May 2026 Book Bracket

 Book Bracket for May 2026

I didn't intend to be sick with strep throat almost as soon as summer started, but it meant that I had a lot more time and patience to devote to reading. I was able to enjoy a variety of genres this month.

The Borrowers, by Mary Norton

Pint-sized Arrietty and her doll-sized parents "borrow" items from the humans who dwell in the big Victorian house, but when a boy sees Arrietty and her father, the two youngsters strike up a friendship that brings turmoil to their quiet existence.

Why I picked it up: This was another book in my "antilibrary" and I needed my next book.

My impressions: I'd written off this book for a long time, but I'm glad that I tried it! I was drawn in during the very first chapter, and though there wasn't a lot of action, I found that I was invested in familial conflict, which consisted of Arrietty's desires for freedom and adventure clashing with her parents' wider knowledge of the dangers of the world and their desire to keep their home. I thought the writing was good, but it's a subtle sort of good writing. The line illustrations aided the imagination when it came to picturing the characters. I think this book could be a good read-aloud. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I found it charming and will probably tell a family member about it soon.

Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child, by Anthony Esolen

A cultural commentator satirically describes the best ways to stunt the imagination of children so as to make them materialistic automaton pawns who will submit to whatever the government and the economy demand.

Why I picked it up: I don't remember why this one ended up on my to-read list, but it had been there for a while. I saw it sitting on the shelf of a priest friend, and he generously loaned it to me. I've been reading it slowly for three months.

My impressions: Oh yeah, I'm glad I read this book! It brought together several different hot-take soapboxes that I've encountered and laid out so many things that are wrong with our culture. I did skip about one and a half chapters - about cheapening love so it's all about sex, and denying any difference between men and women - and I'm alright with that. I think this book hit the spot for me because it touched on some deficiencies I've seen in myself. I fault no one, but our society doesn't really help kids learn what they are really interested in. Several of my interests haven't blossomed until I became and adult, and even now, I'm wishing I'd pursued some things more when I was younger - if only I had known! But all shall be well. This is the most palatable satire I've encountered, and it helped to know that it was a work of satire before beginning it. This book would be good for parents and teachers who want to consider what they can do at home to help their children flourish, although I would warn there are a few comments here and there - and those two chapters - which would probably not be suitable for youths.

Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers, by Ralph Moody**, narrated by Cameron Beierle**

Ralph Moody and his family move from Massachusetts to Colorado, where they live poor in money but rich in neighbors, ranching, and homesteading experience.

Why I picked it up: This has been on my to-read list, having been recommended in multiple places. I was looking for a wholesome audiobook, and this one was available through my state's e-library.

My impressions: Other than cuss words and different characters using the Lord's name in vain, this was indeed a wholesome book - part Laura Ingalls Wilder feel, part Wild West adventure feel. I loved the character shaping that Ralph experienced through the discipline and love of his father. It was uncomfortable at times, but I grew to love Ralphs' father. The narration was very good in this book, and helped create a picture of Ralph's dad as a soft-spoken but no-nonsense man. I was glad I had a hint about the ending, which I'll say is sad, but it is so powerful too. Minus the language, this would be a great book for youngsters who like the Little House books, or could use more boy-adventure-shenanigans in their reading lineup.

How to Get Away with Myrtle, by Elizabeth C. Bunce, narrated by Bethan Rose Young**

The second book in the Myrtle Hardcastle mystery serious follows the irrepressible "young lady of quality" Myrtle, as she is forced into a seaside holiday with her governess to get her away from the morbid drama of the murder she solved - only to find herself mixed up in another murder mystery.

Why I picked it up: It's pretty dead for me at work and I wanted another audiobook to listen to. I'd enjoyed the first book in this series, and was interested in trying this second one, available through my state's e-library.

My impressions: I think "irrepressible" Victorian young ladies with spunk must hit some secret spot in my reading heart. The first-person narrator voice of the main character is delicious, and it's fun to experience her personality as much through her inner thoughts as through her - often ill-timed - outbursts and conversation. The other characters are also well-developed and well-described. Even the cat, who offers catlike one-word contributions to the discussion, is charming. The audiobook version was beautifully narrated. There was just one point in the book where it got a little dark for me, but that may have been as much a lack of sleep and its resulting sensibility as anything. However, I must note that, as this is a murder mystery, more sensitive children might not find this book to be the perfect fit for them. Myrtle and her governess exhibit an admirable sense of justice in their desire to hunt down the criminal, but they don't always do things aboveboard, such as when they withhold evidence from the dislikable but rightful authorities. There is also a comment that indicates a character kept something for personal use at the end that ought to have been returned along with other items which were originally offered as a bribe. This book would be fun for those who enjoyed the first book - and it really ought to be read only after the first one - otherwise some characters won't make as much sense. Middle schoolers and older who can handle some descriptions of murder scenes and insinuated long-term poisoning and who want to enjoy a murder mystery should look into this series.

Wild Trek, by Jim Kjelgaard

The trapper, Link, and his half-husky, half-wild dog Chiri brave virgin wilderness and animals that do not fear man to save a pair of men who were stranded when their plane crashed in the Caribou mountains.

Why I picked it up: My dad was always a fan of books by this author, and I saw it sitting on my parents' bookshelves. It had been a while since I'd read a book about a "remarkable animal" (although I listened to one, Lad, last year). I also felt like I should get to this one, which has been hanging out at my house for several months, before I got back to working on reading through my "anti-library."

My impressions: I expected more of this book to be focused on the dog than it actually was, but that did not weaken the story. It was, I found out, a survival tale, and I love me a good survival story. The characters' personalities were evident in both their speech and in the thoughts revealed to the reader, but one character spent a little too long theorizing what helped man become the dominant being on earth. There was a lot of action, a lot of wilderness how-to, and a lot of danger. There is some death in this book, and the characters are reduced to pretty dire circumstances (eating raw meat at times), so more sensitive kids might not find a good fit in this book. Middle grade readers and older who like adventure and wilderness living might consider reading this book.

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, by Gregory Boyle**

A Jesuit priest relates stories and reflections from his ministry to "homeboy" and "homegirl" gang members in a dangerous L.A. neighborhood and in the incarceration system.

Why I picked it up: Way back in the day, this book was the subject of much discussion at my alma mater - maybe when I was a freshman. I wasn't in the honors program, so even though I think the author came and spoke at my little university in the middle of the Great Plains, I didn't read this book or go to the talk. However, something drew me to it recently, and I found it in my local library system's online audiobook collection.

My impression: There's a lot that I really liked about this book, and I feel like that's saying a lot, since it included heavy topics, violence, and the death of many young people. I really didn't feel as if the "homies" were "other" - I loved them along with Fr. Boyle, or "G," as he was often called. The author helps us encounter some really tough customers and see them with the eyes of love. His Jesuit heart really came through here. There were a few things that raised my eyebrows, including an assessment of the issues Jesus would have with both political parties (I'm not saying he's wrong, just not sure I'd reach the same conclusion - or maybe I'm just feeling called out), and quoting all sorts of people and writings, Catholics as well as Buddhists and Nietzsche. Maybe he was trying to show that we can find God's Truth reflected in unexpected places? In any case, there were some amazing stories of the ministry he runs and the people who he has come to know. This is a great nonfiction work and does so much to humanize people who join gangs, but there might be a few elements that readers could find a bit off-putting.

Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull

Kendra and younger brother Seth find out their reclusive grandparents are secretly the guardians of a preserve in which mythical, magical creatures of all kinds live - but disobeying the rules in a magical place can have deadly consequences.

Why I picked it up: This book has been on my to-read list for a while - I think one of my cousins said he loved this series. I finally got a copy from the library when one of my small book clubs' members agreed that this would be our next read.

My impressions: Like later works, such as Impossible Creatures, this fantasy action tale brings together a wide variety of mythological creatures and explores the ways that the human world (mostly doesn't) mix with a magical one. There are definitely two sides, one good and one evil, and some good world building for how even familiar fairy tale creatures act in this specific world. There are some good deep discussions between some characters, an exploration of the consequences of disobedience, and some realistic sibling interactions, including teasing and disagreements. There were also a few pages I skipped because they were too creepy for me - a grown woman. Although the story was engaging - especially when the ante increases around the halfway mark - there were a few things that didn't quite work for me in a moral sense. For example, it's pretty obvious that a character is evil and shouldn't be messed with, and yet the "good guys" go to her multiple times to undo to magic mischief that's been done. I feel like that was sending a little bit of a mixed message. There was also a comment one character made about not finding any religion that contains all the truth - about mythical creatures, presumably, but there are some negative implications about religion there.  Finally, there is mention of demons, and mythical creatures being at best "helpful when it serves them" (if I remember correctly), but no mention of Christianity or truly selfless magical creatures. A cursory look at online review seems to indicate parents like that there's clear good vs. evil messaging in this book, but I find the above elements to be problematic. Also weird: formerly beautiful fairies, transformed into ugly imps (no sex indicated) are cured by being kissed on the mouth by fairies. This isn't a bad book and doesn't have the worst good vs. evil action, but I have found some fantasy books to be better in areas where this one doesn't quite reach the standard for me. This book would be best for middle school students.

The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ, by Brant Pitre

A Biblical scholar and professor describes modern errors in Bible scholarship and explains the good historical evidence for the Gospels being historical ancient biographies by eyewitnesses or their close associates, as well as the context of first-century Judaism that shows Jesus' clear claims to divinity and lordship.

Why I picked it up: This book was sitting on our shelves and I needed a break from a good but heavy book. I liked the other books by this author that I'd read before.

