An Open Book

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Welcome to the March 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

The Lost Art of Reading Nature's SignsMy husband stumbled across The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals – and Other Forgotten Skills while searching for a book about hammocks. (Yes, there are books about hammocks.) Not only do I love this cover, but this book is filled with so many fascinating, practical observations about animals, the weather, plants, the sky, and more, that I’m eager to bring it outdoors and put it to use, should spring weather arrive.  The author, Tristan Gooley, has an Indiana Jones thing going on in his author photo and is a seasoned world traveler.

Hidden Among the StarsIf you like split time novels, Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson is a beautifully written story set in both present day and during the Nazi occupation of Austria. It  follows the lives of a handful of young Austrians. One is a gifted Jewish musician, one is the young man who loves her, and another the childhood friend who loves him. Interwoven is the story of Callie, aka Story Girl, a lonely bookstore owner in possession of two books connected to Austria and hidden treasure. There is mystery, romance, and tragedy, but, in sum, it’s a novel about the power of stories – children’s stories and our own stories – internalizing them, living them, and marveling at the way the master storyteller has perfectly interwoven each of them.

AttachmentsI loved the highly original Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. Both fun and touching, it is told in part through the email exchange between two women friends/co-workers and part through narrative from the man charged with monitoring their interoffice messages. I loved almost everything about this story – the author’s voice, the characters, the setting (a newsroom at the brink of Y2K), the romance. I could’ve done without a liberal sprinkling of the F-word, but it was not excessive and always in character. Also worth noting here: reference to “off-screen” premarital sex.

ConnectionsConnections: Five Stories Celebrating Renewal and Redemption by R. L. Mosz is a quick read of varied short stories that include both Catholic and other-worldly elements. These hopeful stories are great when you have fifteen or so minutes to read. My favorite is the first story, “Golden Boy,” about a man’s fall from grace.

AwakeningI’ve just started reading Awakening by Claudia Cangilla McAdams, and what a great time to share a perfect Lenten selection for teens! A contemporary young teen awakes to find herself in Jerusalem, 33 A.D. Think The Wizard of Oz meets The Passion of the Christ. In what I’ve read so far, the author captures a young teen’s thoughts and feelings very, very well.

The PrinceMy sophomore’s class is moving into the Renaissance, and he’s reading some of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. This kid’s curriculum makes me want to go back and re-read so much of classic literature that was somewhat wasted on me in high school. The Prince discusses how a great man conducts himself and the conventions of princely government.

Thrifty Guide to Ancient RomeFellow author (and homeschooling mom) Quenby Olson mentioned The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome: A Handbook for Time Travelers, and I knew I had to get my hands on a copy for my daughter to read. Written by Jonathan W. Stokes and illustrated by David Sossella, the book presents a lot of interesting facts about Roman life and history in an easy-to-read, fun manner. Cleopatra’s Perfectly Normal Family Tree, color-coded according to means of murder, is hilarious.

I Am God's StorytellerWhile I haven’t yet gotten a hard-cover copy of Lisa Hendey’s new book for children, I read an advance electronic copy and am eager to read I Am God’s Storyteller aloud to my youngest children.  The picture book traces salvation history from creation through the Old Testament and then Christianity using the framework of stories and storytellers, including the prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles. It beautifully nourishes the divinely sparked creativity in each of us, but especially in children, who naturally gravitate to stories.

On Beyond ZebraWe’re coming up on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and it’s time for me to help my kids dress up as a character from one of his books. (Last year, my son dressed as Sam I Am with his green eggs and ham.) I like some Dr. Seuss books better than others, but my favorite as a child was On Beyond Zebra!, and that’s the one we’re reading here. In classic, tongue-twisting, silly Seuss fashion, it takes a look at the letters that come after Z.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X



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An Open Book

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Welcome to the February 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Snow, squalls, and cold weather have kept us confined to the house more than we’d like, but that leaves lots of time for reading, right? At the end of the day, I’m eager to make a mug of hot tea (Constant Comment, please), wrap myself in a hand-knitted shawl, and hold a book or my Kindle on my lap!

