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Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, published by Clarion Books (Reissue edition 2011) is a Newbery Award-winning classic. This book is a good choice if your ten to twelve-year-old needs to read about issues surrounding World War II. It is set in Denmark and told from the perspective of ten-year-old Annemarie. German soldiers occupy her country. Bad things are beginning to happen to her Jewish neighbors. Her best friend, Ellen, and her family are threatened. Annemarie’s parents decide to hide Ellen in their home by pretending the girls are sisters.
After a close call, Annemarie’s mother takes the girls to visit Uncle Henrik, a fisherman. He has been very busy since the German occupation started. Annemarie slowly comprehends that her family has many ties to Denmark’s Resistance. She wants to help.
Uncle Henrik makes a daring attempt, along with other Danish fishermen, to smuggle Ellen’s family and other Jewish countrymen across the sea to Sweden. When Annemarie’s mother twists her ankle, Annemarie undertakes a vital part of this mission. Will she make it past the German patrols with their guard dogs?
Number the Stars describes the heroism of ordinary people doing what is right in the face of powerful wrong. It gives young readers a sense of another time and place in an important period of history. Though it captures the tension of war, the story ends on a note of hope. There is a five-page afterword that gives details of the history surrounding the story.
If you know a high school student who wants to read about the Holocaust, I recommend The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. While honestly presenting the harsh realities of that time, it leaves the reader uplifted.
Corrie Ten Boom is the daughter of a watchmaker in Holland. Her father is a man of deep faith and compassion. When the Nazis occupy their country during World War II, the entire family participates in the resistance. Part of their work involves housing displaced Jews. Most of the time the family treat the Jews as houseguests, but when soldiers make raids looking for Jews to cart off to prison camps, their guests hide in a secret room built into the back wall of Corrie’s bedroom.
After one such raid, Corrie’s entire family is arrested. Some family members are released and returned home, but Corrie and her sister Betsie are imprisoned in a concentration camp.
Betsie finds reasons to rejoice in every circumstance, but Corrie struggles with hatred for their cruel prison guards and the filthy conditions in which they live. Corrie is sustained by the Scriptures and the vitamins she has managed to smuggle into the camp. She and Betsie share their faith with other women in their barracks. Despite suffering and loss, Corrie learns that the more she loses, the closer she feels to God. Her faith grows stronger as she grows weaker.
Corrie is released shortly before the war ends. She goes on to carry a message of love and forgiveness to refugees and broken societies across Europe, including Germany.
This true story was remarkable for me to read as an adult. Both of my children read it in place of another book in the high school Holocaust curriculum. It gave my teens perspective on how the light of faith can carry a person through the deepest darkness.
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom with Elizabeth and John Sherill and first published in 1971 is available both through Amazon and Christian Book Distributors.
Donna Fujimoto’s children love to read. She is a graduate of Alliance Theological Seminary. Her collection of short stories, 9 Slightly Strange Stories with an Uplifting Edge is available as an e-book at Amazon.
The Knight’s Map by R.C. Sproul with illustrations by Richard Lawnes, and published by Ligonier Ministries (2016) is a beautifully illustrated children’s storybook. It opens with a letter to parents explaining the purpose and inspiration for the story. The author suggests ways parents can enrich the reading experience. He quotes Matthew 13:45-46, which compares the kingdom of God to a pearl of great price. The story is an allegory based on the parables of Jesus.
A boy tells his father how kids at school are teasing him for reading the Bible, calling it an old book full of made-up stories. His father says that Grandpa may have an answer to that.
That evening, Grandpa gathers the grandchildren around him. He tells them about a knight named Sir Charles who wonders if the Great King that people talk about is real or just a story. One day, the knight receives a letter signed by the Great King, with a map inside. The map promises a wonderful treasure. Sir Charles is not sure if this is true, but finally decides to take a journey to find out.
The map is hard for him to read. He meets Mr. Skeptic, Mr. Idol Maker, and others, who confuse him. He gets lost. He almost gives up his quest. Then Mr. Pilgrim points him to the Lamp Maker, who says he made Sir Charles’ map. He explains the history of the Great King and his Son. After this, the knight understands the map better and is able to follow it more carefully.
