys interested. In the end it is a tale about second chances and redemption. About leaving behind what you were and becoming something better. A powerful story and with ghosts! What more could you want? An amazing literary experience, whatever your age.

The Lost World

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s adventure in the Amazon is one of literature’s first dinosaur stories. Hack through the vast jungle along with our heroes and discover a world untouched by time in which the great creatures of old not only thrive, but rule. One of the most fascinating things about this book is seeing an early view of dinosaurs. The mighty Allosaurus, a creature with large hind legs and small forelegs, is given some of the habits of the kangaroo. He hops about instead of using the thunderous running charge that modern stories give him. Fair warning, there is some racism and imperialism in this story. However, I found that these moments can be a great opportunity to talk with my children about respect for other nationalities and cultures. Also, the love story does not have a happy ending, not a tragic death, just a parting of ways. Despite these drawbacks, we consider The Lost World an adventure story that is well worth your time.

Around the World in 80 Days

This is probably the first classic that I read to my sons and they absolutely adored it, despite the difficult language. It is an adventure story with a touch of romance and yes, despite being certain that the story will not work out at the finish, there is a happy ending. Exotic locals and hair-raising adventures coupled with a race against time make for a fabulous read. There is a deeper level to this story as well as a man of precision and pride circles the globe before he finally realizes what he truly values. This one is a family favorite which I read to my boys before our youngest was in kindergarten. Such a fun book!

The Hound of the Baskervilles

This spine-chilling classic is sure to please if your kids can wade through the more cerebral moments as Holmes displays his mental prowess through lengthy exhibitions of reason and deduction. This book can be quite frightening as the mysterious hound haunts the moor and it looks more and more like a ghost and less like the evil machinations of a human antagonist. Fear not though, there is a flesh and blood villain behind these hauntings. The most frightening portion might be the old legend that is told at the beginning of the book, where the infamous Hugo Baskerville kidnaps a young maiden and the hound tears out his throat as he chases her across the moor. As an adult, I could read between the lines and see that this kidnapping was not for the purposes of having tea and cakes with the girl. But younger readers will simply feel the sense of danger without realizing Hugo Baskerville’s darker intent. The story follows Dr. Watson as he attempts to discern the source of the phantom hound at Baskerville Hall. Meet the various suspects, see the ghostly hound bounding about and causing havok, and attempt to hold onto your reason as the canine apparition appears to actually be the villain. But Holmes and his logic will win the day in the end. If your children enjoy a gothic tale or ghost story, The Hound of the Baskervilles is sure to become a favorite. But if they are prone to nightmares, I might save this one for later. The high vocabulary can be daunting, so try listening to this one on audio book in the car.

There you go my friend, five classics that have enough action and adventure for young readers of today. May you and your children read and enjoy!

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Dragon books are a staple for the adventurous young reader. Here are five, tried and true books about dragons that our family has enjoyed.

Dragon Slayer’s Academy–by Kate McMullan

This fun series is a great introduction to fantasy for children who are wanting to leave early readers behind and pick up their first “big kid book.” At the same reading level as the Magic Treehouse books, these hilarious chapter books feature a Medieval underdog defeating huge and ferocious dragons through improbable tricks and triumphs. Slapstick humor, an odd boarding school, magic, and plenty of mayhem. Never containing anything too scary or creepy, these books are a great fit for their audience of first to third grade readers.

Dragon Rider—by Cornelia Funke

A beautiful middle grade novel by the accomplished author of Inkheart, Dragonrider is perfect for a young reader looking to jump into longer books. It is thick, but reads fast with easy language and gentle adventure full of friendship and amazing fantasy creatures. With a girl protagonist and quiet yet beautiful prose, this quest adventure will delight girl readers. But don’t count boys readers out, as my sons absolutely loved the story as well.

Wings of Fire–by Tui T. Sutherland

 This exciting middle grade series is packed with adventure and death-defying battles and escapes. While it is definitely written for middle grade students (3rd to 6th grade) there is some violence and occasionally a character will die, so sensitive readers should be cautious. Dragons are the view point characters and they sometimes fight to the death as they must survive a dangerous world and unite the dragon tribes, bringing peace from a long and terrible war. My sons are tearing through these book. They are eating up the high danger and epic battles and rooting for the five young dragons who are attempting to discover what it means to be a hero.

How To Train Your Dragon—by Cressida Cowell

One of the funniest books I have ever read to my children, How To Train Your Dragon is a marvelous conglomeration of slap stick humor, cool dragon facts, unlikely heroes, and high adventure. The whole series is hilarious and yet the author is also capable of making the reader consider difficult topics like slavery, justice, bullying, and how to treat an enemy. I have laughed so hard it hurts while trapped among the pages of this fabulous middle grade series and I have also wept as Hiccup stands against the injustices of a cruel world. There is something for everyone here. Although, to be fair, there are very few female characters. The first book contains … none, although Valhallarama, Hiccups mother is mentioned in passing. Eventually, Hiccup is joined by Camicazi a feisty young swordsgirl in book three and who could forget the formidable Chieftainess Big Boobied Bertha and her suffocating bosoms of death? I made my boys swear they would never use any of the insults that the young Vikings were trying to perfect in their Advanced Rudery classes and then we went on to enjoy these amazing books. There are sword fights and injuries, but the violence isn’t gory, although a villain might lose a leg or eye on occasion. This series would be best enjoyed by grade school readers who love action, underdogs, heroes, and are not deeply offended by a small amount of potty humor. Think Diary of a Wimpy kid only cleaner. Toothless will occasionally poo in someone’s helmet and one song does extol the killing powers of Big Boobied Bertha’s great cushiony um … assets. These moments can be easily skipped if you are reading aloud and as a mother, I felt that the deeper truths about justice and heroism far outweighed any inappropriate (although always hilarious) moments.

