MEG MACKINTOSH MYSTERIES by Lucinda Landon If you are on the hunt for a fun mystery series for your elementary age kids, check out the Meg Mackintosh series. Similar to Encyclopedia Brown, Meg Mackintosh stories are designed for the reader to attempt to solve the mystery. The difference between the two series' is each book in the Meg Mackintosh series contains one mystery versus a collection of mysteries like Encyclopedia Brown. I had not read the books we have in the series, so I pulled them thinking I would be passing them on. My daughter, who just graduated from high school, intervened saying the books were favorites from her childhood. I read them and they will be returning to our packed shelves!

WHAT AN OWL KNOWS by Jennifer Ackerman Owls, those majestic, silent, mysterious birds that fly into our view unexpectedly and back out, leaving us anxiously trying to follow them, desperate to learn about their hidden lives. (That's me anyways.) Author Jennifer Ackerman reveals lots of secrets about many different kinds of owls in her book, What an Owl Knows. She dives into their calls, breeding, migrating, feeding patterns, roosting, and so much more, making us feel as if we have finally cracked the mystery of the owl species, only to find we are just scratching the surface. Traveling to various continents, she shares the characteristics that are similar between owls and contrasts the differences that make each breed unique. The book is packed full of first hand experience stories that make us wish for similar interactions in our own wooded areas. (I'm personally on a mission to learn more about the owls that live in our woods!) If you have a love for these nocturnal ghosts of the natural world, you may want to check this book out. HEADS UP- There are several evolutionary references in the book.

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig I don't typically write about a book right after I close the cover. There's normally at least a couple in queue (isn't that such a fun word?) in front of it waiting to be written about. Such is the case with The Midnight Library. However, there is so much to think about and ponder with this book that I don't want to lose all my thoughts by the time I sit down to write about it in a couple of days. The Midnight Library is a very moving and deeply emotional book. It should be. After all, we're dealing with the subject of suicide. Nora Seed is 35-years-old. Her life has been a string of one continuing disappointment after another, both to herself and her loved ones, so she decides to end it all. Leaving a note to whomever will find her, Nora injests a bottle of pills and waits for death. What comes next is completely unexpected. She wakes up in the Midnight Library. A place that is suspended between Nora's life and death. Manning the library is a person from Nora's younger years that made an impact on her life, the librarian from her elementary days, Mrs. Elm. On the shelves of the library stand an innumerable amount of green backed books. Some are thin. Some are thick. Two key books are present as well: The Book of Nora's Regrets and The Book of Nora's Root Life (her real life she has lived so far). The books on the shelves contain all the ways her life could have turned out based on the choices she had the opportunity to make. Mrs. Elm invites Nora to open any one of them, and experience any number of possibilities that could have been. This can continue until one of two things happens: Nora either selects one of those to continue her life in or she truly, physically dies. I'm not going to get into all the adventures she chooses to experience, but what I will tell you is that the book toys with the idea of "quantum physics" and "universal parallelism." In a nutshell, the idea that the universe is split into different branches that all bring about different outcomes, but that are all going on at the same time. (You science minded people can add better interpretation in the comments if you choose!) In this case, Nora has multiple versions of herself living in these different lives that she can access. The book doesn't spend a great deal of time focused on the reasons this happens, just that the different lives are available to Nora. The ultimate question in all of this is, given the right set of circumstances would Nora had lived a life free of the depression that dogs her daily steps in her real life? So what hung me up about the book and what did I like? Obviously, for me, the idea of The Midnight Library is one that I don't buy into. As a Christian, I have one life to live. It is one filled with value and purpose for all because of our Creator. The idea of reliving our lives to correct our regrets is a bit of a concern for me especially when thinking about that someone who is already contemplating suicide picking up and reading this book. I will say *** SPOILER ALERT*** that the book ends with a kind of It's A Wonderful Life feel to it. So, if someone reads to the end, there will be value in what they find. As to what I liked. There is one strong point that I found myself taking away from the book. How much of my life am I living under the expectations of other people? Nora finds that that is a common theme in her life. As a Christian, I should be living my life for Christ and not people. We all get twisted up in that mess at different times! Overall, a lot to think about when it comes to The Midnight Library, but the book is not without its issues to consider as well. HEADS UP- The use of the f-bomb is prevalent. Also, Nora sleeps with different men at two points in the story: one a fling, the other her husband in one of her lives. Neither have any intimate details. Also, Nora's brother is involved in a homosexual relationship that pops up from time to time. Again, no intimate details.