On a mountainside, Sir Charles meets the Prince, the Son of the Great King. The Prince takes the knight to stay forever in the Great King’s kingdom. Sir Charles is full of joy.
Grandpa explains to the children that the knight’s map is a picture of the Bible. He says that they must learn to trust it as Sir Charles learned to trust his map as a guide for his life’s journey.
In the back of the book, the author explores the meaning of the story through questions and answers. He lists Bible verses to support each point.
This book would be good to read aloud to children or to give as a gift. It is 37 pages long. On opening it, the reader usually finds a picture on one side and text on the facing page. The story font size is large enough to be easily read. (The note to parents and the questions and answers are in a smaller font.) It is designed for children, ages 8-12. You can find it on Amazon.
Donna Fujimoto’s children love to read. She is a graduate of Alliance Theological Seminary. Her collection of short stories, 9 Slightly Strange Stories with an Uplifting Edge is available as an e-book at Amazon.
If you have a horse lover in your family or among your young friends, Golden Filly Collection 1 written by Lauraine Snelling and published by Bethany House Publishers; 1st edition (2009) is a good, good read. The collection was originally published as five separate novels. Having it offered to you as a collection is not only good value for your money, but it will allow your young reader to follow the story without having to wait for the next book to come out. And I think your reader will be eager to follow the story.
Book 1, entitled The Race, opens with Tricia and her father on horseback riding on their track. The Runnin’ On Farm raises and trains thoroughbreds. It is clear in the first pages of The Race that both Hal and his sixteen-year-old daughter share a love of horses, a knowledge about thoroughbreds and a keen interest in racing them.
After testing Spitfire in a run on their track, Tricia is thrilled to report to her father the colt still had more to give. Both father and daughter consider and hope that Spitfire might be the race-winning horse that they have been waiting for. As they end the early morning workout, Hal has a coughing fit and coughs up blood. He says that he may need to see a doctor.
When Tricia returns from school, she learns that her father has been hospitalized. She is devastated. She refuses to go to the hospital to see him. She gives the excuse she will call him after she does the afternoon chores. While doing them, she notices that one of the horses is ill. Remembering what her father would do if he were there, she takes charge of the filly’s recovery. More horses come down with the virus. Tricia and her older brother, David, must and do take the necessary steps to help the horses get well.
The doctors diagnose Tricia’s father as having lung cancer. This life-threatening illness dramatically changes the lives of the family members. Hal undergoes treatment which leaves him sick and weak. Marge, his wife, devotes most of her time to supporting and caring for her husband. The farm is a business, not a hobby, and there is a lot of work. David delays his return to college so that he can help his parents and carry more of the responsibilities of running the farm. He and Tricia with the help of two of her high school friends take on the chores of caring for and training the horses.
Tricia has a gift for working with horses as well as a great love for them. Tricia’s mother complicates Trish’s pursuit of her dream of becoming a jockey. She fears that it is too dangerous an occupation. The story soon shows that Marge’s fears are not unreasonable.
Tricia believes in God and often asks for His help, but she expects God to heal her father immediately. When He doesn’t, Trish’s faith in God falters. Though very ill, her father helps her to begin to grow-up in her faith in God.
There are numerous twists and setbacks before Spitfire, with Trish as jockey, can run his first race. It will be his first win, but it will not be his last. The next four exciting novels will take Tricia and Spitfire through to the championship of the Triple Crown. For the reader, it’s a good ride, full of thrilling moments, growing spiritual understanding, fascinating information about horses and racing, and fun characters. (I particularly liked the horses. They were as individual as the people.)
The first novel has 123 pages and subsequent novels range from 107 to 130 pages in length. I disagree with the books’ posted grade levels on Amazon. I think the father’s serious illness might be too disturbing for girls younger than eleven. The novels would be better and well enjoyed by girls ages 11 to 14.
Nancy Ellen Hird is a mom, a writer and a credentialed teacher. (She taught seventh grade and preschool.) Her latest works for children are I Get a Clue and We All Get a Clue, mystery novels for girls 10-13. For several years she was a freelance reviewer of children’s and teen’s literature for the Focus on the Family website.