Dragonwatch–by Brandon Mull

Middle grade fantasy that includes spine-chilling fairy tale classics like witches and conniving demons, Brandon Mull manages to use all these fantasy terrors and still make the books a delight for middle grade audiences. Appropriate for 9-12 year old readers, but still creepy and intense, this fantasy adventure may be too much for sensitive readers. There are also some battles and a bit of violence. My nine-year-old adored it, although he is not easily frightened. As a parent, I know that Brandon Mull is careful to include consequences for bad behavior and show his child characters learning and growing from their many mistakes. A banquet of zombies, dragon attacks, scheming demons, and chanting witches Dragonwatch will thrill young readers who enjoy just a side dish of creepy with their fun fantasy fare. A fun-filled read all the way through.

So there you are. Five dragons books to take with you over summer vacation, or anywhere for that matter. Enjoy!

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5 Books About Bullying Your Kids Will Love

There’s nothing like having your very own bully to ruin a perfectly good school day or year for that matter. Having struggled through an entire school year where a bully singled out one of our sons, I know that taking a break from the stress of the school day with a fabulous book can be just what a bullied child needs. How much better if that book also has a hero or heroine who refuses to be used and belittled and overcomes their own bully. Here are 5 books about bullies that you kids will absolutely love.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

A classic story of bullying. The BFG is always picked on because his is smaller than the other more gigantic giants. Also he refuses to consume humans due to the unkind nature of such activities as kidnapping and snorking down unsuspecting school children with wild abandon. Who couldn’t find a soulmate in this large and gentle soul? You might find your child refusing to eat meat after reading though, as The BFG makes quite a moving speech about not consuming sausages. It is a little spooky, but also very fun. A wonderful tale from the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach that is sure to please.

Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John A Flanagan

One of the things that I absolutely love about this book is that the hero’s bully eventually becomes his best friend. Readers get to see bullying from both perspectives. How it hurts both the victim and the perpetrator. Watching both boys learn and grow and eventually become life-long friends is one of the most powerful elements to this medieval hero tale. There are a few swear words in these books (Damn and Hell) maybe three to five per book as well as some violence. There are wars and battles with swords and axes, but the author does a good job of not making the violence gory and gratuitous. These books tell powerful stories about friendship, hard work, loyalty, and doing the right thing even when it is difficult.

How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

The reason I waited a few years (until my youngest was in … cough cough … preschool) to read these books to my boys is the same reason that kids dealing with a bully will absolutely adore them. There is a lot of bullying in this book. A whole lot of bullying. There are actually classes on bullying, which of course Hiccup does not get get an “A” in, not even a “C.” Advanced Rudery and Frightening Foreigners are just a few of the courses offered at the school for Vikings that Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III attends and he is terrible at all of them. But when the day comes to choose his very own hunting dragon, Hiccup hopes to redeem himself. Running blind and for his life, Hiccup makes a desperate grab for a dragon and manages to snag the smallest, wimpiest, snottiest, and most disobedient little dragon in the entire barbaric archipelago. How can he become the hero his father expects him to be, if he can’t even train his dragon to fetch a single fish? I made my boys make a solemn vow not to ever talk like the Vikings in this fabulous book (they are always insulting each other in very creative ways) and to never ever ever ever never call anyone Big Boobied Bertha (the name of the chieftainess of a rival tribe) and we proceeded to enjoy this amazing series that literally made me laugh and cry all the time. These books are that good. The author is able to expose the hilarity of life as well of the horror of not just bullying, but slavery and injustice as well. An amazing series that I wouldn’t have missed for the world.

The McVentures of Me, Morgan McFactoid: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow by Mark S Waxman

Morgan is a science wiz and collector of strange and unusual facts, but he has a problem. The fact that he is the only boy in middle school who shaves has caught the eye of the local bully and his friends. But what if he could melt that hair away? Can science save the day, or will Morgan’s new secret weapon cause nothing but a rash of new difficulties? This was a really fun book that my boys adored because it is chock full of amazing facts. They kept rushing to tell me some new tidbit about flushing the toilet, strange animals, or the radioactivity of Marie Curie’s notebooks. A super fun read.

The Outcasts by John A Flanagan

John Flanagan does it again with this spin off series to his Ranger’s Apprentice books. Who doesn’t love the rough and tumble Skandians? He takes us into a world of wolfships and pillaging and young men on the verge of manhood who might never fit in. There is a definite theme of bullying here as Hal, a half Skandian boy must constantly defend his right to be a part of a wolfship crew. When Hal manages to surround himself with a group of hopeless outcasts, does he have an chance of making the cut? Again, the difficulties with this book are scattered swear words (Damn and Hell) and some violence. These wonderful books about bravery and friendship should not be missed. I simply waited until our boys were seven or eight to enjoy them. I would think that if your children are ready to read The Hobbit, with its fearsome dragon and epic sword fights, that they would enjoy this wonderful series.

So there you have it. Five amazing books whose hero or heroine is not thwarted by having a bully but goes on to do amazing things despite being picked on. Sometimes we just need to see that there is hope. Enjoying a tale of overcoming and adventure just might be the breath of fresh air that a child you love needs. Whether facing a bully or not, may you enjoy the sweeping magic of a fabulous book, today and every day.

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