What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll July 2025

 

The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

The Franke family rose to fame when mom, Ruby Franke, picked up a camera and created her family vlogging channel.  Over the years, she chronicled the events and happenings of the Franke family of 8.  But behind the scenes, the kids were reeling, the couple falling apart, and the family disintegrating.  In The House of My Mother, daughter Shari Franke pulls back the curtain to reveal a broken childhood littered with narcissism, abuse, and brainwashing.  This was an incredibly tough book to read when considering all that these kids went through.  I couldn't believe all the twists and turns this family's journey took.  And to see that any of these kids have come out half-functional is a complete miracle.  Fascinating read!

Trial and Triumph by Richard Hannula

This one has been on my list for a long time.  It's a collection of 40+ short biographies, highlighting heroes of the faith.  Trial and Triumph is divided into sections by time period, so it's easy to sort and add to your history curriculum.  I loved that the biographies were short.  This could easily be read during a morning basket time slot.  One word of caution: some of the selections can be scary depending on what time period you're reading in.  Particularly theos people who lived when Christians were heavily persecuted.  But overall, well worth adding to your home library.

Rasmus and the Vagabond by Astrid Lingren

This book was a really interesting find.  Astrid Lingren is the author of Pippi Longstockings, so one day we decided to see if she'd written anything else.  Rasmus popped up at our local library, and I thought I'd check it out.  Rasmus is an orphan who decides to run away one day.  His first night away from the orphanage, he meets up with a vagabond who takes him under his wing.  Together, they get mixed up with a sheriff, bank robbers, hidden loot, and more.  The two must unravel the mystery to save their name.  And in the process, find an unlikely family.  This was a well-written story about honor, perceptions, and home.  While I didn't enjoy it as much as Pippli Longstockings, I did enjoy the story and loved discovering new books from a favorite author.  This would be an excellent book for introducing topics such as adoption and family.

The Four Hour School Day by Durenda Wilson

Packed with practical examples from her own real life homeschool, Durenda Wilson casts a vision for an education that leaves both mom and students thriving.  I love how down to earth this book is and really wish I would have read it earlier in my homeschool journey.  This one definitely goes on my recommendations list.

Better Together by Pam Barnhill

This is an annual reread for me.  Morning Basket is the heart of our homeschool.  It's time when we connect and grow in truth, beauty, and goodness.  I love rereading this title to be inspired and gather new ideas for our next year.  I always read this one with a notebook and pen nearby.  I have definitely gotten my money's worth out of this book.

Tame Your Thoughts by Max Lucado

See my full review here.

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

This was one of those books that I didn't discover until my kids were a little older, but I wanted to go back and read it for my own benefit.  Betsy is mistakenly sent to live with a distant relatives when her aunt falls ill.  Although she's heard troubling things about this family, she soon discovers that their love for her makes a warm and happy home.  Written similarly to the Little House books, this would make a fun read for 4-5th graders.  And a light summer read for mom!

Our Homeschool Read Alouds:

The Time Garden, Magic or Not?, The Well-Wishers, and Seven-Day Magic by Edward Eager

We're continuing our way through the Tales of Magic series.  And we still love it!   This month we read books #4-6, and they were fantastic.  Book five introduces us to a new cast of characters so it took a minute to adjust, but the writing is still amazing, the tales imaginative, and the journey so much fun!

What are you reading?