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.

November Book Bracket 2025

Book Bracket for November 2025

There were multiple books that were disappointments this month, and several that I wouldn't end up recommending, but there were also books that were meaningful and some that were just plain fun and a delight to read. 

Philothea or An Introduction to the Devout Life, by St. Francis de Sales

A saint explains in detail how to make a start in living one's life for God.

Why I picked it up: This is what one of my small book clubs chose for this round. I had read it before...or had I? It turns out I have because I remembered two specific features that did eventually show up in the text, but I had forgotten most of its content.

My impressions: This is a book to sit with and do some good reflection and meditating on to get the most from it. I felt called out by quite a bit of it and sped through the meditations early in the book, but at the end I did try to sit with the concluding meditations at least a little bit. I feel like I'm a far cry from holiness, which is probably a good feeling to have occasionally. Some of the saint's words seemed a little strict - at least, my struggles with scrupulosity won't have me following everything he said about confession, etc. The parts that I felt most understood by and understanding of were those regarding anxiety and sadness. I think St. Francis de Sales does a great job covering a lot of ground, including the basics of discernment of spirits, so far as consolations and desolations go - I hadn't appreciated what I was reading at the time of my first encounter with this book. This is a great Catholic classic that high schoolers and older could appreciate.

Surviving the Applewhites, by Stephanie S. Tolan, narrated by Robert Sean Leonard**

This Newbery award finalist follows the artistic and sometimes odd Applewhite's struggles to put on a musical production shortly after taking a troubled youth into their unschooling lifestyle.

Why I picked it up: I think I've seen the cover in different places, and that Newbery Award finalist medal is usually a good indicator of a book that's at least worth trying (in my opinion). This one was available as a free audiobook through my local library.

My impressions: The odd, zany, creative characters are the big draw for this story, but it doesn't hurt that there's Jake, a rough-around-the-edges bad boy who's learning what life is like here, and an attempt to put on a musical - "The Sound of Music"! One of my favorites! I enjoyed the plot and seeing the tough kid change from his contact with this imperfect but wildly unique family. I also really appreciated E.D., the very structured girl his age who just doesn't fit in with her very artistically-inclined family. There's so much to love and enjoy about this book; it's a rollicking ride where you don't necessarily know what's happening next, but can start to see things coming as certain elements appear. I did notice that several characters practice an Eastern mysticism - one being a guru - that feng shui is mentioned, that the wider powers of the universe are called upon in a family blessing of a meal, but no characters that are overtly Christian, so that was a downside for me. Though no specific swear words are used, we definitely know that there is a lot of swearing going on, so that could be a downer for some readers. A boy spends some of his time thinking about and looking at pretty girls; he thinks something about a girl not having a figure yet. This book would probably be good for upper elementary or middle school aged readers, but with some of the warning tape that might accompany The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. 

Screen Kids: 5 Relational Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World, by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane

The researcher who developed the 5 Love Languages co-authors a book on how to parent children in an age where there is so much - sometimes too much - focus on technology.

Why I picked it up: A coworker mentioned this book to me after I gave a presentation at work on the dangers of excessive screen time. I borrowed it from her and read it during a professional development day.

My impressions: If you're going to read a book that speaks to the dangers of excessive technology and what parents can do to guide their children through this digital era, this is probably the best book I've seen so far. It draws from almost all the books by authors I've been reading this year, is highly readable, and includes great practical advice and strategies to implement. Although it explains a few different studies, it's not very heavy on referencing all the research. So, if you're looking for a lot of studies, you might reach for a different book. Other than that, I think this book is great for anyone who wants a summary of the issues and could use some ideas to apply. This book has at least one section that is written within the framework of the Five Love Languages, so it's pretty clear at that point, at least, of the psychological paradigm from which it operates. One note - I skimmed the chapter that focused on single parenting because it didn't feel very applicable to me. One of my favorite parts was the "Top Ten Questions and Answers" chapter at the end of the book. The first question asked how to know if your child is ready for a smartphone, and it listed almost a dozen tasks a child needs to be able to do responsibly and without a lot of nagging. They're not pushover tasks, either - they include contributing regularly to household responsibilities, caring for a pet, cooking a meal by themselves, and doing well in school, amongst numerous others. I think it's a good reflection of how weighty the decision is to hand someone a handheld computer and communication device. This is a good book for high schoolers and older to read, and while I'm confident the reading level is approachable to readers younger than high school, I don't know if they'd necessarily find it interesting, since it is written for parents.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, by Chris Colfer

Brother-sister twins Alex and Conner have lost their father to tragedy, but find adventure when they fall into their Grandmother's magical Land of Stories book and must collect magical fairy tale items to return home.

Why I picked it up: A family member mentioned he'd read this series and really enjoyed it, so I decided to check it out from the library.

My impressions: This is a fun take on the fractured fairy tale, in which readers get to meet numerous characters from classic fairy tales with Alex and Conner, but the morals guiding this story are fractured, too. It was exciting to see fairy tale characters interacting with each other, and considering how they might live in their "happily ever after" phase, or how child characters, now teenagers or older, might act. There were plenty of chases and escapes and close calls, and a unique storyline happening alongside the twins' quest to get home. Unfortunately, this is another one of those stories where we can't just let evil characters be evil - well, at least one of them. There's an exploration of one villain's backstory and how it motivates her evil deeds, with something of a failure to establish what was happening with that look. It felt like we're supposed to understand the Evil Queen (Snow White) was villainized by her circumstances...but I couldn't help but think she still made plenty of decisions that were still very evil. They empathize with the Evil Queen, and that seems to be the end of it. Some of the "good" characters aren't very good, either, with Goldilocks living her own life of crime, on the run, and seeking to kill another character in an act of revenge. I have plenty more to say in this area, but I'll leave it at that. The writing wasn't great, with lots of showing and telling, and some jokes and descriptions that I didn't appreciate (describing that there was a passionate kiss, a character showing too much skin, etc.). There were even a few instances of swear words, and multiple uses of the Lord's name in vain. It's unfortunate, because there are 5 more books in the series, and I was intrigued enough by this one to look up what happens in the next books. I knew I wouldn't continue the series after this first book (I have way too many others to get to), but the flaws of the book confirmed me in that decision. I don't recommend this book.

Essays on Woman, 2nd Edition, Revised, by Edith Stein

This collection of essays contains this Catholic philosopher saint's ideas on Woman, including her role in salvation, the Church, and the society of her time.

Why I picked it up: This was the book a friend and I agreed to read together as our book-club-of-two. This is one she had access to even as she moved towards pursuing a completely different potential life path.