HELLO, OPPORTUNITY, THE STORY OF OUR FRIEND ON MARS by Shaelyn McDaniel. Illustrated by Cornelia Li Hello, Opportunity is the engaging picture book on one of the twin rovers launched as part of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. Designed to help us understand more about the surface of Mars, this little rover gathered info on clouds, dust, Mars' atmosphere, and more to prepare for future missions. Launched on July 7, 2003 and designed to provide 3 months of information, "Oppy" was active until June 10, 2018. 15 years! Through those years, the little rover tracked across the surface and scientists were able to learn much more than expected! This is a fun science picture book for kids to connect with. As we approach the anniversary of the launch, Hello, Opportunity is a great addition to your summer reading stack!

CODE OF SILENCE by Tim Shoemaker When Cooper and his two friends unexpectedly witness a robbery and possible murder at their favorite hangout late one night, they barely escape with their lives. Knowing that Cooper was seen by the criminals, they vow to stay silent about being there to protect their families. What began as a vow taken as a means of protection has them constantly looking over their shoulders and covering their tracks with a series of lies. The very measure done to promote safety has backfired and layered on extra guilt and worry. Now, Cooper's friends are wanting to bail and trust someone, but who should that someone be? The further the case goes, the deeper the mess, and it's looking like at the heart of it all could be the very people they need to be able to trust the most. This is a super fun, thriller read that will keep upper MIDDLE graders on the edge of their seats. Jam packed full of great moral lessons that will have kids evaluating what they would do in these intense situations, the Code of Silence is one that you won't want to miss.

WHEN WE FLEW AWAY by Alice Hoffman When We Flew Away is the extremely moving HISTORICAL FICTION recounting of the days of the Frank family, especially Anne, leading up to the point where they go into hiding. It is very difficult to put confetti emojis around the words "TOP PICK" when referencing this book. Hoffman does a brilliant job engaging us with the writing, but the tragedy of the story itself makes it extremely hard to put any type of celebratory pictures on the same page with this book. Telling the story of the Frank family, with a focus in Anne, When We Flew Away takes us into the heart of Amsterdam where many of the Jewish community believed they were safe from the reaches of Hitler and the Nazi Regime. Little by little the infiltration started until, the homes they loved and the hope they had were smashed into unrecognizable pieces. Most of us are familiar with Anne Frank and her story. Most of us grew up with the haunting pages of her diary published into the book, The Diary of a Young Girl. Author Alice Hoffman was one such twelve-year-old girl. Growing up in a Jewish family that opted to try and leave the past in the past with regards to the Holocaust and look ahead to new life and opportunities, Hoffman stumbled on the book at a book fair, and it impacted her in such a way that as an adult, she penned the book I am talking to you about today. There are two things that are important to remember about this book. 1) It is historical fiction. The conversations and some of the experiences are built into this story. Alice Hoffman addresses that in a lengthy Author's Notes section at the end of the book. However, 2) there is a lot of value to understanding the atmosphere of what was happening during this time in history. The Netherlands were being invaded by the Nazis. They single handedly demolished the relationships that had stood for years between the Jewish and non Jewish community. Up until that point, there was no reason to have any type of division. People lived as neighbors going about their daily lives until this cancerous ideology invaded their land. Think of it as bringing the same type of value that Lois Lowery's fantastic book, Number the Stars, does. HEADS UP- obviously, When We Flew Away deals with the atrocities that the Jewish people faced during WWII. While not graphically gruesome in nature, there is no doubt about the circumstances that are going on.

