Reading, Writing & Pondering

  The Outsider by Katy Morgan is a re-telling of the Biblical book of Ruth for young people over the age of eight.  Ruth risks everything and goes with her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband and Naomi's husband have died in Ruth's country of Moab. They go back to Naomi's home country of Israel with the one true God. God takes care of Ruth and Naomi in ways that are unexpected to them through a kinsman-redeemer.  I thought The Outsider was well told. It was fast paced and it felt like I was right there in the Bible times with Ruth and Naomi. There is also a section of Notes from the Bible in the back as well as a book club discussion guide. This could be a good book to read as part of a home school curriculum. It could also be good in a Sunday school class or other church group to read in this age group.   I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own. 

  What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts by Jennie Allen starts out with a letter to parents from the auhttps://readingwritingandpondering.blogspot.com/2025/05/what-to-do-with-your-whirly-swirly.htmlthor. In this letter she shares why she wrote the book and how she hopes it will be helpful. She also encourages people to recognize that sometimes people need more help than a book and it is okay to talk to a counselor. I like that she recognizes that and offers that advice to parents. What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts does have some colorful and cool illustrations. That is my favorite part of the book. I like that it offers some advice for helping to change thoughts BUT I feel that it invites the child to stuff down the bad stuff and not really deal with it. The verses that are used make it seem that we should only think good thoughts. And yet, David and other psalmists certainly dealt with some bigger thoughts. I think God gave us all emotions and so many times in chu...

  Hearts Aweigh by Shannon Sue Dunlop is the third book that I have read by her. . .and they just keep getting better and better! Hearts Aweigh starts out with the "Shippers" meeting with Abby to decide if they will try to match her up on the ship to help her find a husband. The Shippers are 4 octagenarian women who have decided to stay on Monarch Cruise lines for their retirement years and to find some love matches for younger people. One of the Shippers has a son that has come on board for this cruise to try to talk his mom into moving back home. Spencer Randolph Masterson has a little girl named Madeleine, Maddie for short. Abby does child care on the cruise ship and is heading back home after a few more cruises to resume work as a teacher. She is good with children and has a connection with Maddie . .but what about Spencer? Hearts Aweigh offers readers a mix of romance, humor, and a mystery to solve. This book flowed quite well. It kept my interest all the way through a...

  Do you feel like you’re on the sidelines in God’s grand design? Like there’s a role waiting for you, but you just can’t quite grasp it? Many of us long to make a meaningful impact with our lives,  You Are Called  shares how. In  You Are Called , John Bevere relies on a careful exploration of Scripture and uses powerful stories to help you think differently about your calling and why it’s so important to God. You’ll unlock the secrets to living with purpose and passion! Inside you’ll discover. . . You are called by God as much as anyone is. God’s grace empowers you for a destiny in life that’s beyond your natural ability. Embrace your unique giftings and learn to operate in them for true effectiveness. Your calling is greater than your natural ability. The more impossible your challenges, the more God’s grace will be manifested. The world needs what you have: your God-given gifts. Carefully and biblically, this book defines and portrays  gifts, calling,...

    The new NIV Application Study Bible is a study Bible that I find jam-packed full of information. I often read the NIV version so that part isn’t new to me. However, this Bible is unique as it has notes drawn from the NIV Application Commentary. This Bible is designed to help you understand ancient Scripture and apply it to your life today. I think that would be helpful for many of us.  This study Bible shares insights from trusted scholars along with timely Biblical application principles.   This NIV Application Study Bibl e is full of notes alongside the NIV text with Jesus words in red letter. (I always like red letter Bibles!) There are book introductions, Bible character profile articles, more than 50 in-text charts, 16-pages of maps, a dictionary-concordance, 2 satin ribbon markers and easy to read 9.5 print. It really is easy to read this print. I don't need to use my reading glasses. It is dark. The pages are thin like many Bibles and the margins a...

  I read Her Amish Refuge by Pamela Desmond Wright as a stand-alone as I did not realize it was part of a series. It read just fine on its own. Her Amish Refuge starts out with Florene Schroder being kicked out of the car from her abusive Englisher husband into the middle of a blizzard. She is alone and pregnant and walks as best she can to a nearby farm and collapses in the barn. She is found the next morning by Gil Kestler. Gil is a tall Amish man who is a gentle giant. His family takes her in for the time being. However, Gil's family has its own troubles as Gil and his brother Eli struggle to get along. This is complicated by the fact that Eli's wife misses living in town and feels trapped in the country with their new baby. Gil's mother is a widow and his dad originally owned the farm through his family for generations.  There is a gentle love story between Florene and Gil as the book progresses. Florene also must decide if she will return to the Amish ways and the Am...

  Capture the Moment by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the first book in her new National Parks Summer series. I can't deny that this unique cover caught my eye initially--I love it! I am also a huge parks fan as nature is my happy place so I was looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint! After working as a zoo photographer for a few years, Kate Cunningham is ready for a new challenge. She sets out to snag a photo of a legendary bear in the Grand Teton National Park with her hopes set on publishing it in National Geographic magazine. Unfortunately, when she gets to the park, she realizes she has some learning to do to make that shot. Wild animal photography requires some additional skills to her zoo animal photography. Grant Cooper, also known as Coop, is a seasoned ranger who spends summers working at the park in between his regular teaching job. He has also been nursing a broken heart after his former girlfriend jilted him to marry the principal of the school he works at. With...

  Jesus Moments: Jonah is the story of Jonah from the Bible told for children ages four to seven.  Jesus Moments: Jonah is brightly illustrated, has 32 pages, and measures about 8 1/2 by 10 inches in size. This book tells the story of Jonah and how he ends up in the whale and going to Ninevah. At the same time, there are places in the story for children to pay attention to as they relate to things that Jesus did in the New Testament. The Jesus moments are marked with hidden anchors and then further explained as the book goes on.  I think Jesus Moments: Jonah is a good way for children to see how the Old and New Testaments are connected. I also like the illustrations. The book clearly tells the story of Jonah and also showed Jonah's bad attitude, which could be something to talk about with the children who listen to the story as well. This book would be good to read at home and also may be good to use at Sunday School or a children's Bible study. I received a copy of this ...