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.

Statistics for 2025 Reading

Crunching Numbers for 2025

You may have already seen my first post which summarizes the best books of 2025. But, if you're one of those folks who needs some more quantitative data, this is the post for you!

Totals

This year, I read or listened to a total of 138, an increase over last year of 34 books! Even though the increase in books was smaller this year (only 34 additional ones, as opposed to a jump of 41 in 2024), I am still floored by the number of books I worked through.

Already, I'm analyzing the language that I use. Books I worked through? Not books I enjoyed? I did enjoy many of the books I read, and so many audiobooks kept me company through the continuous round of household chores. I must admit, however, that finishing this many books a year does sometimes feel like something to accomplish than something to just sit and enjoy. There are so many books I want to read! And many I've neglected by failing to reread them already! It brings to the fore the question: why do I read? Is it to give honor and glory to God, to know Him better, to rejuvenate my spirit so I can better love the people in my life? Or is it simply a means to achieve a sense of accomplishment? A good question to ponder going into the next year.

In any case, the chart here shows that I read more books every month in 2025 than I did in 2024, with the exceptions of July (tie) and October. As ever, June and July are my highest-grossing months, but it also looks like February bagged a big number as well this year.

Again, I'm still trying to comprehend the number 138. I know I've continued to refine my audiobook-finding abilities (scrounging around Audible and my local library's e-library), but it helped to discover that I could also access my state's e-library, which I did for the first time in February. Maybe that explains the big numbers that month. Or, maybe it was the unusual number of snow days we had early in the year.

Due to the increase in books read or listened to, I did listen to more audiobooks than ever before, I believe. However, I read comparatively more ebooks, which slightly decreased the proportion of books I read physically or listened to. The numbers stay fairly consistent from year to year, but I'm glad to see that I read 2% more this year than I listened to. I think I remember wanting to read more physical books, and I'm glad to see that it happened, even if it was only by a hair.

Another Note About Audible

Last year, I explained how I got the most out of Audible. I have to give an update. This year, in December, I'd waited the seemingly typical month, and then tried to get another 3 months for $3 total, and discovered I was not eligible for that deal. I have not tried it since then, so I'm not sure if Audible has gotten wise to my schemes or not.

In any case, I'm actually not too upset about it. During this last year, I found myself listening to books that weren't on my to-read list. This in itself is not a problem, but I realized I was consuming more books that I didn't really enjoy. The one that comes to mind first is a mediocre work about world history from the perspective of sheepherding. I'd really hoped it would be better, but I slogged through the whole thing because I wanted to get my money's worth, which now seems silly, considering I was paying just a dollar a month. I have reflected this year upon my unhealthy attachment to entertaining myself, and realize that it's not the worst thing in the world to not be wasting time scrolling through Audible to hunt for free listens that aren't really worth my time.

At the same time, I have finally discovered that you actually can listen to many classic works of fiction for free, even without an Audible subscription of any type. I have three or four added to my library that either sounded interesting or have been waiting on my to-read list for ages. I might try to see if I can get a three-month deal again sometime soon, but I'm trying to take my time and work through the audiobooks I have checked out from other places first.

Other Facts to Consider

I started and put down a good many books this year - 34, to be exact. It's an increase of 10 books over last year's 24, and it means I completed only three out of every four books I started, but I'm glad that I discontinued them. Even with culling titles from my to-read list, there's still far too many to reasonably hope to read any time soon, and putting books down early allows me to cross off titles and give more time to works that I actually do enjoy.

Books carried over from 2025 to 2026: 3

Books I completed that were on my to-read list: 53 (that's 38% of the books I read or listened to this year!) An additional 7 books on the to-read list were started, but put down.

