What We Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll January 2025

 

Confronting the Thief by Jane Hamon

The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  So what power does God's people have against him?  What can we do when it feels like we're in the most hopeless of situations?  Hamon takes her readers through some of life's most daunting circumstances: loss of health, finances, and loved ones.  And then using Biblical tactics, teaches us to pray and confront the thief for what he's stolen.  Hamon speaks directly to the Lord's promises and how to make our requests known strategically to reclaim what's ours.  We read this one as a part of a small group.  I did enjoy it; however, I felt like Hamon tried to extend her metaphors sometimes beyond the breaking point.  Her points are valid, but this book was a lot to absorb all at once.  And I do think it's best utilized in a group setting.

Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington

This book was assigned as part of my daughter's American History curriculum and since I'd never read it, I chose to read it with her.  Washington shares a brief biographical history of his life and work in bringing African Americans "out of slavery" and into a thriving society.  I loved reading this one in his own words and it gave me incredible insight into life at the time.

Christian Heroes: Paul Brand by Janet and Geoff Benge

We love this series.  These Christian Heroes biographies are so well written and it was enjoyable to meet a medical missionary in this edition.  Plus as an added bonus, Paul Brand was living into the 2000's so it made him even more relatable for my 8th grader.  This is an incredible series that we've been enjoying in my son's junior high years, but I would really recommend it to anyone.

The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco

See my full review here.

What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge

This is a sweet story of Miss Katy Carr, the oldest of the six Carr children.  Like all young girls, she has big life plans and every good intention for leading her younger siblings.  But when an accident leaves her bedridden, Katy has to muster all the courage and patience she has.  This book falls along the same lines as Five Little Peppers and Understood Betsy.  A sweet, sweet story for the 11-year-old and under crowd.

Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman

See my full review here.

Our Homeschool Read Alouds:

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

I have quite a few WWII books on our list this year, but I'm really glad I started with this one.  Three orphans from London escape with a group of refugees to the countryside.  Their mission: to hide from Hitler's bombs.  Their real mission: find a family.  This book would be a great way to introduce the WWII topic to the middle-grades crowd.  It's gentle, focusing on both the historical background as well as the children's search for home.  Nothing about this story is too heavy, but it also doesn't ignore the fear that England was living under.  Glad we included it in this year's selections.

Escape to Lichtenstein by Ed Dunlop

Another WWII... this time a young Jewish boy is running from the Nazis, trying to escape to freedom.  Along the way, he meets a brother and sister who set out to help him.  Although a short read, this one packs a punch and does include several scenes of being chased and shot at.  Although the language is for a younger audience, a couple of instances of death make this one tricky to place.  But I did appreciate that the characters focus on putting their faith and trust in the Lord to protect and guide them.  A lesser-known title that's worth exploring.

What are you reading?

Safe Harbor {Review}

 

When Geetha and her mother move from India to Rhode Island, they leave behind everything Geetha loves-- friends, loving grandparents, her dog... all she's ever known and valued  And adjusting to American life proves to be challenging.  If all this change wasn't enough, Geetha must also face being made fun of.  It just seems so overwhelming.  Until she meets Miguel, and the two of them help rescue a harp seal.  It's her friendship with Miguel that helps Geetha make sense of this new life and her place in it.  As they get to know each other, Geetha begins to develop a deeper sense of who she is and how she's meant to fit in the world.

This middle-grade read, written in verse, addresses several topics of interest: pollution, immigration, family structure, and more.   The writer's style really allows readers to "see" into Geetha's mind and better understand how she's feeling.  The characters were very well-written and easily relatable.  However, the conservation issues felt a little clunky and out of place.  They felt like they had been simply dropped into a book that was trying hard to address several themes. The story mostly centered on Geetha and her family and was interesting enough without this added element.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Top 10 Winter Field Trips

 *This post was originally published on 1/18/16.  Enjoy!

  

 The months of January and February always make me anxious about homeschooling.  The excitement of the holidays has passed and summer vacation feels so far away.  It's the cold winter days of being stuck indoors and stuck in a rut.  So to combat the doldrums of the winter months, we've brainstormed a list of Winter Field Trips to get us through to warmer days and spring break.

1. The Planetarium--We love attending our local planetarium.  There are a variety of shows to learn about everything from Egyptian civilizations to the seasons to constellations.  We have a show scheduled for February exploring the moons and planets.

2. Ice Skating--Why not take advantage of the season? Combine that extra energy, the cold weather, and PE time to try something new.

3. Local Art Exhibits--Check out your local art gallery for new artists and styles for your kiddos.  Some local galleries will even have special events with the artist and hand-on opportunities.

4. The Grocery Store--This is a fun location for the winter when so many of us are stumped for seasonal produce.  Many grocery stores will offer tours of behind the seasons locations including the freezer, deli, and storage areas.  Most also offer free samples of produce and lunch.

5. Craft Store Activity--Michael's, Jo-ann's, and many local craft stores offer in store classes and activities based on the seasons and holidays.  Check out local craft stores, ceramic stores, and bookstores as well for activity times and sales.

6. Indoor Pool--Find an indoor pool.  Even if you're not a gym member, most will offer a special daily rate.  This is another great way to break up the day and get that extra energy out.

7. Local Factory Tour--You would be surprised how many of these hidden gems there are.  We've toured jelly bean, cheese, and handicraft factories.  Samples and coupons are often included as well.

