He has read David McCullough's John Adams and Truman. What are other favorites or books that are absolutely wonderful that should be read. Thanks for your input.

I believe she has read every book about fairies ever written. She has read Narnia more than once. She's also read the Fablehaven series, both Rick Riordan series and the Sisters Grimm series. She won't read Artemis Fowl for some reason. She has read pretty much everything off most children's lit lists. She has read Nancy Drew. She's read some Tolkien What she hasn't yet read is on my list of books for her to read this up coming school year. Or so it seems. That list can be seen on my blog. (I just posted it there since I seem to be referencing it a lot lately.) Are there any other fairly decent fantasy books I can suggest to her? Anything on the fringes of the fantasy genre that she might like and will broaden her horizons? She has just picked up Harry Potter book 1 out of boredom. I imagine if she gets into those it will keep her busy until mid- to late-June. Then I have to fill in July and August. Help.

A friend asked me for book recommendations for her 11 yo. I can name hundreds of books off the top of my head in every genre except fantasy! Help, please!

The big kids (14yo and 16yo) and I were talking last night about doing a year of US History next year, and trying to decide whether or not to use a text, or living books. Not wanting to reinvent the wheel, I thought I'd ask here what some of you have used for high school US history. I've looked at Sonlight's US History/Government, and while I like the suggestions they have for the government part...I find myself wanting to use more biographies and primary source documents for this. We've been sort of following the WTM sequence with world history, but I'd really like to set aside some time just for the U.S. (One of them will also do a semester of state history at co-op). So...what have you guys done? Or, what are some great individual titles that you'd suggest for teens about US history, events, personages, etc.?

will a retelling of some sort be enough for a quality education? I'm just trying to get a feel for the importance of these works. Would Green's King Arthur (or Pyle's) be enough or would it be better to read Malory's version? What about the Mabinogion? Is it important to cover this? And I am including high school in this time span of reading these? I'm leaning towards including them but I want to be sure others think it is a good idea?

I'm not sure what to give my nine-year-old. He picks up any new fantasy series that comes out, and reads popular non-fiction as well as magazines like Science News, Mac World and National Geographic. He went through a children's classics stage before the fantasy series stage and was pretty bored when he tried revisiting them, so anything like Mark Twain, H.G. Wells or Robert Louis Stevenson is off the table. He reads the news, and historical fiction, too. I'm not sure I'm ready to give him, before age twelve or thirteen, the scifi of my adolescence. It seems like I'd have to pre-read every single book intended for the grown-up market in order to know what is appropriate. I want the protagonists to not be evil, any sexual behavior to be in the context of love, and no sadism. Oh, and we're not Christian. He likes the Trailblazer series (missionary work), but I'm drawing a line that excludes Henty and Ballantyne (and anything else that's misogynist). Is there a website somewhere for parents of children who have read everything already? I did try looking, but the first list I found had A Clockwork Orange on it. *runs screaming in the other direction* Help! What does my kid read now?

As home schooling parents many of us have read or are at least familiar with the authors Rosemary Sutcliff (The Eagle of the Ninth), Olivia Coolidge (The Greek Myths/The Trojan Wars), and Mary Ray (The Ides of April). Rosemary Sutcliff is an all-time favorite with 11 of her books in our home including the wonderful new arrival, The Hound of Ulster. My son wants to know if anyone has read her version of Beowulf and her novel, Knight's Fee? Are there any other must-haves? Both boys love Coolidge's The Trojan War. The older one just finished her Tales of the Crusades and says he wants more, more, more of her books. Anyone read The Golden Days of Greece? We had no idea she had written so many books and we want to know if there are others we should add to our library. My older son and I both want to read more of the books in the Roman Empire Sequence by Mary Ray. However, they are virtually impossible to find except for the two commonly used in home schooling. Has anyone read A Tent for the Sun, Sword Sleep, or Rain from the West? And finally, if you know and enjoy these authors, is there anyone else you would recommend that is similar?

