Book Bracket for May 2026
I didn't intend to be sick with strep throat almost as soon as summer started, but it meant that I had a lot more time and patience to devote to reading. I was able to enjoy a variety of genres this month.
The Borrowers, by Mary Norton
Pint-sized Arrietty and her doll-sized parents "borrow" items from the humans who dwell in the big Victorian house, but when a boy sees Arrietty and her father, the two youngsters strike up a friendship that brings turmoil to their quiet existence.
Why I picked it up: This was another book in my "antilibrary" and I needed my next book.
My impressions: I'd written off this book for a long time, but I'm glad that I tried it! I was drawn in during the very first chapter, and though there wasn't a lot of action, I found that I was invested in familial conflict, which consisted of Arrietty's desires for freedom and adventure clashing with her parents' wider knowledge of the dangers of the world and their desire to keep their home. I thought the writing was good, but it's a subtle sort of good writing. The line illustrations aided the imagination when it came to picturing the characters. I think this book could be a good read-aloud. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I found it charming and will probably tell a family member about it soon.
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child, by Anthony Esolen
A cultural commentator satirically describes the best ways to stunt the imagination of children so as to make them materialistic automaton pawns who will submit to whatever the government and the economy demand.
Why I picked it up: I don't remember why this one ended up on my to-read list, but it had been there for a while. I saw it sitting on the shelf of a priest friend, and he generously loaned it to me. I've been reading it slowly for three months.
My impressions: Oh yeah, I'm glad I read this book! It brought together several different hot-take soapboxes that I've encountered and laid out so many things that are wrong with our culture. I did skip about one and a half chapters - about cheapening love so it's all about sex, and denying any difference between men and women - and I'm alright with that. I think this book hit the spot for me because it touched on some deficiencies I've seen in myself. I fault no one, but our society doesn't really help kids learn what they are really interested in. Several of my interests haven't blossomed until I became and adult, and even now, I'm wishing I'd pursued some things more when I was younger - if only I had known! But all shall be well. This is the most palatable satire I've encountered, and it helped to know that it was a work of satire before beginning it. This book would be good for parents and teachers who want to consider what they can do at home to help their children flourish, although I would warn there are a few comments here and there - and those two chapters - which would probably not be suitable for youths.
Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers, by Ralph Moody**, narrated by Cameron Beierle**
Ralph Moody and his family move from Massachusetts to Colorado, where they live poor in money but rich in neighbors, ranching, and homesteading experience.
Why I picked it up: This has been on my to-read list, having been recommended in multiple places. I was looking for a wholesome audiobook, and this one was available through my state's e-library.
My impressions: Other than cuss words and different characters using the Lord's name in vain, this was indeed a wholesome book - part Laura Ingalls Wilder feel, part Wild West adventure feel. I loved the character shaping that Ralph experienced through the discipline and love of his father. It was uncomfortable at times, but I grew to love Ralphs' father. The narration was very good in this book, and helped create a picture of Ralph's dad as a soft-spoken but no-nonsense man. I was glad I had a hint about the ending, which I'll say is sad, but it is so powerful too. Minus the language, this would be a great book for youngsters who like the Little House books, or could use more boy-adventure-shenanigans in their reading lineup.
How to Get Away with Myrtle, by Elizabeth C. Bunce, narrated by Bethan Rose Young**
The second book in the Myrtle Hardcastle mystery serious follows the irrepressible "young lady of quality" Myrtle, as she is forced into a seaside holiday with her governess to get her away from the morbid drama of the murder she solved - only to find herself mixed up in another murder mystery.
Why I picked it up: It's pretty dead for me at work and I wanted another audiobook to listen to. I'd enjoyed the first book in this series, and was interested in trying this second one, available through my state's e-library.
My impressions: I think "irrepressible" Victorian young ladies with spunk must hit some secret spot in my reading heart. The first-person narrator voice of the main character is delicious, and it's fun to experience her personality as much through her inner thoughts as through her - often ill-timed - outbursts and conversation. The other characters are also well-developed and well-described. Even the cat, who offers catlike one-word contributions to the discussion, is charming. The audiobook version was beautifully narrated. There was just one point in the book where it got a little dark for me, but that may have been as much a lack of sleep and its resulting sensibility as anything. However, I must note that, as this is a murder mystery, more sensitive children might not find this book to be the perfect fit for them. Myrtle and her governess exhibit an admirable sense of justice in their desire to hunt down the criminal, but they don't always do things aboveboard, such as when they withhold evidence from the dislikable but rightful authorities. There is also a comment that indicates a character kept something for personal use at the end that ought to have been returned along with other items which were originally offered as a bribe. This book would be fun for those who enjoyed the first book - and it really ought to be read only after the first one - otherwise some characters won't make as much sense. Middle schoolers and older who can handle some descriptions of murder scenes and insinuated long-term poisoning and who want to enjoy a murder mystery should look into this series.