Books I completed that I already owned: 24 (not included on the to-read list, another 17%; this means that over half the books I read this year were not picked up on a whim)

Books I did a "deep dive" blog post on: 5 (an increase of 2 from 2024)

Summer reading challenges attempted: 4 (which is too many)

Books reread: 7

I am once again saddened to see my habit of rereading books is on a downward trend - a measly 5% of the books I read this year were rereads. I have a plan that will hopefully help me reread a few more books, although there's no guarantee that will happen.  I think that, when it comes to physical books, I'm going to curb my impulse check-out habits and make a rule that goes something like this: for every one physical book I check out from the library, I have to read three books that are on my shelves right now. Most of those books will be new to me, but there are several that I've been meaning to revisit. I am also embarking on a project of reading through the Chronicles of Narnia series with a group of relatives this year, so that will also hopefully help these rereading stats.

Genre Data

I have somewhat diversified the genres of books I read this year, which pleases me. It may not be by much, but philosophy has made a return to the graph, and poetry and plays have found a place here, as well.

Fiction has the biggest percentage of the pie, as usual, but it holds 1% less. I have the ridiculous number of summer reading challenges I attempted to thank for the increased diversity of genres, at least in part.

Spiritual Works

I didn't read any spiritual works about conversion or apologetics this year, but I left in the heading. There was definitely an increase in the number of books I read about Mary, witnesses to the faith (like lives of the saints), and Catholic living/marriage. There was a big decrease in the number of books I read about prayer, but several of those books about Catholic living are connected to prayer or include material for meditation (such as Introduction to the Devout Life).

Fiction

There were so many titles in this genre that I felt justified in breaking it down even more than I did last year. Newly designated genres for 2025 include mystery, science fiction, and breaking apart "historical" fiction from "realistic/modern" fiction.

I find religious fiction continues to be a niche category, but it's shown up for at least a third year. The only book in the "other" category was Queen of the Sea; it's a graphic novel, but also alternative history, so I really wasn't sure what to do with that one.

Putting realistic/modern fiction in a category separate from historical fiction meant that the very wide genre of fantasy had the highest percentage of fiction books that I read this year. I'm pretty tickled to have found some children's mystery books that I have enjoyed, and I look forward to possibly tracking down some more in the next year. Most of these fiction books, in fact, were written for middle-grade readers, but that does not detract from my enjoyment of them in the least. I also read just the tiniest bit more of the classics, but I don't necessarily feel like I have to keep trying to increase my reading of them each year.

Final Thoughts

It was a good year for reading and listening. I'm continually grateful to my husband, who encourages me to relax by reading, but also by writing. I've started the practice of journaling about my day on a nearly-daily basis, and I'm so appreciative of my man encouraging my creative efforts. I want to keep reading, but I also have a strong desire to work on a writing project - which is hard to do when I have so many reading goals. I'm excited to see what this next year brings, as far as reading and writing go. I wish you all a happy year of reading in 2026!

Year 2025 Final Bracket

 2025 Book Bracket Finale

The new year is in its infancy, and that means that it's time to decide which book was the best one I read in 2025. This also marks the fifth year of my book-blogging project, so I may need to make a special blog post determining the best book of the last five years. Or, maybe I wait until the end of 2026, so I can have a more even bracket.

Regardless of when the ultra-special bracket will happen, I'll follow the structure from last year's post to summarize 2025's best books.

Best in Genre

Spiritual Work: For the Love of Mary, by Fr. Daniel-Maria Klimek

Fiction (Fantasy): The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge

Fiction (Classic): To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Fiction (Realistic): The Sherlock Society, by James Ponti (audiobook)

Fiction (Historical): Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson

Auto/Biography: My God and My All, by Elizabeth Goudge

Literary Criticism/Reference: Tending the Heart of Virtue, by Vigen Guroian

Book-Moir: One Beautiful Dream, by Jen Fulwiler (audiobook)

Nonfiction: Bandersnatch: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings, by Diana Pavlac Glyer (ebook)

Philosophy: Essays on Woman, by St. Edith Stein

Reread: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Monthly Winners

January: A Monastery Journey to Christmas

February: For the Love of Mary

March: Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination

April: The Edge of Extinction: The Ark Plan

May: One Beautiful Dream: The Rollicking Tale of Family Chaos, Personal Passions, and Saying Yes to Them Both

June: Bandersnatch: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings

July: Hannah Coulter

August: To Kill a Mockingbird

September: Light and Peace: Instructions for Devout Souls to Dispel Their Doubts and Allay Their Fears

October: The Cabin Faced West

November: Essays on Woman

December: The Last Unicorn

This is the first year in a while that I haven't reread Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe, but it is the second year in a row that I've managed a full bracket.

