My granddaughter LOVES books. It’s great, cuz her grandma does, too. At 16 months, she’s expanded her attention span and her interest to include picture books. We still do a lot of board books and this list of our favorites has some of both.

Books for toddlers have to please two audiences.  The child and the adult.  It’s a tall order, because the child wants his favorites read over and over and over again.  The book has to have enough delight for the adult to repeat it over and over and over again. 

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, a percentage of your purchase will support this site.)

Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day

A book with virtually no words, this one is perfect for a toddler to read to themself.

In real life, it’s horrifying to think of a mother going out shopping and leaving the dog to babysit. In spite of the realistic pictures, let’s put this story in the realm of fantasy and leave it there.

Good night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

Another book with virtually no words, but the progression of the story takes a bit of mental gymnastics.

Perfect for toddlers as well as preschoolers.

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Even before the toddler can follow the storyline, the beautifully drawn animals in the story will entice.

This one was gifted by a dear friend when my kids were little and became a favorite at our house.

First 100 Words by Priddy Baby

One of the best benefits of early reading is vocabulary building.

Toddlers are little sponges soaking up words without trying. This book intentionally focuses on that skill.

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

One of my personal favorites. Loved reading it to my kids and now my grandkids.

Can you get any more visceral than a search for your own mother? Beautiful rendition of one of our heart’s deepest longings.

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins

This book is all about auditory delight with rhythm and rhyme, although who can resist millions of monkeys?

Hello, Ninja by N. D. Wilson

A brand new favorite that my grand daughter requests over and over.

Somehow, N. D. Wilson was able to write a simple story without a sing-songy rhymes or moralizing.

Simply delightful.

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman

Beautiful illustrations, simple story.

And, of course, who can resist whimsical animals?

The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood

Repetitive story line. Beautiful illustrations.

A mood building book that leaves you feeling happy.

Noah’s Ark by Peter Spier

The pictures tell the story in this modern classic. The detail in the illustrations are incredible.

Great for all ages. Plus food for thought: what was it really like on that ark?

Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry

You would think that a book that’s been around for 50 years would have a lot of obsolete words.

Surprisingly, not that much has changed in the past 5 decades. Scarry’s art work is sure to please.

A Child’s First Bible by Kenneth Taylor

Even though there are more popular Bible Story Books out there, this is my top pick.

I prefer the realistic pictures. But the critical element for me is the faithfulness to the biblical text. Some books take liberties with the stories that don’t remain faithful to the Bible.

If you need recommendations of books for younger babies, check out my post One Book a Month for Baby’s First Year.

What books would you add to these lists?

When we first moved to Mexico, our toddler son was social and verbal— in English.  One Sunday morning when he was close to two we visited a church in our city.  

Will was put in a Sunday School class of kids his age.  I hung around to make sure he was okay.  

I saw my blond-haired, blue eyed Anglo son surrounded by dark skinned, dark haired, dark eyed kids.  As I watched, the whole group drifted away from Will, till he was sitting and playing alone.

This was a social kid.  This was a verbal kid.  But he was out of the circle. 

I would have been heart-broken for him, but he was completely unfazed and oblivious to the drifting away, which was in no way malicious.   

The cold hard fact was that he didn’t fit in. He didn’t know Spanish yet.  He didn’t know the games yet.  He didn’t know the social rules and norms.   

As the years passed and he learned Spanish, he earned a place in the middle of the crowd, regardless of his appearance.  

Most global nomads can relate to the experience of not fitting in to a group. 

Living as a foreigner in another country, it’s almost expected that you won’t fit in. But when it happens in your passport country, sometimes you can be blindsided.   

When we live in foreigners in another culture, on many levels, we live on the fringes of that culture. 

When we were in Mexico, we operated somewhat outside of the Mexican economic system, because we received foreign funds. 

We operated outside of the educational system, because our kids went to a school for ex-pats. 

We operated outside of the political system, because we couldn’t vote or get involved in politics. 

As evangelicals, we operated outside of the prevailing religious system in country full of not just Catholics, but Guadalupanos. The adoration of the Virgin of Guadalupe permeated the culture. 

Even though we lived largely outside those systems, they still influenced our lives.  

We celebrated Mexican Independence Day with friends and neighbors.  

Fluctuations of the exchange rate affected our buying power. 

We kept our kids home from the Mexican pre-school on the Day of the Dead. 

Political demonstrations that blocked streets kept us from going where we wanted to go.  

