What We're Reading in February 2018

I've tried my hardest to avoid it. I've sanitized, washed, and re-washed until my hands have grown chapped. But alas, germs have found us. A few of us are down for the count and are nursing the sore throats and head colds that have taken our tiny little Mayberry by storm.


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Looking back in my 5-year journal, I can see that the first few weeks of February have never been very kind to us in that regard. Head colds, stomach bugs, and sinus infections seem to be our late-winter standard.

The good news: While sick, we'll all have lots of time to linger in bed and read in the next few days.
The bad news: Because of my own sore throat, our read aloud time has come to an abrupt halt until further notice.

Here's what we'll be reading while we convalesce.

Read Aloud- everybody

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street- I was super excited to come upon this title on so many trusted book lists recently. Some have even compared it to the Penderwicks, a series that has landed in the top 3 spots on our most favorite books list for the past few years. Sadly, comparing it to the Penderwicks is a gross overreach. Other than the fact that the characters are all siblings and that the story is set in modern times, I don't see the parallels. At all. The characters are underdeveloped, the plot is shallow, and the chapters rarely end in compelling cliff-hangers. To make matters worse, the dialogue portions have demanded that I do quite a bit of on-the-fly editing as I've read aloud. Words like dang, freaking, fudge (as a replacement for the "f" word), and that blows have appeared repeatedly throughout the text.

While it's not the worst book we've ever read together, it definitely does not live up to all the hype it's received. I've been told that the resolution/ending is the best part of this book. And since we're only three-fourths of the way through with it, I'm holding out hope that the story will redeem itself.

Update: The very last chapters did bring about a lovely conversation about kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. The story tied up with a nice little bow at the end. While I think it could be read aloud and edited on-the-fly, I'm not sure that I would recommend The Vanderbeekers as a read alone because of the crass, off-colored language that the characters use.

Jamie- that's me!

America's First Daughter- The Early American enthusiast in me cannot recommend this book enough. Based on the real daily correspondence of Thomas Jefferson and his close family and friends, this colonial drama follows the life of Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph, the eldest daughter of the third president of the United States. Admittedly, many parts of the story are a bit scandalous and often read like a clean soap opera (Is that even possible?). But, I've done quite a bit of fact checking and have concluded that the authors/historians of this historical fiction have done history justice. Even the most unbelievable parts can be proven by court records, historical evidence, and Jefferson's own letters.

Please note that this book contains some mild language. In addition, while the authors have used discretion in not including any illicit sex scenes, they have chosen to mention the adultery, abortion, incest, and spousal abuse that are sad but provable elements to Jefferson's family timeline.



The Gift of Twins- This is the third book in the Little Falls Legacy series I started last spring. Written by a family friend, the books are all loosely based on the childhood hometown of her and my husband. It's been exciting to read names and places that I recognize and have visited over the years.



Better Together- This soon-to-be-released book from my friend and fellow homeschool blogger, Pam Barnhill of the Your Morning Basket podcast, promises to be a great primer for a successful Morning Time routine. I received an advanced copy and can't wait to crack it open. Morning time has been a staple in our homeschool for the last 10 years. I have no doubt this will be a great shot in the arm for me.

Sweetie Pea- 9th grade

Just Do Something- This one landed at the #10 spot of my Most Favorite Books from 2017. While I greatly enjoyed Pastor Kevin DeYoung's no-nonsense, practical look at "finding one's self," I knew I was not necessarily the target market for his words. It's much more suited for teens and young adults who are looking to find the answers to three of life's biggest questions:

Whom, if anyone, should I marry?
What career path should I choose?
What's God's will for my life?

This past summer, I added it to my daughter's MUST READS list.

Daring to Hope- After reading Katie Davis' breakthrough book Kisses from Katie last November, my daughter couldn't wait to read this followup title. While I've not yet read it, I've heard that it does paint some very bleak pictures and shows the very real tragedies that are faced by so many missionaries serving in third world countries. But it also shows God's redemption and the hope found only in Christ.  

Super Boy- 6th grade

The Bronze Bow- (Mom assigned book) This book is not only on my son's literary list for the year, it's also on my Top 10 list of Books to Inspire Compassion in Homeschooled Tweens. Set during the life of Christ and with themes of forgiveness, it will make a great story for my son to read leading up to the Easter season. 

10 True Tales: World War II Heroes- (Just for fun book) 

Blonde Warrior- 5th grade

Trumpet of the Swan- (Mom assigned book) Like his older brother, my second son will also be starting a new-to-him book on his literary list. (We actually read it as a family several years ago. But because he was so young at the time, my son doesn't remember it.) The book is a coming of age story staring Louis, a Trumpeter Swan who was born mute. His father, the cob, seeks to rectify the "deficiency" by providing Louis with a real trumpet with which to woo his love, Serena.

Personally, I don't love this book nearly as much as the other E.B. White classics, but think it's definitely worth reading.

Encyclopedia Brown- (Just-for-fun book) I borrowed dual copies of this book so that my two middle boys could read it in tandem and enjoy talking about it with one another. Books are like that--they build relationships. I read the first two chapters out loud to my sons and handed them each a copy for solo reading.

Each chapter is a stand-alone mystery that the young Encyclopedia Brown, boy detective, must solve. After the facts are read, and the mystery revealed, the reader is asked to guess how/why the detective was able to come to a logical conclusion about that particular mystery. He or she can, then, turn to the last pages of the book to read how Brown solved the case.

Greased Lightning- 3rd grade

Centerburg Tales- My son is finishing up this Homer Price sequel that he started last month. It continues the misadventures of young Homer in the sleepy, little town of Centerburg. I'd highly recommend this book to any Andy Griffith fans as it recounts the simple ideals of rural America in the late 1950s and early 60s.

Encyclopedia Brown- (Just-for-fun book)

The Dude- Kindergarten

Charlotte's Web- In my humble opinion, this classic contains the best first and last lines of any children's book in American literature.

"Where's Pa going with that axe?" has compelled generations of kids to keep reading. That intro is word crafting at its finest. And "It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both," is the heart cry of every writer that I know. May we all be good friends AND good writers. It's not surprising that my love for Wilbur and his friends has made Charlotte's Web my GO TO to launch each of my kids into the world of chapter books.

I'll be reading this one aloud to my son--just the two of us. 

Basic Phonics Readers- This is a set of phonics-based readers that corresponds with my son's phonics curriculum. The program schedule plods along slowly through each of these mini books, so I've been weaving in other emergent readers when necessary.

That's what we'll be reading this month. How about you? 

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