Three monthly winners were spiritual works, five were fictional works (one fantasy, one science fiction), and one each of nonfiction, book memoir (book-moir), philosophical essays, and literary criticism. Overall, the bracket begins with a good variety of different types of books, especially with the understanding that I read or listen to so many works of fiction.

Determining this year's winner was just as hard as I thought it would be. I rearranged the bracket positions of some titles to reflect their greater (or lesser) value. Of course, some excellent books did not make it past the first round, such as A Monastery Journey to Christmas and Essays on Woman. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird deserves the distinction of being the best book I read this year, it just didn't hit me the way the ultimate winner, For the Love of Mary, did. I did a deep dive on that book and recall (after reviewing my notes) that I'd like to revisit it someday.

And, as always, some months had stronger competition than others, so books like Gilead and My God and My All should have had places in this yearly finale, but didn't have the chance because other books won their respective monthly brackets.

Other books or series to make note of include the Wilderking trilogy by Jonathan Rogers, Meditations Before Mass by Romano Guardini, Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, and Screen Kids: 5 Relational Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World, by Arlene Pellicane and Gary Chapman.

December Book Bracket 2025

 December 2025 Book Bracket

It's December...so that means that the end of year bracket is coming soon! But first, a look at the books from this month. Only four of the twelve titles I finished were physical books, but there were some pretty good ones in the mix this month.

Fish in a Tree, by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, narrated by Kathleen McInerney**

Ally, a middle schooler who can't read fluently, has fooled most of the adults and other kids in her world into thinking she's just a troublemaker, but a caring substitute teacher takes the time to investigate and learn what the behaviors are masking - a learning disability.

Why I picked it up: I heard this book was really good, and the premise sounded good - a trouble-making kid who's smart enough to keep her teachers from realizing she can't read? This one was available as an audiobook through the local public library.

My impressions: There were a lot of things I appreciated about this book, amongst which were a good story and a realistic feel of a middle school class dynamic. The characters, although they may have leaned into stereotypes at times, were distinct and experienced growth, and it was cool to listen to a story about a girl with dyslexia since I work in an environment where kids are tested for learning disabilities all the time. Maybe one of the best aspects of the book was that is showed how big of a toll dyslexia can take on a character, both socially and emotionally. On the flip side, the main character in the book, with her passion for drawing and the social struggles she endures, felt very reminiscent of Catherine and her trials in Rules, by Cynthia Lord (listened to earlier this year). The teacher seemed to make TOO big of a deal of the benefits of the creative brain that goes along with dyslexia. He literally has a class session in which he points out all the famous historical people suspected of having dyslexia. In reality, there would most likely be several other students in Ally's classroom who also had dyslexia or some other kind of learning disability or academic struggle. When the teacher discussed his suspicions of dyslexia with Ally, I felt like he was making it sound like a big diagnosis, a big label that explains all of Ally's struggles, and that moment just felt off to me - maybe it felt a little overdramatic. I'm not sure the class bully had as much of a chance at redemption as I would have liked, but at least the reader is given enough to consider what sort of formation could have led to her cruel behavior. There's one line where a student asks for a color wheel Ally has made so he can give it to his bus driver, who likes rainbow colored things. Nothing inherently bad with that, but with the world we live in, I can see some meaning being read into it. This would be a good book for upper elementary and middle school students, especially as it is a window into struggles that some students might not have - or maybe do experience.

The Nerviest Girl in the World, by Melissa Wiley

Pearl, ostrich-tender and ranch hand in 1920's California, and follows her older brothers into the world of doing stunts in silent films.

