The Q by Beth Brower*

 Beth Brower is one of my favorite authors. She creates credible characters and enchanting settings.

Quincy St. Claire runs her great-uncle's publication, The Q, with efficiency and with cutting-edge ideas. She loves The Q. It is her life. When her uncle passes away, he leaves a list of tasks with The Q's newly hired (by her uncle) solicitor for Quincy to complete in order to keep The Q. The problem is-she doesn't know what is on the list! 

As Quincy expands her business to Paris and then London, she cannot imagine losing The Q. During this challenging year, Quincy learns a lot about her self and the importance of relationships.

I loved this book and losing myself in Rhysdon. The minor characters add quirks and delight to the story. James Arch was my favorite character (although Quincy is endearing). James's father and sister Mary are also wonderful, admirable characters. 

Thank you to Ms. Brower for writing well-written stories that are CLEAN!

Considerations if sharing with younger teens: some swearing (minimal), four men jump and badly beat a main character, slowly developing romance but nothing inappropriate (they share a kiss)

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

The Secrets of Ormdale, Book 2-Drake Hall by Christina Baehr*

 I love this series!

Edith adjusts to her new role as the family dragon keeper in the Yorkshire Dales. She also encounters a dragon poacher and uncovers a family secret. Her relationship with Helena, a fellow Marsi, deepens along with some tension as they differ in views. Most unsettling, however, are her feelings toward to Simon, Helena's son. 

This second book focuses a bit more on Edith's feelings towards Simon. Edith also has to discuss a couple of "secrets" with a couple of family members, but events always prevents her from divulging. This suspsense techinque frustrated me! 

Consideration/discussion: prejudice vs Jews, Edith's uncle had an affair with one of his young servants (very young), who became pregnant and gave birth to a boy who works at the abbey

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

The Year of the Horseless Carriage 1801 by Genevieve Foster*

 I bought Music Study with the Masters by Sonya Shafer (Simply Charlotte Mason) to support my son's study of Beethoven. The booklet included a list of books for "further study". This book was on the list.

Ms. Foster connects many influential individuals during this time period and through narrative, points out how they impacted the world and interacted with each other. Children who love relationships and finding connections will appreciate this method of relating history. I recommend reading it in one sitting or over a couple of consecutive days. I read a half of it and then resumed reading it a couple of weeks later. As a result, I had forgotten some of the connections.

People whose stories are told: Richard Trevithick, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte, Toussaint L'ouverture, Robert Fulton, Lewis & Clark, James Madison, George Stephenson

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers*

 Harriet Vane, the woman Lord Peter Wimsey wants to marry, is lunching on a beach when she notices a body on a rock. The man is dead. Being a detective novelist, she analyzes the situation and takes photographs. By the time she finds the authorities, the tide has washed the body away. Based on her photographs and the information they can gather, the police conclude it was suicide. Case-closed. Lord Peter Wimsey arrives and does not believe the case is that simple. Convoluted days ensue as Lord Peter, Harriet, and the local police uncover facts,times, and alibis that do not line up.

I read this aloud to by sons (ages 15 and 18) at lunch on our school days. My youngest son figured it and thought it was too easy-just like Strong Poison (He liked The Nine Tailors best). My other son liked this one best because the characters interact more, and the story takes place over a few weeks  (In The Nine Tailors Lord Peter returns almost a year later to finally solve the case). Ciphers were included in this book and described step-by-step how Peter and Harriet solve them. I skipped these sections and just summarized their findings to my sons. The ciphers would be more fun to solve while reading the novel to yourself.

*Highly recommend for high school and older. See considerations.

Warnings/consideration: Since I read this novel aloud, I skipped these concerns-some swearing, some innuendos, Mr. Weldon is a lady's man and makes a grab at Harriet, murder-description of the crime scene, discussions about suicide and why the victim did it-Peter even goes into detail why he would do it-narrating why/why not. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Wintergarden by Janet Fox illustrated by Jasu Hu

RAR recommends this book. 

A girl and her mama plant seeds to grow on their windowsill in their city apartment during the winter. The similes are apt and descriptive. The illustrations are surreal and a bit too abstract for the age group who would listen to this book. After the story, the author offers tips on growing one's own wintergarden plus a great list of other gardening picture books.

-Borrowed from the library.

