Hello fellow book lovers! You know those books that just stick? The ones that pop into your thoughts while you're folding laundry, driving your kids to all their activities or that you find yourself recommending to everyone who'll listen?
Yeah, those books…
Today I'm sharing a few titles that have claimed permanent residence in my brain. We have a few brand-new discoveries plus several favorites you can find in addition to 100+ books you might also enjoy in my Summer Reading Guide for the Homeschool Parent.
I've been thinking about why certain books claim this staying power, especially for us homeschool parents who juggle our own reading with guiding our kids' literary journeys.
These aren't just books I enjoyed; they're the ones that shifted how I think about education, parenting, or life in general.
New books living rent free this year:
The Sword of Kaigen hits deep as it explores motherhood through the lens of raising a courageous, selfless son while desperately trying to protect your entire family. All the feels.
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream arrived at the perfect moment. It's easy to get complacent in our busy homeschool lives and forget how to live a life that’s radically in love with, and obedient to, Christ in ways that are often contrary to simply going to church and raising our children to love the Lord. This book helped deliver a wakeup call I desperately needed.
The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman. I’m always drawn to Hoffman’s writing. It’s so magical always transports me to another time and place. I chose to write a few of the lines from this book into my Commonplace notebook, a notebook generally reserved for non-fiction quotes.
The Courage to be Disliked sat on my wishlist forever because, honestly, the title felt off-putting. But when it went on sale, I finally read the synopsis—and wow. I devoured this book in a flash, highlighting and annotating probably half of it. While it's not written from a Christian worldview, I've always found value in Eastern psychological perspectives (hello, The Art of War). These books often teach us how to better guard our hearts and minds as we live countercultural lives.
A few of the 100+ books in my Summer Reading Guide for the Homeschool Parent:
The Complete Grimms’ Fairy Tales: I'm on a kick this year to read even more fairy tales to my children despite them growing into their teens, and I'm so grateful we started with unabridged versions when they were young. These stories feel more critical now than when they were first written. Children grow up way too fast these days, and fairy tales offer our kids the chance to wrestle with real-world, complex issues in a creative yet safe environment. Originally created to show the grace and safety offered by our Savior, they remain one of the most powerful tools for nurturing both imagination and wisdom.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket keeps drifting back into my thoughts from when I read it aloud to my kids at ages 8 and 4. Those were some of my favorite years—watching them play together as sweet, innocent little ones. But beyond the nostalgia, something profound in these books helped us all grasp that no matter our circumstances, people everywhere face real suffering and hardship. It taught us to hold gratitude close for our health and family, especially on the ordinary days when we might otherwise take them for granted.
Hero Education speaks directly to where I am as our oldest pursues his educational and athletic dreams at his private school. While I still homeschool his little sister, I've transitioned into his cheerleader, chef, chauffeur, guide, prayer warrior, and everything else a mother does who loves her son. But thanks to this book (and many other great ones in my Summer Reading Guide), I've learned to keep reading thought-provoking, timeless books alongside him no matter how old he gets and to connect him with other educated minds for weekly book discussions.
Present Over Perfect. I think about this book often, especially as a parent who’s constantly questioning herself and if she’s parenting well, or well enough.
At Home in the World reminds me that our current season of moving multiple times in one year doesn't uproot our children, it actually draws us closer through the strength of our family bonds. Home isn't a place; it's the relationships we nurture, no matter which house we're living in.
With over 100 titles, this guide is tailored for your homeschool journey, spiritual life and your whole family. You’ll explore realms of adventure, beloved classics, family stories and motivational tales that promise to enrich your summer days and spark imagination in every reader.
