Choosing books for kids is tricky. And in the last decade, a trip to the bookstore has become even more challenging. While some of the very best books for kids have been published in the last decade, there is also an amazing amount of truly trashy, frighteningly awful books being marketed to young teenagers and preteens. So, in an attempt to help kids find great books, I offer you the list that I have compiled for my 7th grade English students. CLICK HERE
In addition, I offer a short list of books that adults may enjoy as much as I have:
Novels for Older Teens and Adults
A River Runs Through It (N. MacLean)
The Testament (J. Grisham)
Rise to Rebellion (J. Shaara)
The Old Man and the Sea (E. Hemingway)
To Kill A Mockingbird (H. Lee)
Walk Across America (P. Jenkins)
The Killer Angels (J Shaara)
Of Mice and Men (J. Steinbeck)
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (H.B. Stowe)
Huckleberry Finn (Twain)
Lilies of the Field (W. Barrett)
Humor
A Walk in the Woods (B. Bryson)
Fatherhood (Bill Cosby)
Couplehood (Paul Reiser)
Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You (L. Grizzard)
The Night the Bear Ate Goombah (P. McManus)
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes (Watterson)
Non-Fiction
My American Journey (Colin Powell)
The American Patriot’s Almanac (W. Bennett)
Crunchy Cons (Rod Dreher)
Our Sacred Honor (W. Bennett)
Tuesdays with Morrie (M. Albom)
The Rhythm of Life (M. Kelly)
Living the Simple Life (E. St. James)
The Freedom of Simplicity (R. Foster)
The Balanced Life (A.L. McGinnis)
The Reflective Life (K. Gire)
Halftime (Buford)
Healing Mercies (A. Lamott)
All I Really Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten (R. Fulghum)
Wild at Heart (J. Eldredge)
The Suburban Christian (Hsu)
Christian Theology
Disappointment With God (P. Yancey)
Return of the Prodigal Son (H. Nouwen)
Windows of the Soul (K. Gire)
The Celebration of Discipline (R. Foster)
The Pursuit of God (A.W. Tozer)
Practicing His Presence (Brother Lawrence)
The Cost of Discipleship (D. Bonhoffer)
Lament For a Son (Wolterstorff)
The Gift of Pain (Yancey & Brand)
Jesus Calling (Sarah Young)
Family Life
Families Where Grace is in Place (J. VanVonderen)
Loving Our Kids on Purpose (D. Silk)
Raising Resilient Children (Brooks & Goldstein)
Shepherding a Child’s Heart (T. Tripp)
Parenting Without Perfection (D. Seel)
Courage: A Book for Champions (Cole)
Shepherding a Child’s Heart had a huge impact on our parenting from the earliest days. Definitely a must read for parents.