In our home, we created our own culture that reflected not only what we were surrounded with, but the values, attitudes and beliefs we brought with us. 

At church, we also influenced the creation of culture in our role as leaders. 

In returning to our passport country we have integrated back into culture in some aspects.

In other ways we haven’t. 

We can vote. 

Our income is solely in dollars that are generated locally. 

But, we send our kids to Christian schools. 

We speak Spanish at church.  

As evangelicals, we watch the predominate culture become more secularlized. 

In our home, we create our own culture that reflects not only what we are surrounded with, but the values, attitudes and beliefs that we internalized while living in Mexico. 

At church, we influence the creation of culture in our role as leaders.  

A hermit chooses to essentially live outside of culture. 

A family on a self-contained farm can also be that way, or they can choose to engage the culture.  

Subcultures also exist.  A church can form a community that is counter cultural.  

The Amish live in a subculture that is on the fringe of mainstream culture.

Foreigners living in another country find a natural affinity to other foreigners and can form a community of ex-pats that create a subculture. 

A military base that includes houses, offices, schools and shops would be an example.  Or a missionary compound.  

Or a group of foreigners who establish a school for their children based on their home country’s norms.  

Our God-given drive for belonging, community and connection is affected by the culture that we live in and the subcultures that we choose to associate with. 

Why does is matter if we’re fully immersed in culture or just dipping our toes in? 

For a couple of reasons. 

First of all, for self-awareness.  A fish swimming in water doesn’t understand water.  Without stopping to pay attention to the culture we operate in, we are unaware of the influence in has on us. 

Secondly, awareness is the first step to influencing our culture.  What is within your circle of influence?  Your family, your church, the committees and boards you serve on?  

What about your neighborhood?  Your community?  Your alma mater?  Your workplace? Your social media networks?

When you stop to think about it, there are many spheres you can influence.  

Maybe it’s time to be more intentional about impacting the culture surrounding us. 

Maybe the solution to the problem is to realize that you can choose culture, you can choose subcultures and you can influence culture.  

I disagree with anthropologists who want to preserve culture at all costs. 

The fact is, not all culture is amoral.  Some of it is downright evil.  

Female genital mutilation is cultural.  So is widow burning and temple sex slaves.  To make a blanket statement that all culture should be preserved is outrageous.

I think it’s a good thing to destroy that part of culture.  I think we can create something better in it’s place.

Some cultural traditions can be redeemed.  Halloween, for example.  

Other aspects of culture are good and helpful.  They should be preserved. 

I love the new trend of gender reveal for expecting parents.  I think it’s great for pro-life thinking to start thinking of babies as boys or girls.  It’s also great for a society to embrace what is female and what is male. That’s gotten pretty messed up lately. 

Culture is fluid. It can also be amazingly permanent. 

Maybe you don’t think of yourself as an influencer of culture. Maybe it’s time to start.

I love a good memoir. It’s fascinating to get inside someone else’s head, to feel their emotions and appreciate their life vicariously.

Even better when they are a writer with a gift for words. After puzzling about why I’m drawn to memoir’s about the writer’s life, I uncovered four reasons.

1. Every artist is blazing a new trail.  

Everyone has a different journey. 

No one reaches the goals in the same way. 

It’s okay to be a wannabe, because everyone starts out there.

2. Writers often articulate their journeys well.

It makes sense. They’re writers, after all. Sometimes they pour all the expertise they use in creating fiction or crafting a story arc into the narrative of their life.

3. Today’s journey to becoming a published author looks different than in the past.

The books I’ve chosen tell stories of when traditional publishing was king and hundreds of rejections were par for the course.

The internet is full of successful writers telling you how to do it today, given the changing landscape.

But, the principles remain.  And human nature hasn’t changed.   

The perseverance still has to be there.  The self-doubt is always a dragon to slay.  The spaghetti flinging experimentation still has to happen. 

There’s plenty of evidence that even those at the pinnacle can be assailed by self-doubt. 

Perseverance is critical.  What about lucky breaks?  Sometimes they do play a part.  But, they never determine a successful career without consistent hard work behind it all. 

4. A writer’s memoir is not about a step by step process.  

It’s more about inspiration and encouragement and a behind the scenes look at the journey.  

Even if you’re not a writer or an aspiring writer, if you enjoy a good memoir, you will enjoy a peek behind the curtain of the writer’s life.  

Here’s my favorites.

On Writing by Stephen King

I don’t read Stephen King books or watch movies based on his books.

But, it is a well-respected fact that he is a master story teller.  Why not learn from him?

