What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll October 2025

 What I Read:

Christian Heroes: Count Zinzendorf

by Janet and Geoff Benge

I love that these Christian Heroes books are introducing us to a variety of figures from history.  Count Zinzendorf is one of those individuals whom I'd never heard about and was amazed by all he accomplished in his life.  This title is probably my favorite of all I've read in the series.

Rapunzel and the Sea Witch by Kim Bussing

See my full review here.

Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa Terkeurst

Forgiveness is so essential in our Christian walk.  Without it, we tend to harbor hurt feelings, eventually leading to bitterness and personal roadblocks in moving forward.  Terkeurst does a good job acknowledging that hurt feelings are real without allowing her readers to sit in them.  I think my own frustration with the book is the reality of misperception.  Sometimes, hurt feelings are caused by our own tainted view of a situation. Sometimes we make up stories in our heads, assuming the worst and not acknowledging that we might be misinterpreting the situation.  I think that leaves more people stuck than we realize.  And it destroys relationships that could have been easily salvaged with a little humility.

Rescue Story by Zach Williams

Wow!  This book was an honest look at the singer/songwriter's life.  Wrestling with alcohol and drug abuse for 10+ years, Williams finally finds hope and purpose in coming to the Lord.  He shares his testimony of how the Lord saved his life, marriage, and family before he made it big in the music industry.  What struck me most was his dedication to sharing his story as a way of saying, "Look what God did."  Powerful, encouraging, and a true testimony of faith and prayer.

Kringle's Emporium by Jemma Hatt

See my full review here.

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

Swift, a young wolf cub, is separated from his pack when they're suddenly attacked by rival wolves.  Sending his mother and new cubs into the forest, he and the other males try to fend off the pale wolf pack.  But when his father is killed, and everyone else is scattered, Swift finds himself on his own.  He sets out to find a new home and a new pack.  Over his incredible journey, Swift encounters challenges, wildfire, a treacherous roadway, friends, and foe.  Geared toward middle grades, I really enjoyed this book.  The author did a great job of telling the story through the wolf's eyes and describing the adventure in a relatable way.  This would make a great addition to a unit study or as a family read-aloud.  I look forward to reading other titles from this series.

Our Homeschool Read Alouds:

The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan

This second book in the Russian Saga series follows Katya and Misha's children.  After their parents are exiled for speaking out against the new Russian government, Marya and Gorgei must travel to the Siberian frontier in hopes of reuniting their family.  Against all odds, the two siblings set out, meeting friends and making enemies in their impossible journey.

Burying the Sun by Gloria Whelan

The third book in the Russian Saga series, Marya and Gorgei have grown up and are living with their mother in Leningrad.  On the cusp of World War II, the family must find a way to survive the German invasion and ward off starvation.

What are you reading?