My impressions: This is a great book of Scriptural apologetics. Pitre presents the arguments or thoughts of Biblical scholars who have different theories that downplay the authenticity of the Gospel accounts, or deny that Jesus claimed to be God, etc. He systematically walks the reader through the evidence that these faulty theories - often disturbing to Christians - ignore. This book was at a good level for me - readable, but thorough, and ultimately leading me to ask in awe, "Who is Jesus?" This is a great book for any Christian adult serious about their faith to read. It counteracts so many false claims that come up from time to time and can prepare one to explain the reasons for his or her faith.

The Horse and His Boy, by C. S. Lewis

Shasta and the Talking Horse Bree flee slavery in Calormen for the free country of Narnia, but they and their companions find themselves racing cruel invaders who threaten to destroy the small nation of Archenland.

Why I picked it up: This is the next Chronicles of Narnia book I'm reading in my cousin group.

My impressions: This is my favorite book in the series. I know I often tell myself it's tied with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but right now, it's the best. Maybe the sense of divine providence that pervades the book appeals to me. The story is just such a grand adventure. I love it! There are many great themes explored during the story, and several characters provide great studies for pride. I've read that some people find the depiction of the Calormene people to be a problematic and racist depiction of Islamic culture and Muslim people, so that is something parents might want to be aware of. However, it's not something I ever picked up on when I was reading this in middle school. This would be a great book for anyone who enjoys the Chronicles of Narnia series - they won't want to miss this one!

Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates*

Peter shares a special bond with the black ewe, Biddy, who grows from a near-lifeless lamb to the leader of the farm flock.

Why I picked it up: This book has been on my to-read list for ages, and it was never available to me locally. I used some of the remainder of a gift card I got from some Facebook class-action lawsuit thing to purchase an e-book version of this story. I needed something milder than Siberian work camps and French Revolution guillotining late one evening when I was sick, so this looked like a good option.

My impressions: This is yet another beguiling book with little plot that is so cozy that it captures my heart. It's just a description of life on a mountainous farm where sheep are the main source of income, and it describes the little trials and growing-up incidents that happen as a lad ages from youth to somewhere around middle-school age. I learned several things about sheep husbandry I hadn't known before, and just thoroughly enjoyed this quick little read. This would be a great book to read aloud (I've heard), but good for young elementary readers and older - especially those who might lean more towards the James Herriot style of animal story.

No Bullet Got Me Yet: The Relentless Faith of Father Kapaun, by John Stansifer**

This biography of Father Kapaun covers his whole life, as well as the identification of his body and return to the Diocese of Wichita.

Why I picked it up: I first became aware of this book when I saw it sitting in a Barnes & Noble. About a year and a half later, I decided I needed an audiobook to listen to, and this was available through my local library system's e-library.

My impressions: I'm glad I revisited the story of Father Kapaun. Some of the accounts sounded familiar, as I'd probably read them in another biography about Venerable Father Kapaun, but they remain powerful. The saints truly are inspiring. There is a lot of information about moving battlefronts during the Korean War, so I sometimes wouldn't quite catch everything if I was working on other projects, but it was easy to follow otherwise. I liked hearing the actual words he wrote in letters, and his steady communication with his bishop touched me. It's so interesting hearing about events that happened in my part of the world, as well as in faraway places to someone else from Kansas. In fact, the end of the book covered events that I remembered and participated in myself - the identification of his body, and the funeral service when he was returned to Kansas. The one thing that I have mixed emotions on is, I don't think my pronunciation of Fr. Kapaun's name is changing, but the audiobook definitely has his name pronounced the other way. This is a great book for any high schooler or older interested in learning more about Father Kapaun, or wanting to refresh themselves on the details of his life.

The Wheel on the School, by Meindert DeJong

Dutch school children consider why storks don't nest in their town like they do in others nearby, and with help from their teacher and older members of their small community, work to do something about it.

Why I picked it up: This book had been on my to-read list for forever, and I found it available at my alma mater. I know I should be working on my anti-library, but it's nice to cross items off the to-read list, too!

My impressions: I think the writing in this book was pretty good (it is a Newbery Award winner), and several phrases struck me, but it is a slower-moving work without a lot of action. There were a few parts that were more exciting, but it is a pretty slow-paced book. I think what I liked best was seeing the children interact with older members of their communities and see those bonds bring healing and purpose to some who otherwise were lost or lonely. It was a good book for showing how humans can interact positively with nature and how children can take initiative to make things happen. I wouldn't recommend this book - it's not bad - in fact, it enjoys multiple good points - it's just not one that I think everyone needs to make time to read.

A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park, narrated by David Baker and Cynthia Bishop**

A split narrative follows Salva in 1980's Sudan as he endures incredible hardships to escape war and survive refugee camps, and modern-day Nya, who must walk 8 hours every day to collect water for her family.

Why I picked it up: This book was recommended on a list at some point. I obtained a physical copy from a library sale at one point, but as it is part of my anti-library, I needed to work on that pile. This one happened to be available as an audiobook through my local system's e-library, so that's how I'm making it through this one.

My impressions: I'd avoided this one for a while because I was afraid the main character would experience the horrors of being made a child soldier; while he endured a great many shocks that no one should undergo, my original fear was not realized. The split narrative, switching back and forth between two characters who lived in different times, was an interesting storytelling device that worked for this book, although it's not a style I'll seek out. It certainly is a book for making one aware of the hardships that exist in the world, and how many opportunities open up when you're not fetching water for half of your waking hours. I liked how the author showed how Salva's experiences in his youth, as well as his desire to solve problems, led to a meaningful (and life-changing) project for him to work on. This could be a good book to consider reading to make big issues like war and clean water more human and accessible to children. Due to some very sad parts, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under middle school, and even then, this book probably would not be a good match for some more sensitive readers.

Bracket Play

First round: as always, I placed as many weak books against strong books as I could. However, I read quite a few very good books this month, so I was sad to see Tattoos on the Heart didn't make it to the next round. I opted for The Case for Jesus to win over it, since this second book is a very good and well-researched work that explains the faults in some suspect Bible scholarship in the last half century or so.

In the second round, I saw quite a few works go down that I had really enjoyed reading. For example, there was much to love in Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child, but there were a few sections that I found worth skimming, and it just didn't have the excitement of Lewis' The Horse and His Boy. Pitre's book, which had won last round, fell to the Father Kapaun biography, which had a lot of personal interest for me (I'm not saying that knowing that the Gospels have good historical basis isn't personally interesting - it is). In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, Pitre's book could just as easily have won this showdown. It just goes to show how good the books were overall this month. I was also uncertain on the last showdown - the murder mystery almost took the win, but I opted for Mountain Born because it felt like something that might be more universally appealing.

Lewis' work won over the Fr. Kapaun biography, and it also went on to win against Mountain Born. The Horse and His Boy is my favorite of the Chronicles of Narnia series, and it's a strong book in so many ways. It is extremely enjoyable and rereadable. I highly recommend it.

Books Attempted and Put Down

Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling, by John Taylor Gatto, narrated by ?**

The author of Dumbing Us Down discusses the questionable ideologies that have shaped compulsory schooling in the United States from its inception, as well as the disservice it does to the students who spent twelve or more years in the educational system.

Why I picked it up: Dumbing Us Down had the hottest hot takes on education I've ever heard. I knew I needed to try this next book by the same author.

Why I put it down: Turns out I didn't know what I needed to try. I started this one, but I was bothered by the fact that the author held up as a positive example someone who I certainly would not hold up as a role model. I could have kept listening, but I didn't feel the need to give more time to the book. Perhaps some of the takes are too hot for me (me, a person who works in the compulsory school system he decries). I agree there are problems with education, but I'm not ready to leave my job over it.

Handbook for Dragon Slayers, by Merrie Haskell*

Tilda runs into political intrigue and adventure in a world that is part-Medieval and part-fantasy.

Why I picked it up: It was on my to-read list, but I'm not sure how it got there. It was a relatively recent addition.

Why I put it down: It sounded like there was going to be a bit of a romantic story line, so, considering my current sensitivity, it made sense to put it down. I think it would have been an interesting read, so I wouldn't be upset if I came back around to it someday.

Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrated by Mirron Willis**

Elijah must leave his town of freed slaves in Canada to recover his friend's stolen money.

Why I picked it up: I think this was on a recommended list somewhere, and I found it at a local library's store. However, I was attempting it in audiobook format.

Why I put it down: I just wasn't digging it. I think the author has a lot of flavor - like explaining how the townspeople had tendencies to exaggerate in their storytelling, etc. - but it was taking far too long for the story to happen, and I just didn't think the payoff would be worth it. There was also a lot of time spent talking about a baby spitting up on someone - the story was exaggerated, of course - but more bodily humor like that isn't necessarily my thing.

April 2026 Book Bracket

 Book Bracket for April 2026

Looking back at the month of April, it seems to have spanned a large amount of time. Easter was several days into April? Well, whether it was long or short, I found I had read or listened to a mix of books, with many of them being pretty good or excellent. I also put down a greater number of books unfinished than usual, but I'm quite happy to have tried some of them and now to cross them off my to-read list.

Made for Heaven: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation, by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR

This guided Lenten meditation book focuses primarily on the Sunday Gospel reading for the following week's short reflections, and includes reflection questions and space to journal.

Why I picked it up: I was overambitious in thinking I'd participate in my parish's second book club. I didn't attend a single meeting, but I read the reflection most days, and caught up when I'd misplaced the book or forgotten for a few days.