Day the World Came to TownI discovered The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland via a post shared on An Open Book in January. I’m listening on audiobook, and both the text and the narration have drawn me into the lives of the real-life characters featured.  Alternately moving, gripping, and, ultimately, uplifting, author Jim DeFede took me right back to my own experience of 9/11. A great choice for teens and older.

Made This WayMade This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face to Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues by Trent Horn and Leila Miller presents ten hot-button moral issues, a natural law approach to explaining the Catholic position on them, and tips for guiding both young children and teens. This clear-thinking, common sense approach is a boon to parents and anyone charged with teaching young people about controversial issues such as reproductive technologies, same-sex marriage, pornography, and transgender identity.

Trust in LoveI’ve read At Home in Persimmon Hollow by Gerri Bauer, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover this addition to the series: Trust in Love (Persimmon Hollow Legacy Novella 1). I loved the Southern Florida setting–a part of the United States I’ve never considered as part of the American frontier–and was happy to revisit it. So far, I’m getting acquainted with two Catholic immigrants–one Irish, one Italian–working side by side. I sense a sweet romance budding.

The InfernoWorking his way through the Middle Ages, my teenager is reading The Inferno by Dante Alighieri. I get treated to after-school updates about who has been confined to what part of Hell. I read portions of The Inferno in high school, too, and would like to read The Divine Comedy in its entirety as an adult.

The Invisible ManBesides marveling at the $1.50 paperback price on the front of my 1980s edition of The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells, my teen has enjoyed this story as a leisure read. I love that he loves classics. He’s discovered that it’s less the horror novel he expected and more a science fiction story, similar to other books he’s read by Wells.

The IslandIn my daughter’s backpack, she’s carrying The Island by Gary Paulsen. In it, a teenage boy discovers a lake island where he learns about nature and self-reliance. (Common themes in Paulsen’s books, from what I’ve seen.) Just reading the description makes me long for the slow summer days of my childhood spent outdoors, trudging up and down paths and along creeks and ponds, observing and thinking. I think our kids could do with a whole lot more of that. At least when we thaw out from these sub-freezing temps!

Young FliersI *think* my daughter has, through the use of the inter-library loan system, now read everything she wanted to read in this well-loved series. In Wilbur and Orville Wright: Young Fliers (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Augusta Stevenson, the reader sees the Wright brothers as young boys, eager to create things that fly. The series tells the stories of children–before they were famous. My fifth-grade daughter highly recommends these chapter books for children.

Baby Sister for FrancesA Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban is one of my children’s favorites. Interestingly, it was not a favorite of mine when we first read this story of a young anthropomorphic badger who runs away to beneath the kitchen sink  with a package of prunes when a baby sister comes along, hogging her mom’s time and attention. As we read this sweetly illustrated book aloud, my kids reminisce about their own experiences with “running away” and their first impressions of Frances.

Before You Were BornI received a copy of Before You Were Born by Joan Lowery Nixon from my obstetrician’s office after my first son was born in 2003. We have the 1980 edition, which includes very, uh, 1980-ish illustrations: abstract with lots of swirling colors. The text is marvelous, tracing a child’s beginnings from conception through birth, emphasizing how loved the child was at every stage of development. I see Our Sunday Visitor released a new edition in 2006 with more contemporary illustrations. It looks great!

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

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An Open Book

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Welcome to the January 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Christmas reading continues in our house through the whole Christmas season. While the days leading up to  Christmas were short on reading time, we’re now enjoying a more relaxed pace and delving into some Christmas gift books!

The Beer OptionYou’ve heard of The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher, right? (See An Open Book: November 2017.) My husband has been reading The Beer Option: Brewing a Catholic Culture, Yesterday & Today by R. Jared Staudt. It is of special interest to him as a Catholic home brewer. From the description: “The Beer Option proposes a renewal of Catholic culture by attending to the small things of life and ordering them toward the glory of God and the good of the community. Beer has played a surprising role in the history of Catholic culture, spurred on by the prayer and work of brewing monks. . . This book offers a tour through Catholic history and Benedictine spirituality, illustrating how beer fits within a robustly Catholic culture.”

Fanatical ProspectingHe’s also been working through a bit of required reading for work. If you work in sales, you may want to check this out: Fanatical Prospecting: The Ultimate Guide to Opening Sales Conversations and Filling the Pipeline by Leveraging Social Selling, Telephone, Email, Text, and Cold Calling by Jeb Blount. (Wow! That subtitle fills almost a paragraph itself!) It has great reviews, so if you sell for a living, this looks like one to read.