Why I picked it up: I had looked up the Read Aloud Revival website within the last few months, and this one struck my fancy. It also happened to be at the library when I went and grabbed about five books I didn't need last month.

My impressions: This was a fun book, and a unique and delightful romp in which you secretly learn a lot about a very particular aspect of history - however, there was one flaw that really bummed me. How often do we think of silent movies, or early film development? I learned so much without even realizing I was getting a history lesson. I loved how spunky the main character is, as well as the strange but historically accurate details that might have populated the life of a girl like her. Apparently, ostrich farming really was a thing back in the day. Who knew. It was really cool to see Pearl's growing experience in the world of acting, especially when her foolhardy stunts and inability to stay in character at times was juxtaposed with her peer's natural talent for the trade. Pearl isn't perfect, but she's smart and I was rooting for her the entire time. That one big flaw in the book is that a member of Pearl's Catholic family swears by the names of the Holy Family early in the book. I was really bummed about this because it felt like it was a quick attempt to establish that, "Hey, this is a Catholic family", but in the worst way possible. I was saddened to see these names used in vain, especially since the author showed she could talk about the family's faith in completely acceptable ways later in the book, such as Pearl thinking about how the stucco on the church they attend kept services cool in the summer, or a mention of the parish priest. That one episode is enough to make me question if I want to recommend this book to a young family member, one who I think would really enjoy this book. This book is a lot of fun, and I think readers young and old - starting with upper elementary - could find much to revel in in this book, minus that one instance mentioned earlier.

Habits for a Sacred Home, by Jennifer Pepito**

A Christian mother and homeschool curriculum creator reflects on the Rule of St. Benedict as she aspires to incorporate aspects of it into her life and the lives of her family and community, as well as inspiring Christian woman models who tie in with those reflections.

Why I picked it up: I'm not sure where I came across this title, but I was happy to learn it was available as an audiobook through my local library. I just had to wait about 4-6 months to get a hold of it.

My impressions: I think the author brings a lot of good intentions and reflections to the table, but this book felt disjointed to me, being really thought-provoking in parts, but lacking a real internal consistency. The first part of the book was probably the most impactful for me, because it spoke to the need for diligence and putting in the work for make one's house a beautiful and welcoming place, and this is the duty of a housemaker. I don't work from home, but I definitely feel like I'm the homemaker, and I often slack on my duties so I can spend more time doing things that I enjoy (like blogging). I thought that Pepito's consideration of the Rule of St. Benedict was an interesting move, but I don't think it necessarily connected well with the female role models she presents. Pepito seemed to draw some point of reflection from the Rule, shared about her experiences in her own life, and then shared how a Christian woman from the last century exemplified that virtue or reflection point - there wasn't a direct connection from the Rule of St. Benedict to these non-Benedictine women. However, the aspect that struck me most strongly as being disjointed was the consideration of a rule written by a very Catholic Christian saint in a book that provides many female Christian role models, but none of them being Benedictines, or even Catholic. I understand that these women are meaningful to the author, and they truly are inspiring, and it wouldn't make sense for Pepito to include Catholic saints if she isn't very familiar with them. I also don't want to come across as territorial - I know that early saints and Church Fathers are beloved of my Protestant brothers and sisters as well. However, it just seemed strange to me that this blending of theology was going on. On that note, there were theological ideas the author mentions that I don't agree with, but I understand she comes from a different Christian background. I think there are some good practical points, but this book wasn't as impactful for me as a similar book by a Catholic author might be (isn't there something out there called A Mother's Rule of Life? I might need to try that sometime soon to compare). This could be a great book for Christian woman, including mature Catholics, but it's not a work that I found a lot of connection with.

Chasing Vermeer, by Blue Balliett, read by Ellen Reiley**

Two middle school students become friends as they try to locate a Vermeer painting that was stolen in a crime that involves neighbors and local teachers.