My impressions: This book has a mix of accessible, albeit academic, essays, and essays which are heavy on the philosophy, lengthy, and harder to follow. I absolutely loved the first essay in the collection, "The Ethos of Women's Professions", and found much to like in her other essays, although some ideas are restated throughout. I felt St. Edith had much to say that was applicable to her time, but also to contemporary times. At the same time, some of her ideas, especially on the schooling system in Germany during the time of writing, felt more foreign to me since they were so connected to education as it was in her day. I am certainly thinking about education and, for women, emotional education in a different way. I see ways in which I've perhaps not developed a mature emotional life, as seen in my extreme sensitivity to "depressing" parts of books and movies. Edith saw men and women as different in very real ways, and I think it's helpful to follow her thinking in those regards. I am curious about what current Catholic philosophers would say in conversation with Edith's works. This book would be best for those who can handle academic and, at times, philosophical language, and some ideas that may seem dated...but are not therefore automatically incorrect.

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, by Jeanne Birdsall, narrated by Susan Denaker**

Four sisters, their widowed father, and the family dog vacation in a cottage behind a mansion and many adventures are had by all as they try to help their new friend, Jeffrey, avoid an army school fate.

Why I picked it up: I've heard this series is great and it was really talked up by Sarah Mackenzie of the Read Aloud Revival podcast. This audiobook was available through my local public library system.

My impressions: There were moments when I was invested in learning what happened next to these unique girls, but it's the kind of mostly plotless book that doesn't hold my attention well - kids experience family dynamics as they have some kiddy adventures during the summer. I can see how this could be a charming read for some folks, but it's just not my cup of tea. I liked that the sisters were all unique, but I felt like the radically different interests each one has doesn't line up with the families I know - at least, I don't feel like I often encounter families where one kid is an absolute math and science nut, and another the author type, and another the shy and sensitive one, etc. In any case, the characters and situations had a sense of realism and the personality clashes played out in ways that seemed likely to occur. I didn't appreciate the fact that the kids shot arrows at a target painted with the face of a highly disliked adult, and that they fantasized about doing things to unlikable folks for revenge, even if it's something that a kid might actually do. A family situation is discussed, in which it is said a certain marriage was a mistake from the beginning, and the woman was remarrying, and a boy had never known his father - just mentioning it because parents might want to be aware the situation comes up. I also thought it a little odd or off that a good chunk of time is spent considering the oldest daughter's crush on a boy 6 years older than her. Though completely innocent, I just don't think I would want my young kids reading too much about having crushes...but that's just me. Though probably one of the better books of this type in some areas, it's not a book that I found super interesting and I wouldn't recommend this one.

A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home, by Henry Cole

This heavily-illustrated novel follows a little mouse and how her life changes as she is found and cared for by John Audubon's assistant, Joseph, and as she seeks to establish herself in a place that is truly her home.

Why I picked it up: I went through another round of looking at Read Aloud Revival book list recommendations, and this one sounded interesting. I've been more interested in Audubon's bird paintings over the last several years, and I thought this would be worth a try.

My impressions: I wasn't impressed by this book. The historical fiction side of it wasn't super strong, and I didn't feel invested in Celeste's journey of finding a permanent home. I generally like stories with little critters as characters, but this one didn't do anything for me. It was a book I probably should have put down, but I figured I'd go ahead and finish it because it was an easy read. I didn't find anything objectionable in this book, but I did note that birds are killed and then pinned or wired into poses for the artist to depict the birds, so sensitive kids might struggle with those parts. The illustrations felt inconsistent, with some looking more realistic and some looking cartoony. This book might be really great for some folks, but it definitely wasn't for me and I don't recommend trying this one out.

Knights vs. Dinosaurs, by Matt Phelan

An illustrated novel for young readers follows a group of four knights and a squire as they face off with dinosaurs before traveling forward in time to return to King Arthur's court.

Why I picked it up: I learned of the title and thought, "Say no more." Partly inspired by a relative who loves knights and dinosaurs, I knew I had to try this series out (there are three books total).

My impressions: This book is a fun romp with lots of dino chomp and knightly deeds. There was some cross-dressing that happened (females hiding their femininity when participating in roles historically reserved for men), but it was innocent and wouldn't have made me uncomfortable if it weren't for all the gender ideology craziness of the last however many years. There were knights. There were dinosaurs. There was plenty of action and some growth and lessons learned. The main five characters were all unique and they were a lot of fun to follow through this story. I didn't expect to find King Arthur characters in this book, but their inclusion helped create a pretty tight story. I think this book is pretty fun for middle and upper elementary readers, depending on grade level.

Knights vs. Monsters, by Matt Phelan

Sequel to Knights vs. Dinosaurs finds the formidable company of five traveling to Scotland to face off against monsters which are magicked up by Queen Morgause each night.

Why I picked it up: This one came home with me the same time as the original book. Quick reads, so this one opened up very soon after the first one closed.

My impressions: This book works more Arthurian characters into the warp of the tale, but the monsters were sometimes creepy and just not as much fun as the dinosaurs. I liked learning about more people who animated Arthurian legends - and finding out this story stayed close to the legends in some ways. I didn't like the feeling that an intellectually delayed character was a literal throw-away character (killed by being tossed off a cliff), but there wasn't anything else that made me too uncomfortable. Some characters and monsters were a bit creepy, so sensitive readers might not handle this book as well as the dinosaurs in the original, but it wasn't too bad for me. Readers who enjoyed the first book can consider this one as a potential next read.

Knights vs. The End (of Everything), by Matt Phelan

Third and final book of the Knights vs. trilogy, which picks up some time after the second one concludes, but continues where the threat of last villains left off.

Why I picked it up: I had the other two and this one was at the library as well.

My impressions: This one had a different feel from both of the books before it, and while it had some adventuring elements like the previous story, it felt less action-packed and somewhat disjointed. A cool character from Arthurian legends is introduced, but his storyline is concluded prior to the climax. More Arthurian legends and characters are woven into this tale, which makes the experience pretty fun for someone like me, who has encountered some of these stories before. The main villain in this book, Ash, the king of Faerie, didn't feel as menacing as some previous antagonists, although a lot more time is spent on him than on Morgause, who is still plotting the downfall of Camelot. I did love that the final battle incorporates an element that throws back to the original book in the series, which made my heart very happy. This book is a good conclusion to the series, although I don't think I'd say it's the finest of the three books.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente**

The youth September is spirited away from WWII-era Omaha, Nebraska, to Fairyland, where she encounters many folks of fairytales and has many adventures, such as being forced to serve a cruel Marquess to save her friends.

