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Dear Class of 2020
Whatever your plans were for this spring, they’ve probably been messed up in a big way. Maybe your plans for the summer, too. Homeschoolers don’t necessarily participate in the big events of senior year, like class trip and prom, but it’s tough when the camp counselor job is cancelled or the summer internship is put on hold. And what about college?? Will there even be a freshman class this fall? When plans are spiked, hearts are sad. That’s not very profound, but everyone knows the sting of disappointment. One unique feature about the current crisis, though, is that it’s affected the whole world to some degree. In the United States,…
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Longitude by Dava Sobel
Longitude, a recommended book for our “Hope on the Horizon” summer reading challenge, is a classic true tale of persistence rewarded. Longitude: the True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel. Walker & Company (first edition), 1995, 184 pages including index. Reading Level: Teen, ages 15-18 Recommended for: ages 13-up It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search it out is the glory of kings” (Prov. 25:2). In the heyday of the scientific revolution, however, even tradesmen without much formal education could search out a matter that had puzzled seamen since the beginning of time. In…
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Building A Family by Jennifer Slattery
Loved Completely Building A Family by Jennifer Slattery is a delightful Christian contemporary novel that will leave you smiling. The novel revolves around two small children in need of stable parenting. They have been abandoned by their parents but have other relatives wanting to parent them. There is so much love surrounding them. This reminds […]
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Back Porch Book Chat: W. R. Gingell (Author)
Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all love! Our guest today is W. R. Gingell from Australia. She chats with us about fantasy, books and authors that shaped her, why she writes “clean” fiction and more! Interview conducted by Hayley. Getting to Know W. R. Gingell We call these our “back porch book chats” —So I’m going to start by asking: if we were sitting on a porch together, what would you be sipping? Here in Australia, it’d be the verandah :D—and I’d definitely be sipping tea, summer or winter. I think…
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Just My Luck by Adele Parks
Kept Me Up At Night Just My Luck by Adele Parks is a fabulous contemporary psychological thriller that will mess with your mind and emotions. An ordinary house in suburbia. An ordinary family with an ordinary life – until a day that changes everything. Just My Luck examines the fall-out that happens when everything changes. […]
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59 Memory Lane by Celia Anderson
Make Every Day Count 59 Memory Lane by Celia Anderson is a delightful contemporary novel about community. It is a wonderful warm read. There is an eclectic mix of characters ranging from age six to one hundred and ten. They all inhabit a small Cornish village and we witness the ups and downs of village […]
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Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden
An Absolute Classic Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden is a children’s historical classic and just perfect for ages eight and above. As a child I read Carrie’s War and watched the BBC series of it. I loved it then and I love it now. I had a desire to become reacquainted with the characters so […]
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A Boy And His Baskets by Eric S Rodko
Familiar Miracle Accessible For All A Boy And His Baskets by Eric S Rodko is a beautiful retelling of the miracle of the loaves and the fish. The author has used his imagination to expand this familiar Biblical story. It is just perfect for children aged five and above. Early readers will want to read […]
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Retro Reads: The Velveteen Rabbit and *Edward Tulane
The classic story of the Velveteen Rabbit and more recent story of Edward Tulane demonstrate the nature of true love. The Velveteen Rabbit, or How Toys Become Real by Margery Williams. Originally published 1922 (republished in several editions) *The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Candlewick, 2006, 228 pages. Reading Level: middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: all ages NOTE: Both books are available for a limited time in a kindle edition for .99 each. See Amazon link below. “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3 One thing toy stories (including Toy Story) teach us about love is that it’s often…
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Young Vines by James Russell Lingerfelt
The Wounded Healer Young Vines by James Russell Lingerfelt is the most serenely beautiful contemporary novel about life, love, loss and good friends. Home is not necessarily a physical place. It is also an emotional connection and when that is severed, it hurts so badly. The novel explores this theme of loss where memories keep […]
