I just finished “Think Again” by Adam Grant. This book presents a case for why it’s helpful to be a lifelong learner vs. someone who is ‘set in their ways’ or a ‘know-it-all.’
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You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it think.
Adam Grant
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In this book, Adam Grant says that people can fall into in four different camps:
Preacher: I often act on faith alone in my quest for the truth.
Prosecutor: I seek to win using evidence, often by attacking the other side and dismissing their evidence.
Politician: I seek to win using my belief system, often by attacking the other side.
However, the best way to approach life would be the:
4. Scientist: I rely on evidence with the goal of finding the truth. I am happy to change my belief (hypothesis) when confronted with evidence.
The Scientist mindset can be summed up with one simple phrase: “I might be wrong.”
I thought the illustration he used in the book was funny:
After finishing the book, I paused to consider times in my life where I’ve had to “Think Again.” There are many – marriage and parenting give me plenty of times to ‘re-think’ what I’m doing. In fact, a successful relationship requires regular rethinking. For example: Learning not to be late or being open to moving and planting roots in a new community.
However…
The first and biggest time I had to “THINK AGAIN” was after meeting this handsome guy named Ted Egly.
I liked Ted immediately … but he was not for me. I thought Ted was amazing. I thought he would make a perfect boyfriend/husband … for someone else.
Why? Because I had a “list.”
In college I made a list of what was required of the person I date and marry. Did you have a list like that?
On that list were two things that disqualified Ted. My list said that a person I was going to date/marry MUST:
Be OLDER than me
and
have more education than me.
Ted is two years younger and hadn’t finished college yet, so I could not date him. Instead, I tried to fix him up with my younger sister.
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“He’s like a brother to me. I can’t date him,” she said.
“You are CRAZY!” I responded, “He’s PERFECT!”
“Then you date him.” She answered flatly, turned around, and walked away.
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This was it. This was the time I had to re-think that ‘must have’ list.
I had other things on my ‘must’ list. Ted passed every one.
Was he a man of faith? Yes.
Was he a man of integrity? Yes.
Was he kind? Yes.
Was he a leader among his peers? Yes.
Did he have good relationships with his family members? Yes.
Was he hard-working? Yes.
Was he smart? Yes.
Was he funny? Yes!
However:
Was he older than me? No.
Was he more educated than me? (No, not yet)
Were those last two things deal-breakers, or could I re-think my list?
Thankfully, I decided to THINK AGAIN…and the rest is history!
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PS – If you talk to Ted, ask him how he also had to THINK AGAIN about dating me.
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Can you think of a situation in your life that you’ve had to ‘THINK AGAIN?’ Has there been a time you were sure about something, and then as you grew, asked questions, did your own research, changed your mind?
Think Again is full of stories of people who chose to “Think Again” and others who do not, and how it affected who and where they are today.
Review: A book packed with practical ideas for your family. Here are 13 of my favorite parts:
Exercise is hard. Honesty is hard. Eating healthy is hard. Integrity is hard. But also – Obesity is hard. Anxiety is hard. Choose your hard.
Our utter devotion to what is safe and comfortable is a crack in our foundation. It keeps us from growing. What is the GIFT on the other side of discomfort? A difficult situation is a growth opportunity. Your brain might tell you ‘it’s impossible,’ but that’s wrong. It’s only difficult. You can’t …until you can. Say: I can’t …YET! When you go through something difficult, imagine your brain actually growing.
Hate is a boomerang. If you spew it toward others, it comes back and creates self-loathing. When in doubt, close your mouth.
Have your kids name 3 things they are grateful for while you are eating – one person, one place, one thing.
You can’t control your kid’s athletic ability or how smart they are, but you can control how hard they work. Hard work forges character.
Give kids responsibilities as soon as they can walk. Increasing the amount of responsibility as they age. You’ll be training them to be capable independent adults.
Self-agency: The ability to understand that you can make your own choices and that you have some sense of control over what comes next. When kids understand that their choices will create consequences for them, it helps them be more thoughtful and intentional.
Nature has healing powers. Being in the forest has shown to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety, and increase cardiovascular health. The best gym is the natural world. The sound of running water steadies us. The air refreshes us. The sunshine cheers us. The raw elements challenge us. We need to get outside and experience this glorious planet with all of our senses.