His Mistletoe MiracleI’ll be putting together a blog post with Christmas books, but I’ll share just one more I’ve read here. I enjoyed His Mistletoe Miracle in one evening (that stretched into early morning.) It’s a fun, light Christmas story that includes the smart, slightly irreverent wit I’ve come to expect from Jenny B. Jones. Combine quirky characters, charming banter, and a swoony guy. Then add a pinch of Christmas kitsch and you’ve got yourself a delightful Christmas read!

Swimming in the Deep EndI took a brief break from Christmas novellas to read a more serious women’s fiction novel: Swimming in the Deep End by Christina Suzann Nelson. Told in the first person, the book examines the rippling effects of an unplanned pregnancy from the perspective of the unmarried teen mother, her mother, the baby daddy’s mother, and a woman seeking to adopt. Without glossing over the heartache of grief, guilt, and sacrificial love, the author shows the reader that there is joy to be found when we love, forgive, and support one another.

Skipping ChristmasMy tenth grader and a partner selected John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas: A Novel  for an upcoming English project. This story about a couple looking to skip all of the Christmas hubbub for a Caribbean cruise is the basis for the movie Christmas with the Kranks. No one in our household has yet read the book or seen the movie. Any opinions on it?

Mandy Lamb and the Full MoonWe give each of the children a book at Christmas, and my fifth grader was the recipient of Corinna Turner’s Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon. (See my recent interview with Corinna here.) My daughter is really enjoying it so far – which I suspected she would! It’s the creative tale of a sheep/girl (Mandy) and includes a vampire and a werewolf as well! Not your typical vampire or werewolf story, it’s a fun story about friendship with a pulse-pounding climax and an element that resonates in every story: self-sacrifice.

Mufaro's Beautiful DaughtersI discovered Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe because of its inclusion in Ruah Woods’s Rooted: K-12 Theology of the Body Curriculum. This Caldecott Honor Book is beautifully illustrated and recounts the tale of two sisters, Manyara, who is selfish and unkind, and Nyasha, who is warm and generous. The king must choose between the two for a wife. On their separate journeys to the kingdom, their true character is revealed.

Petunia's ChristmasI brought out one of my husband’s old Christmas books to read to the little kids: Petunia’s Christmas by Roger Duvoisin. This out-of-print picture book is an unusual romance between two geese. The gander is being fattened for Christmas dinner, and Petunia, resident of a neighboring farm, will do whatever she must to save him from that fate. A sweet story of sacrificial love.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

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An Open Book

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Welcome to the December 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

I’ve moved  full-on into Christmas reading mode. While we won’t decorate until Gaudete Sunday and I’m not interested in listening to carols yet, in this one area, I enjoy Christmas a little early. Two new Christmas novellas have set the reading bar high this season.

A Holiday by GaslightI loved A Holiday by Gaslight: A Victorian Christmas Novella by Mimi Matthews. The cover conveys the historical Christmasy feel of the book set in Victorian London. I connected immediately with the main characters, who were straightforward and unpretentious. (Unlike most everyone else in the story.) Scenes of dragging evergreen boughs through the snow and hauling yule logs to the hearth helped set the scene for a romance that crosses social class boundaries.

Catching ChristmasCatching Christmas by Terri Blackstock immediately became one of my contemporary Christmas favorites. Gourmet chef turned cab driver Finn ends up toting around an ill elderly woman while her frazzled granddaughter Sydney struggles to hold onto her job defending a defenseless, spoiled drunk. The story is the perfect blend of poignancy and humor (especially in regard to the cab service/Uber rivalry). In the season when God comes to us as an approachable babe in the manger, the religious message in Catching Christmas is on point.

The House on Foster HillAfter reading so many glowing remarks about The House on Foster Hill by Jamie Jo Wright, I couldn’t wait to read it. I’ve been listening to it on audiobook, and the narration by Erin Bennett is very well done. The story moves between the early 20th century and present day, connecting Ivy Thorpe and the mysterious murder of a young woman to her descendant Kaine’s relentless pursuit by a stalker following her husband’s death/maybe murder. For both Ivy and Kaine, there is strong and handsome protector on hand to add a touch of romance. So far, I’m loving this book.