TALIESIN (BOOK 1 OF THE PENDRAGON CYCLE) by Stephen R. Lawhead If you are a lover of Medieval stories, especially those surrounding King Arthur, then you will want to read TALIESIN. I really struggled to put this one down which is why, even though it was written in the 1980s, it is worthy of being one of my TOP PICKS of the year. Stephen R. Lawhead does a masterful job of telling this story in beautiful and gripping language meeting the expectations of a Medieval tale.  Beginning with the story of Atlantis and its foretold destruction coupled with the druids of the earliest ages of Britain, TALIESIN spins the tale of the lineage of Merlin. When Atlantis is destroyed, a small band of the beautiful people escape and eventually make their way into the rugged hills of Britain where they are welcomed by a king who knows the weariness of wandering. Between these two groups, a forbidden love emerges that will test the fragile relationship that exists, but will also ultimately bring about the discovery of the true God and usher in the much needed healing of age old wounds. This is a story full of ancient beliefs, conversion, carving life out of difficult circumstances, love, and redemption. It is the type of story that satisfies and refreshes the longings of the deepest soul. The series was originally written as a trilogy, but expanded to a six book series. Interestingly, DailyWire+ is converting the books into movies scheduled to be released later this year on their streaming platform

SCOTLAND YARD by Simon Read Scotland Yard is a fantastic read for anyone interested in diving into the evolution of law enforcement, all things British, or British mysteries where we encounter this seemingly impenetrable force. Simon Read takes us right to the very beginning of this infamous institution when it became apparent that a dedicated force of officers was needed to handle crimes in the London area. As different crimes were committed and investigated, branches and methods were formed specializing in the wide range of cases. Growing alongside the force was the area of forensics. Fingerprinting, blood analysation, and more grew to combat the ever increasing number of villains. Overall, Scotland Yard is a fascinating read, but there are a couple things to be aware of. HEADS UP- Scotland Yard is squeaky clean as far as language goes, but you need to be prepared for the gruesomeness of the cases. There is a reason Scotland Yard was growing and expanding. It was to deal with the increase in crime and many of those included elements such as systematic body dismemberment. Also, some of the cases are built around sexual situations. Because of these reasons, this would not be a book to listen to around kids.

THE WARRIOR MAIDEN by Melanie Dickerson The Warrior Maiden is a squeaky clean retelling of the story of Mulan. (Do you know how awesome it is to be able to have the words "squeaky clean" and YA appear in the same post?!) While Dickerson holds true to a few of the original elements of the story, she encases them within a fresh, engaging story that is sure to capture the imagination. First off, the setting has changed. Mulan is of Asian descent, but the story takes place in Lithuania. She is found and adopted by a soldier fighting in the east, and he brings her home with him to his wife who has always desired a child. Mulan grows up in this foreign area loved by her mother, tolerated by her father, and only semi-accepted by the area people. When her father passes away from sickness, Mulan and her mother can't hide it very long. The call comes for him to report for the next battle and to ignore the call means the loss of their home, so Mulan poses as a son and steps in to take her father's place. Instead of fighting the Huns, as the original Mulan does, this story focuses on the Teutonic Knights who have conquered the Polish territories. They are now turning their sights on Lithuania. Lithuania's only hope is reinforcements from the Germans. Fighting in the German forces is one handsome, young, Duke's son, Wolfgang, but he's carrying heavy burdens of his own that stem from his past. He doesn't need any more trouble added to the weight he already bears. This is a great read! I highly recommend it! HEADS UP - Only one to report - a bit of passionate kissing.

THE RIDE OF HER LIFE : THE TRUE STORY OF A WOMEN, HER HORSE, AND THEIR LAST CHANCE JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA by Elizabeth Letts In 1954, sixty-three-year old Annie Wilkins found out she had cancer. She was the last of her family, and she had no money. Remembering back to a dream her Mom had to leave the state of Maine and travel to California, Annie decided to sell what she had, buy a horse, and make her way across America. (Annie had very little horse experience.) Encountering rough conditions and money shortages, but also strengthening herself both physically and mentally, she made the 4000 mile trip. What she experienced on her journey were a lot of people who lived by the idea of being a good neighbor and how to be an overcomer. This is a beautifully written biography that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Whether you enjoy horses, adventure stories, women protagonists, good neighbors, or overcoming hardship, this book is for you!