Secret Engineer How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge by Rachel Doughtery*

 Even though most girls during her time period rarely pursued a higher education, Emily loved science and math and was able to attend a school where these subjects were taught. She married an engineer, whose family built bridges. Soon Emily's husband is building the Brooklyn Bridge, incorporating new technology. Unfortantely, he becomes ill. Thankfully, Emily is intelligent and an eager learner. Although she does not receive credit, she is the one who oversaw the building of the Brooklyn Bridge!

An amazing story!  I liked this story so much that I requested two other picture books about her!

Kids who love to build, who want to understand how things work, and who have an engineer mindset will love this book.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson*

 Sarah Clarkson reveals how OCD has impacted her life and how God's goodness and beauty breaks through it, giving her hope and joy. Sarah's writing is concise yet stunningly beautiful. The manner she relates stories and truths is through imagery and apt word choice. Weaving in quotes, depictions, and  narratives, Sarah has created a memorable book that will give the reader hope.

A deeper read requiring concentration and comtemplation.

Consideration: She is Anglican, so her style of worship is liturgical. She, however, clearly states salvation is found through believing in Christ as the Savior and how His death and resurrection was necessary to connect us, sinners in need of a Savior,  again to the Father. She does not state that salvation is found in good works or in that style of worship. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Pizza for the Queen by Nancy Castaldo illustrated by Melisande Potter

 Raffaele, the pizza chef of Napoli, loves making pizza for his town. Queen Margherita wants to taste this pizza! Raffaele gathers up fine ingredients and tries to imagine what kind of pizza she would enjoy. 

A recipe for Pizza Margherita and the history of the real story is is included in the back.

A great book to read on International Pizza Day, Feb. 9th.

-Borrowed from the library.

Rags Hero Dog of WWI A True Story by Margot Theis Raven illustrated by Petra Brown

 Many WW II books exist. WWI ones for kids are challenging to discover. This WWI picture book relates how Rags, a stray dog, becomes an invaluable asset for the First Division U.S. Army. Private James Donovan finds him in an empty doorway in Paris. Donovan brings him back to the base, where Rags quickly learns how to perform a myriad of tasks on behalf of Donovan.

A sweet story about loyalty.

Discuss: Donovan lies to a French policeman. Donovan dies at the end of the story.

-Borrowed from the library.

The MAD Scientists' Club by Bertrand R. Brinley illustrated by Charles Geer*

 I read about this series via Purple House Press's email newsletter.

What a fun read! A group of intelligent, adventurous boys form a club where they use science, math, and intellect to get into and out of scrapes. 

Consideration: the boys think one girl is good looking and has great legs

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

Foyle's War -TV series

 During WWII Detective Foyle remains at home solving crime. This first season includes four episodes (each about 100 minutes long)-The German Woman, The White Feather, A Lesson in Murder, & Eagle Day.

Because of the content (war, murder, some relational problems), I recommend it for mature high schoolers-with parents watching with them-and adults.

I watched the first two episodes and really enjoyed them. My husband, however, did not like them. They were too slow for him. Since I mostly watch movies/shows with my husband and/or sons and not independently (I would rather read or complete a project!!), I am not watching the rest of this season. Maybe I will borrow them again when I am sick or when am home alone for a few days (which rarely occurs!!).

The characters appeal to me-Foyle seems to be a man of integrity, his driver is a bubbly, courageous young lady, and his son seems like a quality young man.

-Borrowed from the library.

A Parade for George Washington by David A. Adler illustrated by John O'Brien*

 I do not remember reading or learning about all the parades and celebrations towns gave George Washington as he traveled from Mount Vernon to New York City to take an oath to be the nation's first president. Mr. Adler takes the reader from town to town and describes how each one celebrated him. I liked the inserted maps on the pages that display his route. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Ready to Read-Tails from History-A Racoon at the White House by Rachel Dougherty illustrated by Rachel Sanson*

 Ready to Read Level Two

With words and sentence structures perfect for beginning and/or transitional readers, Ms. Dougherty relates how a raccoon named Rebecca lived at the White House with President Coolidge and First Lady Grace. Additonal facts about raccoons and the White House are included (for parents to read aloud to their beginning reader).

*Highly recommend for stimulating historical interest, for fluency, and for building stamina.

-Borrowed from the library.