Why I picked it up: This book was highly recommended as the comfort read of Haley Stewart, and I figured I'd use and Audible credit on it and give it a try.

My impressions: There are many things I really liked about this book, but there were also elements that I'm not on board with and make me too uncomfortable to recommend it. The writing in this story is excellent - it's top-notch, and makes me want more writing like this. The author narrates the audiobook and nails it. However, there were some elements that made me really uncomfortable, such as two witches marrying the same werewolf dude - but saying it's okay because one married the wolf side, and the other marrying the human side. Yikes. No thanks. There's a chaotic blending of all sorts of staples from fairytales and folklore all over the world, including some I've never heard of before, but it all works together. Another weird part is a discussion of "not being really naked" even with all your clothes off...and there are several parts where the main character is described as not having clothes on (in a bath house, and when she removes her dress to make a sail). There's also discussion of a mythical creature being the offspring of a dragon and a library. It's just awkward, man. But wow - the ending is incredible! The villain's backstory is a gut punch, and no mistake. Incredible writing in a fun-and-serious adventure with high stakes, but enough questionable content in it to prevent me from recommending it.

The Sherlock Society, by James Ponti, narrated by Mark Sanderlin**

Alex, his sister, and two friends decide to be detectives for their summer job, but find adventure while searching for Al Capone's missing million dollars in a highly polluted pocket of the Everglades.

Why I picked it up: This book was connected with the book fair that came through the school at my parish, and a relative told me they were reading it.

My impressions: This fun mystery adventure is a great, well-paced example of the middle grade genre. I learned a lot about Miami and appreciated the naturally-occurring discussions of personal character that emerged amidst realistic tween-teen episodes of pushing boundaries. There is some discussion of characters experiencing parents divorcing, but it certainly wasn't discussed as a positive event in itself, and there's a great example of the happy marriage of the parents of the main character siblings. As with most middle grade novels I seem to read these days, the middle schoolers sometimes choose to do things that their parents wouldn't approve of, or choose to do things that are illegal or not entirely honest. However, I think it ends up being clear that those weren't good or safe things to do, and there were serious consequences in the offing. Tons of fun, and I didn't think any of the parts were slow. This would be a great book for upper elementary and middle school readers who want a fun mystery.

Bracket Play

How great to have a month with a big book count and no books put down after a month where it seemed like I was mostly starting and putting down books before I finished them! As always when there are many books competing in the bracket, I paired weaker books with stronger ones so the winners are pretty self-explanatory.

In the second round, St. Francis de Sales' spiritual work beat the fictional middle grade novel about a troubled youth finding his passion in theater. There was some non-Christian spirituality in Surviving the Applewhites that wasn't balanced with Christian expressions, and it just couldn't compete with the great spiritual lessons found in the saint's work. The mystery The Sherlock Society beat the second book in the Knights vs. trilogy - it was the better work and had some really great aspects to it. And, as much as I loved Knights vs. Dinosaurs, it certainly couldn't hold a candle to St. Edith Stein's essays that she wrote about Woman and her role not only in earthly life, but also in salvation.

From the second round, St. Edith's essays had a bye. St. Francis' work also beat The Sherlock Society, but I leaned towards Essays on Woman being the winner this month. It is something that sparked much reflection in me and is something I'd like to read again someday, and have others read so they can be in discussion with her work as well. Introduction to the Devout Life, however, would certainly be a great first-place pick, too - it's just not the one that hit me as hard at this time in my life.

October Book Bracket 2025

 Book Bracket for October '25

Fun fact: two of my October books have "April" in their titles. What do you know! Although one of the worst months for picking up and putting down books, it still ended up being a good completion number - 10 for this month - and a good experience, since I wasn't tied down to finishing a lot of books that I wouldn't have ended up being glad that I pushed all the way through to the end. I was also pleased with how many books were physical copies that I made it through this month.

Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt; narrated by Terry Bregy**

Jethro experiences the Civil War, but from his farm home in Illinois, while older family members leave to fight.

Why I picked it up: I obtained this book a while back, I'm sure because I saw it recommended on some reading list at some point. I feared this children's historical fiction would be too sad for me, so I never picked up the copy. However, when I found out it was available for free via the Audible subscription, I figured this was an easier way to try it out than it would be to make time to pick up the physical copy on my shelf.

My impressions: I'm glad I tried this one out, because it ended up being sad in parts, but not depressing overall, and I really enjoyed the gravity of the moral quandary he found himself in. I heard recently - maybe on a podcast - that someone didn't like WWI or WWII stories unless they were "homefront" stories, which looked at the lives of noncombatants back home. After listening to this one, I can absolutely understand the appeal. There were references to the war, some descriptions the gore of battle, and reports of the deaths of loved ones, but it felt a bit more distant - it wasn't the main character seeing the carnage himself. I'd also not thought much of what the homefront would look like in a civil war, in which family members might end up on both sides of a battle, so it was interesting to me throughout to receive that perspective. I compared it mentally with Rifles for Watie, and in the final reckoning, I believe I like this one the better of the two. I recommend this book for middle school and older, but more mature younger elementary readers might be able to handle some of the sadder and more violent parts of this book.

Boy of the Painted Cave, by Justin Denzel

Tao, a young teenager of prehistoric times with a crippled foot, lives in disfavor on the peripheries of his clan, but befriends the local wandering shaman and hopes to learn how to paint animals on cave walls - a role given to those honored, not outcast, in his community.

Why I picked it up: This one, like many children's historical fiction books, just found its way onto my to-read list one day. I was shocked to find it at a library sale in Nebraska in the summer, and decided I wanted to make some inroads on the books sitting on my shelves.

My impressions: This book was alright, but I didn't get the atmospheric sense of a different time and place I expected from this story. Sure, there were wooly mammoths walking around, as well as other extinct creatures, which is fun, but other elements felt like they could have hailed from early Britain or another society that, though ancient, was situated within a more recent past. In any case, I was interested by the story, but spent some time thinking that all the clan's taboos were probably more or less the fruit of the imaginings of the author...since, these times being prehistoric, we don't have written records about what the societies were like back then (although I'm sure some could be known from archaeological artifacts). On a side note, this book reminded me that, long ago, I'd read another book about a prehistoric teen and I was bothered that I couldn't remember the name. And yet, a little Google research one morning brought up the title! That was pretty cool. This book would probably be fine for middle school readers and above, as well as more mature younger readers, but it would probably be good to know there's discussion of demons, taboos, and practices that wouldn't align with Christian morals, such as some people leaving crippled kids in the wild to die, and finding a wife in a raid on another clan, etc.

The Last Mapmaker, by Christina Soontornvat

Sai, an apprentice mapmaker, hopes to work around the limitations of her social status and home life by joining an exploratory voyage to seek out uncharted land.