On Writing is one of the best books out there about writing and the writer’s life.

.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott has a gift with words and a wry, self-deprecating humor. 

I love her memiors.  I tried reading her novels and didn’t enjoy them. 

Even though I don’t agree with her theology or her politics, I certainly appreciate her writing. 

Sometimes the Magic Works by Terry Brooks

My husband went through a phase when he was reading a lot of Terry Brooks books.  I read one or two.  Fantasy isn’t really my genre. 

But, once again, I can appreciate a good storyteller and love hearing behind the scenes of the reading life.  His journey emphasizes the importance of a good editor and publisher, often unsung heroes in the writing game. 

Deer on the Bicycle by Patrick McManus

Great humor writing is in a class by itself, and Patrick McManus does it so well. 

He mostly writes quasi-autobiographical stories about outdoor adventures.  But, his ability to lead up to a laugh is unparalleled. 

Although I agree that a gift like that can’t be taught, it can be appreciated and learning what it’s like to have it and use it is pretty fun, too. 

A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine Le’Engle

I think it’s always encouraging when an author’s journey isn’t a straight line between two points.  That’s certainly true for Madleine L’Engle.  She was distracted by marriage and family life.  She went through periods of discouragement and low productivity.  

She created on a typewriter in the kitchen with the chaos swirling around her. 

Some how in the midst of the chaos, she managed to produce a Newbery Award winning children’s novel.  

I feel Madeleine is someone who learned to juggle her professional ambitions along with her family needs. 

Before We Get Started by Bret Lott

Bret Lott’s story is one of hard work and perseverance and a wife who believed in him.  He exemplifies the classic path of investing and investing and investing while waiting for the payoff.  

Writers have to pay their dues, sometimes way longer than seems necessary.  

Sometimes the payoff comes.  But there are no guarantees and no one cracking the whip.  Putting in the time and staying the course can be long and lonely.  

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

This book wasn’t written about the writing life.  It’s told as a love story. 

But, it is about the writer’s life.  It’s a very intimate behind the scenes look at the writing life— not only C.S. Lewis’ writing life, but Joy Davidman’s as well. 

It’s a well-kept secret that she collaborated on some of Lewis’ works and that Joy Davidman herself was a writer, poet and editor. 

Do you have a favorite writer’s memoir? I’d love to hear about it.

It’s true.

There’s a switch that flips when you become a Grandma.

Baby toys, clothes and books jump into my shopping cart now that I had no problem resisting before.

In a lot of ways, grand parenting feels familiar, too. Like starting over again at the beginning of parenting. But, this time around there’s the advantage of experience, perspective and being well-rested.

How to Grandma long distance

My first grand baby, Caroline, is about to turn one.

She lives nearby and we get a lot of time with her.

My grandson far away is still sleeping and kicking inside his mama.

I’ve been brainstorming ways to “Grandma” long distance.

Since I spent the last ten years of my life as a bookseller, sending books seems like the logical solution.

I’m intrigued and inspired by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Project.  It started out in her home county, but it’s grown across her home state, and across the country. Every month every child ages 0-5 receives a book in the mail addressed to them.

I can do that.

“Books are delicious”

Besides pulling from my years at the bookstore, I got some good picks from Sarah Mackenzie of the Read Aloud Revival.

She says when we’re reading to babies, we’re helping them associate books with delight and affection.

“Books are delicious” Anyone who interacts with books and babies knows that’s true.

But not all baby books work for baby’s first year. So, I whittled down my list, looking for books that would be visually, orally and tactically appealing to the youngest audience, just waking up to the world.

I also kept in mind that baby books have to please two audiences, the adult and the baby. These top picks win with both.

(Note: All links are affiliate links which means at no extra cost to you, a percentage of your purchase goes to support this site.)

Who’s Knees Are These?

By Jabari Asim

Even before babies interact much with the world, a rhyme can captivate.

This one is fun to read.

.

Llama Llama Red Pajama

by Anna Dewdney

Another rhyming board book that pleasing both to the eye and the ear.

.

.

.

Taggies Thank You Prayer

A cloth book that is as much fun to play with as it is to read.

Soft, fuzzy cover.

.

Look Look

by Peter Linenthal

A black and white and red board book for babies who are just beginning to focus their visual attention.

.

.

Peek a Who?

by Nina Laden

Simple, fast paced book for babies who are beginning to interact and notice things. Nice surprise at the end.

.

.