My impressions: This book wasn't my favorite Lenten read, but I think that if I'd put more into it (i.e., done some journaling in response to the questions), I would have gotten more out of it. I liked that Fr. Torres took a deep look at several Sunday Gospel passages, digging into them for the remainder of the week's reflections. He had some good insights, and a few personal accounts that stuck with me or are easy to recall. A few comments made it sound like the book was written shortly after the pandemic event, but it doesn't really date the book or interfere with the content - it's still good Lenten material. This is a good book for Catholics who want short daily reflections for the Lenten liturgical season.

The Art of Living: The Cardinal Virtues and the Freedom to Love, by Edward Sri

A theologian breaks down St. Thomas Aquinas' commentary on the four cardinal virtues, explaining and exploring what they are, as well as the vices they counteract and other virtues that fall under their heading.

Why I picked it up: I started listening to this as an audiobook because I wanted mostly religious books during Lent, but I read a good chunk of it because I have a physical copy that I picked up a while back. 

My impressions: This book came to me at the right time! I wasn't sure how I'd like it since I wasn't blown away by his book on the Mass the second time reading it (a month or two ago), but this one hit a sweet spot! It spoke to me where I'm at - so I am reminded to not disdain a book because a different one by the same author wasn't everything I was hoping for. This book does a great job of making St. Thomas' work accessible to lay Catholics - I don't know about other people, but I certainly find St. Thomas intimidating. I feel like I have a better understanding of how the cardinal virtues are "cardinal", meaning something like they are umbrellas that house a lot of other virtues within themselves, and combat a number of vices. I was called out, but also encouraged and felt like I was learning a lot. I think this book could speak to many Catholics, probably high school and up, and I'd recommend it to people who know they need to work on eradicating vice and growing virtue in their lives (so, all of us!).

Here is a quote that I liked: Magnanimity is "an inner movement of the soul, a stretching forth toward God and toward whatever great and noble tasks he may be inviting a person to do: fighting against injustices, shouldering important undertakings, serving a pressing need, confronting evils, building something that will serve the Church and bless many...people. Unfortunately, our culture is put off by this Christian heroic ambition. Instead of lifting our eyes toward doing great and noble deeds with our lives, we are sedated by comfort and pleasure. The incessant distractions and amusements of our age lower our vision for life, dull our pursuit of honorable things, and stifle magnanimity. We instead focus our energies on pursuing what is most enjoyable." -pp. 117-8

Glitch, by Laura Martin, narrated by Tara Sands and Ramon de Ocampo**

Regan and Elliot, rival time-travelers-in-training, find themselves forced to team up due to a time-traveling item that warns of future danger and sets of a string of mind-bending efforts to save the past and the future

Why I picked it up: I think I saw this one recommended somewhere, but not sure why this one specifically ended up on my to-read list, especially since time-travel stories aren't quite my thing. This one was available through my state's e-library. 

My impressions: I'm so glad I tried this one out! I should have known from her dinosaur dystopia books that I listened to last year that I like her writing style. Exciting from the start, it incorporates concepts like the Butterfly Effect and utilizes excellent world building. I found the entire first third of the book incredibly engaging - weirdly enough, I felt there was a lull in the middle part of the book, but the ending ratcheted up the stakes with some expected time-travel madness. I liked the start-as-enemies situation and how that developed. There were some questionable decisions made with shady ethical groundings, as well as some moments of lying or deception, but it was mostly free of questionable content. I liked this book so much that I discussed it with my husband as I listened to it and recommended it to a family member who I think will like it. This would be a good book for middle school and older.

Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Jonah and other adopted children in his area receive strange letters about being some of the missing, and people coming to get them soon, so he and several children try to unravel the mystery of the letters as well as the mystery of where he came from.

 

Why I picked it up: A relative of mine really enjoyed the book, so I read it to discuss it with them. This copy came from my work's library.

My impressions: It was interesting to pick up a time-travel book after I'd just finished listening to one. I've decided that Martin's style of time-travel story is more my type than this one. The good parts of this were that there were intriguing, mysterious happenings from the start, and the mystery went through most of the book. What was happening? Almost every chapter felt like it ended on a little cliffhanger - I think it's impressive writing if you can do that, but it's not my favorite. I thought the characterizations were a little weaker than in some books, and I wasn't a fan of how the book felt like it had a little more negative of an outlook than other middle grade novels. Disrespect towards parents and deceit were some problematic elements. The book sets up for a sequel - for a whole series, in fact. While the book was interesting enough to finish, I wasn't keen enough on it to want to continue the series; the Wikipedia summary worked out fine for me. I think this book would be fine for most middle school readers, but I'd say go with Glitch over this one if you want a time travel story.

The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, by Eugene Yelchin**

Eugene lives with his parents, grandmother, and brother in Communist Russia, finding that his drawings under the table may be a talent that helps make him more free in his country, but still lacking answers to his questions about why people live they way they do in his country.

Why I picked it up: This one was recommended on the Read Aloud Revival website, and sounded interesting. The audiobook version, read by the author, was available through my state's e-library. I listened to this during the time I was reading With God in Russia, by Fr. Walter Ciszek, and both are kind of heavy, so I'll probably be giving stories about Soviet Russia a break for a while.

My impressions: This is a good book to give you an idea of what life would be like for a child growing up in Communist Russia, long after peace had been established post-war. However, there were some comments and descriptions that made me think that some parts would have been more appropriate for an adult audience. A bathhouse experience was described, as were some comments like the author deciding not to say his mom loved a star ballet dancer mare than his dad (she wasn't really in love, just obsessed), and those were some bits that I just wouldn't be comfortable handing over to any kid. I do think that this memoir was well-written - Yelchin had a good sense of how different aspects of his life fit together - his lack of talent, Russia's obsession with talent, his Jewish ethnicity, tensions surrounding the scapegoating of Jews, art, expression, following the rules - so many things wove together really well in this work. I think this is a good book for exploring life in the USSR, but it would probably be good for parents to pre-read or read with their children if a child (probably no younger than middle school) is the one who will be experiencing it. 

When the Sea Turned to Silver, by Grace Lin, narrated by Kim Mai Guest**

Young Pinmei and her friend Yishan leave their burned-out homes to rescue Pinmei's grandmother from the cruel Tiger Emperor, and finds her voice on the adventure as she shares stories with those she meets - and finds the old stories are more than just stories.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to listen to another audiobook, but not one set in Communist Russia. This one was available through my state's e-library. 

My impressions: I don't remember much of Lin's other book that I listened to a few years ago, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, but I do think that I liked this one much more. I liked the interwoven stories that slowly started to come to life. It felt like listening to an anthology of Asian fairy tales that were all tied together by a pretty compelling problem. The imagery and some of the poetic language were excellent, but other analogies didn't flow as smoothly for me. Even with the clear problem and high stakes, I would say that this adventure is still a little slower paced than other adventure stories. It worked for me this time, but I could see some readers having a little more trouble staying engaged with this one. I did not like the deception practiced by one character towards the end of the book, even if it was the big baddie she was tricking - that was an uncomfortable scene. Other than that, I thought the book was free of concerning elements. This could be a good book for fairy tale and folk tale fans middle-school aged and older.

The Silver Chair, by C. S. Lewis, narrated by Jeremy Northam**

Jill joins Eustace in this adventure into Narnia, where they are tasked by Aslan to follow four signs in order to save the missing heir to the Narnian throne, but realize the completion of the task is much more difficult than they anticipated.

Why I picked it up: This is one of the two Chronicles of Narnia books my cousin group and I discussed this month. Yes, I finished it before I finished The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I read a small snippet of it, but listened to most in audiobook form.

My impressions: I used to really dislike this one because I thought the landscape was so dreary, but it's grown on me over time, and listening to it was a real treat! This book powerfully portrays the exhortation to follow Christ, and how difficult that actually is. It shows the struggle of the will to choose to do what is right, even in the face of physical desolation and spiritual attack. It shows the entrancing power of evil, and its ultimate failure in the face of those who rely on grace to resist it. This is a great book that everyone should read, starting with upper elementary and going through any age.

Beyond the Desert Gate, by Mary Ray

This somewhat-sequel to The Ides of April focuses on the youngest of the three sons of Apollodorus the merchant, named Philo, as he and his part-Jewish siblings find their place in a Roman-occupied Palestine of A.D. 70.

Why I picked it up: I needed a book to take with me to work that wasn't set in Communist Russia, and as this one is part of my "antilibrary" (the apparent term for owned books that one hasn't read yet), it seemed an appropriate one to try.

My impressions: This book has the trim focus of some middle-grade novels, but some descriptions of intense injury and violence make this one more appropriate for a slightly older audience. I liked this book better than The Ides of April and found fewer troubling elements in it - and I was pleasantly surprised to find out who the mysterious stranger Xenos was. Though the plot wasn't action driven, it pulled me in enough to have me wondering how things would end. There is a lot of loss in the novel, but I think it had the feeling of authenticity that one would hope for in a historical novel. This book would be best for mature middle schoolers and older, particularly if they are interested in the Roman Empire and the nations occupied by Rome soon after the time of Jesus.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C. S. Lewis, narrated by Derek Jacobi**

Edmund and Lucy return to Narnia with their cruel cousin Eustace in tow, and join King Caspian as he sails east to try to find the edge of the world and Aslan's country.

Why I picked it up: Cousin book time again! I started reading this book as a physical copy, but finished the last 2/3 of it in audiobook form.