Why I picked it up: I think this book was maybe referenced as a mystery for middle grade readers, like The Sherlock Society. I'd enjoyed listening to that book, so I was interested to pick up this one. This was available through the Kansas Library audiobook selections.

My impressions: This is another good take on the "mystery for middle grade readers" genre, but it had some flaws that prevented it from being a "great" take. It was interesting to learn a lot about Vermeer (rather, how little we have learned about him) and the questions surrounding his works. I liked that, while reading the book, it felt like the author was describing a place that was real to her - as, I'm sure, the buildings of the University of Chicago certainly would be. I haven't researched the author, but I suspect Balliett has high familiarity with the places described in the book. There was the stereotypical mean girl class bully, which feels cliche to me. I enjoyed seeing two imaginative kids - who are creative in different ways - overcome initial awkward interactions to form a solid friendship. The main flaws of this book are the ways in which focusing on "coincidence" ends up providing key clues to solving the mystery, and that the lady depicted in the stolen Vermeer painting apparently "speaks" to several individuals and can make her presence known - a handy happenstance for when the junior sleuths get stuck, although it doesn't play quite so obviously as an easy way out of a dilemma. I think the painting "speaking to someone" is perhaps supposed to be symbolic of what art does in reality, but it was a rather fantastical element in a book that is otherwise pretty grounded in a realistic, modern world. I think this book is mostly find for upper elementary and middle school readers, but I would note there are several mentions of naked statues and dresses that are described as "too small in the upper part" in museum artwork.

Christmas Around the Fire: Stories, Essays, & Poems for the Season of Christ's Birth, ed. by Ryan N. S. Topping

A Catholic compilation of short stories, poems, and essays that delve to the heart of Christmas: Christ's birth.

Why I picked it up: This book ended up on my to-read list when I saw it in my favorite local bookstore a few years ago. It was the book club title for this month.

My impressions: Of all the Christmas stories I've ever read, I don't think I've ever come across any that I thought, wow, these authors really understand that salvation and Christ really are the focus of Christmas - and I thought that over and over while reading this work. I think the short stories are what really shine in this book, although the poems and essays were also very good. This book is a refreshing, but also comforting, change from the home-for-the-holidays, family-focused, save-the-orphan stories that I usually find are peddled as "Christmas stories." I don't think every short story is excellent, but there were several that I really liked that I would recommend to other people. Works by Willa Cather, Catherine Dougherty, and Oscar Wilde? Yes please! And, to keep expectations realistic, I skimmed some descriptive passages here and there, and had more trouble being engaged with the essays that focused more on the theology of Christmas. I also wondered why there was a short excerpt from A Christmas Carol by Dickens - to be honest, I think it would have been better to leave out the excerpt and include something else (so long as there was a good replacement) because Dickens' work is so good on it's own, it makes sense to have the work in its entirety. Like my book club associates, I wondered why the editor provided a fictional frame for what I assume is his family's Advent and Christmas traditions - he could have just included the description and left out the frame, which doesn't really add anything to what he communicates in his essay. However, it wasn't a hindrance to my reading - just a bit more to skim over, perhaps. It's not a book that is a must-read every year - or even a must-read - but it has a lot of strong elements that make it worthwhile for any Catholic high schooler and older to pick up and try.

Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection, by John Green**

The guy who wrote The Fault in Our Stars presents the history and facts about the bacterial infection tuberculosis, as well as the incredible story of Henry, a patient who battles an antibiotic-resistant strain of the disease.

Why I picked it up: I saw the cover in a bookstore and thought it sounded interesting. I was pleasantly surprised to find this title available immediately through my state's online selection of audiobooks available for checkout.