Why I picked it up: I saw this book in passing at some point, and then my nephew read it and said it was pretty good - or something like that. I was curious, and wanted to give it a try.

My impressions: This book had some good elements, but it also had some that didn't work as well for me. The author had a simple way of creating the feel of a whole society by a simple, tangible sign of family origins, which was some very efficient world-building. I came to understand the main character very well early on, as well as other characters throughout the book. The slow reveal of different characters' motivations helped push the story along and was well-done. The elements that didn't work so well for me included the use of (made up) curse words and some bathroom humor insults. Several characters were born out of wedlock - not uncommon in books for teens and adults, but something I'd be sensitive to if I had kids reading it. The family drama may also have detracted from the action/adventure element that I love so much - at least action and adventure were present. I wished that one loose end about a father could have been tied up. This is a second book that I've read in a few months that has been fine with leaving a father's whereabouts unknown at the end, and that doesn't sit well with me unless the intention is to have another book that completes that storyline. I feel like it implies a father isn't necessary, that it's alright to have them off and doing their own thing beyond the peripheries of a child's life. Well, that may be overthinking on my part, but that's my current take on the situation. This book had some good elements to it, specifically characterization and motivation, but I don't feel it's one I'd actively recommend. Middle school and above could read it, but with caution on some of the elements listed above.

The Shadow of His Wings: The True Story of Fr. Gereon Goldmann, OFM, by Fr. Gereon Goldmann

This autobiography details the life of Fr. Gereon Goldmann, a Franciscan seminarian who was drafted into the Nazi army and even into the SS, and how he lived out his Catholic faith in the face of persecution and roadblocks to ordination. 

Why I picked it up: My husband and I had to be out of town for a series of surgeries and were blessed to find housing with a local woman. She is a bookworm, and this book - which had been on my to-read list for a while - was on her shelves. I ditched the 15 or so other books I'd brought to dive into this one when I was having trouble getting sleep a few nights before the first surgery.

My impressions: If you have read and enjoyed Fr. Walter Ciszek's He Leadeth Me, this might be a book you consider looking into. It didn't have the deep impact that Fr. Ciszek's book had on me, but it felt similar, in which it follows a young man as he lives out his priesthood through some nearly unthinkable conditions. I was uncomfortable with some of the ways Fr. Goldmann obtained the Holy Eucharist to distribute to the sick and dying, as well as his involvement in an attempted assassination on Hitler - I'm pretty sure that's not morally sound activity - but I always had the sense he was doing the best he could in all the situations in which he found himself. Some of the story gets dark at times - not surprising, considering how much action he saw in the war, and the horrors of prison camps he endured - but he has a remarkable story that shows the hand of God very clearly at work, and His Will being accomplished through the faith, prayer, and suffering of many individuals and consecrated religious upon Fr. Gereon's behalf. I loved also his special connection with St. Therese of Lisieux, a beloved friend of mine, too. I probably won't ever read it again, but those adults and possibly high schoolers with an interest in World War II stories, especially of how individuals act when placed in situations that are antithetical to peacefully living out one's faith, may want to consider this book.

The Cabin Faced West, by Jean Fritz

Ann is having trouble adjusting to pioneer-settler life in the wilderness west of the mountains, but learns how invested she has become when a big storm strikes and she has the chance to go back East for the winter.

Why I picked it up: This one had been on my to-read list for a while...and it was at the library sale in Omaha! 

My impressions: I am trying to pay attention to the craft of a story, and this one is well-written. The tension of being far West and yearning for what was left in the East plays through the entire tale. There's not much plot, but I really enjoyed this tale in spite of that. The story is situated solidly in pioneer farming life, with simple but effective characterizations. I loved a touching part in which Ann basically almost loses it and decides she's going to have a fancy tea party, and her mother joins in the moment. I recommend this book as an excellent example of writing and also as good historical literature for colonial and pioneer America.

Peacemaker, by Joseph Bruchac; narrated by Sean Taylor-Corbett**

This take on the legend of Hiawatha comes from the perspective of a young man, Okwaho, who nurses a desire for revenge when his dear friend is kidnapped by a warring tribe - but the arrival of the Peacemaker and his message changes everything for the warring Iroquois nations.

Why I picked it up: This was an Audible freebie and I recognized the author. I thought the book would be about the transformation brought about by the preaching of the Christian message of peace.

My impressions: Well, I made an assumption about who the peacemaker would be, and I was wrong. Good aspects of this book include the perspective of a youth who has been affected by life as it has been and has a stake in seeing changes happen - it makes the situation more compelling. I enjoyed the relationship between the main character and his friends, and the characterization of different people who join in the action. Native American folk tales have a flavor all their own, and there were plenty of them sprinkled throughout the book. The message of peace was beautifully proclaimed and pursued. My biggest area of discomfort with this book was the origin story of the Peacemaker, a savior figure who shared a tale about his birth from a virgin mother and his great grandmother's three attempts to kill him because she was convinced he - an infant - was evil. One weakness of the book was that there was conflict, but not really driving action for much of the book. The conflict was resolved by a show of unity and peace talks, which works well for the story, but it had a lot less climactic energy than the story's opening scenes. The uncomfortable origin story of the Peacemaker prevents me from recommending this book to any and all readers, but it could be good for getting a sense of what life may have been like in a war-torn Native American society prior to the arrival of Europeans.

100 Cupboards, by N. D. Wilson

A fantasy tale about a boy who lands with his aunt and uncle in a little nowhere town in Kansas, but finds adventure - and especially danger - behind the cupboards in his attic bedroom, which connect with other worlds.

Why I picked it up: I thought some children's fantasy might be a good break from the spiritual, academic, and taxing fiction works I've been reading lately. There's not much children's fantasy in my house that I haven't already read, and I didn't want to pick up another historical fiction novel - at least, not right then.

My impressions: This book had exciting parts, cool other-world fantasy parts, and some definitely creepy or scary parts. It concludes well and the climax felt like it had the right pacing, although the book definitely sets up for a sequel - not all is concluded. I felt that the story took a while to really get going - at least, as far as the fantasy element was concerned, but it makes sense insofar as getting a good sense of the main character and the way he needs to grow into the adventure. I did have to put down the book about halfway through - just for a day - because some of the scary parts were getting to me a bit, but I was brave for the remainder of the book. One downside was that I noticed the story's conclusion left me with more of an impression of being disturbed by the darker parts than of being delighted, filled with wonder, or excited to read more. I don't think that makes the book bad or not worth reading, especially since the good characters are good and wholesome, and the evil characters are recognized and fought as such. There's a lot of good in this book, but it's not the level of The Hobbit or The Chronicles of Narnia, the latter of which is a much closer comparison to this book. Upper elementary and middle school readers could definitely enjoy this book, but I'd just want to make clear that there are some pretty scary parts in it - at least, there were for me.

Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again, by Johann Hari

A journalist investigates a variety of reasons why we, individually and as a society, might be experiencing more fragmented attention than ever before - and what we can do about it, as individuals and a collective.

Why I picked it up: This one has professional interest for me, dovetailing with the issue of overexposure to screens. I borrowed this one from a family member to read during my convalescence.

My impressions: Oh, there's a lot of food for thought here, with some of it perhaps needing a grain of salt, and some of it having too much detail regarding matters related to sex, and the possibility for there to be areas that were not considered - but the parts that the author researchers are deeply considered. I appreciated that, not only did Hari explain some of the research he cited, but the talked about when an issue was controversial in the minds of experts and the reasons why. It was like having a lot of stats and research from The Anxious Generation but in a format that was much more approachable. Hari looked at screens and social media, but he also considered our diet, pollution, trauma, sleep, changed reading and play patterns, the ADHD diagnosis epidemic, and desirable or different states of attention. For the screens/social media chapters, I felt like I was having my eyes opened again - social media sites are free because of the advertisers who pay for my information, which helps them create a profile to better target me. Screens keep you up late not necessarily because the blue light is like daylight, but the shutoff of that powerful light simulates sundown, when people usually have this burst of energy to get stuff done before bed - at least, that's the explanation he gives. There were some political and moral issues on which the author and I would disagree, but for the most part, he writes compellingly. He ends the book with a list of websites to visit so readers can add their voice to the collective projects that are trying to hold Big Everything accountable. While I really liked learning about these topics, I was made uncomfortable by how often issues related to sex came up, and the detail that came with them. These moments happened throughout the book and often enough that I can't really recommend reading this book - reader beware.

The Ides of April, by Mary Ray

A murder mystery set in ancient Rome leads a slave on the run and a soldier on leave into a plot that is deeper than they can handle alone.

Why I picked it up: I was going to read another book by this author while in NE, but it looked like it was a sequel to this one, which I don't own. I don't think now that it would have made a difference, but on my first trip to the library, this was one of the five books I checked out.

My impressions: It's fun to read a murder mystery - and I think the ones for middle grade readers or young adults might be more my speed than mysteries written for adults (unless it's Sherlock Holmes mysteries). It was a unique setting - ancient Rome - but that alone, and the peril the murder posed to the slaves of the household, helped make the stakes high. It was an exciting read! I really appreciated that this wasn't a murder mystery that just happened to take place in Rome 62 A.D. - the action is integrally tied to the time and place. The characters seek justice and desire to save the innocent, but the way they go about it is sometimes problematic - lying, deception, etc. There's a character who commits suicide to save another's reputation, so that also was concerning, as was the ending, in which a main character ultimately decides to save his marriage, but only after considering divorce and thinking about how easy it would be. Much of the book would be fine for middle school readers and even upper elementary, but some of the topics of concerns might make this book appropriate to have check-ins and discussions about, or to wait until the reader is mature enough to know the views expressed by characters are reflections of Roman beliefs of the time.

What We See When We Read, by Peter Mendelsund

From what I gather, the author designs book covers. This is his reflection upon how we imagine characters, actions, voices, buildings, and more when we read.

Why I picked it up: I came across this one on the local library's app, but I picked up a physical copy on a library trip during which, on a whim, I decided I needed to check out five separate books, none of which are the ones looking accusingly at me from my shelves (and floor) at home.

My impressions: This man must have spent a lot of time thinking about how we imagine things described in books, because I felt like there was a depth and level of observation here that wouldn't be possible without intense dedication. This is not a scientific overview, and as such, I feel fine not agreeing with everything he said. However, it is a good closeup of how he and others build an image based on a read description. He talks about narrator perspective like a camera angle, which is, in fact, how I think about narrator perspective (first, second, third person), but he gets away from that a bit, so my opinions ended up diverging from his. He talks about imagining a house, but I fault him with failing to tackle landscape descriptions. Oh well. I feel like I learned many separate, individual factoids about writing from reading this book, such as character facial are usually pretty nebulous if you sit down and really think about your mental image. We usually hear voices far more clearly than we imagine faces or houses. The way an author describes specific features, and only those features, can have a lot to say about the character. The author spent quite a bit of time talking about Anna Karenina, from the titular book, and some other works that I've never read and probably will never be comfortable reading, so that wasn't my favorite. This book is a fast read because it is so illustration heavy (makes sense), but at least one picture had a nude image or two in an illustration. This book could have some good takeaways for writers.

Noteworthy Book

Castle, by David Macaulay

This author/illustrator walks through the process of building a fictional castle based in research of how real-life castles were constructed.

Why I picked it up: I needed a boost of encouragement to feel better about the ratio of books started and completed to books put down, so I picked this one up. I'd bought it several years ago at a local bookstore and never read it, although I tackled this author's book about creating the book Cathedral just earlier this year, in the summer (or was it last summer?).

My impressions: This is a great book for anyone who loves castles or medieval times. It makes me want to pick up some of the author's other works, many of which I find are in my local library system. There's one spread that explains how toilets worked in castles; I know there were little figures seated on the toilets in the illustration, but I didn't look closely, and the figures were small, so I don't know if there was too much showing or not. Minus that uncertain detail, I'd recommend this book to any kid who wants more medieval castle stuff - although they'll appreciate the pictures a lot more, I think, if they can read the accompanying text.

Bracket Play

Another high-number book month, so the first round was structured in such a way that weaker books were matched with much stronger books to make the decisions easier. Of course, I had to have the two books with "April" titles battle each other. Two nonfiction books, a fantasy book, and two historical fiction works made it to the next round. Of the nonfiction books, it was easy to decide the Catholic book about a Franciscan seminarian staying true to his faith in Nazi Germany would win over a book about how we picture book descriptions, although the latter book had some interesting reflections. The Cabin Faced West had a bye, and the other historical fiction work about the Civil War, Across Five Aprils, won its battle with the modern fantasy work 100 Cupboards. Jean Fritz's children's historical fiction about life in the wilderness after the Revolutionary War ended up winning the penultimate round because it was so well written and enjoyable; Fr. Gereon's book was understandably tough to read at times.

In the final round, it was the two children's historical fiction books that dueled for the win. The Cabin Faced West took the prize home this month. It was atmospheric, enjoyable, and really tight writing. It was worth looking for for a long time and very rewarding to finally have tracked down and read.