Kindle allows me to offer you my novel, I Get a Clue, for free. But I can only offer it for a few days. So, beginning tomorrow, Thursday, March 7, and through Saturday, March 9 you can order I Get a Clue and not pay even a penny. You don’t have to join Kindle Unlimited to take advantage of the offer. Good deal, right?
Your pre-teen girl will enjoy I Get a Clue. It is full of adventure, friends and mystery–all in the amazing city of Edinburgh, Scotland.
You’ll feel pleased about your pre-teen reading this novel. The young heroine is an authentic pre-teen, but I Get a Clue is not like many general market books. God and His values are part of our young heroine’s life.
Nancy Ellen Hird is a mom, a writer and a credentialed teacher. (She taught seventh grade and preschool.) Her latest works for children are I Get a Clue and We All Get a Clue, mystery novels for girls 10-13. For several years she was a freelance reviewer of children’s and teen’s literature for the Focus on the Family website.
I almost didn’t read The Last Place I Want to Be by P. Buchanan and published by Kregel Publications (2009). The “My Disclaimer” pages before the novel begins annoyed me. I didn’t like the character who was going to be telling me her story. She sounded like one of those sassy, self-important teenage girls (very popular in media) that you wouldn’t want your daughter to hang out with. But the novel wasn’t like that. Once Amy started her story for real, I found her likable and her story genuine.
As the novel opens, fourteen-year-old Amy has got a major problem, several actually. Her parents have put all their money into purchasing a Bed and Breakfast that they intend to run after repairing it. The inn is on the coast across the country from where they live. Amy must leave her best friend, her journalism teacher, her school–everything familiar behind.
Adding to her difficulties, her new school is a high school rather than a junior high. Amy whose great love is journalism was the editor of her school newspaper and she is quite proud of that. At her new school, she may or may not be invited to be part of the staff. The other students and the teacher will vote; Amy soon finds out the vote was three to two to accept her.
On the first night in the Bed and Breakfast, Amy meets Billie. Billie delivers a pizza the family ordered. She is a little older than Amy, but they become friends. Billie is on the staff of the paper; she covers high school sports. Unlike Amy, she is not particularly ambitious, but she is friendly and invites Amy into her life.
Amy learns that living in this rural area is quite different from what she has known. She does take some missteps, but most, though embarrassing, are quickly resolved.
What she can’t quickly resolve is her relationship with the student editor Jamie. Amy resents Jamie for not giving her more important assignments and for not placing her stories more prominently in the paper. Amy doesn’t see, until Jamie points it out to her, that this newspaper is not just a school newspaper; it is the newspaper that the citizens of the rural community rely on for their news. Being on the staff is a great privilege and very demanding.
At home Amy’s father, who has always been very confident, begins to lose confidence in himself. He becomes very discouraged about his decision to buy the inn. The repairs are more extensive than they thought and more expensive than expected.
A heavy rain reveals that the Bed and Breakfast needs a new roof and Amy’s father becomes overwhelmed and depressed. Amy’s mother who is a Christian takes it more in stride, telling Amy that God is in control. Amy who is not a Christian, watches somewhat in awe as her mother, relying on prayer, makes some bold decisions. The reader sees as Amy sees that God does answer prayer, but He answers them His way. The novel has surprises, as does life, but it ends well.
This fish-out-of-water/new-girl-on-the-block is a good, good read for girls 11 to 14. I think they will relate to Amy, her missteps, her struggles to follow her dream, and her honest reaching for a relationship with God. I think they will like Amy’s new friends, Billie and Theresa, and enjoy the budding, and sometimes humorous, romance between Billie and Mark. This novel is one of the places your young teen reader wants to be.
Just a note: The novel is set in a small Northern California community during contemporary times. Amy’s friends in the novel, Billie and Theresa, have their driver’s licenses and drive Amy various places. But according to the current California Driver’s Handbook, drivers below the age of 18 may not transport passengers under 20 years old unless there is another adult over the age of 24 in the car.