8. Local Government Building-- Contact your local police department, fire department, or city officials office.  Ask your children to prepare a list of questions before hand as these are wonderful opportunities for learning about local government.  And if you're lucky enough to live near a state capital, make sure to take a tour.

9. Library--Explore the library even if you've been there a million times before.  A behind the scenes look at how books are sorted, categorized, and archived will give you a unique look into your local library.  It might also help you discover a new part of the library that you've never noticed before.

10. Virtual Online Tours--There are countless virtual tours and field trips online.  Studying Early American history?  Look for a tour of Plymouth.  Studying plants?  Look for a field trip online about bee keeping or crop rotation.  The sky is the limit with field trips right on your computer.  Bonus: No gas money or travel expenses.

So what about you?  How are you combating the winter doldrums?  

And what are your favorite winter field trips?

The Secret of Honeycake {Review}

 

Set during the Great Depression, this is the story of 12-year-old Hurricane who is trying to find her voice. Since her mother's death, Hurricane has counted on sister Bronte to speak up for her.  But when Bronte becomes sick and has to go away for treatment, Hurricane is sent to live with her Aunt Claire, an outspoken, opinionated force to be reckoned with.   While living in the city, our heroine meets a host of friends who help her find her voice and ultimately, her home.

We loved this middle-grade historical fiction book.  Often, these middle-grade books feel like they were written to an older crowd.  Not so with this one.  The tone and approach are very age-appropriate, a tricky feat in this genre.  Hurricane and Aunt Claire's characters are incredibly relatable, and it's beautiful to observe their growth throughout the book.  I loved that Fusco wrote this one as historical fiction.  With such a well-written story, it was nice to have some historical context as well.  

In addition to Hurricane and Aunt Claire, several side characters are given a great deal of development.  The reader is introduced to Aunt Claire's housekeeper, the fish boy, a mangy cat, and a beloved beast of a dog... all of whom add to the book's richness and color.

All in all, we really enjoyed this title and give it a hearty 5 stars.  This is a great find for readers ages 10 years through adult.  We know you'll love it as much as we did.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Winter Reading List ll 2025

 

The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Snow White and the Dragon (or Slipping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)

by Kim Bussing

Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Confronting the Theif by Jane Hamon

Should Christians Support Israel? by Jeff Myers

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington

Christian Heroes: Paul Brand

by Janet and Geoff Benge

Christian Heroes: Betty Greene

by Janet and Geoff Benge

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad

Escape to Liechtenstein by Ed Dunlop

What Are You Reading This Winter?

Homeschool Resolutions ll 2025

Ahhh... a new year. A fresh start. And with that, a time to refresh and refocus in our homeschools. After 13+ years of homeschooling, life and education flow closely together. There's rarely a day that I can distinguish one from another. So some of these resolutions might appear more parenting-based, and some might appear more educational.  That's just what works best for our homeschool.  So as we launch into 2025, these are our homeschool resolutions:

1. Teaching  SOAK method-- I can't believe I've waited so long to do this.  But as the mother of two teens, this is a skill I want to see them develop before they launch into the world.  And it's a tool that I'd like to better incorporate into my quiet time as well.

2. Incorporate more science labs--Yes, I've slacked on those ever-important science experiments for too many years.  It became much more noticeable when my daughter started Physics in the fall.  However, finding time for these experiments is a challenge as well.  I'm hoping to institute a weekly experiment "block" for this purpose.

3. Plan Josiah's 8th-grade graduation ... and start looking toward freshman year-- I can hardly believe my "baby" is graduating 8th grade.  It's time to start planning for a special party to celebrate him.  And time to think of how we're approaching his freshman year for his specific personality and goals.

4. Plan 6+ homeschool field trips-- I'm a firm believer in the value of field trips, even well into the high school years.  But I also want to be respectful of the fact that these kids have their own obligations as well. So I'm paring down my expectations to a field trip every two months.  I have a few ideas in mind and plan to hit some experiences that we've missed out on in the past.

5. Plan a Living History Project at the high school level-- This is an assignment that we've tackled in the past at the elementary level.  Now I want to kick it up a notch and continue it into high school.  The goal is to pick a person from history in a field of interest and present them as if they were that person.  This requires more preparation than one would realize and forces the kids to really know their living history person.

6. Institute a family game night-- Ok, so this is really a goal I have every year.  Some years we're more successful than others.  But having that extra time for family togetherness is definitely one of the perks of homeschooling.

7. Have Lydia complete a SAT prep course and take the SAT-- I don't know how we have another child taking the SAT this year.  But I'm hoping to better prepare her for the mental gymnastics that come with taking such a test.  So I'll have her work through a couple of online courses to help get her ready.

What about you?

Are you making any resolutions for yourself or your homeschool this year?

Let us know in the comments below.

2025 Read Aloud List

This year I'm picking read-alouds to share with my 8th/9th grader.  We'll be finishing up Story of the World Vol. 4 and possibly starting BJU's Human Geography in the fall so a lot of our read-alouds go with the modern age.  But I'd like to break up the historical fiction with some fun fantasy reads as well.  So if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments below. 

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad

Escape to Liechtenstein by Ed Dunlop

The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

and James D. Houston

A Night Divided by Jenifer A. Nielson

A Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi

Children of the Storm by Natasha Vins

Walls by L.M. Elliott

Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman

Bruchko by Bruce Olson

The Cricket War by Tho Pham and Sandra McTavish

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

What are you reading in your homeschool this year?