Books Attempted and Put Down

Owls in the Family, by Farley Mowat

A Canadian boy and his friend find some owls and take them home as pets.

Why I picked it up: This book was on a recommended list somewhere - maybe Honey for a Child's Heart. I think I'd put it on my to-read list and then decided I didn't want to read it after all. Well, I got to look at our hostess' collection of books and recognized that one as being a title I'd been interested in in the past.

Why I put it down: I have too many other books I want to get to in the near future. It seemed like a very chill and homey kind of book - a story about kids having (mis)adventures with fun animal friends - but it didn't strike me as a book I needed to keep reading. I bet it would be a great book for upper elementary readers, and maybe even a decent read-aloud, but I just wasn't into it this time.

The Secret Library, by Kekla Magoon

Dally grieves the passing of her grandfather, especially since her strict, business-minded mother doesn't understand her - and discovers a connection to a magical library that allows her to travel to different times.

Why I picked it up: It was recommended to me by someone and I wanted to read it because of that connection.

Why I put it down: It had a decent start, but then LGBTQ+ content surfaced. I probably could have pushed through it, but I don't appreciate authors pushing this agenda, especially in books written for kids. There are plenty of other books I'd like to try. I don't recommend this one.

The Tigress of Forli: Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous and Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici, by Elizabeth Lev; narrated by Edita Brychta**

This biography covers the life of a remarkable and powerful Italian woman during the Renaissance.

Why I picked it up: This one was recommended by a friend, and as it was written by the same woman who wrote an impactful book about post-Reformation Catholic art and its importance, I was excited. I used an Audible credit on it ages back and finally started listening to it.

Why I put it down: The book got very detailed about a disturbing event of a sexual nature and I was not ready for it. It was enough to make me just put it down. Hopefully that was the worst to be found in the book, but I don't want to keep trying it.

The Ascetic of Love: Mother Gavrilia 10th February 1897 - 20th March 1992, by Nun Gavrilia

This book is part biography and part collected letters and writings of an Orthodox saint, whose life sounds in many ways like the life of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Why I picked it up: I have a lovely Orthodox friend in a book club and asked her recommendation for a book to read about an Orthodox saint - this was for the summer reading challenge for a local book store. This is one that she said her husband had enjoyed.

Why I put it down: The main reason is that I couldn't finish the book in time and I'd like to get around to reading others. This woman led an interesting life, and it's worth pondering how God works in the lives of His servants, Western and Eastern and Protestant. I read through the first 100-some pages and learned about most of Nun Gavrilia's life, but it was slow going. Most of the rest of the book looked like it would be a collection of letters she'd written or conversations she'd had throughout her life. I believe it would have been instructive, but it just isn't for me at this time.

The Lost Library, by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

A book told from the perspective of a fifth grade boy, a cat, and a ghostly librarian, in which Evan plunges into the mystery of how his small town's library burned down - and tries to prove that his father didn't cause the accident.

Why I picked it up: I thought that this book might be on a Battle of the Books list for a family member, and since I'd mistakenly reserved it at the library, figured it would be worth a try.

Why I put it down: I was unsettled by the realization that some characters in the books were ghosts. I think it's probably leftover uncomfortable feelings from reading Greenglass House, but I'm really not super comfortable with ghost characters. I did skip to the end to find out what happens, and I think that I would have been fine if I'd just pushed a little more and ignored the discomfort, but I'm a little fragile right now with health things and figure that it's fine - there are plenty of other books laying around that I want to get to reading anyway. I think the ghost element is harmless enough and this book would be fine for upper elementary and middle school kids to read, but it wasn't a good fit for me right now.

God or Nothing: A Conversation on Faith with Nicolas Diat, by Robert Cardinal Sarah*

A Catholic cardinal from Guinea discusses his life, experiences of different popes, and his thoughts on faith in a conversation with journalist Nicolas Diat.

Why I picked it up: This one had been on my to-read list, and it was available through the Formed app. I started it on a roadtrip to visit my younger sister's religious order.

Why I put it down: This first 20% or so of this book was good - it was about Cardinal Sarah's life, and his thoughts on the popes who were Vicar of Christ during his life. However, I was struggling to keep going about halfway through the book because there didn't seem to be tons of structure - it seemed to be more questions and answers about Cardinal Sarah's views on the faith and the struggles the Church faces today. I think he has a lot of good things to say, but I was not up to reading it through cover to cover. 

Giants in the Earth: A Saga of the Prairie, by O. E. Rolvaag

A family of Norwegians immigrates to the wide open plains of the Dakotas and stakes a claim with just a handful of other immigrant families, and they must learn how to thrive - or just survive - in the madness-inducing flatness of the country.

Why I picked it up: This one is for a book club. It looked like it had potential.

Why I put it down: The wife was getting kind of (or clinically, diagnosably) depressed, and I was wondering when she'd snap out of it. I looked up a synopsis online because I'm recovering from surgery and thinking I need to be more careful with what I read...and I don't think things necessarily look up. Bummer, but good to know now instead of trying to push myself further into it.

How to Destroy Western Civilization: And Other Ideas from the Cultural Abyss, by Peter J. Kreeft**

Catholic philosopher professor looks at the philosophical shortcomings of today's secular society and the way they counteract our ability to live freely and fully in God's love.

Why I picked it up: I recently learned that Ignatius Press has a free app and you get access to one ebook, audiobook, and movie a month - at least, that's my understanding.

Why I put it down: I could have pushed through to the end, but I wasn't really enjoying this one - so why make myself finish it? I think there's a lot of Kreeft's work that I could appreciate in future, but this one wasn't doing it for me right now, and that's okay.

September Book Bracket 2025

 Book Bracket September 2025

Looking at the books this month, I feel that I didn't have a great four weeks of reading. Yes, I got through 10 books in October, a month that I feel historically has fewer rather than more titles completed depending on the year. However, I can't look back on most of the books this month and consider many of them excellent reads. I think this is the result of trying to make the most of the free titles on Audible and attempting to finish off a few more slots on a last reading challenge for the year. There were one or two books that were good, though, and I'm happy to share about those.

Louis and Zelie: The Holy Parents of Saint Therese, by GinaMarie Tennant

This children's chapter book describes the lives of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux.

Why I picked it up: I've been meaning to read this since we received it as a wedding gift from a cousin, but hadn't gotten around to it until a summer reading challenge pushed me to finally read it.