Indestructibles Baby Peekaboo

by Kate Merritt

All the indestructibles books are made from incredible rip proof material that babies can’t damage.

.

.

Touch and Feel Baby Animals

Good tactile stimulation. And who can resist baby animals?

.

.

Good Night Moon

by Margaret Wise Brown

The classic board book that has entertained generations.

.

.

Dear Zoo

By Rod Campbell

Another classic, this one with flaps to lift up, that will delight and entertain.

.

.

Who says Quack?

Babies love animals and learning the sounds they make.

.

.

Yummy Yucky

by Leslie Patricelli

Everything goes into baby’s mouth, even things that shouldn’t be there. A humorous look at what’s good and what’s not.

.

The Pudgy Book of Mother Goose

Illustrated by Richard Walz

Small, easy to hold board book that contains classic Mother Goose rhymes.

.

.

1. Who’s Knees Are These?
2. Llama Llama Red Pajama
3. Taggies Thank You Prayer
4. Look Look
5. Peek a Who?
6. Indestructibles Baby Peekaboo
7. Touch and Feel Baby Animals
8. Good Night Moon
9. Dear Zoo
10. Who says Quack?
11. Yummy Yucky
12. Chunky Mother Goose

That’s my list for baby’s first year!

What are your top picks for the youngest readers?

Why should adults read Middle Grade Novels? There’s some great MG novels out there! The best ones are well-written and have an important message.

MG Novels can be just the ticket when you’re too stressed to follow a complex adult novel.

They often have a straight forward story line that is easy to follow. Often they have a limited cast of characters. They are less likely to shift back and forth in time and place.

They often offer an easy escape that requires little mental energy.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, a portion of your purchase will support this site. )

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

I believe that great fiction rings true.  Even one with a preposterous premise.

The Age of Miracles tells the story of a family dealing with the slowing of the earth’s rotation.  Every day is longer, every night is longer.  All the implications, all the choices, all the consequences.

The premise is preposterous, but the story still rings true.  Why?  Because it shows the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of cataclysm.  It shows the importance of deep relationship in the face of crisis.  It shows the inevitability of coming of age, whether or not the earth turns.

I liked the main characters.  That helped a lot.

I liked the traditional values portrayed in the story.  Which goes to show, you CAN have a great story without a moral slide.

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

I loved this book written for middle grades and I read it twice.

It gets five stars for being wholesome and a thumbs up for real heroes.  When I read middle grade, I find myself identifying with the teachers and principals.  Ha.

I loved the two families portrayed here and the real struggle with how twelve year olds deal with the heavy issues of life.

I liked her style.  I liked her characters.  I loved seeing the main character win the battles in his world.

Carry On, Mr Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Good story.  In the tradition of Johnny Tremain, except based on an historical person.

Nat Bowditch was very smart, but he wasn’t able to go to Harvard because of his family’s difficult financial position, it was necessary for him to work to earn his keep. So he was indentured at age 12 to work as a bookkeeper.

The story inspires kids to persevere in the face of difficult circumstances.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

What a great book!  Highly recommended for all ages.

I love the way it tackles head on mega topics: embarrassment, shame, discouragement, rising above difficult circumstances, the elements of a true friendship. 

August Pullman is a likable fellow.  If he were a jerk, this story wouldn’t have worked.

It strikes at the very heart of what it means to be a person.  Where do you fit into society.  How does society react to you?

It’s not just an overcomer story.  It’s a family systems story.  Our family of origin matters so much when it comes to what we believe about ourselves.

I love the middle school principal in this story.  I love the way he has such a deep understanding of kids.  I love how he can see past the surface level to what is happening beneath the surface.  This is so good for teachers, administrators, youth pastors, everyone who deals with kids.  And for kids, themselves.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I’m tempted to go back and re-read this book now that I know the ending.

The plot was slow moving until all the pieces starting falling into place and it made sense.

From goodreads–

“Winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal. Miranda is an ordinary sixth grader, until she starts receiving mysterious messages from somebody who knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late. “

Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist

It’s interesting to stop and think about what it’s like to be blind from birth. How impossible it is to picture anything. What it means for your social interactions.

Add the fact that you’re sixteen years old and transferring from a blind school to a public school. How do you relate to others?

This is an engaging, feel good story. Satisfying.

Five stars for being wholesome and well-written. Technically, this is a Young Adult novel, not middle grade. Sarah Mackenzie of the Read Aloud Revival has a great explanation of the difference between middle grade books and young adult books, and why YA is a genre, not a reading level.

