What We're Reading in August 2017

As the old saying goes, "You win some. You lose some." For the most part, I'd count this past month's worth of reading as a loss. Summertime-fun left us with very little focused reading time. We read together as a family nearly every day. But, our individual reading habits kind of went by the wayside as we opted for out-of-doors activities most of the time instead. We have the unfinished books and farmer's tans to prove it.

We'll be hitting repeat on most of the books from last month's book list. Here's what we'll be reading as we wind down summer.

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Read Aloud- everybody

The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic- So far my kids have been loving this quirky fantasy about Persephone Smudge and her quest to prove that the entire island she calls home is actually the belly of a sleeping giant. I, on the other hand, think it's a bit meh. Please note, however, that my distaste for the writing is completely personal. I'm not a fan of the fantasy genre. Not at all. What makes this particular book even more displeasurable for me is the unbelievable silliness woven into the narration. I also don't like the way the setting continues to change every-other-chapter, making it difficult to follow the plot from chapter to chapter. I find myself giving one giant eye roll every time I pick it up. Fortunately, it is still a book I would recommend. It's clean and definitely appropriate for tweens and below. My daughter read it solo last year and absolutely loved it. I think it is better suited as a read alone, not a read aloud.

Jamie- that's me!

The Screwtape Letters- Earlier this month, I asked some of my spiritual sisters and mentors to tell me the top two most spiritually-forming books they've ever read. I compiled a list of their answers and decided to slowly read through each title in the next few years. For no particular reason, I landed on The Screwtape Letters this month. I'm a wee bit embarrassed to admit that I've never read this pillar of Christian lit. I'm about halfway through with it, and to be honest, I'm not sure what kind of review to give it. On the one hand, it has been a great reminder to me of the spiritual battles waging all around humanity and has made me really evaluate my view of Satan and his abilities or lack thereof. But on the other hand, because it is written as a satire and because God is referred to as the "Enemy," I find it hard to follow at times. I'm so used to thinking of Satan as the enemy that I've often had to reread passages in order to make the mental shift this book requires. 

The Ostrich and Other Lost Things- I've been vetting this soon-to-be released middle grade fiction to see if it would be something I could add to our read aloud list or to one child's Mom-assigned list. I just turned the final pages and will most definitely be adding it to our personal library and recommending it to my kids. 11-year-old Olivia Grant has reached an age when her older brother's autism diagnosis begins to mean new things for her and her family. She struggles to find her place in this delicate sibling relationship. In her misguided effort to help him find NORMAL, she learns a powerful lesson about unconditional love.

This gem is due to hit shelves in February 2018. If you have a desire to help cultivate compassion, empathy, and the selfless love of siblings, run (don't walk) to preorder it.

Heart Sisters: Be the Friend You Want- I don't have much to share about this one as I'm only on page three. I picked it up because I was intrigued by the subtitle. End of story. We shall see...

Sweetie Pea- 9th grade

*Insert Book Photo Here*

I wish I could give you the full 411 on my daughter's reading for the month, but alas, she is volunteering at a local Bible camp for most of August. She'll be busy washing dishes, scrubbing toilets, and cleaning out animal pens. It might sound like slave labor, but it's actually a labor of love of her own choosing. The downside is that camp life leaves her very little time to read. Until next month...

Super Boy- 6th grade

War Horse- (Mom-assigned book) My oldest son is still plowing through this World War I fiction which shows the realities of war through the eyes of a cavalry horse. In full disclosure, there is one chapter that includes some verbal abuse by a drunken father and another chapter that uses the words hell and heck. 



World War II- (Just-for-fun book)

Blonde Warrior- 5th grade

Henry Reed Inc.- (Mom-assigned book) He's almost done with the misadventures of Henry and his neighborhood friend as they spend a summer learning the value of free enterprise. We read it together as a family a few years ago and now he's reading it solo. 

Great Escapes of World War II- (Just-for-fun book)

Greased Lightning- 3rd grade

On the Far Side of the Mountain- My son is still working his way through this wilderness adventure. Neither one of us had ever read it before, but since we both enjoyed the original My Side of the Mountain, we figured the sequel would be great too. While my son likes it, we both agree that it's not nearly as captivating as we had hoped it would be.



The Total Fishing Manual- (Just-for-fun book) He's read and re-read this one about four different times since spring.

The Dude- Kindergarten

Dan's Hat- I wish I could say I've scheduled in lots of reading practice for my youngest this summer, but that would be a big-fat-lie. I haven't. So, for nearly the third month in a row, he's still reading this vintage emergent reader I picked up at a used book sale this past June. My inconsistency would have bothered me back when I first started homeschooling, but now with ten years under my belt, a lack of scheduled reading for a five-year-old doesn't trouble me in the slightest. If he's still reading this same book by the time he graduates, then I'll be concerned.

What books are you reading this month? I've shared my list. Now you share yours.