Our Hymn Writers and Their Hymns by Faith Cook*

 I only read the chapter on William Cowper (researching for our monthly poetry treat at lunch). It, however,  will be a book I return to if I want to learn extensively about a hymn writer. Ms. Cook offers a comprehensive biography in a narrative form. She also includes (at least in Cowper's chapter) other biographers' conclusions that may not be accurate and refutes them. The first chapter and the last two chapters include shorter blurbs about many hymn writers. Chapters two through fourteen focus on one writer (Isacc Watts, Philip Doddridge, Charles Wesley, William Williams, Joseph Hart, Augustus M. Toplady, John Newton, William Cowper, James Montgomery, Henry Francis Lyte, Horatius Bonar, Francis Ridley Havergal,and Franny J. Crosby).

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from my church library.

Bat, Cat & Rat #1-The Cozy Home by Ame Dyckman illustrated by Mark Teague*

 Bat, Cat, & Rat move into a home. As they settled into sharing life together, they enjoy teasing each other and, of course, reading together.

A perfect series for beginning readers.

It looks like book #3, The Beach Day, will be published on April 29, 2025, and #4, A Great Fall, will be published on July 15, 2025.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Wildflower Emily by Lydia Corry**

A Story About Young Emily Dickinson

A graphic novel 

RAR recently added this title to one of their lists. 

I loved this book. Ms. Corry integrates facts, Emily Dickinson's poems, and a narrative seamlessly. Before the book begins, she explains what artistic liberties she took. At the end, she shares additional information about Emily and her dog Carlo. This book focuses on Emily's love for botany and flowers.

**Highly, highly recommend. It is a title I may buy.

-Borrowed from the library.

Go Forth and Tell by Breanna J. McDaniel illustrated by April Harrison

The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller 

Award winner-King Illustrator Honor Book-2025

A biography about a Black children's librarian determined to share books featuring Blacks in positive light. She influenced a lot of well-known authors-James Baldwin, John Steptoe, Virginia Hamilton, Walter Dean Myers

I still see a need for books featuring Blacks in a honorable, respectable manner. It seems so many books with them as characters focus on race and issues. I read on Redeemed Reader about a recently published book that lists fun books, fantasty books, and book about regular families with Black protagonists. This book is very much needed-Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture. Amber O’Neal Johnston. Tarcher Perigree, 2025. 304 pages.

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar

 One of the Newbery Honor winners & a Sydney Taylor Book Award-Silver Medalist-2025

Ms. Behar bases aspects of this novel on her own Jewish grandmother's journey from Turkey to Cuba.

Readers will learn the history of Shephardic Jews from four different female viewpoints during four different time periods-Benvendia, 1492 (Spain to Turkey),  Reina, 1923 (from Turkey to Cuba), Alegria, 1961 (Cuba to Miami), and then Paloma, 2003 (twho ties all three ancestors together by visiting Spain and learning more about their story).

I really enjoyed learning the history of these specific Jews during the time periods. The author researched extensively and relayed the facts well. The characters are not well-developed. Their stories end abruptly, but I wasn't upset because I did not connect to them. I felt like the book was more didactic than a captivating story. The purpose of this book seems more informational than a well-crafted story. I also felt like in part 4 all of the stories meshed together a bit too perfectly. This book would have been a great informational book, not a novel. The characters regarded their Jewish faith more as a superstition than a relationship.

-Borrowed from the library.

Up,Up, Ever Up Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

A Caldecott Honor book for 2025 

This picture book biography relates Junko's life-long love for the mountains and for climbing, even when women were not accepted into climbing clubs/organizations. 

I enjoyed the illustrations.

-Borrowed from the library.

Beyond Mulberry Glen by Millie Florence illustrated by Astrid Sheckels*

 Lydia Green loves residing in Mulberry Glen with a unique family- a philosopher, a fairy, and twins, Zamilla and Zale. In town she overhears a man share the story of the Darkness that pervades the area.  When she relates the legend  and how to destroy the Darkness to the twins, the rambunctious pair, known as the Zs, leaves the Glen, thinking they can shatter it. Knowing that they will listen to her, Lydia pursues them before the Darkness can Take them. Along the way, Lydia befriends admirable individuals and learns that growing up can be a wonderful aspect to life!

I loved the characters and the setting-both were well-developed. The plot reminded me a bit of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. 

*Highly recomemnd.

-Borrowed from the library.