Power of Play: You don’t have to do anything fancy to have an outdoor adventure. Go on a hike, play tag in your backyard, climb trees, wrestle on the grass- these all develop their skills. Free play provides tactile feedback that children need to excel in sports later on. Kids need exercise for proper physical development and behavior. Prioritize movement over screen time. Physical activity is essential for healthy brain development. Throw a football, grab a jump rope, or go for a walk in the woods. You’ll see a difference in the behavior and attitude of your children. Especially teenagers! There are amazing benefits to Free Play. Free play not only helps to develop creative resources and enhance imagination, but also aids in the fine-tuning decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Outdoors is a canvas for the imagination. Outdoor play will help children invent the future. A recent study showed that children ages 5-12 spend less than 30 min outside each day. Prisoners are guaranteed 2 hours a day outdoors. Criminals are getting more outdoor time than our kids. Many studies show that getting exercise outside improves kids brain function.
On Fear. What’s on the other side of fear is fantastic. Elizabeth Gilbert welcomes fear in the car, but doesn’t let it drive the car. Fear is present, but not in control. Movement cures fear. Fear is just a feeling. Fear and excitement are similar, practically exact feelings. Your feelings are not an accurate measure of what you can handle. Fear is a feeling and does not have control over you. Courage can be learned, bravery can be developed. ‘It’s only my body getting scared. My smart mind knows it will be okay.’ Practice doing something your kids are afraid of. ‘Systematic desensitization’ means repeated exposure conquers fear. Fear will be an ever-present part of life, but it’s not bad. It’s just a signal that we may need to use certain skills to move forward.
There will always be people who support you and people who criticize. Decide now who you will listen to.
Growth mindset: praise your kids for EFFORT over intelligence. Say: ‘Wow, you worked hard on that!’ Celebrate the process, not just the product. Highlight how hard they worked and what they learned.
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Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
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Rating: 9/10
Review: I absolutely love this author and this book was brilliantly written. It gives insight into how the devil might be at work behind the scenes and in our thought lives. He is very subtle and sneaky in his attempt to turn us away from God. This book is absolutely worth reading, and it’s a book you’ll probably want to come back to again and again. The ideas shared in this book will stay with you long after you’ve finished the last page.
1. After finishing the book, I knew that Will is not in a good place.
2. He’s always struggled with how to defend the women in his life – from his mom, to his daughter, and now his wife. A theme throughout the book was his feeling of shame for not being courageous enough to protect them. He’s obviously still figuring that out.
My Review of the Book:
The beginning of Will’s autobiography was fantastic! Will used his superb storytelling ability to share the challenges of his childhood, how he got into hip-hop, and the crazy story of how he became the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
However, once he became ‘the biggest movie star of all time” (he reinforced this point many times), the story fell flat.
In spite of success at every level, he still hasn’t found what he’s looking for. He’s searching for peace in all the wrong places (psychedelic drugs, busyness, success, money, women, etc.).
I don’t necessarily recommend the book, however, if you’re a huge Will Smith fan and want to check it out, I recommend the audiobook. Will Smith reads the book and includes sound bites and songs that add an extra dimension. I think you’ll agree that the beginning is interesting, and the end is disappointing. I wish he would have waited to write this book.
Side note: Will’s oldest son, Trey, has found peace in a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus brings the unconditional love, peace, and fulfillment. For those searching for peace, ask God if He is real and you may find everything that you’ve ever been looking for is right there in Him.
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What have you been reading? Leave a comment!
Books are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase one, I may earn a small commission.
Review: This book is extremely informative. The authors address many things parents want advice on, including:
technology use,
anxiety,
learning disabilities,
standardized tests,
college decisions, and more.
I took lots of notes, but here are 4 points from the book I loved:
Make enjoying your kids a top parenting priority. Your kid needs to feel the joy of seeing your face light up when you see them because you are genuinely happy to spend time with them. This has a powerful effect on his/her self-esteem. It helps your children become JOY-producing people. If you don’t enjoy your children, reflect on why. Are you angry? Under pressure from work? In a difficult marriage? Reflect and do you best to work on the barriers that are keeping you from enjoying them.
Look for opportunities during the day to let your mind wander. This could mean just sitting quietly for a few minutes looking out the window or at the clouds. It could mean engaging in activities you do mindlessly.
Talk as a family about the importance of going off-line and giving yourself truly free time.Tell your kids that it’s only when they aren’t focused on anything in particular that they can really think about others and themselves.