I mention this discrepancy between the real world and the world of this novel because it could be useful. It gives you, the parent or other caring adult, the opportunity to point out to your pre-teen/teen that while novels and TV do entertain and can enlighten us about the human soul, novels, TV, etc. are works of fiction. They should be read or watched critically, and they should definitely not be relied on for information about the law, etc. (A neighbor of mine is a retired lawyer. You should hear what he has to say about TV law.)
Nancy Ellen Hird is a mom, a writer and a credentialed teacher. (She taught seventh grade and preschool.) Her latest works for children are I Get a Clue and We All Get a Clue, mystery novels for girls 10-13. For several years she was a freelance reviewer of children’s and teen’s literature for the Focus on the Family website.
God Thinks You’re Wonderful!, written by Max Lucado with cute illustrations by Chris Shea and published by Thomas Nelson (2003), is a very small but mighty book! It is about half the size of a regular book, but it would make a very special gift for both children and adults. It would be great for readers aged nine and above. I, myself, received the book from a good friend, and it encouraged me.
There is only a sentence or two on each page telling you how wonderful you are in God’s eyes. These thoughts are helpful to all of us. We often forget, or do not take the time to think about how God really feels about us. Some of the pages contain a scripture statement, such as Isaiah 49:16, “I have written your name on my Hand.” Others have simple thoughts like “Our hearts are not large enough to contain the blessings that God wants to give.”
For me, this little reminder helped me to see my cup as half full, rather than half empty. When I start counting my blessings, I realize that they are more and greater than I can number. Even though we all experience pain and suffering, the riches we have in Christ, as His children, are tremendous.
I found many of those thoughts in this book. One of them is, “You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted and lovingly positioned on this earth.” Another one is, “If there’s a tree in heaven, he’s carved your name in the bark.” I know the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. This little book is so helpful to keep me reminded of that.
Patsy Ledbetter has written poetry, short stories, devotionals, and book reviews for many years. She has also been a drama instructor, special needs teacher and substitute teacher. She and Kevin have been married for 41 years. They recently lost their oldest son Craig, age 33. They now have three children, Vanessa, Bethany and David. They also have four grandchildren, Elyse, Aurora, Hayden, and Molly. Kevin has been a music pastor most of his life and together they serve the Lord in a local church. Patsy loves to read, pray, and spend time outdoors and with family and friends. Her main desire is to bring glory to God through all the talents He has given her.
Notes from Jesus, subtitled What Your Best Friend Wants You to Know, is a little book with big thoughts. Written by Mikal Keefer and published by Group Publishing (2018), it will warm your kid’s soul with its direct, loving thoughts and its practical helps about how to get to know Jesus better. Though it’s a small book, 6.25 x 6.25 inches with only 63 pages, I think its pages will appeal to and be an especially rich experience for 8- to 12-year-olds.
Each spread has a Bible verse, (presented as a colorful graphic), something to know about Jesus and a suggestion for how to become better friends with Jesus. Each spread begins with “I [Jesus] want you to know . . .” and then gives short, specific sentences on various topics and/or questions that kids (and even grown-ups) wonder (and worry) about. Topics include: “I love being with you;” “I’m not surprised when you mess up;” “We can laugh together;” “I’ve got your back;” “I made you for a purpose;” “Not everything you hear about me is true.”
The suggestions for becoming better friends with Jesus are many times suggestions to pray, but the author does not suggest the prayers. Instead, the child is asked to interact with the lesson and simply talk to Jesus. For example, on the pages, “. . . I made you for a purpose,” Jesus asks the child to tell him something “I did really, really well when I made you. And then thank me.” Children are encouraged to talk honestly with Jesus, about their lives, their dreams, their hopes, their worries, even their mistakes.
To expand a child’s relationship with Jesus even further, the last pages in the book offer more Bible verses which a child can turn to if they feel angry, lonely, tempted. etc.
I experience energy and excitement just looking at the book. It is appealingly illustrated with bright colors and bold graphics.
The back cover says Notes from Jesus is perfect for children starting a relationship with Jesus. It is. But I think even kids who have known Jesus for a while will, at times, love and need its directness. I think it’s one of those books that you could put out someplace where your child could easily see it, pick it up, and read a few pages (finding the very topic that concerns him/her at the moment 😊). Just remember, if you borrow it some morning to start your quiet time with the Lord, be sure to put it back.
