One of my favorite things about homeschooling? We read—a lot. Some of it is school-related, and some of it is totally for fun. Each month, we’ll be sharing what we read in our house—from the graphic novels on the couch to the dystopian trilogies I sneak in before bed.
Here’s what each of us read this month:
Junie B. Jones: Sneaky Peeky Spying by Barbara Park
A funny, slightly mischievous early chapter book that kept her giggling AND feeling like the big girl she's getting to be, as she can now read it on her own. Junie B. has lots of opinions—and this one includes a spying mission gone wrong.
Menu from Noe Sushi Bar
Yes, a literal sushi menu. She was fascinated by it for days. Proof that reading doesn’t have to look traditional! Their menu is in a magazine format so we ask for a take-home copy each time we visit. Yay... and yum!
Fancy Nancy: 5-Minute Stories by Jane O’Connor
Short stories with fancy words, sparkly ideas, and lots of big feelings. Still a favorite before naptime. This "5-Minute Stories" format is a family favorite for LOTS of series!
Lost in the Pacific, 1942 by Tod Olson
True survival story of a WWII plane crash—this was a page-turner! He's obsessed with WWII (the apple doesn't fall far...) and this really scratched that itch in an age-appropriate way.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
We talked a lot about time travel and good vs. evil with this one. He stuck with it and really enjoyed it when we broke it down to a chapter a day for part of his ELA schoolwork. We got to watch the movie, as well, and we all agreed the book was way better (even if I really did want Mindy Kaling's hairstyles for a day).
Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War Prelude by Jonathan Hickman
A graphic novel tie-in with the Marvel universe—this was more about fun than literary depth, but totally worth it for motivation to read more. Perfect thing to pick up on the Libby app from our library.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix & Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Deep in the thick of Hogwarts drama. She’s all in, reading for hours at a time (if we let her!) with the audiobook playing simultaneously. This is part of our homeschool ELA, so she's also doing literary analysis with printed book studies!
The Giver by Lois Lowry
This sparked amazing discussions about memory, society, and individuality. She's processing the dystopian/utopian genre really deeply after we read this in Curio's Newbery Book Study!
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
A thoughtful, age-appropriate view of WWII through a child’s eyes. Gentle, but powerful. Another Curio Newbery Book Club pick! The movie makes for a great visual companion to this semi-autobiographical gem.
The Maze Runner Series (Books 1–3) by James Dashner
Finished all three in record time—definitely a dystopian binge month for this one.
The Faithful Spy by John Hendrix
A stunning graphic novel biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—so much history packed into one beautiful book.
The Mythmakers by John Hendrix
A graphic novel about C.S. Lewis & Tolkien. Loved the creative retelling of their friendship and legacy.
Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
Dark, intense, and full of deep questions—this one really hooked her, and she got RIGHT into the second book, The Fates Divide. I'm so grateful our library carries so many of these series because this girl MOVES through books.
The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth
After reading the Mazerunner series last month (to check that my 11 year old was ready for them), and getting to The Hunger Games later, I have to say this one is my favorite of the 3 dystopian series. A re-read for me, but this time with more empathy for the adults in the story... funny how perspective shifts.
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Another reread, but just as gripping. I tore through these over the course of a weekend. Brutal, and ready to listen to the audiobooks for the prequals:
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Brilliantly written and emotionally layered. I actually used the Libby app to listen to the audiobook. This one will stick with me for a long time.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
Essays that made me laugh, cry, and think differently about Diet Dr Pepper and sunsets. So good. Picked this one up after watching John's interview on Last Meals from Mythical Kitchen.