My impressions: This is a good book for learning about a disease that still wreaks havoc today, and reflecting on the importance of supporting efforts to eliminate diseases that can be cured with the right treatment. I found some of the author's views differ from my own, but he has a lot of food for thought. The way he describes tuberculosis as a disease of injustice does track with me, as he did a good job showing how weak medical systems in developing countries or nations facing huge strains impedes the ability of patients to keep with the lengthy, inconvenient regimen that could cure them. My favorite part of the book was an early chapter that gave interesting intersections of tuberculosis with history, such as the invention of the Stetson hat. However, Green spent a decent amount of time outlining how tuberculosis shaped European ideals of beauty, and that honestly felt like a stretch to me. Maybe I'm just being skeptical in the presence of good evidence that is actually there, but it felt like lumping fair complexions, rosy cheeks, thin figures, and dilated pupils together as ideals that resulted from the weird romanticizing of tuberculosis doesn't track with me. Following the story of Henry, the tuberculosis patient from Sierra Leone, was fascinating and a great narrative hook that really helped make Green's points about how current systems are failing modern tuberculosis patients - which is a shame, because tuberculosis is very curable, and yet claims over a million human lives every year. This is a good book about a disease with global impact; it's very readable (listenable?) interesting, and thought-provoking.

15 Secrets to Survival, by Natalie D. Richards

Baxter and the kids on his trivia team get in big trouble when they use hurtful language against each other in a competition, he must endure a "teambuilding experience" with them in the wilderness of Montana under the instruction of his great Uncle Hornsby.

Why I picked it up: I learned about this book at the same time that I learned about The Sherlock Society when I was looking up a book fair website's offerings. This book was available to check out through my public library system.

My impressions: I think this book is a good middle-grade read, but its use of language and too-candid commentary brings down its quality. As always, I'm up for a good survival story, and it's a fun take on the genre: in this book, the protagonists' parents knowingly put the kids in a situation where they can safely take on wilderness survival activities. At least, that's the idea. I was encouraged by how caring the parents are in this book, and I thought it was neat that an elderly uncle is the survival buff who takes them under his wing. It's part scavenger hunt, part survival experience, and part learning-a-lesson-without-being-preachy. It's cool to see how the kids change from a group of kind-of-unlikable middle schoolers to a group of friends who look out for each other. On the downside, I was disappointed at the narrator's use of the words "crap" and "crappy". That may be how many middle schoolers talk, but I don't think it's necessary to use it in the story, especially since the reader definitely knows how inappropriately the characters have used language already. This element alone is enough to prevent me from recommending an otherwise pretty solid book to a younger family member. I also didn't love that the main character regards his great uncle's wrinkles as a "wrinkle disorder" - while I think it's meant to be funny and descriptive of the uncle's age, it's not respectful and not the sort of language I'd like to find presented to young readers. A few parts seemed a little unrealistic, such as the scope of a final project, the location of a lost emergency phone (why was it well beyond where the carrier fell down?), and having pretty much every winter peril go down in the space of three days, but for the most part, it seemed like a believable tale that could really happen. As long as readers are okay with some less-than-respectful comments about elders and the use of words like "crap" and "crappy", this could be a great book for upper elementary and middles school readers who like adventure and survival stories.

Tiger, Tiger, by Lynne Reid Banks, read by Jan Francis**

Two captured tiger brothers face different fates in ancient Rome - one, a brutal life in the arena, and the other, a pampered life as the pet of the Roman emperor's daughter - until a prank results in its escape from captivity.

Why I picked it up: I came across this title at some point and was pleasantly surprised to find it on disc at my library. I was worried about being able to access it when it initially skipped on my cheap CD-playing boombox, but it worked fine on my laptop.

My impressions: This book was pretty interesting to listen to, but the gore described in the gladiatorial arena might be a turn-off to some readers or listeners. The story starts out with following the tiger cubs, but most of the book is about a small set of humans who interact with the tamed tiger, "Boots". The story felt like it was accurate to what life would have been like in ancient Rome, so I think the research was pretty good. The main tension in the plot happens after a tiger escapes maybe two-thirds of the way into the book, and it is pretty compelling to finish at that point. The ending was alright, but it hints at children with "defects" maybe being murdered in infancy - at the very least, they die in mysterious circumstances. That was actually the worst part of the book for me, especially since the main character talks seriously about becoming a Christian earlier in the book and indicates she practices secretly as an adult. That put a big damper on the story for me. I'm glad that a romantic interest doesn't play out in an unrealistic way, adding to the feel of believability in the story. The depiction of the absolute power the emperor wields, as well as his ability to mow down any opposition, also helps establish the feel of the setting. This could be a book middle grade readers could check out, especially if they're interested in ancient Rome, but it would be good to know about some of the issues mentioned about before handing it to an unsuspecting, sensitive reader.