Wild Trek, by Jim Kjelgaard
The trapper, Link, and his half-husky, half-wild dog Chiri brave virgin wilderness and animals that do not fear man to save a pair of men who were stranded when their plane crashed in the Caribou mountains.
Why I picked it up: My dad was always a fan of books by this author, and I saw it sitting on my parents' bookshelves. It had been a while since I'd read a book about a "remarkable animal" (although I listened to one, Lad, last year). I also felt like I should get to this one, which has been hanging out at my house for several months, before I got back to working on reading through my "anti-library."
My impressions: I expected more of this book to be focused on the dog than it actually was, but that did not weaken the story. It was, I found out, a survival tale, and I love me a good survival story. The characters' personalities were evident in both their speech and in the thoughts revealed to the reader, but one character spent a little too long theorizing what helped man become the dominant being on earth. There was a lot of action, a lot of wilderness how-to, and a lot of danger. There is some death in this book, and the characters are reduced to pretty dire circumstances (eating raw meat at times), so more sensitive kids might not find a good fit in this book. Middle grade readers and older who like adventure and wilderness living might consider reading this book.
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, by Gregory Boyle**
A Jesuit priest relates stories and reflections from his ministry to "homeboy" and "homegirl" gang members in a dangerous L.A. neighborhood and in the incarceration system.
Why I picked it up: Way back in the day, this book was the subject of much discussion at my alma mater - maybe when I was a freshman. I wasn't in the honors program, so even though I think the author came and spoke at my little university in the middle of the Great Plains, I didn't read this book or go to the talk. However, something drew me to it recently, and I found it in my local library system's online audiobook collection.
My impression: There's a lot that I really liked about this book, and I feel like that's saying a lot, since it included heavy topics, violence, and the death of many young people. I really didn't feel as if the "homies" were "other" - I loved them along with Fr. Boyle, or "G," as he was often called. The author helps us encounter some really tough customers and see them with the eyes of love. His Jesuit heart really came through here. There were a few things that raised my eyebrows, including an assessment of the issues Jesus would have with both political parties (I'm not saying he's wrong, just not sure I'd reach the same conclusion - or maybe I'm just feeling called out), and quoting all sorts of people and writings, Catholics as well as Buddhists and Nietzsche. Maybe he was trying to show that we can find God's Truth reflected in unexpected places? In any case, there were some amazing stories of the ministry he runs and the people who he has come to know. This is a great nonfiction work and does so much to humanize people who join gangs, but there might be a few elements that readers could find a bit off-putting.
Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull
Kendra and younger brother Seth find out their reclusive grandparents are secretly the guardians of a preserve in which mythical, magical creatures of all kinds live - but disobeying the rules in a magical place can have deadly consequences.
Why I picked it up: This book has been on my to-read list for a while - I think one of my cousins said he loved this series. I finally got a copy from the library when one of my small book clubs' members agreed that this would be our next read.
My impressions: Like later works, such as Impossible Creatures, this fantasy action tale brings together a wide variety of mythological creatures and explores the ways that the human world (mostly doesn't) mix with a magical one. There are definitely two sides, one good and one evil, and some good world building for how even familiar fairy tale creatures act in this specific world. There are some good deep discussions between some characters, an exploration of the consequences of disobedience, and some realistic sibling interactions, including teasing and disagreements. There were also a few pages I skipped because they were too creepy for me - a grown woman. Although the story was engaging - especially when the ante increases around the halfway mark - there were a few things that didn't quite work for me in a moral sense. For example, it's pretty obvious that a character is evil and shouldn't be messed with, and yet the "good guys" go to her multiple times to undo to magic mischief that's been done. I feel like that was sending a little bit of a mixed message. There was also a comment one character made about not finding any religion that contains all the truth - about mythical creatures, presumably, but there are some negative implications about religion there. Finally, there is mention of demons, and mythical creatures being at best "helpful when it serves them" (if I remember correctly), but no mention of Christianity or truly selfless magical creatures. A cursory look at online review seems to indicate parents like that there's clear good vs. evil messaging in this book, but I find the above elements to be problematic. Also weird: formerly beautiful fairies, transformed into ugly imps (no sex indicated) are cured by being kissed on the mouth by fairies. This isn't a bad book and doesn't have the worst good vs. evil action, but I have found some fantasy books to be better in areas where this one doesn't quite reach the standard for me. This book would be best for middle school students.
