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?