My impressions: This book is alright, but the sea log narrative style means there's no driving plot. There are some episodic adventures, but towards the end, it feels more like an account of interesting places and peoples observed by the adventurers. I did come to love Reepicheep more than I have in previous readings of this book. I can't say that the audiobook was amazing - the performance, particularly of Caspian's actions at the end, didn't help me like him more. I was intrigued by the stronger use of religious symbols in this book at the end, but I think it makes sense, since Aslan is preparing the older children to recognize him by the name he goes by in their world. Any fan of Narnia should read this book, but it's not the best one.

Bracket Play

The bracket was a little difficult to figure out this month. All three of the finalists could have been the best for April.

Round one went as it usually does, with similar books being matched up with each other and the weaker ones being knocked out right away. Glitch came in between rounds, and beat the Chinese fairy-tale mashup When the Sea Turned to Silver. This second book was good, but it was a little slower-paced and more artistic. Glitch was exciting from the get-go, but it also had some of those good elements that Lin's book enjoyed, such as high stakes and strong character development.

In the second round, the young adult historical fiction book Beyond the Desert Gate was a pretty decent work, but did not compare with the fantasy classic The Silver Chair, which went on to the finals. It was the matchup on the other side that hurt to decide - Glitch, a middle grade time-travel action adventure, or The Art of Living, a Catholic work about the four cardinal virtues? I opted for the latter title since it was more meaningful than a book that was well-told, but not about things of eternal importance.

The championship round was also difficult to decide. The Art of Living took the title home today. It provided concrete applications and made St. Thomas Aquinas' writing on the cardinal virtues accessible. The Silver Chair speaks to spiritual realities in story form, and it does so at an amazing level of artistry, but it's not my favorite of the Narnian adventures. On another day, it would have won (and maybe Glitch would have), but The Art of Living is the standout book for this month.

Books Attempted and Put Down

The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation, by Rod Dreher, narrated by Adam Verner**

An Orthodox Christian considers the life of the monk, St. Benedict, and how his Rule, written in the sixth century, could help believers build small, strong communities in a wider society that has become hostile to Christianity.

Why I picked it up: I remember hearing this book was causing quite a lot of discussion when it first came out, and I finally decided to give it a go - almost a decade late.

Why I put it down: The book didn't resonate with me and I didn't think I was getting much out of it. I think society is, in some ways, still much as Dreher describes it, but I don't think it's as dire as it was looking in the fallout of 2016. Still dire, yes, but not a given that every good thing is on its last legs - easy to say when I hear about the surprising increase in conversions to Catholicism the past few years. This book may be a great book for some, but I think it spoke to a very specific time in American society, and that specificity has somewhat limited the book's readability.

Bloody Jack: Being the Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary 'Jacky' Faber, Ship's Boy, by L. A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren**

Mary, a British orphan in the time of the Napoleonic wars, disguises herself and finds work as a ship's boy.

Why I picked it up: Oh, I'm sure I saw this recommended somewhere. Like the audiobook above, it was available through my state's e-library.

Why I put it down: This book had too many disgusting descriptions for me. There are details about dead orphans being sold to researching doctors who autopsy the bodies. Too gross for me, and it was sticking with me in a not-good way. Definitely okay with having put it down.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, by Edmund Morris, narrated by Mark Deakins**

The first book in a trilogy recounting the life of President Theodore Roosevelt.

Why I picked it up: I remember my parents had enjoyed this series enormously.

Why I put it down: Very well researched, about a fascinating subject, but not for me right now...but hopefully it will be someday!

Homer Price, by Robert McCloskey

This series of episodic adventures is about Homer, a single child who lives at a tourist camp.

Why I picked it up: I saw this recommended in several places and acquired it very cheaply somewhere. It was part of my "antilibrary" and the second one for me to attempt reading from this collection.

Why I put it down: I read the first story. It was fine, but it was not super engaging for me. I think some children would have loved it (using a pet skunk to capture four robbers is fun), but I didn't feel the need to finish it.

March 2026 Book Bracket

 Book Bracket 2026

Lent really changed my reading habits, but I'm not upset. I tried to spend more time reading the letters of a saintly friend and listening to religious audiobooks, although I did not do this exclusively. I want to do better about making sure I'm reading religious books more consistently even when Lent ends.

Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry, by Rosalie K. Fry

Fiona is delighted to leave the city for the western Scottish isles, where she'll live with her grandparents as she searches for her lost brother, Jamie, who was mysteriously swept to sea the day her family left their tiny island of Ron Mor.

Why I picked it up: This was a gift from my in-laws, and the gift was the result of discussing watching a movie based on this book. I have still not seen the movie, which has a different name.

My impressions: I've never been super attracted to the sea, but this sweet, simple story is enough for me to at least intellectually understand its appeal. The illustrations are simple but beautiful line drawings (although I must note one shows a young child's bare body - not in a creepy way, but more than I want to see). The story reads very realistically, but there are definitely references to the mythical selkies that populate Celtic legends, in spite of the fact that the word "selkie" is never used. It's a story about place and family and simple living away from the city. It's a gentle story and got off to a little bit of a slow start, but I enjoyed it immensely once I was into the second chapter. This would probably be a fun read-aloud, but it's a sweet story that children and adults of all ages could enjoy.

Remedies for Sorrow: An Extraordinary Child, a Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother's Pursuit of the Truth, by Megan Nix**

The author describes her experience of birthing and raising a daughter affected by citomegalovirus (CMV), the struggles of getting information about her condition, and the resulting advocacy she took on on behalf of other women and children in similar circumstances.

Why I picked it up: This was an Audible pick from a while back. I'd heard about it on the Catholic Stuff You Should Know podcast, and then a close friend told me she'd read it, and it was good. I'd tried it during the summer, but wasn't in the right head space for it then. I tried it again recently, knowing that, if God ever grants us children, I probably wouldn't be able to handle it while pregnant. This ended up being the right time for me.

My impressions: This book is excellent. I enjoy books about people's unique experiences, and this mother's life has so many aspects that I connected with - the desire to write (although my desire is far weaker), the desire to raise happy and healthy children, devotion to faith, and, later, becoming more familiar with the world of ASL and alternative communication. I love how her convictions led her to bring about the changes that would have made an impact for her during her pregnancy. She had beautiful and apt analogies, or imagery, and excellent writing in general. I actually thought for a moment about starting it over and listening to it again, but there are other books I need to get to. I'd say this is a good book for married couples looking to have babies, but with the understanding that I hesitate to recommend it to pregnant women - I think it would be anxiety inducing. I think this book could appeal to a wide audience, and I do recommend it.

A Biblical Walk Through the Mass: Understanding What We Say and Do in the Liturgy, by Edward Sri

A theologian walks through the different parts of the Mass, making connections to the Bible and explaining the ways in which the new translation of is a better rendering of the original Latin.

Why I picked it up: I've read this book before, but my husband read it during adoration last year and really liked it. I picked it up sometime last year, figuring it would be good to revisit.

My impressions: This book is great for people just getting into wanting to engage more fully with the Mass. I do admit that it was a lot harder to me to stay engaged in this book the second time around - either I couldn't lock in because I'd read it before, or I just wasn't in the right headspace to get the most out of it. Even so, I know that I liked reading this book the first time and I recognized many good things about it during this read-through. This would be a good book for high schoolers and older, and possibly middle schoolers who want to know more about the Mass and why we say and do certain things. This would probably be best to read either in chunks before attending Mass or as material to meditate upon.

The Matchlock Gun, by Walter D. Edmonds

With father gone to help the militia, young Edward is left with the responsibility of firing the old Spanish matchlock gun on his mother's signal if the warring Indians come too near their cabin.

Why I picked it up: This one made it onto my to-read list at some point. I found the book at my alma mater, and couldn't resist picking up this Newbery award-winner. So much for putting a priority on reading through the books I have at home.

My impressions: The story was very short and had more illustrations than I anticipated; a short, solid story, but one in which the characters are all pretty flat. I had the feeling that I was reading something that ought to be a chapter in a much longer story. I enjoyed the information in the preface, but felt it might have been better placed at the end of the book, rather than the beginning, as it contains a few small spoilers. There is use of the "N" word for black slaves, although the slaves are only mentioned, and not depicted as less than human. The Indians are also clearly bad guys in this story, but not portrayed as inherently evil or lesser. The story is fine and geared towards a younger elementary crowd, but not one that I'd say has to be visited; The Cabin Faced West would be my recommendation in its stead.

Purgatorio, by Dante Alighieri, translated by 

This is the second section of the epic poem Dante wrote, in which he travels with Virgil through the penitential processes of Purgatory, and interview souls who are being purified in preparation for Heaven.

Why I picked it up: This one was required for a book club. I went with this version because some minimal research indicated this one had actual rhymes in it, which I figured I'd enjoy more than the prose rendering I first read several years back.

My impressions: Purgatorio was my favorite of the three section on my first read-through, and I think it still holds up after some time and in a different translation. We get to encounter many souls and reflect upon the fitting natures of their penances, but everything is imbued with hope and petitions for prayers. It had me praying for the poor souls in Purgatory throughout my reading and reflecting on my own flaws. I liked this translation because there's a summary at the beginning of each canto which describes what follows, and there are extensive footnotes to explain who is who, and it's not just a simple "this person was a count of this place" description - it gets into what we do or don't know about the individuals and why they might be doing penance for a certain sin. I liked being able to know who's who when I wanted, or breezing through if I wasn't in the mood to know the nitty gritty details. I think I understood better what was going on this time through, and was surprised at how Beatrice was giving Dante such a hard time - he spends all this time longing for her, and she has some pretty harsh words for him. It also ends on a weird allegorical vision, which apparently shows the Church sinking into a deplorable state by accepting human wealth and powers. This is not a casual read, but college-age students and older would probably benefit from reading this work.