Anyone? Can't stand Junie's mouth. We've read all of Beverly Cleary's books too.

dd really likes Junie B. and Rainbow Fairies. I'm thrilled she's reading on her own. Really. But, I'd like to find some.... Different :) series to introduce her to. She has no interest in Boxcar Children. She also loves the Little House series, but still balks at attempting books that big. Definitely a girly girl. Doesn't like Magic Treehouse. I don't mind if she keeps reading Junie or the Rainbow series, but I'd like them to be mixed in with something a little less ....twaddly.

If you had to choose the best books of this time period to teach a 1yr class what would you teach? They can be American or British or any other type. What I'm thinking so far is: Frankenstein The Giver To Kill A Mockingbird Selections of Poe I know I should include The Scarlet Letter and perhaps Adventure of Huck Finn, but I'm really having trouble being motivated by them. What lit would you suggest...

I am finishing up literature with my 9th grade dd. We have started a unit on short stories and have read The Luck of Roaring Camp and The Lottery. The Lottery stirred up some very strong emotions in my dd. So, I am wondering if there are any short stories that aren't so dark? I am not sure I can throw another dark story at her. I was going to do Poe next but am hesitant. Can anyone help????? Thanks

OK. I'm not sure that I want to spend five weeks reading Crime & Punishment with my two high schoolers this spring. I think that I get the book; I'm pretty sure that I get why folks love it. Really. But I don't think I want to do it with them. So I would really appreciate some ideas please. I've been trying to do 19th century lit this year. I've been shooting for 1/2 American and 1/2 Non-American. I'll probably label that half as "World Literature" even though it's pretty heavy on the Brits so far. So that's my trouble; I don't really want to do more British literature even though we have tons of options there. Any ideas for uplifting 19th century titles that aren't American or British? I can't find any Tolstoy or Dost. that I want to do with my kids. I know - makes me a bad Momma, but that's where I'm at right now... We are doing Mr. Ilych this week; an easy peasy, without so-much-violence choice. No one is getting axed, and no one is being forced to choose prostit*tion. My kids aren't sheltered, but the image of that young girl with her face to the wall sobbing while her drunk father tries to convey his feeling of hopelessness. We don't need that in this house right now. I get the whole redemption thing. I get the whole "problems with a Darwinian worldview, etc." I get it. But we still don't need the book right now. We may just blow it all off and study relativity for eight weeks - not sure how I'm going to tweak that so it counts towards a "literature" credit though. ;) Does anyone have some great titles they can offer up? We'll be doing 20th century lit next year so it really doesn't make sense to use titles from the 1900's and stick it into our 19th century course; colleges will think I don't know how to count. :001_huh: Thanks. I'm coming up blank here. Anything interesting but cheerful? Peace, Janice Enjoy your little people Enjoy your journey

We are using High School Biology in Your Home this year for my 8th and 9th grader. (A research based program). We have a variety of reference books, but I am looking for some interesting books written on any aspect of Biology. My oldest is more of a literary/artistic type and the scientific language and dry writing is throwing her for a loop. I am looking for something that explains clearly, is well written and somewhat literary in style. Any recomendations? It need not cover all aspects of Biology as they are looking up their information all over the place. I'd just like some resources around that are interesting, accessible and thourough. Any ideas?:grouphug:

My son has one semester left before graduating. We've not covered 19th and 20th century American or British literature. I'd like him to have at least a sampling of the works from these periods but recognize we don't have a lot of time. What would be your favorite selections that might be doable in a semester? What ones have your dc particularly enjoyed? Thanks!

We are using the Smarr guide (Which uses Sophies World) along with the DK book Intro to Philosophy. Does anyone have a list of books (or parts of books) that would go along with ds's studies? ~~Faithe

Could you share your favorite historical fiction titles for junior high/high school girls? Dd is desperate for some great historical fiction (her favorite genre) and I'm uninspired. What do you recommend? Thanks! astrid

I would like for my 9th grader to take a course with great book written by aa authors with different writing styles. I also want the books to collectively tell the rich story of this history. I would like a mix of fiction and non fiction. The only books I know for sure that I want to include are personal favorites-Roots, The Color Purple and I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings. Please share your favorites.