Always know your kids passwords to their device(s). If you are paying for the phone, make it contingent on them being respectful online and putting it away at night.
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When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I couldn’t stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.
Review: A novel about hockey. The setting is a hockey town; the characters live and breathe hockey. I recommend this book to those of you who…(shocker) love hockey.
Review: This is one of my favorite books of all time. It’s the biography of Corrie Ten Boom. Her family helped countless Jews during WW2 and ended up in a concentration camp. It’s a beautiful story of survival, forgiveness, and redemption.
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What have you been reading this month? Leave me a comment!
I was introduced to 3 fantastic authors this month, and I’m so grateful to have read their work. I’m looking forward to reading more books by those authors.
The first book I read this month was written by a fantastic author, who is also a friend. Power of a Place was a great book to start the new year.
Review: This author is someone I admire and respect. He went to school with Ted, and I worked with him in Colorado. He’s a great teacher and a fantastic writer. I loved his first book, Chasing Wisdom, and his second book is just as good. The Power of Place is about the value of putting down roots and investing in the place you call ‘home.’
Review: This book was so engaging, I did not want it to end. It shares the beautiful relationship that develops between CS Lewis and Ms. Davidson. They were pen pals, and later met and became great friends, and eventually married. I already loved CS Lewis, but this story makes me love him even more. This author did a fabulous job of re-creating their love story. I highly recommend the audiobook because the narration brings the story to life. It’s free on the Hoopla app.
Here are two quotes from the book that I loved:
God does not love us because we are lovable but because He is Love.
CS Lewis
Sometimes we want to stay and goof off in a mud pit when God has an entire seashore for us to play in.
Review: This was a wonderful book that I read with my 12-year-old son Clark. It’s the story of a young boy coming to live with his aunt in Minnesota to escape his war-torn country of Sudan. The author writes brilliantly and expresses such beautiful and deep emotion in very few words. This book can be read in a day but will stay with you for much longer. I felt the wonder, optimism, fear, sadness and hope through the eyes of the main character (Kek). This book gave me a glimpse into what it might be like to be a refugee. I HIGHLY recommend this book! Great for parents to read with kids ages 8 and up.
Review: I read this book with my 14 year-old son and we both enjoyed it. It’s a novel about a boy who went to work with his dad on September 11, 2001. The book does an excellent job recreating the environment from that day. You feel like you are in the Twin Towers that morning trying to escape. This book allowed George and I have to have some great conversations about what happened on September 11.
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Thanks for reading! Please share which of these books you’d like to read or a great book you’ve read recently.
This is not a book about sales, though it would certainly help if you are in sales. It’s really a book about how to get the most out of life and how to be the best version of yourself.
It’s about man who inherits 10 ancient scrolls that are the ‘secret to success’. Each scroll has a powerful message.
I loved this book. I felt like I was listening to my grandfather describe his life from a beautiful, bygone era as I read about the simple life of Jayber Crow.
Jayber Crow is a book you want to read when you can sit back, relax, put your feet up and just enjoy a good story.
Erwin shares one phenomenal story after another, connecting what God teaches in the Bible to real people putting that into action, and the POWER that action had in their lives. Here are a few of my five favorite points from the book:
You need to act like your life depends on it because it’s never just your life involved. The world desperately needs everything you can bring to the table.
You will never sustain greatness or fulfill your God-given calling if you see people as an obstacle to your destiny rather than as essential to fulfilling God’s purpose in your life. An old African saying: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. We are more powerful when we walk together, and we are more vulnerable when we walk alone.
Fear is like a leprosy that eats away at us. Fear will lead us to build fortresses that look like security and safety. Fear convinces us that we have locked out the dangers, but it hasn’t locked the world out at all. Instead, fear has trapped us inside. It was never a fortress, it was a prison.
I do not believe anyone is born average but I do believe that many of us choose to live a life of mediocrity. To be above average demands a choice. Average is a safe choice and it’s the most dangerous choice we can make.
Do not lose sight of the fact that just because it’s time to move forward, the things in the past did not have great value for the time in your life. Appreciate the past, but live IN the present and FOR the future.
I’d heard of Clara Barton in connection with the Red Cross, but never knew what a fascinating life she led!
Reading (or listening to) stories like this gives me hope for each human. Clara was a simple girl that noticed a gap and problem, then filled the gap and help solved the problem. We can do great things by starting small.
