What I Read: August 2023

A truly thrilling book on grammar... no, really. It's GREAT.

Sep 01, 2023

Did August go by in a blink, or was that just me?

I had an eclectic reading month in August. I started off staying up way to late on a night Scott worked (my conscience was gone!) finishing The Goose Girl in basically one sitting. And then I dipped in and out of two nonfiction books all month long, finishing strong by speed-reading Katherine Paterson’s new-ish memoir.

Feels about right for August: an intense start with a week of VBS (I ran the kitchen and fed ~150 kids each morning), a lull filled with zucchini and tomatoes and more zucchini, and then a an intense flurry of activity as September draws close.

How has your reading life been mirroring your days (or not!)? Hit “reply” and tell me! I really do want to hear.

Here’s What I Read in August:

I wish the cover didn’t scream “historical romance” because it’s not quite accurate. Newer editions seem to address that issue.

The Goose Girl: A Novel

by Shannon Hale

I don’t know how I missed this series as a younger adult, but I would have loved, loved, loved them as a teen. It’s light fantasy, set in medieval-ish times, and features a girl who grows into a strong woman when something truly terribly happens to her. Even though the ending is obvious once you get about 2/3 of the way through, it’s totally worth it. The character development is great, the big reveal is exactly what it needs to be, and the plot is intense enough to be attention-grabbing but not so intense that I wouldn’t hand it to a 12 -year-old (i.e., the love story is delightfully tame and the violence is minimally described). There’s a lot of descriptive passages, so not for every reader, but a great book for that pre- or young teen who wants longer books and more involved stories without leveling up to some of the less tame options on the shelves.

Goodreads | Bookshop

Uncovering The Logic of English

by Denise Eide

I did not expect a book about English grammar to be enthralling, and yet here we are. Denise Eide is the author of the Language Arts curriculum that Arthur and I are working through for his schooling, so I checked this book out to see if it would be helpful to me as I learn to teach him. I cannot stress enough how amazing this brief, to-the-point description of English grammar rules is. I checked it out from the library and before I even finished reading it I had ordered myself a copy. DID YOU KNOW that “table” has an “e” at the end just because every syllable in an English word has to have a written vowel?!? I did not! And I am a great speller/reader AND have an English degree. If you like grammar, this may be mind-blowing to you. If you aren’t a good speller, this could literally change your life. No joke, a million stars.

Goodreads | Not available at Bookshop | Thriftbooks

The Penderwicks in Spring and

The Penderwicks at Last {audio}

by Jeanne Birdsall; read by Susan Denaker

These are the final two books in the Penderwicks series and man, I’m sad to finish it.

The Penderwicks in Spring got a little heavier than previous works, with the character Batty (now 11) carrying a heavy secret for most of the book. But, all ends well and is described on a level that’s accessible to kids without being heavy handed. I like the way the book talks about secrets as being a heavy burden to carry, and that once they come out in the open, everyone has a chance to heal.

The Penderwicks at Last sees the family seven more years down the road and switches the narration to focus on the youngest Penderwick: Lydia, age 11. A big family event is happening that takes everyone back to Arundel Hall, the site of the first book and the beginning of their friendship with Jeffrey. I love that it comes full-circle, bringing all the characters back together where it all started. The ending doesn’t tie everything up in a neat bow, but gives each character a chance to grow into who they are meant to be.

In Spring: Goodreads | Bookshop | Libro.FM

At Last: Goodreads | Bookshop | Libro.FM

Yoga for Children: 200+ Yoga Poses, Breathing Exercises, and Meditations for Healthier, Happier, More Resilient Children

by Lisa Flynn, E-RYT, RCYT

A quick read as I’m hoping to fold more yoga into our family as our schedules settles into fall. Great tips from a certified instructor on how to guide children through breathing exercises and more to help them find center and learn what calm looks like for them. We also have Flynn’s Yoga Cards for Children which I’m planning to use as “curriculum”, too. Pairs well with last month’s read of Self-Reg by Dr. Stuart Shanker (review here).

Goodreads | Bookshop

Stories of My Life

by Katherine Paterson

I did not know what I was expecting from this book, but when I learned that the author of Bridge to Terabithia wrote a memoir, I knew I wanted to read it. Paterson tells stories from her life — and the lives of her grandparents, parents, and friends. And what stories! Her parents served as Presbyterian missionaries to China in the 20s-30s. Paterson herself spent time on the mission field as a single woman in Japan. And then she and her husband welcomed four kids in four years — along with all the pets, shenanigans, and love that entails. Paterson is 90 years old currently, and released this book in 2014, shortly after her husband of of 52 years passed away. The final chapter encompasses the last week of his life, and its a tribute to their life together and to living well until the end. Her writing is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious; she’s got great comedic timing. And she talks about writing award-winning books as if it was just what God had for her next, not anything grand to idolize. This was a balm for a mom who wants to write novels but struggles to commit the time in the midst of raising kids (me!). And it’s so fun to read.

Goodreads | Bookshop

What I’m Reading with the Kids:

Aside from finishing the Penderwicks series, we’re reading a lot of books by Mac Barnett (that TED talk speaker I shared awhile back) and Chris Van Dusen (illustrator of the Mercy Watson series). Barnett has such a sense of humor that really shines through his work, and Van Dusen is as talented a writer as he is an illustrator.

I’m also enamored with Patricia Polacco’s work after reading The Trees of the Dancing Goats (thanks for the rec, Rosalie!) and Thundercake that was recommended by a local friend when she found out Tennyson was scared of thunder. The book follows a grandmother and her granddaughter (who’s scared of the big noise!) who make a cake to pass the time as a storm rolls in. We haven’t had a good storm to test out whether or not it’s helped, but here’s hoping!