Chosen: How Christ Sent Twenty-three Surprised Converts to Replant His Vineyard, edited by Donna Steichen, narrated by ?

This account of the personal stories of 23 individuals to Catholicism covers conversions from evangelical Christians to atheists, each making note of how God worked in their lives in a personal way.

Why I picked it up: It's Lent and it seemed fitting that, before I picked up another secular audiobook, I should make time for some spiritual ones. This one was available on the Formed app.

My impressions: Listening to or reading conversion accounts are good once in a while. I liked the variety of these stories and learning how so many people traveled different paths to end up home in the Catholic Church. It was lovely to hear how seriously people took the process of searching for truth. I found it interesting that so many of these folks seemed to come from California, but many had connections to Ignatius Press, which I wonder if it might be based in CA. This books has entrenched in my mind that the '60s and '70s really were wild times. There were a few heavy parts, which I skipped through (as an audiobook). I basically skipped most of one account because it was about someone converting from being a witch, and I just didn't want to know anything about her life before becoming Catholic. God is good, and this is a fine collection of conversion stories for Catholic adults to read - as well as those who are truly seeking God. Just be aware that there will be some heavy parts (attempted suicide, despair prior to conversion) and the one account that I skipped.

Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux: Volume I 1877-1890, General Correspondence, Translated by John Clarke, O.C.D.

This collection of letters includes a lengthy foreword about how the letters were obtained (and in some cases, reassembled after cutting), and a robust collection of letters written by, to, and about St. Therese of Lisieux, from childhood until her profession of vows as a Carmelite.

Why I picked it up: My darling husband gave me this two-volume set as a gift, and although I started it last spring break, I have not finished it until over a year later. It approaches 700 pages in length and includes a staggering number of footnotes, some of which are helpful, and some less so.

My impressions: I think my impression of this book changed over time - the foreword did have some interesting information, but I don't know that I was convinced it needed to be quite that long. I think I was intimidated by the strong focus on loving Jesus through suffering at certain points, but by the end, I marveled at how convicted these Carmelite sister-sisters were about suffering AND seeing their suffering as their most tender way of loving Jesus. It is inspiring, and somehow makes me feel braver about the crosses God may ask me to carry in my life. As excellent as this book is, it has some very academic aspects to it, including footnotes that feel like they may be of more interest to scholars than to laywoman fans of this dear saint. I certainly do want to read the second volume, but I feel that a rest from the letters is in order, at least for now. I don't think I'd recommend this book to anyone high school aged or younger, but it could be a beautiful way for friends of Little T to get to know her better.

Bracket Play

This month had fewer titles, and in some ways, that made it more straightforward. As always, I placed weaker books against stronger books - I was able to pair the two children's books, and the rest were pretty Catholic and made good matches. The losing books in round one were still good books - including one that guides Catholics through the deeper significance of the words and actions of the Mass, and another that includes accounts of people encountering Christ and converting to Catholicism. I gave the bye to Remedies for Sorrow, the nonfiction memoir of a mother of a child who contracted CMV in the womb, with the mother's search for information and advocacy for greater awareness of the disease.

In round two, the very enjoyable Ron Mor Skerry book lost to the collected letters of my favorite saint, St. Therese of Lisieux. Dante's Purgatorio fell to Remedies for Sorrow - although the former fostered some excellent discussion in my book club, it's just not the sort of book that is going to be my favorite in a typical month. 

In the final match, I chose Nix's work over St. Therese of Lisieux - which also could have been the winner. However, noting the rather academic nature of some of the footnotes of the letters, as well as their sheer volume and perhaps more limited appeal, I went with the gripping account shared in Remedies for Sorrow as the winner for this month. I'm sure Little T understands, and this bracket's loss for the letters is not an indication of low affection for her on my part.

Books Attempted and Put Down

Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates, by Howard Pyle*

A compilation of the author-illustrator's writings on pirates.

Why I picked it up: I'm a fan of Pyle's illustration styles, and this book was free!

Why I put it down: Text only, no pictures! Boo! I'm not gonna spend time on this if there aren't the sweet illustrations to go with it.

February Book Bracket 2026

 Book Bracket for February '26

Even with a slightly shorter month, there were plenty of books this month - including two ebooks. There were also a few books that I ended up putting down.

Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson, narrated by Kirsten Potter**

Hattie drops out of high school to "prove up" on the Montana claim her Uncle Chester left to her and tests her mettle as a homesteader during the prejudiced times of WWI-era America.

Why I picked it up: I'm sure I saw this book recommended somewhere at some point and added it to my to-read list. I found this one available through the state's e-library.

My impressions: This book takes a look at homesteading from a slightly more modern perspective and explores some of the fearful atmosphere that hung over life during WWI. I appreciated the look at homesteading from a less distant time - that in itself was a history lesson to me. I think the feel the author created for the time was authentic enough, although it's hard to know for me to know since I didn't live during that time. Larson wasn't afraid to detail how Americans wronged their neighbors based simply on the origin of last names or country of birth. There were some very light moments of romance which I skipped through, but super safe and nothing to be concerned about. I was rooting for Hattie to make it and earn her claim through the whole book. There was sadness, of course - not surprising for a book taking place during war time - but one part towards the end was particularly heartbreaking. The ending, though not a "twist", surprised me all the same - and yet it still felt like a pretty good ending. I'm curious about the sequel, but not sure I'm ready for it just yet. This could be a good book for middle grade readers and older who enjoyed the Laura Ingalls Wilder series or books about pioneering on the American frontier.

Don Bosco's Memoirs, by St. John Bosco*

St. John Bosco, under obedience to Pope Pius IX, wrote about his life of ministry, dividing his account into the first three or four decades of his life; the work does not cover the entirety of his life.

Why I picked it up: This is the choice of my book-club of two; I found a cheap ebook version on Amazon.

My impressions: It's good to have read something written by a saint - it's not a deep theological work, but it is a wealth of knowledge about St. John Bosco, who has been on my shortlist of saints I like and want to learn more about. I liked hearing about St. Bosco's life from himself and found his writing extremely readable and quick to move through. I liked hearing about all the myriad experiences he had throughout his life, and it was very interesting to see God working through even Don Bosco's more secular hobbies, like acrobatics, to provide a means of preaching the Gospel. Don Bosco did relate some stories in which he showed failings or communicated he was struggling with pride. It also provides a case study of discernment - he realized that he needed to give up acrobatics after a certain time, although it had been alright for him to do it earlier in life. I think it shows that something that isn't inherently bad might be something God asks us to give up for His glory or to make room for something else. Multiple times, I wondered what the specific dangers were that young men faced during this time - he didn't give any details about why feast days in particular were so dangerous for them, and it would have been nice to know a bit more about that. I was pleased to find a chapter on his dog-friend-protector, Grigio. In this particular version, the two introductions were less interesting to me, less readable, and more skippable; however, I found the afterward provided some helpful context to all the upheaval and change that was taking place in Italy at this time. I'm interested in reading a book about St. John Bosco's dreams after reading this work. This would be a book for Catholics wanting to learn more about this saint, but I'd say high school is the youngest I'd recommend to tackle this simply because it's hard for those unfamiliar with Italian history to make sense of the described events without a lot of context.

Sweet Home Alaska, by Carole Etsby Dagg, narrated by Susan Denaker**

Terpsichore's family, brought low economically by the local sawmill closing, migrates to Alaska for a year, but Terpsichore hopes to convince her mother to stay there permanently when she finds friendship and purpose creating a library.

Why I picked it up: I saw this book on Audible, and found it for free on my state's e-library. I figured I'd try it out.

My impressions: I'd never heard of the this time or situation in American history, but for all that novelty, it wasn't the best homesteading historical fiction middle grade novel that I've come across. The characters were developed well enough, but I was bothered by how easy it was to find a reconciliation between folks to resume friendship after a pretty significant betrayal. I admit that this is more a poor reflection upon myself than upon the book. Some parts of the book felt like it drew authentically from history, but the fictional family of the main character, as well as the story surrounding its members, felt a little more like fiction. In any case, it was alright to read, but I wasn't super impressed with it and don't think I'll ever turn to it again.

Mister Max: The Book of Secrets, by Cynthia Voigt

Max's adventures as a 12-year-old detective, or "solutioneer", as well as his difficulty in maintaining anonymity, continue as calls for his services stream in from all sorts of local figures, as well as his parents, who were shanghai-d into a dangerous stint of ruling a troubled South American country.

Why I picked it up: I really enjoyed listening to the first book in this series, and thought it would be fun to tackle this one next. This one comes from my local library system, since I couldn't find it for free as an audiobook.

My impressions: This sequel was not a disappointment! It continues the story smoothly, and while at least one element seemed like a re-envisioned version of something from the first book (a young woman in trouble with a young man desperately wanting to help her), I wasn't able to guess at mysterious identities nearly as soon as I did in the first book. This book also manages also to up the ante for Max's detecting work. I found that reading this book, rather than listening to it, made it a little hard to get into - but only at first. Once I got over missing how excellent the narrator of the audiobook had been, I hit my reading stride and found the prose just as delightful as it had been in the first book. I finished the book with a sense of awe, and a desire to write the author and tell her how much I appreciate this book, which was written over 10 years ago - I'm amazed, because it felt like such a new series to me I was worried the next book wouldn't be out. Great writing, realistic characters, disguises, mysteries, unrequited love, peril - this book has it all! My only two complaints about this book: one character says something about Max "not even being able to take a --", using a crude word for "pee", while another mentions that the crew should dress as fortune-telling gypsies and she could learn tarot cards quickly (yikes! no thanks!!!). Other than that, completely clean, a great adventure, and it makes me curious about how much I'll like the third book, which is setting up to be very different from these first two books. Minus those two one-off objectionable comments, this book would be great for middle-grade readers who like adventure and mystery.