I’m thankful for women like Clara because she carved the way for a woman like me, She was a leader before women were allowed to lead. She was hard-working, creative, respectful, but bold.
I listened to this book on my free Hoopla app and recommend it for moms and their daughters to listen to together.
As I closed this book, I hugged it in deep appreciation. Oh, how I needed to hear those beautifully written words.
I recommend this to someone new in town, who may feel ‘anonymous,’ or to someone whose dreams haven’t been realized.
Here are 5 points from the book:
Why would Jesus announce the birth of his precious son with a full angelic choir, then hide this priceless gift for three decades? Because what is hidden is not unimportant.
God’s first public words to Jesus were not directional (go there) or instructional (do this) it was relational: THIS IS MY SON! God spoke affirmation before Jesus had ever done any good works.
Every day, we invest in a future we cannot see. Time is not really spent, it is invested in a future we cannot see.
Jesus could stand strong in public because he stood still in private. He intentionally pursued quiet places.There is healing in stillness.
Savor the anonymous season. Respect it’s potential.
This is the best marriage book I’ve ever read. I picked it up, not because I was ready to ‘split,’ but simply curious on the advice she’d give from the perspective of a divorce attorney.
I had no idea how truly insightful and helpful this book would be to EVERY SINGLE MARRIED PERSON!
Here are 5 take-aways:
Your marriage can go from that bad to this good. No matter how troubled or even chaotic your marriage may seem, you have more control over its future than you think.
Ask yourself and people you trust: “What is it like to be on the other side of me?“
Your spouse can’t make you happy. Happiness is something you bring to a relationship, not something you get from it.
There’s danger in allowing the emotions you’re experiencing right now to lead you to make long-term decisions. Yes, your emotions are real. Examine them. Learn from them. But don’t give them the lead role.
Find friends who will help you WIN in your marriage. Surround yourself with WISE, trustworthy, and objective friends who help you make better decisions. Your friends help you lean into or away from your marriage.
This book was captivating because it shared so many different stories of the people who were directly impacted by the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
I read this book twice this year – first reading the book, then listening to the audiobook. Both were excellent, but I loved that the audiobook contained REAL RECORDINGS from that day. It was powerful.
This book is so entertaining, you won’t want to put it down. My son kept asking: “Can we read another chapter?”
It’s the story of a girl and her parents who moved to the US from China. They get jobs at a motel in California. Mia, only 10 years old, runs the front desk. The book tells interesting stories about the guests who come to the motel, and gives insight into what it’s like to be an immigrant. The stories are endearing and you will fall in love with the characters!
Because Clark is such an active kid, he doesn’t usually want to sit and read. This is one of the first books where he actually loved sitting with me and reading together. It was one of the sweetest memories of the summer.
My son said: “I wish this book would never end.” I felt the same.
Parent tip: Keep trying new books until you find one your kid loves!
I’ve heard of and even quoted this author many times, but didn’t read his book until this last year. It’s a beautiful and hard book to read. Victor Frankl is a psychologist who survived Auschwitz – partially by using the techniques he taught his clients. One thing I loved was that he tried to find a way to laugh every day while imprisoned. He and another Jewish man would think up silly stories to share. Finding humor in the worst situation helped them survive.
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Here’s a picture snapshot of my Top Ten Books from 2021:
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There you have it! My favorite books of 2021.
What was your favorite book of the year or which book from this list do you want to read in 2022? Leave a comment by clicking on the box by the TITLE of this post.
I finished 58 books this year. Occasionally I’ve been asked how I find time to read. Here’s what I’ve said:
First of all, I love to read. You find time for things you love.
Second, I keep books all over the place. I have several next to my bed, a couple by the couch in the family room, another in the car – a physical book and an audio book.
I take a few minutes to read when I first wake up and before I go to bed. If it’s a really good book, I stay up too late to read.
If I have to wait for my kids at practice or an appointment, I read.
I read WITH my kids. I usually read one chapter per day with each of them.
The free HOOPLA app allows me to download excellent books for no cost, so I will listen to books while doing household chores or exercising.
Before I read any book, I look it up on Goodreads to see what my friends have rated it and what their reviews say. I find that well-written books are easier and faster to read. Click here to follow me on Goodreads.
Review: I’ve heard of and even quoted this author many times. I don’t know how I haven’t read his story until now. It’s a beautiful and hard book to read. He’s a psychologist who survived Auschwitz – partially by using the techniques he taught his clients. One thing I loved was that he tried to find a way to laugh every day. He and another Jewish man would think up silly stories to share. Finding humor in the worst situation helped them survive.