Saint JoanMy son’s class has been reading the play Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw. In helping him study for a quiz, I learned a little about the play and the playwright. Unhappy with the way Saint Joan of Arc had been portrayed, Shaw sought to write a play that showed the saint in a more realistic light – proud, naïve, and foolhardy. With this play, Shaw is said to have reached the height of his fame as a dramatist.

Favorite Backyard WildlifeIn looking for some other books tucked away in the attic, my husband brought out a favorite of mine for our daughter to read. America’s Favorite Backyard Wildlife is all about the little critters that we see in the yard (and dead on the road): squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opossums, etc. It’s a fun and easy read of backyard tales and critter facts. Downside: My daughter now wants to keep a chipmunk as a pet.

DogsongIf you read An Open Book regularly, you know that once my daughter finds a series or author she likes, she sticks with it. That is the case with Gary Paulsen. She’s currently reading Dogsong, a Newbery Honor book set in Alaska. This one involves an epic journey with dog sleds. The cover is striking, isn’t it?

Scared Darth VaderOn a recommendation from The Christian Fiction Girl, I borrowed Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex from the local library. My first grader has read it about six times in the past day. It’s a humorous picture book in which a child poses a series of questions to Darth Vader as to what might frighten him. Toward the end, it slips into a kind of metafiction, reminding me of The Monster at the End of This Book. A fun read!

The Other Side of ChristmasThis is the perfect time for us to bring out the most unusual Christmas picture book we own: The Other Side of Christmas: An Upside-down Book by Beth Gully. (I recommended it in Under the Catholic Child’s Christmas Tree last year.) Read the book for the Santa story of Christmas, then flip it upside down and read the Jesus story of Christmas. Clever and fun!

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

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An Open Book

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Welcome to the November 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Career MatchThis month, my husband has been listening to Career Match: Connecting Who You Are with What You’ll Love to Do by Shoya Zichy and Ann Bidou. It includes a self-assessment to determine your personality style and then a corresponding chapter with potential career choices. It’s intended not only to help you manage a career but discover what work you’re most suited to in your existing job.

LT's Theory of PetsFor a Halloween listen, my husband downloaded a book by one of his favorite authors from his teen years: Stephen King. LT’s Theory of Pets, read by the author, is a short (hour-long) story of a man whose wife takes off, leaving behind their Siamese cat. He’s hopeful that his wife is still alive, whatever has become of her.  It “explores the bonds between husbands, wives, and pets.” (Language warning.)

Things Left UnsaidIn between books for this month’s Sabbath Rest Book Talk, I’ve been reading Courtney Walsh’s latest novel, Things Left Unsaid. It reminds me of The Things We Knew by Catherine West in that it involves neighboring families returning to a summer home, each bearing a secret related to a death that deeply affected them all. Things Left Unsaid takes place in the fictional resort town of Sweethaven, Michigan, which is featured in some of the author’s other books. I’m zipping through the book, eager for these characters to communicate better with each other, to resolve all of their past hurts, and make up. Well-written and enjoyable. I’m anticipating a big helping of grace to be doled out before the end.

BoundNext on my list is a debut novel by author Vijaya Bodach called Bound. Since I’m just beginning it, here is the blurb: “Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Joshi, an adopted girl from India, burn survivor, and primary caretaker of her intellectually disabled sister, Joy, has one dream – to be a physician. Her traditional Indian father relies upon Rebecca to care for Joy while he buries himself in work to drown his grief over his wife’s death. Leaving home is the only way Rebecca can envision reaching her goal. She helps Joy develop greater independence, and is devastated when Joy becomes pregnant. Rebecca tussles – with her father and with herself – over who is responsible for Joy and her baby. When Rebecca discovers the truth of what happened the day she was burned, she struggles to hold onto her dream while wrestling with questions of life, love, and responsibility.” I’m in!

The Eighth ArrowMy high school sophomore is reading The Eighth Arrow: Odysseus in the Underworld by J. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B. In it, Odysseus (of Homer’s classic epic poem) breaks out of Dante’s hell. The novel includes a journey through the Underworld with Diomedes and encounters with various characters from Greek mythology, ancient history, and Renaissance literature. My son, who always thought it unfair of Dante to relegate Odysseus to hell, is loving the book. It melds well with the classics he studied last year in his Humanities classes.