My impressions: This is a great book for anyone, child or adult, to pick up to learn about the lives of these saints. It covers their lives, from moments in their childhood, through their meeting, marriage, and raising a family together - all the way to their deaths. The writing is straightforward but includes events that were important in their lives. I knew many of the stories from reading some of their letters and books like A Family of Saints, but it was nice to not have to try to piece things together from what was described in letters, which sometimes provide a fragmented picture of what happened. It is a sweet book, and though several hundred pages, not too difficult of a read for kids. I'd recommend it to those who want a thorough introduction to the lives of these saints.

Lad: A Dog, by Albert Payson Terhune; narrated by John McDonough**

A collection of stories about a purebred collie named Lad.

Why I picked it up: I recognized the author as the one who wrote The Heart of a Dog, and thought it would be fun to try on Audible.

My impressions: I was shocked to learn these were stories about a dog that had actually lived; perhaps there was some stretching, since Lad ended up sounding like super-dog throughout, but they are fun. I think these could be enjoyed by a whole family, and they have the wholesomeness of Lady and the Tramp and other animal stories like it. 

Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars, by Nathalia Holt

This history book describes the accomplishments of the female coding mathematicians and engineers of Pasadena who helped form and forward the United States' space program.

Why I picked it up: I think I might have heard somewhere that my great grandmother, a resident of California, may have worked with rockets. I needed a book on American history to read for a summer reading challenge, and figured this one - which was on my to-read list - would be worth a try.

My impressions: For a book about rocket science, this work was much easier to read than I anticipated. It's a hefty book, of almost 300 pages, but it moved at a pretty good rate. It was interesting to see how rocketry developed, starting in the '50s in the U.S., and seeing how they could get chunks of metal into space by calculating the math by hand. Just crazy! It was also eye-opening to consider how often things went wrong with launches. I guess that, when you make only so many of a certain kind of highly specialized vehicle, there's a lot more opportunity to get things wrong since there's fewer chances to test them. Some parts were a bit slower than others, but I appreciated that mathematical patterns and scientific phenomena were often described with incredible ease. It was cool to see how a group of women formed a tight community in a time and place where women in the workplace just weren't supported like they are today, but I was saddened to read about the divorces some women experienced. There was a description of a coworkers' office with scandalous photos in it, but nothing explicit. There was also a short but positive blurb about the "benefits" of birth control that I certainly disagree with. There was certainly a feminist lens applied in this work, but it wasn't heavy-handed; at least, I recognized it, but it didn't irritate me. This could be a good book for readers interested in learning about this specific party of space exploration history, but it wouldn't hurt to skip over paragraphs here and there. I'd say this is a good book for mature readers, but some high school students might tackle this one, minus those paragraphs here and there, just fine.

Light and Peace: Instructions for Devout Souls to Dispel Their Doubts and Allay Their Fears, by R. P. Quadrupani

This spiritual classic is a practical guidebook for those Catholics who lean more towards scrupulosity.

Why I picked it up: This is a book that came from my younger sister's collection and it looked like it would be a good one for me to read. 

My impressions: This book is probably joining my lineup of books that I'll reread for my morning meditation time, or my spiritual reading in general. This book hits all the right notes, and even though it pulls extensively from St. Francis de Sales, it works. It's like getting a little primer on everything St. Francis de Sales wrote that is applicable to this subject. Maybe it doesn't have everything he wrote, but I feel it sets me up for my next spiritual read, which is, in fact, going to be St. Francis de Sales! I recommend this book to Catholics who struggle with scrupulosity, but it might also be helpful to discuss this work with a spiritual director.

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond**

An anthropologist provides his theory on why some peoples were able to dominate others during the course of human history.

Why I picked it up: I first saw this book while I worked in a university bookstore, and it looked interesting. I saw it was available as a free selection on Audible and decided to give it a try. It won a Pulitzer in nonfiction.

My impressions: As a theory on why some peoples grew into civilizations that were later able to influence and dominate others, it does have the feeling of being a theory. While I think the author is right in some aspects, I think it's hard to say his take on civilization and the development of history takes all factors into account. There were some parts that discussed how people domesticated foods and animals, and that part was the most interesting to me - not surprising, really, considering how interesting I found Lost Feast and books about extinct animals. I can't say I'd recommend this book, but I wouldn't warn against reading it, either. It would probably be most appropriate for adults to read, although I'm sure high schoolers could handle it reasonably well. There might be some ideas that could be useful for world-building if one leans in authorial directions.

At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe, by Tsh Oxenreider*

A wanderlust-filled wife and mother of three writes about their nine months spent traveling the globe.

Why I picked it up: I'd heard of this before, and even marked this book for my "to-read" list on my library's ebook system. It was a corner spot on my last reading challenge, so I figured I could squeeze it in to get one last bingo or two.

My impressions: Travel narratives are not my thing - this book has helped me realize that - but this one seemed pretty good. It was cool to read about a whole family traveling, and seeing how that influenced their experience. It was really neat to learn about how different places can be. It sounds silly to say that, but I take for granted the exotic locations people live in because I hear names all the time or see movies filmed in those crazy, beautiful, amazing places. It gives me some ideas for where to look for inspiration in worldbuilding, if I ever do get around to writing that fantasy adventure. I would be very uncomfortable traveling the globe, but this book provides a good window into the lives of people who are magnetically attracted to roaming through places that require you to have a passport. I think this book would be fine for high schoolers and older to read, but there are a few very brief comments about more adult topics (for example, descriptions of billboards in one country discouraging inter-generational sex) and some grappling with issues of faith (not doubting God's existence, just trying to deal with life's difficulties).

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu; read by Aidan Gillen**

A classic on...how to war.

Why I picked it up: I've been curious about this work just from a general "If I were to write a battle scene, this would probably be a good book" perspective. It was free to listen to through Audible.

My impressions: This wasn't groundbreaking, and some of the information seemed common-sense or familiar from reading battle-featuring books like the Redwall series, but it has some good qualities. It is short, too the point, and considers many aspects of battling a foe, from the treatment and discipline of soldiers, spies, the lay of the land, and deceptive tactics. This work doesn't come with a Christian background, so some of its morals don't play well with Christian sensibilities - war is one of the worst things in the world, so doing it well...well, I leave it to other readers. I could see myself revisiting this work sometime, but not anytime soon, and not for mere enjoyment. High schoolers, and even middle schoolers, and above could read this.

Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World, by Maryanne Wolf

A research scientist of reading and the brain presents her thoughts on the impact digital reading has on the brain, and what we could and should strive for going forward.

Why I picked it up: This is a continuation of my professional interest in the impact of screens on children's language and other abilities. I started reading this on a self-guided professional development day.