Review: I really enjoyed the beginning of this book where the author shared her conversion story.
However, the chapters on her specific denominational preferences was not really relevant or necessary for this book, and for me, it took away from her powerful personal story.
Review: This was one of my favorite books from childhood. I re-read it to find inspiration for some children’s books I’m working on. Each chapter of this book contains a story from a grandmother’s childhood and includes a lesson she learned.
Review: This is a book that’s stood the test of time. It’s the story of an orphan girl named Anne who gets adopted and the book shares her adventures, and mis-adventures, in a warm and endearing way.
I’ve watched the movie a dozen times, and even starred as Marilla in our high school play, but finally read this book for the first time. I’d recommend that mothers read or listen to this book with their daughters.
Review: Clark and I read this book together. It’s the third book of a series about a young girl who moves to the US from China. In this book, she goes back to China and shares how much it’s changed. Clark said at the end, “I wish there were more books in this series.”
Review: I had this on my list of books to read this Christmas season, then walked into a thrift store – and there it was on display, for only 75 cents! This was a great book to read over my quarantined Christmas. If you haven’t read it, I’d add this classic to your list.
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Thanks for reading. I’ll be listing my favorite books of the year very soon. Subscribe so you don’t miss that post!
There was an article about this author in the Sunday paper that piqued my interest, so I found her book at our local library.
This author’s life story is phenomenal! She was a Jewish girl living in Poland during WW2. Just before Hitler liquidated her Ghetto, she snuck out with her sister. Using fake papers, they “hid” by working in Germany through the war.
The author went on to become a doctor, then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. She got married, raised a family, and worked in the medical field. The book is way better than my short synopsis. I recommend it to anyone interested in stories from WW2.
I started reading this with one of my sons and he wasn’t really into it. I finished on my own. There were some fun little facts about life in the White House, but most of the stuff written in this book is already well known. I would recommend it to someone in in middle or high school who may be interested in the life of a president or what happens in the White House.
I usually love memoirs, but not this one. The author is a great writer, but the book is filled with SO. MUCH. (partially self-induced) DRAMA and struggle. I’ve read plenty of books with struggle, and those are usually the best ones (see the first book I mentioned above). However, many books share lessons learned, a redemptive twist, or some sort of triumph in the end. Not in this book. I kind of just felt sad and icky when I finished this story. I wished the author would have waited a few years to publish this book, to allow herself time to heal first. I don’t recommend this book.
Review: The only way to ‘read’ this book is to ‘listen’ to the audiobook. It’s read by Matthew McConaughey and he is an entertaining storyteller, but there’s nothing profound in this book. If you want a book with nothing more than some amusing stories, check out the audiobook.
Review: I respect this author, follow her on Instagram, and enjoy listening to her podcasts on parenting. Dr. Meg Meeker really understands the struggles mothers face, and writes to help us enjoy the journey. This book has some good nuggets, but I recommend her Strong Mothers, Strong Sons over this one.
I read this book about five years ago and loved it SO much. I saw it on my free Hoopla app and decided to listen to it this time. Bob Goff reads the book and it’s fun to listen to him tell such fascinating stories about growing up, his teenage and college years, meeting his wife, adventures with his kids, and interesting stories with friends. Each chapter has a little life lesson as well – all about living a life of LOVE.
I’d heard of Clara Barton in connection with the Red Cross, but never knew much about her. Wow, what a fascinating life!
She was a SUPER SHY young girl, so her parents encouraged her to become a teacher. Though she was INCREDIBLY nervous at first, she learned that she was really good at it! She quickly learned how to connect with her students, and they loved and respected her. Clara taught for many years, and even helped get free public education started in states that didn’t have it yet.
Reading (or listening to) stories like this gives me hope for each human. Clara was a simple girl that noticed a gap/problem, then filled the gap and helped solved the problem. We can do great things by starting small.
I’m thankful for women like Clara. She carved the way for a woman like me! She was a leader before women were allowed to lead. She was hard-working, creative, respectful, but bold.
I listened to this book on my free Hoopla app and recommend it for moms and their daughters. Listen to it together.
As I closed this book, I held it in my hands with deep appreciation. I am so grateful for this author and her words. Oh, how I needed to hear them. I wish I would have read this book 3 years ago when I moved to Minnesota and felt completely…anonymous.