The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ, by Brant Pitre
A Biblical scholar and professor describes modern errors in Bible scholarship and explains the good historical evidence for the Gospels being historical ancient biographies by eyewitnesses or their close associates, as well as the context of first-century Judaism that shows Jesus' clear claims to divinity and lordship.
Why I picked it up: This book was sitting on our shelves and I needed a break from a good but heavy book. I liked the other books by this author that I'd read before.
My impressions: This is a great book of Scriptural apologetics. Pitre presents the arguments or thoughts of Biblical scholars who have different theories that downplay the authenticity of the Gospel accounts, or deny that Jesus claimed to be God, etc. He systematically walks the reader through the evidence that these faulty theories - often disturbing to Christians - ignore. This book was at a good level for me - readable, but thorough, and ultimately leading me to ask in awe, "Who is Jesus?" This is a great book for any Christian adult serious about their faith to read. It counteracts so many false claims that come up from time to time and can prepare one to explain the reasons for his or her faith.
The Horse and His Boy, by C. S. Lewis
Shasta and the Talking Horse Bree flee slavery in Calormen for the free country of Narnia, but they and their companions find themselves racing cruel invaders who threaten to destroy the small nation of Archenland.
Why I picked it up: This is the next Chronicles of Narnia book I'm reading in my cousin group.
My impressions: This is my favorite book in the series. I know I often tell myself it's tied with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but right now, it's the best. Maybe the sense of divine providence that pervades the book appeals to me. The story is just such a grand adventure. I love it! There are many great themes explored during the story, and several characters provide great studies for pride. I've read that some people find the depiction of the Calormene people to be a problematic and racist depiction of Islamic culture and Muslim people, so that is something parents might want to be aware of. However, it's not something I ever picked up on when I was reading this in middle school. This would be a great book for anyone who enjoys the Chronicles of Narnia series - they won't want to miss this one!
Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates*
Peter shares a special bond with the black ewe, Biddy, who grows from a near-lifeless lamb to the leader of the farm flock.
Why I picked it up: This book has been on my to-read list for ages, and it was never available to me locally. I used some of the remainder of a gift card I got from some Facebook class-action lawsuit thing to purchase an e-book version of this story. I needed something milder than Siberian work camps and French Revolution guillotining late one evening when I was sick, so this looked like a good option.
My impressions: This is yet another beguiling book with little plot that is so cozy that it captures my heart. It's just a description of life on a mountainous farm where sheep are the main source of income, and it describes the little trials and growing-up incidents that happen as a lad ages from youth to somewhere around middle-school age. I learned several things about sheep husbandry I hadn't known before, and just thoroughly enjoyed this quick little read. This would be a great book to read aloud (I've heard), but good for young elementary readers and older - especially those who might lean more towards the James Herriot style of animal story.
No Bullet Got Me Yet: The Relentless Faith of Father Kapaun, by John Stansifer**
This biography of Father Kapaun covers his whole life, as well as the identification of his body and return to the Diocese of Wichita.
Why I picked it up: I first became aware of this book when I saw it sitting in a Barnes & Noble. About a year and a half later, I decided I needed an audiobook to listen to, and this was available through my local library system's e-library.
My impressions: I'm glad I revisited the story of Father Kapaun. Some of the accounts sounded familiar, as I'd probably read them in another biography about Venerable Father Kapaun, but they remain powerful. The saints truly are inspiring. There is a lot of information about moving battlefronts during the Korean War, so I sometimes wouldn't quite catch everything if I was working on other projects, but it was easy to follow otherwise. I liked hearing the actual words he wrote in letters, and his steady communication with his bishop touched me. It's so interesting hearing about events that happened in my part of the world, as well as in faraway places to someone else from Kansas. In fact, the end of the book covered events that I remembered and participated in myself - the identification of his body, and the funeral service when he was returned to Kansas. The one thing that I have mixed emotions on is, I don't think my pronunciation of Fr. Kapaun's name is changing, but the audiobook definitely has his name pronounced the other way. This is a great book for any high schooler or older interested in learning more about Father Kapaun, or wanting to refresh themselves on the details of his life.
The Wheel on the School, by Meindert DeJong
Dutch school children consider why storks don't nest in their town like they do in others nearby, and with help from their teacher and older members of their small community, work to do something about it.
Why I picked it up: This book had been on my to-read list for forever, and I found it available at my alma mater. I know I should be working on my anti-library, but it's nice to cross items off the to-read list, too!
