The Other Side of Dawn by John Maarsden is the seventh book of the Tomorrow series which I reviewed for another website. It's probably not worth your time. (library copy)
Cast Two Shadows: The American Revolution in the South by Ann Rinaldi is the story of a fourteen year old girl on a South Carolina plantation during the Revolutionary War. Exploring issues of war, loyalty, family, slavery, and identity, this book would be a good addition to a history study. The audience was too old for me to read it aloud to my kids (11, 8, 6, and 4). I think a mature 11 year old could read it (one who already knows how babies come to be), but I don't think my son is mature enough to appreciate the themes of the book so I put it aside. Perhaps one or more of them would be ready the next time we cycle around to the Revolutionary War. (library copy)
Not God's Type: An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms by Holly Ordway - my review. (library copy)
Men and Women Are From Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II's Theology of the Body by Mary Healy was the book for our parish adult education class. It's a very simple introduction to theology of the body and appropriate for class discussions, but I didn't find it challenging myself. If you are interested in theology of the body, I'd recommend These Beautiful Bones. (copy borrowed from the parish)
Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting by Mother Mary Francis provided daily readings for Advent. There were just a few pages for each day drawn from her talks to her convent over the years. Though directed at cloistered nuns, I found much of the exhortations to be perfectly adapted to a mother of active young children. (received as a gift)
Books in Progress (and date started)
- Open Mind, Faithful Heart by Pope Francis (January 2014)
- The Education Of Catholic Girls by Janet Erskine Stuart (February 2014)
- Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
- The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home by David Clayton and Leila Marie Lawler (September 2014)
- The Bible Compass: A Catholic's Guide to Navigating the Scriptures by Edward Sri (September 2014)
- The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children by Sofia Cavaletti (September 2014, with a book club at our parish)
- Good Poems ed by Garrison Keillor (October 2014)
- The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis (November 2014, for Blogging for Books)