On to Oregon! By Honore Morrowe*

The seven Sager children, orphaned on the Oregon trail, continue their pilgrimage to the state halfway across the continent, facing down starvation, disease, and perils of all kinds along the way.

Why I picked it up: I came across the title at some point, heard the premise, and thought I'd really like to try it out! I found this one for cheap as an ebook.

My impressions: This book was intriguing enough to make me want to know what happened next, but it wasn't a thriller, and it had some flaws to it. It took the angle of showing a boy heading in the wrong direction getting things turned around when responsibility is thrust upon him. Based on a true story, it was a pretty incredible thing that the children achieved. Some of the author's commentary made the book feel a little old-fashioned, but that wasn't too terrible. I was uncomfortable with the portrayal of Indians, who were most often described as being "dirty" or being shown to be thieves or violent murderers. Even the folks shown to be good and upright did not seem to have as much time spent on them as it was on other minor characters. In any case, the children, especially the main character are flawed, but you get to see him change, and you get to see how the children get by in absolutely drastic straits. People joke about the computer game of the Oregon Trail, how so often you die from dysentery - but reading about it, and seeing it delay or kill so many characters was intense. One issue I took with the book was that the story ends, but we don't know what happened to them, or to the folks they worked so hard to catch up with - as far as the reader knows, those fellow travelers may had died from dysentery (they were suffering from it the last time the reader encountered them). Did the children ever make it to the Willamette? Was the baby able to recover from near starvation? These are questions the author did not feel the need to explain in an afterward. As much as I wanted to like this book, I can't say I really loved it. It could be good for readers who like adventures and survival or learning about Westward Expansion, but it isn't one that I'm going to be telling people they need to read.

Prince Caspian, by C. S. Lewis

The Pevensie children are summoned to Narnia to assist Prince Caspian, the rightful ruler of Narnia, as he faces his usurping Uncle Miraz in an age when Aslan is considered a legend.

Why I picked it up: I'm continuing a delightful read-through of "The Chronicles of Narnia" series with my cousins, and this is the one to be discussed at our next meeting.

My impressions: A solid sequel to the original, in which we get to rediscover Narnia, a Narnia that looks and feels very different from what we encountered in the first book. Since I'm reading it with an upcoming book discussion in mind, I was sensitive to potential deeper meanings in a way I haven't been in past readings. If Narnia is a symbol of the spiritual life, like one of my cousins suggested after listening to a podcast, then I definitely think I'll have some ideas to add to our discussion. Good action, some excellent moments of choosing to do what's right even when no one else does, and the healing and release of things that have been forced underground. Some bittersweet moments - not quite like in the first book, but a lovely feeling of growing a little with the characters in the story. I'd recommend this book to most readers, old and young and in-between.

The House of Dies Drear, by Virgina Hamilton, narrated by Lynne Thigpen**

Thomas and his family move into an allegedly haunted house that once was a pivotal location in the Underground Railroad, but the groundskeeper acts strangely and the family senses some locals may be hostile to their moving into the house.

Why I picked it up: I was originally going to read a physical copy from the school I work at, but found it available as an audiobook through the state e-library.

My impressions: This book has some elements that are pretty good, and creepy without being too creepy, but there were definitely some aspects that made me uncomfortable. This book is steeped in history and something of an adventurous feel, but also in everyday family experiences, which was a cool blend. I really did not like that the main character becomes convinced that the groundskeeper, Pluto, is actually the devil - and this idea pervades throughout the entire span of the book, even after Thomas realizes Pluto is just an old man. It was a weird focus, and an uncomfortable one. The stakes are high for the family, and there is a mystery to solve, and it's cool to follow Thomas' reasoning as he tries to figure things out before his father. It's a unique story - I've not read anything like it before. However, even with its good qualities, there was a lot of that weird fixation on suspecting someone is the devil, and that didn't sit well with me. I wouldn't recommend this book, but that doesn't mean that it's a bad book - just some elements of it are off.

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grann, narrated by Dion Graham**

The subtitle explains much - this story is about an English war ship that is scuttled near the tip of South America in pursuit of a treasure-laden Spanish galleon, and the violence and division that afflict the crew in harsh starvation conditions.

Why I picked it up: I saw the cover of this book at Barnes & Noble, and when I found it was available as an audiobook through my public library, I decided to give it a try.

My impressions: While an intriguing tale about disaster near the southernmost parts of the world, I kept thinking that Andrew Lang's Endurance is a better book about a somewhat similar situation. The book was well-researched, drawing from historical facts and making reference to poetry and literature throughout. Some descriptions of bodies afflicted by disease or death were graphic enough, but I didn't mind it at 2x speed in an audiobook. It was interesting to see how the ordeal ended in drama that played out in the public eye since both parties published different accounts of how events happened on the disastrous trip. There was more focus on the evils of European colonialism, and the attitudes attendant upon it, than I have seen in other books that treated on the same time period. I felt like the conclusion of the affair was something of an anticlimax, but one can't help history being the way it was. This book was alright, but I wouldn't recommend it - in its place, I'd highly recommend the book I mentioned earlier, Endurance, by Andrew Lang.

Mister Max: The Book of Kings, by Cynthia Voigt

This final book in the Mister Max trilogy follows Max and his friends as they finagle their way into being a real ambassadorial party that infiltrates Andesia in the hopes of rescuing his parents, the current monarchs of that fictional South American country.

Why I picked it up: I'd enjoyed the first two books so much that I had trouble putting off the finale.

My impressions: I knew this last book would have to be quite different from the first two - and while it was still very good, I felt that it missed some of the elements that made the prior two books so charming. There wasn't as much "solutioneering" for Max to do. It made sense, given the situation in which the party found themselves, but his disguising himself and going around incognito were missed. Pia also was absent for a good chunk of the book; again, it was a development that made sense, but she had been quite a fundamental part of the first two books. There were a few elements that I predicted would happen before they were revealed, but they still felt good when they occurred. I felt the ending made one character at the end look more conflicted than bad...and his attitude of "I hope I don't have to kill someone innocent, but I will if I need to to save the country" is actually very awful. However, one great part about the ending is the feeling that Max will continue to have lots of adventures and will be able to maintain the independence that he built up during the first two books. I think this book is a pretty good finish to the series, although I would say I liked the first two books better in some ways. This would be a good book for those who enjoyed the first two.

Bracket Play

I couldn't quite finish a last audiobook before the month closed out, so I gave Lewis' Prince Caspian the bye. In the first round, I paired weaker books with stronger ones so the winners would be easy to decide. In the second round, Hattie Big Sky had to go against Prince Caspian, and the latter was the winner, no contest. The two Mister Max books (2 and 3 in the series) also faced off, and I ended up deciding number two was the stronger of the books. The trilogy closer was good in its own way, but different enough from the first two that I felt it lacked some of the elements that made them so charming. This is another month where I felt bad that a good book by a saint didn't win, but Prince Caspian is accessible to a wider audience without as much context needed (other than the first book, I suppose). Those memoirs are still excellent and would be well worth a visit. Lewis' book won in the end, the classic fantasy tale being a widely-known classic, and the the runner up being a good book, but perhaps not with the wide appeal and staying power that Prince Caspian enjoys.

Books Attempted and Put Down

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 2, by Beth Brower, narrated by Genevieve Gaunt**

Emma M. Lion continues to record her doings and those of her cantankerous relatives, lovable friends, and even some potential love interests, but still misses deceased Maxwell.

Why I picked it up: The first book was so delightful! This second one became available far more quickly than I anticipated from my local library e-system.

Why I put it down: I'm still too sensitive to even mild romantic stuff, so I felt more peace about putting it down at 70% than I would have if I'd pushed through it. Maybe I can come back to it someday - a great series for some people, and I've recommended and/or gifted it already to friends, but it's not for me right now.

The Green Ember, by S. D. Smith, narrated by Joel Clarkson**

A fantasy series for children about the rabbit siblings, Heather and Picket, beset by enemies, including wolves, birds of prey, and sometimes their own.

Why I picked it up: My sister-in-law is borrowing the series from me, and of course, loaning it out made me want to revisit it.

Why I put it down: I've read this before, but it wasn't bearing good fruit for me. I realized that I needed to put it down for now, and maybe I'll get back to it in ebook form.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot, narrated by Cassandra Campbell with Bahni Turpin**

The story of the woman who provided a much-used lines of cells for biological experiments and the shady ethics regarding how those cells were acquired.

Why I picked it up: I saw this book on the shelves when I worked in a university library and the back cover made it sound interesting. I saw it was available as an audiobook through the library, so I figured I'd give it a try.

Why I put it down: I realized this book would be a long one. I wasn't sure I was feeling up to a story that would be sad (Henrietta died from cancer) and probably heavy (bioethics), so I put it down in favor of some other things to listen to.

January Book Bracket 2026

 The First Regular Monthly Post of 2026

Wow - the first two weeks of January, it felt like most every book could be the best book of the month. And then the second half arrived, and with it, The Hunchback of Notre Dame - that one definitely didn't feel like a winner, but I tolerated it better than I anticipated.

Shout out to my husband, who had to listen to me sigh and moan as I tried to narrow down the winner for this month. Even though I'm sure it will wreak havoc on my end of year bracket, I decided there needed to be two winners this month.