Did you miss Awesome Middle Grade Novels Adults Will Love?

Which Middle Grade Novels do you love?

I love a brilliantly  written novel inspired by true events. It’s been so fun to stumble across quite a few in this category over the last couple of years.  Some of these books have made it onto other lists and some are new to me, but all are five star reads for me.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you a percentage of your purchase will go to support this site.) 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Just when we thought all the stories of the Holocaust had been told, another emerges.

In the midst of the horror comes a story of survival and hope. The Hiding Place is always my go-to recommendation for World War II and Holocaust stories.  This one adds another dimension.

Light shines brightest in the dark.

Buy now from Amazon

 I Was Anatasia by Ariel Lawhon

The world is enthralled by the story of Anastasia Romanov.  So much of it shrouded in mystery. What is fact, what is fiction, what is myth and what is legend?  We are drawn to the mystery, to the possibilities, to the tragedy and to the pathos of this story.

Ariel Lawhorn created a masterpiece, weaving all the strands of the story into one, cohesive, intriguing narrative.

Captivating till the end.

Buy now from Amazon

 Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

C.S. Lewis has always been one of my favorite authors and The Chronicles of Narnia the pinnacle in children’s literature, in my opinion. Even though I knew the basic facts of the love story between Lewis and Joy Davidman, Becoming Mrs.  Lewis fleshed out the story in a probable narrative of their relationship.

I came to see her as an unsung hero in Lewis’ life.

There’s nothing like an inside peek at the life of one of the world’s greatest writers.

Buy now from Amazon

 We Were the Lucky Ones

by Georgia Hunter

“Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds.” —Amazon

The Kurcs were from Radom, Poland, but in the course of the war, three generations are spread throughout Europe and beyond, fleeing the German regime.

I am in awe of this story. It is a light in a dark time and highlights the triumph of love, family and the will to survive.

Buy now from Amazon

Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy

Thousands of women worked on breaking codes during WWII. The government began by recruiting and training at women’s colleges, sending secret letters to students in the fall of their senior year.

Then they started recruiting teachers.

The work took special skills, and they didn’t always know what they were.

Intercepting and understanding enemy communication proved to be the critical strategy for the allies to win the war.

Thousands of American women working secretly to break enemy codes turned the tide.

This is the untold story of those women.

Buy now from Amazon

I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe

 “Rosetta doesn’t want her new husband, Jeremiah, to enlist, but he joins up, hoping to make enough money that they’ll be able to afford their own farm someday. When Jeremiah leaves, Rosetta decides her true place is by his side, no matter what that means, and follows him into war.

Rich with historical details and inspired by the many women who fought in the Civil War while disguised as men, I Shall Be Near To You is a courageous adventure, a woman’s search for meaning and individuality, and a poignant story of enduring love.”– from Amazon

I liked learning about a piece of little known history during the Civil War. It’s hard to even imagine life in those circumstances.

Well written fictionalized account highlighting the stories of real women who fought in the Civil War disguised as men.

Buy now from Amazon

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

 Based of the life of the first female lawyer in Bombay.

Not only does this fictional account weave a riveting tale, it highlights the culture and customs of 1920’s India.

Limited educational opportunities, arranged marriages, gender segregation and inequalities.  These were real obstacles.

Navigating that world and winning is a real feat.

Buy now from Amazon

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart

Fascinating novelized account of the country’s first female sheriff.

Three sisters living alone in the country manage to get on the wrong side of some shady characters.  Tell how they defend themselves, throw in some family secrets and end up with the a female sheriff.  Well played.

Stewart writes in an engaging style that kept me flipping pages.

I was glad to see the author follows the sisters’ story in another book.

 Buy now from Amazon

What are you reading this month? 

I reached a point in my life when I wondered if there were any good books left.

You know, masterfully written page turners that sucked you into the story and left you feeling satisfied at the end.  Books that you weren’t embarrassed to be seen reading and could recommend wholesale.

I wondered if there were any of those left.  Because I couldn’t find them.

Enter the internet.  Enter book bloggers.  Enter bookish podcasts.

Open a new world of books.  Not all of them are to my taste to be sure.  But, there were enough winners in the bunch to spark my hope.

Yes, Virginia, there are some good books left.

Here’s some of my top picks.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you a percentage of your purchase will go to support this site.) 

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

Based of the life of the first female lawyer in India.

Not only does this fictional account weave a riveting tale, it highlights the culture and customs of 1920’s India.