My impressions: There is some good information here, but the writing style wasn't for me, and the book felt guided more by the author's opinions, at times, than research. Specifically, her views on what we should try to establish going forward definitely have the feel of, "I think this is how it's going to play out, so we should take [x] steps now." The author draws from plenty of research - that's true - but some sources are not cited in such a way as to make it easy to track them down. Her writing style is very allusive to literature and bears the marks of someone whose writing style has been influenced by those great authors. Wolf is clearly well-read, but I felt her more difficult prose style makes the book a little less accessible to those who want to learn about this topic. I was surprised by her opinion that we should try to develop strong tracks in the brain for both physical and digital texts, with kids learning which texts are betting for which form of delivery. On the one hand, if her ideas here are right, I think we can just tweak some things with our current culture and basically be there - I feel like I have a good grasp for both forms of reading, and that came with a slow- to moderately-paced introduction to technology as I grew. On the other, I don't know that her anticipation of this dual-reading model, with an encouragement of digital reading to a degree, is something that will benefit all kids who are becoming readers these days or has research to back it up. I suppose that she, a reading researcher, probably ought to know out of anyone. I guess I'm pretty set in my anti-digital, non-screen mentality. To that point, I'll try to look up one study which she referenced as showing that some kids are just naturally better at reading and prefer print, and some are just naturally better at reading digitally, and prefer it. This book would be something an adult would read, but it's not my recommendation if you want to get a good sense of what's going on in the screen-versus-print debate. On the other hand, it references at least one study that shows digital media could be a better avenue for some struggling readers, and it's the first pro-digital research I've come across in my reading. My apologies for the lengthy review.

Dragon Masters: Rise of the Earth Dragon, by Tracey West

Book one of a fantasy series for some of the earliest readers that centers on Drake being whisked away to the king's castle to discover he's a dragon master, someone who has a connection to a dragon.

Why I picked it up: My nephew sent me home with it. He is so good about talking to me about whatever books he's reading and enjoying that, with this being such a short book, I felt I should read it for him.

My impressions: If you want a child to get an early taste for fantasy, this could be a good option. This first book, at least, was very gentle, while still having some hallmark elements of a fantasy story. It is a very simple tale, but makes sense, considering the audience, and sets up nicely for a book to follow (many have followed, in fact!). It's not a book I'd recommend to read to adults or upper elementary, but it could be a good story for someone who's not an advanced reader yet.

Books Children Love: A Guide to the Best Children's Literature, by Elizabeth Laraway Wilson

This reference book was made for Christian homeschooling parents who are interested in teaching their children in large part through reading, inspired by the model put for by Charlotte Mason.

Why I picked it up: This book ended up on my to-read list, and I stumbled across it at a massive weekly library sale when in Nebraska.

My impressions: I read the original version, from the 80's, rather than the 2002 revised edition, so some recommendations felt dated, but I still finished with at least a dozen books or authors to add to my to-read list. I skipped or skimmed some sections that weren't as relevant to me, but was intrigued to find which books were recommended, and why. If this book were to be written today, I'm curious about what changes would be in it, but I suspect the biographies would look much different, as many are out of print. I sensed a Protestant Christian rather than Catholic Christian viewpoint, so it seemed like famous figures that are more familiar to Protestants were present in place of saints that would sound more familiar to Catholics. I also thought that some of the books recommended were not the best representative work of the author - for example, one by Rosemary Sutcliff that I'd never heard of was mentioned several times, and there was no mention of The Eagle of the Ninth, which has been turned into a movie. Likewise, I noticed The Princess and the Goblin wasn't the MacDonald work recommended highest - rather, The Princess and Curdie was mentioned, as was, I believe, At the Back of the North Wind, neither of which I find as good as the former work, even with Curdie being a solid sequel. I was glad to get the chance to go through this. However, rather than recommending this book, I'd recommend the more recent version (in spite of that one's 20+ year age, it is at least newer than the original).

Bracket Play

It actually was a little tricky to figure out the first round placements, as there were few books that I really enjoyed this time around. In the offset section, the glowing book about the collie lad lost to Quadrupani's spiritual work, although Lad could have definitely earned a spot in the second round elsewhere. The remaining round one winners easily beat their opponents, as did the round two winners, although Louis and Zelie was far different from the reference book Books Children Love. In the final round, it was the spiritual work for anxious souls that faced the children's chapter book about saints. As much as I enjoyed the throwback feeling that I had when reading saint stories as a kid for summer ice cream treats, I gave the win to Light and Peace because it definitely had some of the feel that Fr. Jacques Philippe's Searching for and Maintaining Peace has. I have already made plans to offer to loan it to a friend, and I imagine I will return to it someday myself.

Books Attempted and Put Down

Echo North, by Joanna Ruth Meyer, read by Elizabeth Evans**

A fairy-tale in which a girl with a scarred face leaves the cruelty of her stepmother and agrees to live a year with a mysterious white wolf in exchange for saving her father's life.

Why I picked it up: This book hit my to-read list at some point. It was available for free through the Audible subscription.

Why I put it down: This book was heading in the direction of a YA romance and I was not on board with that. Nothing inappropriate at the time of reading; just definitely not looking for that right now.

The Lifegiving Parent: Giving Your child a Life Worth Living for Christ, by Clay & Sally Clarkson, read by James Anderson Foster and Ann Richardson**

Christian father of four remarkably creative kids, who has lived a lot of life in his marriage and in ministry, reflects on practices to make Christian homes places where God is truly present.

Why I picked it up: Free on Audible; generally like or am okay with Clarkson content; why not?

Why I put it down: I just wasn't feeling it. I didn't feel like listening to this book just to check it off and not really get anything from it - at least, not at this point in my life. I might come back to it later, but it just wasn't for me right now.

Miss Buncle's Book, by D. E. Stevenson*

Dowdy Miss Buncle writes pseudonymously about her neighbors and becomes the subject of great fame abroad and great ire locally.

Why I picked it up: I was looking for a beach-read-type book to help complete a bingo for a summer reading challenge. This one sounded promising and was recommended by a friend.

My impressions: Man, I was really enjoying this book! And then I started reading something into one aspect of the book and it basically ruined the read for me. I couldn't recapture the charmed feeling I had toward it and keep enjoying it. Maybe I can come back to it someday (hopefully after forgetting what bothered me initially), but it was one I had to put down for now.

Persuasion, by Jane Austen

Jane's last completed novel, about Anne, a woman who followed a friend's advice to end her engagement to a sailor with uncertain future, and her experiences of finding him back in her neighborhood years later.

Why I picked it up: This one was for a book club.

Why I put it down: One reason was that I've read it before, and as much as I've enjoyed it in the past, I have plenty of other books waiting to be read. There was another reason, but I won't get into it here.