The Perfect Horse: The Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis, by Elizabeth Letts

An in-depth look at the plight of the Lipizzaner, other purebred European horses, and their caretakers during the upheavals of World War II, as well as the Americans who went above and beyond their duty to save the beautiful creatures.

Why I picked it up: I knew this book was well-liked by my mother, and seeing it on the shelves at my parents' home made me want to give it a try. I started it in October, but had trouble getting into it at the time. I was able to invest more time and attention to it during my Christmas break.

My impressions: This is an impressive work of research and detailed storytelling, and as one review states, "One need not be an equestrian or horse lover in order to appreciate this story." (New York Journal of Books). Besides the occasional chapter where it felt like the author repeated herself a little bit, or maybe spent too much time on the details, pretty much everything else about the book felt right. Letts included plenty of background to the main events she describes, but that background information was necessary to set the stage. Included in this background was much information about the horrific ideas promoted by the eugenics movement, and I skimmed a few of those sections for my own comfort. I felt like I got many facts and not a lot of historical commentary or interpretation. Yes, Letts made clear the evils of eugenics, and I'm very glad she did. I can only imagine how much work it took to sequence events, track down dates, map out location changes, and work with primary sources written in other languages. I was wowed by the meticulous work that must have gone into this work. But, the story itself is compelling and something that I'd enjoy seeing made into a modern movie. There are sad moments in this work - how could there not be in a book about WWII? - but the ending, which seemed at first to ramble a bit, did help tie up loose ends and leave me with a feeling of satisfaction. This is an excellent work of nonfiction, something that could be enjoyed by mature high schoolers and adults, and I recommend it specifically to readers who are fond of horses.

Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel

The first in a trilogy set in an alternate history, in which young adults Matt, the cabin boy, and Kate, daughter of monied folks, experience the thrills and perils of airship travel.

Why I picked it up: One of my book clubs did a book exchange during December and this is the booked I walked away with. I wanted to read it sooner rather than later because...during the white elephant fun, I'd stolen this one from someone else and wanted her to have a chance to read it soon.

My impressions: This book was a grand adventure from start to finish, with me completing all 501 pages of it during the course of about 36 hours. It was so good. It had a slightly steampunk feel, the result of airship travel being the main way of traveling long-distance. It had elements of discovery, hints of survival tales, and lots of interesting interactions between characters. I admit that the beginning was a bit of a slow start, but I didn't really mind that the reader was eased into the story instead of dropped into the middle of the action. There was plenty of action later. There are a few curse words used, about half a page describing some folks kissing for the first time, and some descriptions of violence, blood, and death. Nothing inappropriate, but a book I'd consider YA, not middle grade. I was excited to learn there are two more books in this series, and I'm curious regarding what they could be about (a pleasant surprise, considering how much I did NOT like the first book in this author's bat trilogy). This would be a good book for more mature middle school and high school readers, but adventure-loving adult readers should check it out, too.

Waiting on the Word: A poem a day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, by Malcolm Guite

A British chaplain and contemporary poet compiled a collection of poems to read - one a day - from Advent through Epiphany; some of his own compositions are included.

Why I picked it up: I first heard about Malcolm Guite through Sarah Clarkson's Book Girl book, at which time he found a tentative place on my to-read list. The spot became permanent over the summer, when I read a few of his poems and was captivated by one. This book came from my favorite local bookstore.

My impressions: This was a fresh take on a book that walks the reader through Advent on the way to Christmas. There were some great poems in this collection, as well as some poems that didn't hit me like I'd hoped. The commentary by Guite was similar - some commentary and background was really helpful for me, but other times, it didn't help me want to engage more with the poem of the day. There was a good variety of poems, but I found that the older ones typically appealed to me more than modern ones. But not Milton. His poems must not be quite my cup of tea. Guite approached this collection from a Christian perspective, not specific to any particular denomination. This could be a good book for Christian readers who want a different style of book to read in the weeks leading up to Christmas, as well as the twelve days after.

Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah, by Charles King, narrated by Juliet Stevenson

This nonfiction work considers the various people who contributed to the creation and original performances of Handel's Messiah, as well as the historical events that shaped the world of that time.

Why I picked it up: I enjoy Handel's Messiah, and was intrigued when I came across this book in Barnes & Noble a year ago. Audible has gotten wise to my strategy of taking advantage of their offers, so it looks like it'll be a long time before I can capitalize on their offers again. This audiobook, it turns out, is available through my state's e-library.

My impressions: There was a lot of interesting history here, but there was also a lot of material that I wish I hadn't heard, even between skips. The book was well-researched, and weaves in many historical-political events with entire biographies, it feels, of key figures related to Messiah. However, there was at least one branch the author spent a lot of time fleshing out that didn't really seem connected to the musical masterpiece. There was way too much information about the romantic affairs of one lady in particular, and I wish I'd skipped the whole chapter that covered the first half of her life. Yes, I learned a lot and found much of this book interesting, but I reached a point somewhere in the middle where I wondered if this book was worth finishing. I did decide in favor of finishing the work, but it's not a book that I'd recommend without some serious reservations and disclaimers stated first.

Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things, by Cynthia Voigt, narrated by Paul Boehmer**

A middle-grade-aged lad in an unspecified old-world European country some time at the beginning of the 20th century finds himself left behind in suspicious circumstances when his parents accept an offer to go to India to start a theater troupe, but finds he has a knack for finding lost things and people.

Why I picked it up: This was one of several books that looked interesting to me when I checked out the website of the Christian-based book fair company that visited the school of some family members. This one was available as an audiobook through my state's e-library.

My impressions: This was a satisfyingly enjoyable listen and better than I imagined it would be. There is certainly a plot, albeit a somewhat slower-moving one - and yet I found it immensely interesting, even with its predictable parts. Perhaps it comes from not knowing what has become of Max's parents, or why he found himself left behind. Maybe it had to do with different threads slowly winding together. Maybe it was just the proper level of details and a cool ability that the main character has that allows him to accomplish things that would otherwise be absolutely unbelievable for a 12-year-old to achieve. Amongst a cast of intriguing characters, and Max's actor parents are especially fun. The books sets up for a sequel, but doesn't end on a painful cliffhanger that made me need to immediately pick up the next book - I appreciated that because I had multiple must-reads stacked up after I finished this one. The only negative points are that one character said they'd kill themselves from boredom at one point, and there's a fake fortune-teller who the main characters run out of town by some fake fortune-telling of their own. I though this book was a lot of fun - not quite your typical adventure, but a little bit of everything mixed together that I think many middle-grade lit readers would enjoy. I've already recommended it to a younger family member.

The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, narrated by Jonathan Davis**

This coming-of-age story follows two orthodox Jewish teenagers - one ultra-orthodox - as they become friends after a baseball accident and navigate the tensions within their families and their society at the end of WWII and the years following.

Why I picked it up: This is an upcoming required read for a book club and I was procrastinating on the one I was supposed to be reading. I noticed this one was available now, and it likely won't be come the month when I'm supposed to read it.

My impressions: This book is thoughtful, interesting, an incredibly detailed window into a lifestyle I know nothing about, and excellent. This is a quality work of literature. I thought some of the language was a little spare or repetitive (for example, I can't tell you how many times the narrator breaks out into a "cold sweat"), but I think that very quality also helps elevate the storytelling in its own way. I learned much about Jewish history, especially about the establishment of the country of Israel; I don't know how accurate all the history was, but it sure had the feel of being accurate. No, there's not a lot of action in this story, but the tension is very much fueled by different relationships, family expectations, and religious beliefs. This would be a good book for adults and maybe mature high schoolers who are firm in their faith.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis

Four siblings find a world inside a wardrobe, and are drawn into a conflict between the White Witch and the rightful king, Aslan - and not all the children join the same side.

Why I picked it up: I agreed with some cousins to do a series of meetings focused on the Chronicles of Narnia series, one book a month. It feels good to have this book as my first reread of the year, and I remember fondly that I worked through this series at the beginning of the year I initiated this blog.

My impressions: This book is good every time. Though not a terribly long read, I find it so enjoyable that I was content to let myself take time reading it. I did not rush. No, the prose doesn't feel like Lewis' finest, especially in the moments when it's clear he's speaking to child readers, but he still has charming descriptions or turns of phrase now and then. The bittersweetness at the end is so wonderful and kind of a gut punch at the same time. The story is excellent and something every child should read; and if one read it as a child (or didn't), one should read it again as an adult. 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo (abridged, but then listened to cut chapters via Librivox**)

A tale set in Medieval Paris about a corrupt priest who lusts after the gypsy La Esmeralda, who longs for the lustful Captain Phoebus, while a poor hunchback, outcast by society, lives only to serve the priest who saved him and the gypsy girl who showed him compassion.

Why I picked it up: I'd read this same version once in high school, but alas, it was the monthly pick for one of my book clubs.

My impressions: This book isn't any better the second time around, other than I knew that it would have a tragic ending. I was impatient with the characters, most of whom seemed rather flat in their composition, and all of whom, for the most part, do very dumb or downright evil things. Way too much talk about lascivious activities. The writing quality didn't strike me as being particularly good, although Hugo can certainly draw a good simile - I think maybe it was that some characters seemed so over-the-top, and some events felt a little too dramatic. I might try to listen to the chapters cut out in the abridgement and see if that changes my perspective about the story, but I remember trying to slog through that first unabridged chapter senior year in high school and I don't know that it will do much. Update: did listen to the cut chapters, as far as I could tell. Listening at 2x speed to those was definitely the way to go; didn't feel like I got a lot out of ridiculously detailed descriptions of Medieval Paris (a poor use of landscape description). I'm probably being too hard on the book and will likely gain some good insights into it when my book club meets, but I definitely don't recommend reading this one.