The Christmas Hirelings, by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, narrated by Jennifer Saunders**

A baron who disowned his younger daughter due to her eloping with a poor minister finds himself lonely each Christmas - until his itinerant friend Danby cooks up a scheme to hire well-mannered children to liven things up as guests at the family estate.

Why I picked it up: I finally investigated one aspect of Audible more deeply and found out that they really do offer a number of classics or public-domain works for free, even without any membership. This one sounded interesting and it is Advent, so I figured I'd give it a try.

My impressions: If you want a lighthearted read (or listen) about semi-orphaned children receiving the beneficence of a lonely rich man at Christmas time, this is the book for you. It's predictable and one of the children is maybe a tad twee (you can tell she's supposed to be the favorite), but still a nice, simple, feel-good sort of story for the wintery Christmas season. It doesn't at all have the depth of some of the short stories from the Christmas Around the Fire book, but it's good for what it is. Teens and adults could enjoy this one if they're looking for this type of book.

Encountering Emmanuel: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation, by Heather Khym

A Catholic guide to the season of Advent, including short daily meditations, reflection questions, and spaces to journal.

Why I picked it up: I ended up choosing to participate in my parish's book study - a new activity - as a co-leader with a family member. I ended up being superfluous, but it was good to participate.

My impressions: If you're willing to take the time to give the reflection questions their due, this is a good Advent reflection book. The reflections are quick, but they can bear good fruit. My appreciation may be partially influenced by some familiarity with different strategies used in therapy that I think this book might be tapping into, but you don't have to have that prior knowledge to benefit from reading this book. I will say that a downside to this book is that, if you use the journaling portions as intended, you're mainly going to get one journaling use out of this book. Considering the nature of some of the questions, you might be hesitant to loan the book to someone else - it gets into some pretty deep stuff. If you're a Catholic looking for an Advent devotional, this could be a good one if this is the sort of devotional you go in for.

The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle, narrated by Orlagh Cassidy**

A fantasy tale about a unicorn who embarks on a quest with a few other folks to discover if she is, indeed, the last of her kind.

Why I picked it up: This book had been on my to-read list for a while, but I was hesitant to pick it up. I am wary of fantasy unless it's something I've read already, since those stories might get whackadoodle or not have the level of excellence shared by Tolkien or Lewis. Anyway, a galpal of mine has brought it up a few times over the last several months, so when I discovered it was on the state's e-library, I decided it was time to check out.

My impressions: The story was refreshingly good, even with the presence of some flaws. It had the feel of an old-fashioned fairy tale, but completely original in its plot. I enjoyed some of the allusions, like those to Robin Hood and mythological creatures, but I didn't like an episode in which a wizard is handed a skin of water and asked to turn it into wine - "It's been done before," they said in the tale. Also, there were several instances of using the Lord's name in vain, if I remember correctly, and multiple uses of a damning phrase. One character is a witch, and although depicted as clearly evil, there are a few lines here and there that mention covens or knowing what a real witch would do. Also,  one character thinks he's realized that all types of magic - black, white, and the gray in-between - are all just the same, it's how you use them, or become a vessel for the magic to work through. These are all short tidbits, but it's something I would like to know before handing it out to children. A character changes form, and when turned into a human, is naked...this is mentioned several times before they get some real clothes on. Awkward. A few anachronisms stick out, but they are rare. On the good side, there's a lovely bittersweetness to the ending, and it felt like a fitting one. This is a good work of fantasy, and probably alright for high schoolers and older to read on their own, as long as they can handle coming across some of the things mentioned above, but the reading level and story might be of interest to younger folks, so this might be a good read-aloud.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket, narrated by Tim Curry and Cast**

The three Baudelaire children, suddenly orphaned, find themselves in unfortunate circumstances when the executor of their parents' will says they must live with an unsavory distant relation who is determined to gain their inheritance for himself.