Jesus lived 90 percent of his life anonymously! And yet, look at the impact He made in the world and for eternity.
Don’t despise anonymity. Learn during that season, grow in that season. God has not forgotten you.
I underlined almost half of this book. It was so incredibly powerful. I was in tears many times.
This is one of the best books I’ve read all year. I read it slowly to savor the words. It’s a book I’ll go back to because the message is so important and so beautiful.
Read this if you feel anonymous, if your dreams haven’t been realized, or if you are in a new town and feel unknown.
Here are a few points that I loved from this book:
Why would Jesus announce the birth of his precious son with a full angelic choir, then hide this priceless gift for three decades? Because what is hidden is not unimportant.
God’s first public words to Jesus were not directional (go there) or instructional (do this) it was relational: THIS IS MY SON! And He spoke affirmation before Jesus had ever done any good works.
Every day, we invest in a future we cannot see. Time is not really spent. Instead, it is invested in a future we cannot see.
Choosing what is right not only makes a difference today, it makes a difference that compounds exponentially to bless our future.
Jesus could stand strong in public because he stood still in private. He intentionally pursued quiet places.There is healing in stillness.
Strength is not given, it is grown.
Savor the anonymous season. Respect it’s potential.
WOW! What a funny, yet powerful book! I couldn’t put it down. Michael is such a great performer and storyteller. Each chapter tells a (usually funny) story from his life with a POWERFUL life lesson or action step for the reader.
Micheal Jr. included great quotes throughout the book:
Sometimes, would tell a story, then say, “Scan this to watch it.”
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Thanks for reading the reviews of these great books! Have you read any of these or another good one? Leave a comment and let me know what to read next!
Review: A beautiful, yet heart breaking story that follows generations of African Americans from Africa to the United States. You follow generations of families as they endure (and sometimes conquer) the tragedies of war, slavery, drug abuse, and discrimination.
I listened to the audiobook and because the book shares the stories of so many characters over so many generations, it was a little hard to follow. If you are listening, I recommend you have a pen and paper nearby to help you keep it all straight.
Review: This is one of the best marriage books I’ve ever read. I picked it up, not because I was ready to ‘split,’ but simply curious on the advice she’d give from the perspective of a divorce attorney, why NOT to split!!!
I had no idea how truly insightful and helpful this book would be to EVERY SINGLE MARRIED PERSON!
Do yourself and your marriage a favor and read this book!
I took SIX PAGES OF NOTES!!! Here are some highlights:
Your marriage can go from that bad to this good. No matter how troubled or even chaotic your marriage may seem, you have more control over its future than you think.
Ask yourself and people you trust: “What is it like to be on the other side of me?“
Your spouse can’t make you happy. Happiness is something you bring to a relationship, not something you get from it.
There’s danger in allowing the emotions you’re experiencing right now to lead you to make long-term decisions. Yes, your emotions are real. Examine them. Learn from them. But don’t give them the lead role.
Marriage is two broken but loveable people.
Find friends who will help you WIN in your marriage. Surround yourself with WISE, trustworthy, and objective friends who help you make better decisions. Your friends help you lean into or away from your marriage.
Review: I’m so fascinated by the life of Andrew Van Der Bijl – just a regular man who wanted to make a difference in the world! He decided to smuggle Bibles into countries where people could not get them. Some churches were without any Bible, other churches were sharing just one single copy. The things Andrew saw and other things that happened are beyond explanation – a truly fascinating story!
Because “God Smuggler” by Brother Andrew is one of my favorite autobiographies, I decided to read this biography about him. I really enjoyed it because it shares stories I had not read in his book, as well as a different perspective on the stories I already knew.
Review: This short chapter book gives kids a glimpse into what it must have been like to survive the terrorist attack on 9/11. It’s a fiction story that felt so real I thought it was non-fiction. The ‘I survived’ books are a little ‘harrowing’ with heavy topics, so I would only recommend them for kids ages 10 and up. Overall, it was an excellent story.
Review: My son and I couldn’t get enough of Book 1 (Front Desk), but we had to force ourselves to finish Book 2. This one felt like the author was trying to lecture the reader and push an agenda with a topic that is above the heads of kids reading it. Unfortunately, I don’t recommend it.
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Thanks for reading this post! Have you read a good book recently? Leave a comment and let us know!
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