February reads

Lots of great reads in February! Two fun things- I realized while listening to my audio book on the 14th that I happened to be listening a book called The HEART Between Us on Valentine's Day... then when I later read a physical chapter of Always On my Mind (Didn't finish by the end of February), the chapter turned out to be taking place right before (and then the next chapter ON) Valentine's Day! Fun.

I really ramped up my audio book listening this month so I can get my kids' book lists moving again. I have a love-hate relationship with audio books to be honest. They save me time and help me check lots of kid books, which I love... but I've also always loved quiet and time to think/reflect/be. I don't think I'll utilize them beyond road trips once I'm done building my kids' book lists. 

GROWN-UP READS:

📖 Bible study: Still working through Genesis. Ready for an Old Testament break though, I think. 

📖 The Heart Between Us (Christian, contemporary fiction)...  This book was not at all what I was expecting because the cover looks so playful. It was so relationship-focused, which you know I love! Sisters, marriage, friends, boss-employee, so much! But I do have to warn that there is a SA focus. One character experienced the abuse off-page, pre-book, but it's reflected on/mentioned multiple times, enough that you can't just skip a few parts. I didn't add this to our high school lists. 

📖 Imagine Heaven (Christian, nonfiction)... I always love a good NDE/ Heaven book but wow, this one is an absolute favorite! It particularly had me thinking a lot about my job (everyone's job) to love my neighbor... my family, my actual neighbors, my cashier, the person who cuts me off in traffic, the person who says something rude to me, everyone. I thought so much about this during and after this book. How do I love people who repeatedly reject my attempts? Is it love if they (at least seemingly) don't want it? Love looks like grace, understanding, compassion, forgiveness, engaged listening, the five lobe languages... what else? Anyway, excellent read for me!
📖 Just Once (Christian, historical fiction)... I really enjoyed this love story. For those who have read/watched The Baxters, this is Hank and Irvel's story! It's just fine as a stand-alond for those who aren't already familiar. I didn't add this to our high school lists. 

 📖 The Spice King (Christian, historical fiction)... I wanted a historical fiction audio book and saw this one available on Libby. I remembered a ton of Christian bookworms loving it a few years ago so decided to try it. Loved it! Foodies will like this one, too. :) I did add it to our high school list but only because some topics interest some of my crew. I don't think it'll appeal to most high schoolers as Gray is 40.

📖 Theo of Golden (secular, fiction)... My church book club normally reads only faith-focused books but this month someone highly recommended this one. It did contain a few curse words, especially the D word quite a few times, but it was a beautiful story I think anyone who can ignore cursing will love. The bookstore in this book is called The Verbivore and I want to go there just for its name 😆 

 

📚 Plus applicable sections of Mom Heart Moments and The Wonder Weeks

YA & MIDDLE GRADE READS... 

 📖 Arabel's Raven (secular middle grade, fiction, The Good and the Beautiful book list)... I don't personally like funny books but some of my kids will really enjoy this one.

📖 Bryce and the Lost Pearl (Christian, middle grade, fiction)... I think this will be a hit with my 7th grader and I'll definitely try book 2.
📖 Frindle (secular, middle grade, fiction)... This was cute and I decided to read it aloud to my kids after I finished it. :)
📖 History Mystery Kids: Fiasco in Florida (Christian, middle grade, fiction)... This was fun and not super deep, the first in a time travel series I suspect some of my kids will love. I always appreciate a book with male and female protagonists.
📖 The Homeless Kitten (secular, chapter book, fiction)... This was cute and sweet, very similar to the other books in this series.
📖 Hotel Flamingo (secular, middle grade, fiction, The Good and the Beautiful Booklist)... I read this one because I thought two of my kids would love it, but then once I was reading it I decided they'd just like it. Correct- they like it, but it wasn't the hit I'd initially hoped it would be.
📖 It's Not About Me (Christian, YA, nonfiction)... I really like Max Lucado's books and I liked this one, too.
📖 The Key House (Christian, middle grade, fiction)... I liked this Christian fiction about two tween brothers. One of the does mistreat his brother but is given wise council about it and does reflect on the situation. Parents should know that there is a sentence where an adult talks about the importance of helping orphans as Christians and does say (without any graphic details) that many girls who leave orphanages turn to prostitution. We will try book 2.
📖 Marvel at the Moon (Christian, middle grade, nonfiction, devotional)... I don't personally get excited about supace stuff but kids who do will love this devotional. Lots of interesting tidbits mixed into each message.
📖 The Mona Lisa Vanishes (secular, middle grade, nonfiction)... This nonfiction about art theft was so good!
📖 Nanny Piggins (secular, middle grade, fiction)... I read this at one of my kids' request. I personally didn't care for it so didn't add it to our book list, but I did allow my daughter to read it.
📖 One Wrong Step (secular, middle grade, historical fiction, The Good and the Beautiful book list )... So good! Mt Everest stories do interest me (especially the yeti kind) but I have thoroughly enjoyed each of Jennifer A Nielsen's riveting historical fiction novels so far.
📖 Polar the Titanic Bear (secular, middle grade, nonfiction)... This was such a fun angle, to look at the Titanic through the eyes of a stuffed bear who was brought onto the ship. This feels more like a very long picture book than a middle grade novel and was filled with photos.
📖 Sisterhood of Sleuths (secular, middle grade, fiction)... I tried this one because the author's Book Scavenger trilogy was such a hit in our house. This one was fun (Nancy Drew-themed literary history, friendship, research on a light murder-free mystery) but I do like the Book Scavenger trilogy more.
📖 So You're About to be a Teenager (Christian, middle grade, nonfiction)... I liked this book for 12-year-olds. It does explain the basic mechanics of sex in a very short, simple way. It talks quite a lot about purity but in a way that (I feel) is neither shaming nor condemning. Also peer pressure in other ways. Overall good read.
📖 Sophie Mouse #5: The Maple Festival (secular,  chapter book, fiction)... This was cute and sweet, one I'm fine with my second grader reading. We've read the first book in the series too but I think that's the only other one and this is book 5.
📖 Welcome to the Bed and Biscuit (secular, chapter book, fiction)... This one, which I checked for pig purposes, was overall cute. It lands around a 3rd-4th grade reading level.
📖 Winnie Dancing On Her Own (secular, chapter book, fiction)... I tried it for the ballet theme and I liked this friendship book fine for third graders but doubt it'll ever be read by my kiddos.  

*We all worked through The Ology, Atlas Adventures, Mushrooms & Fungi for Kids, and Home Ec for Everyone in homeschool (along with our regular subjects). I also worked through Becoming a Girl of Grace with two of my girls.

📚 PICTURE BOOKS WE LOVED: Dozens of Doughnuts // Floss // Richard Scarry's First 100 Words // Stuck // You and Me, Little Bear

Favorite read this month: Imagine Heaven