HolesMy daughter’s fifth grade class has been reading Holes by Louis Sachar. This Newbery Medal winner features Stanley Yelnats (check out that palindrome!), who is sent to a boys’ detention center and made to dig holes. What is the warden looking for beneath a dried-up lake? My daughter guessed right away, but she’s enjoying it enough that not being permitted to read ahead is her only complaint.

The Haymeadow by Gary Paulsen is the book she’s been reading at home. Fourteen-year-old John Barron is tasked with spending the summer tending his family’s sheep. John must rely on his wits to withstand encounters with coyotes, a bear, a flood, and more. As in the author’s Hatchett series, this book involves the protagonist using  his ingenuity to succeed.

Judy MoodyMy first grader, who has pretty much taken over my bedtime story duties, needed something a little more challenging than most picture books, so I found a trio of Judy Moody books her sister read. She’s reading the first book, Judy Moody (was in a mood) by Megan McDonald. Judy is a feisty third grader who takes the reader on a series of little adventures.

Pete's a PizzaPete’s a Pizza by William Steig  has long been a favorite around here – both reading it and acting it out. My kindergarten son seems to particularly enjoy it and asks to read it many nights. One rainy day, a boy is forced to stay inside with his parents, who brighten the afternoon by making him into a pizza – kneading him, topping him with pepperoni and cheese, and “baking” him in an oven (the couch.)  Warning: there is tickling involved!

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

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An Open Book

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Welcome to the October 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

God and GuinnessThe Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World by Stephen Mansfield has been playing in my husband’s car, and I catch snippets of it at home while he’s shaving in the morning. More than a book about beer, this is a story beginning in 18th century Ireland and tracing the Guinness family’s faith and social responsibility. My husband has thoroughly enjoyed it.

History of the World in 6 GlassesSomewhat related, the other audiobook “open” here is A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage. This book covers the Stone Age to the 21st century and examinees the creation of coffee, wine, tea, spirits, beer, and cola. It’s an interesting lens through which to view world history.

Chasing SomedayCrystal Walton has become one of my favorite clean/inspirational contemporary romance authors. I’m currently devouring the fourth book in her Home in You series.  Chasing Someday is a friends to lovers story, and country boy Chase is the long-suffering friend who needs to convince Livy that there’s way more to their relationship than friendship. But first, she has to spill her secrets and overcome her past. (I’m halfway through and eager for Livy to get the message because Chase is a keeper – virtuous, patient, selfless, and charming.) I recommend the entire series.

Where You LeadI recently finished reading Leslie Wahl’s new mystery/adventure/romance Where You Lead. This is a fun, fast-paced story set in  Washington, DC, in which teens Eve and Nick work to uncover lost gold treasure from the Civil War. (Nick is another super good guy – faith-filled and responsible – paired well with the lively Eve.) Tweens and teens will enjoy this fun novel.

The Canterbury TalesIn his trek through medieval literature, my son has moved on to The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. He’d picked up a Penguin Classic copy of the book at a used bookstore on our summer vacation, and will now be reading it for his Humanities class. If you’re never read any of The Canterbury Tales, it is a group of diverse tales told by a group of pilgrims and includes romances, allegories, and farce.

Saint Margaret MaryMy fifth grader was asking about First Friday Devotions, so I handed her Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (and the Sacred Heart of Jesus) by Emily  Marsh. She absolutely loved this illustrated chapter book and read it in a day! It’s an easy-to-read biography with a pronunciation guide, glossary, and prayers as well. I’m interested in doing an enthronement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in our home, so I consider this my daughter’s primer.

This Little Prayer of MineSome nights, when we’re running late and I need to get the little kids in bed pronto, I choose a combination bedtime story/prayer. I have a couple of books that fit the bill, and my youngest daughter grabbed this one from the shelf a few nights ago. This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano and Mark Elliott is a simple, warmly illustrated prayer that teaches children to turn to God in all circumstances: fear, sadness, joy, thanksgiving, etc.