Limited educational opportunities, arranged marriages, gender segregation and inequalities.  These were real obstacles.

Navigating that world and winning is a real feat.

 Jewell by Bret Lott

“It is 1943 in the backwoods of Mississippi. In the land of honeysuckle and wild grapevine, Jewel Hilburn and her husband Leston – whose love for his wife is the surest comfort she’s ever known – are truly blessed. They have five fine children who embrace the world as though it were a sumptuous table set for a feast; and when Brenda Kay is born, Jewel gives thanks for yet another healthy baby, last-born and most welcome.

JEWEL is the story of how quickly a life can change; how, like lightning, an unforseen event can illuminate our lives and set us on a course without reason or compass.”– Goodreads

Jewel fights the odds of prejudice and ignorance with a mother’s fierce love.

“Bret Lott has created on of the finest and most indomitable heroines of contemporary American fiction.”

Beautifully crafted. A pleasure to read.

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

“Ignorant boys, killing each other,” is just about all Nathan Coulter would tell his wife, friends, and family about the Battle of Okinawa in the spring of 1945. Life carried on for the community of Port William, Kentucky, as some boys returned from the war and the lives of others were mourned. In her seventies, Nathan’s wife, Hannah, has time now to tell of the years since the war. In Wendell Berry’s unforgettable prose, we learn of the Coulter’s children, of the Feltners and Branches, and how survivors “live right on.”—from GoodReads

Enthusiastic five stars from me.

Brilliantly written, wholesome story.

The story spans the decades of Hannah’s life, giving a panoramic look at her life.

Human drama at it’s literary best.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

I can’t remember the last time a novel made me cry.  This one did

Ove is near the end of his life, but this novel takes us back to his family, his first love and his losses. It is a bittersweet exploration of what really matters in relationships and what gets in the way.

Love, friendship, community and social awkwardness.  It’s the recipe for a great novel.

It demonstrates in brilliant colors that no man is an island.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

“The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness — in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience. “–Goodreads

Buy now from Amazon

Rightly labeled a literary work of art.  Francie Nolan develops the grit and humanity she needs to survive her tumultuous life.

Masterfully written.  A joy to read.

Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown

“Sharon Garlough Brown tells the moving story of four strangers as they embark together on a journey of spiritual formation: Hannah, a pastor who doesn’t realize how exhausted she is. Meg, a widow and recent empty-nester who is haunted by her past. Mara, a woman who has experienced a lifetime of rejection and is now trying to navigate a difficult marriage. Charissa, a hard-working graduate student who wants to get things right. You’re invited to join these four           women as they reluctantly arrive at a  retreat center and find themselves drawn out of their separate stories of isolation and struggle and into a collective journey of spiritual practice, mutual support and personal revelation. Along the way, readers will be taken into a new understanding of key spiritual practices and find tangible support for the deeper life with God.” –Goodreads

I found these characters to be well-rounded and relatable.  I also liked an inside look at spiritual disciplines outside of my experience.

These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

“A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author’s own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier. Scrupulously recording her steps down the path Providence has set her upon–from child to determined young adult to loving mother–she shares the turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that molded her and recalls the enduring love with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot that gave her strength and purpose.

Rich in authentic everyday details and alive with truly unforgettable characters, These Is My Words brilliantly brings a vanished world to breathtaking life again.”–Goodreads

Unpredictable.  Well-written.

The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin

“When a blizzard strands them in Salt Lake City, two strangers agree to charter a plane together, hoping to return home; Ben Payne is a gifted surgeon returning from a conference, and Ashley Knox, a magazine writer, is en route to her wedding. But when unthinkable tragedy strikes, the pair find themselves stranded in Utah’s most remote wilderness in the dead of winter, badly injured and miles from civilization. Without food or shelter, and only Ben’s mountain climbing gear to protect themselves, Ashley and Ben’s chances for survival look bleak, but their reliance on each other sparks an immediate connection, which soon evolves into something more.

Days in the mountains become weeks, as their hope for rescue dwindles. How will they make it out of the wilderness and if they do, how will this experience change them forever? Heart-wrenching and unputdownable, The Mountain Between Us will reaffirm your belief in the power of love to sustain us.” — from GoodReads

Another brilliantly written story with a commitment to traditional values.

The plot differs at critical points from the movie version.  Skip the movie.  Read the book instead.

Which novels have rekindled your love for reading? 

P.S.  Looking for more great books?   Try Awesome Middle Grade Novels Adults Will Love

and Love Stories You Can Feel Good Recommending.