The Door of No Return, by Kwame Alexander, narrated by Kobna Holdbrooke Smith**

The youth Kofi faces the everyday joys and challenges of life in 1860s Ghana - like cousin rivalry and a crush on a girl - but his caputre after a fatal wrestling match turns into a horrific journey into slavery across the ocean.

Why I picked it up: This book ended up on my to-read list at some point. I found it as a book on tape (disc) at the library.

My impressions: This first half of this book was pretty good, although I didn't like the references to someone's rear end and the main character's infatuation with a classmate (they're maybe 11 years old), which is accompanied by daydreams about holding hands and kissing. Once a beloved character dies, the last third of the book is pretty miserable. There are references to rape of enslaved girls, although there's no detail, and one character kills herself rather than endure rape a second time -yikes. Heavy content, some descriptions of violence and death that are more on the graphic side. It's not a book that I would consider middle grade - I'd definitely put it more in the YA section of the library. There's not really a great resolution to the story, which feels like it ends abruptly. I suspect this book is meant to capture the horror and inhumanity of the slave trade, as well as the wrongs of colonialism, but it doesn't make for enjoyable reading. I wouldn't recommend reading this book.

The Sixth Extinction, by Elizabeth Kolbert, narrated by Anne Twomey**

Part travelogue, part look into history and scientific efforts to save creatures, this book explores the extinctions - past and ongoing - caused by human agency.

Why I picked it up: Ever since I listened to the audiobook Lost Feast, I've embraced the fact that extinct animals fascinate me. This book came up on Audible, I think, but I finally accessed it through my state's e-library.

My impressions: I was highly interested in a few parts of this book, but found it overall to be less fascinating than I had hoped for. I learned much about current theories about extinction, and the end of the great auks hit me, but there was some material that seemed to drag a little bit. Yes, learning about how specialized plants in a rainforest are can be pretty interesting, but I don't know that I needed that visit to the Amazon given with quite as much detail. There were a few chapters towards the end that went into more detail about the reproduction of a few animals than I would have liked and I definitely panic-skipped a minute or two about something in that area I knew I didn't want to hear. The book makes a good case for why human action - including activities like tourism - can be so devastating to animal populations. It was disheartening to hear about how bad things might get for many species, especially tropical frogs and North American bats, who are currently dying off in droves due to the spread of disease. However, Kolbert does leave the reader with a sort of call to action, and includes the names of many organizations that fight to keep species off the extinction list. This book might be interesting to readers who want to learn more about extinct animals and current dangers to the flora and fauna of the world, but I don't think all of it will be highly interesting to general readers.

King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian, by Marguerite Henry

This fictionalized account of one of the founding horses of the thoroughbred horse breed follows the dedicated boy, Agba, who wordlessly tends to the fleet Arabian horse throughout the ups and downs of their lives.

Why I picked it up: This one has been sitting on my shelf for a long time. I remember reading it maybe in fifth grade...or at least starting it. I'm not sure if I even finished it or not. It just seemed like a good time to (re)read it.

My impressions: Though not as impressed by this story as I was by Henry's Justin Morgan Had a Horse, this still ended up being a great horse story. It reminded me throughout of Black Beauty, but with a much more hopeful air throughout. As an adult, and an SLP, this book had extra interest for me since the main character was incapable of speech, and a character later on in the book is a person who stutters. It was interesting to reflect on the ways Agba was at a disadvantage because he couldn't speak, and yet, throughout the story, he shows great agency and faces the consequences of poor decisions, including his own. It was nice to read a story in which the main character shares a special connection with an animal - it's been a long time since I read a story like that. I will say that the story isn't jam-packed with action, so I can understand why fifth-grade me may or may not have read it all the way through. All the same, I was pretty invested in the ending by the time I reached it. This would be a great book for horse-loving upper elementary and middle school readers.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1, by Beth Brower, narrated by Genevieve Gaunt**

An orphaned Emma, mourning the loss of a beloved Maxwell and on the cusp of coming into her modest inheritance, moves into the beloved house in London that is soon to be hers, and discovers that her guardians have not been above-board about their use of her accounts.

Why I picked it up: A dear friend of mine recommended this book strongly to me about half a year ago, and I only just now checked it our from my local library system's e-library.

My impressions: I'm so glad I finally followed through on this recommendation and it's such a bummer that the next audiobook isn't available for up to another 23 weeks! Yikes! Emma is a fun narrator and has a delightful way of referring to events in her life - such as "The Great Burning of '82", or what have you. A fantastic voice, and she has many acquaintances and irritating relatives who are most interesting to get to know. I expected it to be a little light and fluffy, as it was a short listen, but I was enraged by the injustice of Emma's circumstances - it's been a while since a specific character has infuriated me so. I like that there's hints at stories the reader doesn't know yet, leaving lots of room for the story to grow - which I'm sure it will, over the next seven volumes, which all seem to be quite a bit longer than this first one. This book would be best enjoyed by fans of Jane Austen and period dramas, good for maybe eighth grade readers and older. I recommend this one to those looking for a pretty fun and light read - it may be on my shortlist for potential Secret Santa book exchange this year with my book club.

Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, by John Taylor Gatto, narrated by Michael Puttonen**

An award-winning educator in New York reflects on the harm caused by compulsory schooling as it is enacted in the United States.

Why I picked it up: This book was read (and recommended, I believe) by the same friend who urged me to meet Emma M. Lion. Maybe I just ignore my reading list until I've read everything she's ever recommended or even hinted she halfway enjoyed, because this one rocked. Also available through my state's e-library.

My impressions: These are some of the spiciest hot-takes on education I've ever come across, and I'm all about the hottest takes on education. This one is fire - it's so incendiary that it almost literally started a spontaneous fire in an education textbook somewhere, I'm sure of it. My flavor of considering how to improve the education system focuses on reading more, more time in nature, and less time in a formal school setting. Gatto just says the system is so refined in it's brokenness we should just ditch it. It's not humane, he goes so far to say. It's what you get when you have a system that benefits a select elite, helps control the populace, and isn't really set up to do what's right for kids. Compulsory schooling is a relatively recent innovation in the history of the world, and it hasn't created better-educated students - Gatto's experience, as well as the stats, reveal that the opposite is true. I was thinking of how it's only as an adult that I feel I've understood my own interests and pursue them myself; whereas, in school, I received instruction at a lower level than I now wish I had - at least in writing (apologies to readers who bravely trudge their way through these posts). In short, it's now that I have time and space and encouragement to pursue my passions that I feel I've truly become a lifelong learner. Much of what Gatto had to say resonated with me, but it's a work that would certainly bear listening to or reading again, perhaps at a slower pace. This is a good book, and a thought-provoking one, and I think I have some coworkers who will be hearing about it soon. I've already checked out another audiobook by the same author and look forward to hearing more of what he has to say.

Bracket Play

This may have been one of the worst brackets to decide ever - because I read so many EXCELLENT books this month! I don't know if or when I've had such a strong showing. There were so many good backs that several solidly good ones didn't even make it past the first round!

After rearranging the first round several times, I settled on one in which I was comfortable with all the losers except The Perfect Horse and Waiting on the Word; both of these deserved to make it further, but it was too excellent a month of reading.

Once the weaklings (and a few solid ones) were weeded out, I reached a wall. It looked like this:

All of these could easily have been the winner of most any other month - I am so grateful for this January. However, I forced myself to continue. I have picked two titles to be co-victors in the past, but I couldn't just say that there would be six works that shared first place. Therefore, I decided The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe should win over Dumbing Us Down in large part because it's one of those books that I don't feel like I could have lose in good conscience. Maybe I should have just removed Lewis' work from competition from the get-go, like Tolkien's The Lord of the Ring trilogy when I listened to the audiobooks a few years ago. Maybe I'll do that for the final bracket - after all, I'm slated to read the other six "Chronicles of Narnia" books later this year. However, LWW has enough depth to merit it winning for it's own sake; the prose is delightful, the story powerful, the wonder palpable, the ending touching and painful and beautiful all at once. 

Mister Max lost to The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion and I'm not sure that there were strong reasons one way or another - but the journals were just delightful and fresh and had a character that really upset me. It's been a long time since a book character got under my skin so badly, but I think that's a sign of how good the book was. No wonder there's a minimum of seven people in line for the next seven audiobooks in my local e-library system.

The Chosen certainly is a strong work of Literature (yes, that's literature that is upper-cased as well as italicized for emphasis - nod to Emma M. Lion's aunt) and certainly deserved to go further in the bracket as well, but I inhaled Airborn and didn't need to take more than a second to decide that Oppel's work was the one that would continue. Maybe it's because I'm such a sucker for adventure stories.

Lewis' classic won over Emma M. Lion's Victorian journaling for the reasons mentioned above...but I enjoyed Airborn so much that I decided, after a year of picking just one winner, that I needed to have two representing this month. Well done, Lewis and Oppel! I'm looking forward to [re]reading the next books in your series!

Books Attempted and Put Down

Educated, by Tara Westover, narrated by Julia Whelan**

A woman raised in a survivalist family eventually breaks ties with them to pursue higher education after a childhood without formal schooling.

Why I picked it up: A friend said she'd read it within the last year or so...I'd heard about it and though, yeah, sure, I'll give it a try.

Why I put it down: It was interesting, but it didn't seem like it would be a book I'd enjoy having listened to all the way through. I had a sense of where it was going, and it seemed like there would be a lot of potential for negativity, and I wasn't sure I wanted to listen to twelve hours of this memoir. It wasn't for me, but it could be for other people.