My impressions: I think the writing in this book was pretty good (it is a Newbery Award winner), and several phrases struck me, but it is a slower-moving work without a lot of action. There were a few parts that were more exciting, but it is a pretty slow-paced book. I think what I liked best was seeing the children interact with older members of their communities and see those bonds bring healing and purpose to some who otherwise were lost or lonely. It was a good book for showing how humans can interact positively with nature and how children can take initiative to make things happen. I wouldn't recommend this book - it's not bad - in fact, it enjoys multiple good points - it's just not one that I think everyone needs to make time to read.
A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park, narrated by David Baker and Cynthia Bishop**
A split narrative follows Salva in 1980's Sudan as he endures incredible hardships to escape war and survive refugee camps, and modern-day Nya, who must walk 8 hours every day to collect water for her family.
Why I picked it up: This book was recommended on a list at some point. I obtained a physical copy from a library sale at one point, but as it is part of my anti-library, I needed to work on that pile. This one happened to be available as an audiobook through my local system's e-library, so that's how I'm making it through this one.
My impressions: I'd avoided this one for a while because I was afraid the main character would experience the horrors of being made a child soldier; while he endured a great many shocks that no one should undergo, my original fear was not realized. The split narrative, switching back and forth between two characters who lived in different times, was an interesting storytelling device that worked for this book, although it's not a style I'll seek out. It certainly is a book for making one aware of the hardships that exist in the world, and how many opportunities open up when you're not fetching water for half of your waking hours. I liked how the author showed how Salva's experiences in his youth, as well as his desire to solve problems, led to a meaningful (and life-changing) project for him to work on. This could be a good book to consider reading to make big issues like war and clean water more human and accessible to children. Due to some very sad parts, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under middle school, and even then, this book probably would not be a good match for some more sensitive readers.
Bracket Play
First round: as always, I placed as many weak books against strong books as I could. However, I read quite a few very good books this month, so I was sad to see Tattoos on the Heart didn't make it to the next round. I opted for The Case for Jesus to win over it, since this second book is a very good and well-researched work that explains the faults in some suspect Bible scholarship in the last half century or so.
In the second round, I saw quite a few works go down that I had really enjoyed reading. For example, there was much to love in Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child, but there were a few sections that I found worth skimming, and it just didn't have the excitement of Lewis' The Horse and His Boy. Pitre's book, which had won last round, fell to the Father Kapaun biography, which had a lot of personal interest for me (I'm not saying that knowing that the Gospels have good historical basis isn't personally interesting - it is). In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, Pitre's book could just as easily have won this showdown. It just goes to show how good the books were overall this month. I was also uncertain on the last showdown - the murder mystery almost took the win, but I opted for Mountain Born because it felt like something that might be more universally appealing.
Lewis' work won over the Fr. Kapaun biography, and it also went on to win against Mountain Born. The Horse and His Boy is my favorite of the Chronicles of Narnia series, and it's a strong book in so many ways. It is extremely enjoyable and rereadable. I highly recommend it.
Books Attempted and Put Down
Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling, by John Taylor Gatto, narrated by ?**
The author of Dumbing Us Down discusses the questionable ideologies that have shaped compulsory schooling in the United States from its inception, as well as the disservice it does to the students who spent twelve or more years in the educational system.
Why I picked it up: Dumbing Us Down had the hottest hot takes on education I've ever heard. I knew I needed to try this next book by the same author.
Why I put it down: Turns out I didn't know what I needed to try. I started this one, but I was bothered by the fact that the author held up as a positive example someone who I certainly would not hold up as a role model. I could have kept listening, but I didn't feel the need to give more time to the book. Perhaps some of the takes are too hot for me (me, a person who works in the compulsory school system he decries). I agree there are problems with education, but I'm not ready to leave my job over it.
Handbook for Dragon Slayers, by Merrie Haskell*
Tilda runs into political intrigue and adventure in a world that is part-Medieval and part-fantasy.
Why I picked it up: It was on my to-read list, but I'm not sure how it got there. It was a relatively recent addition.
Why I put it down: It sounded like there was going to be a bit of a romantic story line, so, considering my current sensitivity, it made sense to put it down. I think it would have been an interesting read, so I wouldn't be upset if I came back around to it someday.
Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrated by Mirron Willis**
Elijah must leave his town of freed slaves in Canada to recover his friend's stolen money.
Why I picked it up: I think this was on a recommended list somewhere, and I found it at a local library's store. However, I was attempting it in audiobook format.
Why I put it down: I just wasn't digging it. I think the author has a lot of flavor - like explaining how the townspeople had tendencies to exaggerate in their storytelling, etc. - but it was taking far too long for the story to happen, and I just didn't think the payoff would be worth it. There was also a lot of time spent talking about a baby spitting up on someone - the story was exaggerated, of course - but more bodily humor like that isn't necessarily my thing.
