We're now deep into the first month of the new year and while my kids and I have started many books these past few weeks, we haven't really gotten to read very few pages from any of them. I blame The Great British Baking Show.
We discovered the show just after Christmas. Apparently, we were the only people on the planet who hadn't seen a single episode during quarantine. Since then, we've spent way too much time watching Season 1 in the evenings instead of reading. But, these are wonky times. And sometimes, weird days demand a change of scenery...or media consumption, as it were.
Books have been our constant companions for years. And since we're not ones to be fair-weather friends, I've no doubt we'll be returning to our regular reading schedule shortly.
Here's what we are slooooooooowly reading through this month. (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.)
Read Aloud- everybody
Johnny Tremain- After crashing and burning with a colonial-era middle-grade fiction last month, it took some courage to take the leap into another one. We're not many pages into this Newbery classic, but so far, we've not come upon one single swear word or inappropriately graphic scene.
When silversmith apprentice Johnny Tremain burns his hand in an accident, he can no longer work for his master and is forced to find a new trade. He takes a job at The Boston Observer and ends up playing a pivotal role in the fight for independence.
When silversmith apprentice Johnny Tremain burns his hand in an accident, he can no longer work for his master and is forced to find a new trade. He takes a job at The Boston Observer and ends up playing a pivotal role in the fight for independence.
Jamie- that's me!
The Prayer Box- After really enjoying two of Lisa Wingate's newest titles, Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends I decided to check out her back catalog, beginning with The Prayer Box, the first of a three-part series. I wish I could say I'm enjoying it as much as I had hoped, but it's really only so-so.
Running from her past, single-mother Tandi Reese unexpectedly finds herself the temporary caretaker of the home of a deceased church organ player, Iola Poole. While cleaning out Iola's belongings, Tandi discovers a large collection of letters that will change the trajectory of her life.
Running from her past, single-mother Tandi Reese unexpectedly finds herself the temporary caretaker of the home of a deceased church organ player, Iola Poole. While cleaning out Iola's belongings, Tandi discovers a large collection of letters that will change the trajectory of her life.
Crazy Busy- In this ridiculously short book, Pastor Kevin DeYoung unpacks a few of the reasons behind American busyness and what we can do about it.
Sweetie Pea- 12th grade/College Sophomore
The Great Divorce- In this classic allegory about a bus ride from heaven to hell, C.S. Lewis challenges our view of good and evil.
Super Boy- 9th grade
Killing Paton- New York Times Bestselling author Bill O'Reilly explores the mysterious circumstances that surround the death of General George Patton in this narrative non-fiction.
Please note: There is some mild language and graphic war scenes in this book.
Blonde Warrior- 8th grade
An Elephant in the Garden- My middle son and I started an online book club for tweens in our area and have chosen this book as our January pick.
Inspired by true events, this is the story of how one family rescues an elephant from a zoo before it is destroyed during the air raids of WWII.
*Edited to add: There are two instances of language in the final chapter of the book. An American soldier uses the words, "hell" and "d*mned." After finishing the book, we hope to watch the movie.
Greased Lightning- 6th grade
The Bronze Bow- My son is only one chapter away from finishing this book that he started at the end of December.
After the brutal death of his father at the hands of the Romans, Daniel bar Jamin wants revenge. He's filled with hate and can't find a way forward until he meets a man from Nazareth named Jesus who shows him how to forgive the unforgivable.
After the brutal death of his father at the hands of the Romans, Daniel bar Jamin wants revenge. He's filled with hate and can't find a way forward until he meets a man from Nazareth named Jesus who shows him how to forgive the unforgivable.
The Dude- 3rd grade
Viking Adventure- I am a huge fan of most of Bulla's books. They are draped in beautiful language, filled with brave male protagonists, and are a hit with most boys. Viking Adventures is no exception.
That's what we've been reading this month. How about you?
so funny- because for our Friday night movie and pizza night, we watched ZOO on amazon prime- a movie based on The Elephant in the Garden. It was good!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a movie version. I'll have to check it out and mention it to the book club kids.
DeleteYou may also enjoy The Zoo Keeper's Wife if you like movies combining zoos/animals and WW2. It was recommended by my teenage daughter's Covid Movie List for her US History course last spring. It may be more of a teenager movie though, it does have some mature themes.
DeleteSounds like I've got two movies to look into now. Thanks!
DeleteI loved the Prayer Box. It was so slow in the beginning, but the ending really was touching.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost halfway and it is just starting to pick up, so here's hoping. I will definitely read it all the way to the end.
DeleteLove that cooking show! So I blame my evenings on that too. I'm finishing up a book called When Never Comes by Barbara Davis and will check out Crazy Busy!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...what an interesting title. I've not heard of it. I'm assuming it's a non-fiction???
DeleteI had no idea there was even a show called that, so you’re not alone! Buuuttt, I might have to check it out haha!
ReplyDeleteI've heard that the later seasons have some language in them. But the first few are very clean and can be watched by all ages.
DeleteI started The Prayer Box a while back and gave up on it. I was having a hard time getting into it. I'm reading God's Smuggler and Man Eater's of Kumaon (not something I'd normally pick, but my father in law highly recommended it), both are very good.
ReplyDeleteMy younger son is also reading The Bronze Bow!
Brother Andrew's story is so good! I've not hear of Man Eaters. But my curiosity is piqued.
DeleteI just finished Good Hope Road by Lisa Wingate. It's the second in her tending roses series, but you can read it as a stand alone.I read the first in the series and didn't really care for it, but the second book is very good and I'm about to start the third in the series. My fifth grader is reading farmer boy, my third grader is reading a mystery from The Hardy boys series, we are reading the last book in the Green Ember series as a family read aloud and also about to start Follow My Leader to go along with our human body science unit.
ReplyDelete*I started the Prayer Box by Wingate but couldn't get through it. Please update us to let us know if it's worth a full read.
Such great titles on your list. We've not read the last of the Green Ember but hope to one day. It was difficult reading and then waiting for the next title. I finally decided to just wait until all the books were published. But now, we've forgotten so much of the plot that we'll probably have to go back through to reread and catch up.
DeleteRead Aloud - we are re-reading the Narnia series now that my youngest is old enough to participate. :) We are on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe right now
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Jane Eyre with my senior daughter. I think she really enjoyed it! She is taking a college history class for which she needs to read Tale of Two Cities, so I think she is getting ready to dive into that.
I appreciate the idea of the elephant book. We are in WWII in history right now, and my 8th grade son loves it. He is currently reading Samuel Morris (a biography). When he finishes that, I may look into the elephant one.
My 2nd grade boy just finished his official reading curriculum and is super excited to just read chapter books for class like his siblings do. :) He is starting out with one of the Flat Stanley books. :)
When we read the original Flat Stanley, we made "flat" versions of ourselves all around the country to friends and family asking them to send "us" back with souvenirs from their state. It was such a fun month of mail!
DeleteJohnny Tremaine was part of the reading curriculum at my (very conservative!) Christian school in the 80s!! There is actually a whole unit study curriculum for it. So you should be safe!!
ReplyDeleteThank you. We are about half-way through with it and have not read anything that I'd consider inappropriate. So, I feel great about continuing.
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