Secrets of the RainforestSecrets of the Rain Forest: A Shine-a-Light Book  by Carron Brown is one of my kindergarten son’s favorite books! He loves turning out the lights and viewing the hidden rain forest creatures with a flashlight. Brightly illustrated and easy to read, this book makes a great gift as well. (You could even pair it with a flashlight!)

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

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An Open Book: All of the Linkup Details

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If you been following An Open Book or linking your reading posts, you’ll notice I’ve updated our images. They are fresh, crisp, and blend well with CatholicMom.com, which co-hosts the linkup!

An Open Book is a forum for you to share what you and/or your family has been reading. I include what every member of the family has been reading or listening to in my monthly post, but you can include only  what YOU are reading, book reviews you’ve written, an Instagram post, a YouTube video, or whatever link-able content you’d like. Continue reading

An Open Book

An Open Book CatholicMom

Welcome to the September 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

The Man Who Knew Too MuchMy husband and I have been trying to get a BINGO (or two or three) to complete our local library’s summer reading program. We are both ending with a mystery. He chose to listen to The Man Who Knew Too Much by G.K. Chesterton. (I’ll be reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). He’s been listening to the series of short detective stories in the car. While he’s enjoying them, the narrator’s British accent is requiring more concentration than he’s able to muster while driving. He might do better with an American narrator or a book.

Castles in the CloudsI am thoroughly enjoying the second book in the Flowers of Eden series by Myra Johnson. Castles in the Clouds is set in drought-ridden Arkansas during the Great Depression. A sweet romance blooms between a reticent young woman studying to be a teacher and a nearly blind missionary who has returned to the United States from Kenya.

Don't Forget to Say Thank YouI thoroughly enjoyed this simple yet instructive new book by Lindsay Schlegel: Don’t Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God. With lessons built around the phrases we parents often repeat to our children, this personal, reflective book is a great way for moms to re-focus on their vocation and their faith life as we embark on a new season. (Read along with the Don’t Forget to Say Thank You Book Club at Catholicmom.com!)

Frankenstein: Prodigal SonI thought I was doing my son a favor by picking up a graphic novel for him to read in order to complete his library summer challenge. But I’m the one that ended up reading it! I’d heard good things about Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein books, so I thought we’d give the comic book treatment a try. In the Introduction to Frankenstein: Prodigal Son, Koontz writes, “We live in a hubristic age, when politicians imagine themselves to be messiahs and when many in the sciences frankly discuss their dreams of creating a ‘post-human’ civilization of genetically engineered supermen, ignorant of the fact that like minds have often come before them and have left no legacy but death, destruction, and despair.” (Take note: This likely marks the first and last time you’ll see a bare-chested man cover in An Open Book.)

The Westing GameThe kids each got to choose a book to keep upon completing the summer reading program, and my teenager grabbed Newbery Medal winner The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. I’m only familiar with this book because I know A. J. Cattapan’s 7 Riddles to Nowhere operates on a similar premise. In both books, a wealthy man has chosen a virtual stranger to inherit his fortune – provided he can solve a challenge.

Abraham LincolnHaving discovered the inter-library loan program, my fifth grader has jumped back into the Childhood of Famous Americans series. She most recently read Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator by Augusta Stevenson. Although she was disappointed that the book didn’t extend to his assassination, she enjoyed the book. (Most of the biographies extend into the subject’s adulthood.) So far, she’s only set aside one book in the entire series: a biography of Jim Henson, and that was because of the writing.

Grandmama's PrideI’ve been reading Grandmama’s Pride by Becky Birtha and Colin Bootman to my little children. (It will be featured in this month’s Sabbath Rest Book Talk.) This picture book that does what fiction does best: puts you into the shoes of someone different. A different time. A different place. A different race. The book follows Sarah Marie’s 1956 summer trip from Pennsylvania to the South to visit her grandmother. While there, she experiences racial segregation for the first time (although her grandmother does a great job of operating as if the  discrimination is irrelevant.)

Monster MunchiesMy five-year-old picked out a simple, brightly illustrated easy reader for his free book from the library.  Monster Munchies by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans is the kind of book that holds only passing interest for me but which the little kids love. It’s ideal for young learners in its simplicity, emphasizing both rhyming words and counting, all couched in a context that leaves the kids giggling at its silliness.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

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