THE ILIAD by Homer Wow, wow, wow! I'm going to give you a heads up here. This may turn into a super, long post. Befitting for such a long book, don't you think? I recently took a group of high schoolers through The Iliad. We completed it in FOUR weeks. I would be hesitant to do that again. The book was fantastic, and I did it justice for the teens, but a slower pace would have allowed them to sort through and absorb it more. Where to begin? I started with Homer. Who was he? Did he even exist? We covered a fair amount of possibilities and what a bard did. Understanding how the Iliad was told during the days of the ancient Greeks brings about more understanding for the reason The Iliad was written the way it was. It's full of imagery, because a bard stood before a group of people and told the epic tale of the days of old. He had to verbally paint the pictures for the people he was entertaining. Next, we went to the Nephilim. The verses tucked in right before Noah's Flood in Genesis chapter 6 that talk about the "sons of God" that saw the beautiful women in the earth, came and had relations with them. From those encounters, a race of mighty men was birthed. Is it possible that those men were some of the demigods like Achilles that are mentioned in ancient myths. I don't hold the answer on that one, but it is an interesting thought to ponder. Then, we needed to understand how the Trojan War began, and it's not in The Iliad. It didn't begin with Paris taking King Menelaus' wife Helen. It began when 3 goddesses went to Paris and asked which one of them was the most beautiful. When one promised to give him the most beautiful earthly woman as a reward if he picked her, Paris jumped on it. It didn't matter that that beautiful woman was already married to King Menelaus. From there we stepped into the disagreement that The Iliad opens up with and ultimately tells the story of, the rage and division that happens between Achilles and Agamemnon, two men who both were on the side of the Acheans fighting against the Trojans. That division ends up causing the unnecessary death of many Acheans when Achilles,their greatest warrior, refuses to fight due to how he has been treated. I seriously could go on and on about this book. But I'll wrap things up by asking this question. Why read a book like this? My answer is multiple reasons. 1) We get an understanding of the ancient world of the Greeks: their thought process, what motivated them, etc. 2) We can see the devious fickleness of the gods and goddesses they worshipped. What a mess. Line that up next to the Christian God who created us, never forsakes us, makes a way to for us to be with Him eternally, and it's very eye opening. 3) Guess what? We're still dealing with the same problems today that they did in the past! Our emotions, pride, lust, and greed still affect all of us today. It's overwhelmingly clear that motivations have not changed much, but WE CAN LEARN FROM THE PAST! Last thing, I would not recommend using the Dover Edition. Find a translation that truly was translated from the Greek which keeps the Greek gods' names. Don't choose one that was translated to Latin so the Greek god names were changed to the Roman gods. I chose the edition I did due to length of text and our time frame to cover it! HEADS UP- Well, there is a bit of this to cover. First, this is a book about war and Homer told the details about how men died on the battlefield. There are probably hundreds of deaths within the pages. Second, whenever Greek gods and goddesses are concerned you know there's going to be a few oddities. I'll just throw out this example: Zeus is married to Hera who is also his sister. He had a boatload of affairs with human women and goddesses alike. Intimate details are not given, but that god had serious roving eye issues.

BAT AND THE BUSINESS OF FERRETS (BOOK 4 IN THE BAT SERIES) by Elana K. Arnold. Illustrated by Charles Santoso. BAT is back with another great adventure! He's now in 4th grade with a new classroom and a new teacher, and that's bringing about some unexpected changes. Most importantly, Mr. Pena, BAT's new teacher, doesn't have a class pet, and horror of horrors, he doesn't WANT one! When four ferrets are surrendered to BAT's mom's vet clinic, what else can this be but a perfect solution! Mr. Pena needs a ferret! BAT and the Business of FERRETS is a marvelous story about what it means to be a good friend and the importance of actually listening to people.