Why I picked it up: I remember thinking sometime earlier in the year about how I'd never read these books as a kid, and figured I'd pick one up and see what all the middle grade hype was about.

My impressions: In spite of the title and the narrator's determination that you understand the children had unfortunate mishaps, not happy endings, this was a pretty fun book to listen to. Though a bit sad in the beginning, I wasn't feeling bad soon after the children initially learn of their parents' deaths. The children are likeable and resourceful, and the villain is a melodramatic (fitting word) count with nefarious ideas for separating the children from their inheritance. There's one instance of a child wishing they could put poison into the villain's meal, but nothing I recall being objectionable besides that. Yes, lots of things go wrong for the children, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been - honestly, listening to A Place to Hang the Moon was much more difficult, emotionally, for me to read. There were also some anachronisms in this book - I was originally thinking it was set in Victorian England, but then there's walkie talkies and other things mentioned that don't belong in that era. Though not a series that I'm planning on reading my way through, at least for now (12 books to go), I can see myself picking up the second one someday and seeing what it's like. The children are in peril at times and the villain really is villainous, but I still think upper elementary and middle-grade readers could enjoy this first book.

Bracket Play

This is another one of those months where I feel guilty for picking a fantasy fiction work as the winner over a solid religious work, especially since there were some elements in the book that I didn't like - but the parts that were good were really good. 

In a round with 12 contestants, I placed weaker titles with the stronger ones so it was easier to determine which one would move on. However, most of the books that didn't make it past round one were still very enjoyable reads.

In the second round, The Nerviest Girl in the World fell to The Last Unicorn. I decided Everything is Tuberculosis won over Fish in a Tree because the former had a lot of food for thought and told a captivating true story. The match between the two Catholic Christmas books was tricky - I almost went with Christmas Around the Fire because of the elements that I enjoyed, but the work as a whole wasn't as strong as Heather Khym's Advent reflection book. This book had a bye in the next round, where Beagle's fantasy work went up against the tuberculosis book - and won. 

In the final round, I felt like The Last Unicorn needed to be the winner. I know there are some parts of it that were bad or just didn't work for me, but it was a good story and had lots of elements that I enjoyed, and I can see myself wanting to read it again. On another day, Encountering Emmanuel might have won, especially since it was all good content. It might not have won today because seasonal devotionals aren't quite my favorite, but it's certainly the more wholesome book. It's a very close second place for that book.

Books Put Down

Shepherds Abiding, by Jan Karon

This installment of the Mitford series follows Mitford residents as they prepare for Christmas.

Why I picked it up: Sometime in the summer or fall, I felt it was time to try another Mitford book.

Why I put it down: It wasn't for me right now - weird to say, since I've loved the previous books, but I think it's just the season I'm in right now.

Kildee House, by Rutherford Montgomery

Retired monument-maker Jerome builds a quaint house at the base of a redwood tree and befriends several children and myriad animals who live in the forest.

Why I picked it up: I learned this book was illustrated by Barbara Cooney and I wanted to give it a try. It should have been in my public library system, but when they checked, their copy was gone. This one reached me through interlibrary loan.

Why I put it down: This seemed like a chill, fun situation - animals taking up residence with a laidback Jerome Kildee, but it was too boring for me. There might have been a problem about to raise its head in the next chapters, but I was already two slow chapters in and not excited to read more. I think it would have some of the appeal of My Side of the Mountain, specifically the parts about having a unique house and befriending animals, but my hunger for adventure needed a lot more action a lot faster. I feel bad about using the library's interlibrary loan resources to get this book to me when I'm not even going to finish reading it, but I suppose that's a risk libraries take with this sort of thing.