Nancy Ellen Hird is a mom, a writer and a credentialed teacher. (She taught seventh grade and preschool.) Her latest works for children are I Get a Clue and We All Get a Clue, mystery novels for girls 10-13. For several years she was a freelance reviewer of children’s and teen’s literature for the Focus on the Family website.
Today and Always, This is True, God Loves You, written by Holley Gerth, illustrated by Alisa Hipp and published by DaySpring (2019) is a charming book for young children.
Each two-page spread of this board book tells the child the many ways God’s love embraces all of us. Some pages have an interactive flap that the child can look under to see more. On the very last page the moon is actually a mirror in which the child can see the face of the one God loves!
Holley Gerth’s words are joyfully accented by the sweet, softly painted pictures on each page. Her easy-to-listen-to poetry is brought to life by Alisa Hipp’s pictures of a mama bear and her small cub.
This little book would be a great parent and child read before bed, or an afternoon snuggle-up story to read to a grandchild.
Today and Always, This is True, God Loves You, is available at Christian book stores and Amazon.com.
Donna Fujimoto’s children love to read. She is a graduate of Alliance Theological Seminary. Her collection of short stories, 9 Slightly Strange Stories with an Uplifting Edge is available as an e-book at Amazon.
“The Lord bless you [today and all the days to come] and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; and the Lord turn his face to you and give you peace. “Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
Let that wash over you and soak in. It feels good, doesn’t it?
I love it when someone speaks a blessing over me. I love to be reminded that the grace and peace of God is mine and that He is watching over me and filling all the empty places of my soul.
I think kids want to hear it too. I think they need to hear it. Despite our best efforts, we cannot shelter them from the evil that comes against them or the evil that is happening in the world. They are vulnerable.
God though can shelter them with His strength and His love. He can give them joy and lift them out of fear and sadness. He can give them courage. He can give them direction. He can give them hope. He wants to. He longs to. A devotional may help them seek Him and hear Him.
For older teens, young women and adults we can recommend: Adventures in Prayer, Praying with Jane, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional, and New Morning Mercies.
We think you and your little ones will like: The Little Visits. . . series; Words to Dream: Bedtime Bible Stories and Prayers
For school age children we have read and liked Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids; Indescribable: 100 Devotions about God and Science , The Wonder of Creation: 100 More Devotions about God and Science.
For teen girls we can suggest Adored: 365 Devotions for Young Women
For family devotions we think you and the family will be enriched with: Faith Forward Family Devotional; Grace for the Moment Family Devotional; Kingdom Family Devotional .
Nancy Ellen Hird is a mom, a writer and a credentialed teacher. (She taught seventh grade and preschool.) Her latest works for children are I Get a Clue and We All Get a Clue, mystery novels for girls 10-13. For several years she was a freelance reviewer of children’s and teen’s literature for the Focus on the Family website.
“A book is like a garden in the pocket” – a Chinese proverb
Not all books are alike. Some books are worthy of a child’s time and interest while others are just . . . and some–I hate to say it, really–should be avoided by the young. Thank you for letting us, this past year, recommend some good books to you and your young person. We hope you tried a few and found them a pleasure.
In the new year we’ll keep reading and searching for other books that we can recommend. Meanwhile don’t forget to dig into Book Lists. You may find some books you’ve missed or forgotten.
We have some good, good books to recommend to you and your children.
The Blessings Jar – a warm, fuzzy board book that helps young children think in a concrete way about being thankful to God.
Molly’s Pilgrim – a first chapter book with illustrations for children in lower elementary grades that may help children consider modern day pilgrims.
An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving – a gentle story about family life at Thanksgiving from nineteenth century author Louisa May Alcott. This short book with illustrations would be enjoyed by children ages five to twelve.
The Pilgrims of Plimoth – an illustrated book for upper elementary children and above about the Pilgrims’ journey to America and their first year with quotes by the colony’s governor, William Bradford.
Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving – a picture book about God’s hand in the first Thanksgiving. The whole family will enjoy this one.
Thanksgiving Graces – a picture book about extending ourselves to family, friends and strangers.
Thank you, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving — a picture book about the nineteenth century woman who through her amazing efforts and tenacity was instrumental in bringing about this national holiday.
What is Thanksgiving? – a board book that takes the listener to the heart of the holiday.
A Pennyworth of Peppermints was written by Mary Weeks Millard and was published by Dernier Publishing (2014). This pre-teen novel is set in World War I Britain in Dorset and will be enjoyed by boys and girls ages 9-11.
The war has been going on for two years. As the story begins ten-year-old Ben’s oldest brother is in the military and his other brother is about to sign up. While playing at the shore, Ben and his friend, Sid, find a bottle with a message in it washed up on the beach. The friends agree to not open it until after Sunday School the next day.
The boys invite Sid’s twin sister, Vera, to join them, which is a good thing because the message is a poem and Vera is considered by them to be a good reader. Vera is the first to see that the poem seems to have a hidden message. The children decide to discover its meaning. They call themselves the Peppermint Detective Agency because Ben shares his peppermints with the twins.
Some of the clues in the poem the children figure out quickly and easily, but others baffle them and they must pursue the answers. The children are given time to pursue answers when they are given a week off from school because there is an outbreak of the Belgian Flush (the war name for the German measles).
In the early part of this week-off, Ben’s father unexpectedly, and to the family’s dismay, is called up for special and dangerous service. He must leave for training almost immediately. Ben’s mother sends Ben to Radipole Manor with a letter for his sister who is in service there. The children are excited to go to Radipole because they have figured out it is one of the clues in the poem. The poem has told them that a mole is in the churchyard there. The children look but don’t find any signs of moles.
Before Ben’s father leaves for training, he and Ben go for a walk. He gives Ben his New Testament and asks him to read a few lines from it each day, to pray, and to pray with his mother before bed. Ben agrees. During this heart-to-heart, Ben also asks his father if there are other meanings to the word “mole.” His father says it can also be a nickname for a spy.
Now the kids know that the poem is about a serious matter. But they decide to wait until they have more information before they give the message to the police.
Ben’s life changes dramatically when his father leaves. With her sons and her husband in the military, Ben’s mother decides she needs to get a job at the munitions plant to help pay the rent, feed her and Ben, and do her bit for the war effort. Her working outside the home means Ben will need to do more of the chores at home. Ben is offered and takes a small Saturday job with the local grocery.
Events keep drawing the children back to Radipole and the mystery that still needs to be solved. The children do solve it after some twists, some turns and some danger.
I think kids will enjoy Ben’s simple pleasures and exciting adventures. They will watch him grow in his faith in God and his care for others. They will also be intrigued and astounded with the world in which he and his friends live.
Wartime brings some sad, scary and worrisome situations into Ben’s young life, but he and other children like him live with other hardships and challenges as well. Advanced schooling is not a given in a working-class child’s life. Many young people leave school at fourteen to help their mothers in the home or get paying jobs to help support the family. Even school-age children have many responsibilities. In the novel children must look after younger siblings, work in the vegetable garden, kill rabbits for food, and gather firewood for stoves that are also the only source of heat in the homes.
Even though there are hardships in the lives of these children, there are many blessings, joys, and pleasures. The children are more free to move about on their own than many children today. The kids in the novel relish and appreciate simple treats such as peppermints and day-old buns. They enjoy playing at the seashore, riding in a horse-drawn cart, and traveling on a train. They enjoy each other’s company. They enjoy the idea of helping their country. Ben realizes at one point in the story that God wanted “to fill his life with good things even when there were bad things happening.”
I think elementary school children will find A Pennyworth of Peppermints an interesting, exciting read.
Nancy Ellen Hird is a mom, a writer and a credentialed teacher. (She taught seventh grade and preschool.) You can learn more about her and her mystery novels for pre-teens, I Get a Clue and We All Get a Clue, at www.nancyellenhird.com . For several years Nancy Ellen Hird was a freelance reviewer of children’s and teen’s literature for the Focus on the Family website.
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