I have been struggling to come up with a plan for my 10th gr dd for history to cover the middle ages. She doesn't really like textbooks and prefers real books. We've used Omnibus I and really enjoyed it, but this yr I wanted to pick and choose our own books. My brother, a history buff, has helped me pick some books. Here's my plan. Literature (overlaps history): Beowulf The Once and Future King Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Utopia~Thomas More Macbeth A Midsummer's Night Dream History: Guns, Germs and Steel DVD The Ecclesiastical History of the English People~selections or entirity? Research Charlemagne 1066 the year of the Conquest Power of a Woman, Memoirs of a Turbulent Life: Eleanor of Aquitaine The Lion in the Winter DVD 1215 The Year of the Magna Carta A Distant Mirror The Calamitous 14th Century The Travels of Marco Polo (excerpts) The Children of Henry the VIII Excerpts from The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England The Lives of the Artists (Oxford World's Classics) Selections Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love Out of the Flames: The Remarkable Story of a Fearless Scholar, a Fatal Heresy, and One of the Rarest Books in the World I need to add more for the Renaissance era. I think I'm missing something on world religions. Any suggestions or maybe select chapters from Spielvogel. Am I missing big chunks of history here or details? I find none of us really remember any details from texts anyway. Would I be doing her a disservice by doing this instead of texts?

Can you please tell me which translations of these books are the best ones to get. There are so many choices, I want to make sure that I read a good translation. The Iliad The Odyssey Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Beowulf Gilgamesh Don Quixote The Aeneid The Mabinogion

Has anyone read this? I read it a long time ago, but I can't remember much of anything about it. Dd, 12, loves dragons and wants to read it. Any cautions or inappropriate content? thanks. Mary

We have already read: To Kill A Mockingbird Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn The Old Man and the Sea Of Mice and Men Fahrenheit 451 What else do you suggest? What is NOT to be missed in your opinion? Short stories and plays can be included as well. This is for a 16y/o ds who is a somewhat reluctant reader. Thanks!

American Lit Your favorite light, funny, we-loved-this-book-because-it-made-us-smile titles.... American lit please..... Literature Biography Historical Fiction Nothing to discuss, just a page-turner that forced you/your kids to stay on the couch to finish even though life was calling.... the kind of book that makes your kids wander around the house reading aloud to anyone who will listen. It would be nice to LAUGH next year! Some of this high school stuff gets too heavy. Rec titles for high school boys and/or girls and their need-to-smile momma. THANKS! You guys are AWESOME!! Janice

Anyone have any suggetions or lists? Something wholesome and hopefully character-building. Even many of the Christian kids books have romance in them. My Dd 13 LOVES horse books but they too have mention of romance in them. Are there any out there? Some mention of general old-fashioned courting is OK. It seems in order to find anything, we need to get books on a much lower grade/reading level. Our girls are 11 and 13 and love to read! But it seems so hard to find "good books'! Wouldn't it be nice if there was a site out there that lists and rewiews/rates books based on things like violence, romance, language? Thanks! Natalija

Two of my ds's decided to write research papers about the holocaust. I thought I'd get some movies and documentaries for them. Any suggestions? ETA: Book recommendations are welcome, too. :-)

It's looking like next year's lit/comp is going to be heavily weighted toward British Lit of the Victorian era... so I thought I'd ask if anyone had suggestions to add to our list... We're starting with: Kim Three Men in a Boat Nicholas Nickleby The Importance of Being Earnest On the Origin of Species (Those five are pretty much non-negotiable because of various other things they match up to...) Then there are some possibilities to add in: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (he's wanted to read it for a while) Dracula (I've wanted him to read it for a while!) Some selection of the Sherlock Holmes stories Possibly Pygmalion, even though it's a little late (1912) Something by Gilbert and Sullivan (H.M.S. Pinafore seems the obvious choice) Some poetry (Tennyson, the Brownings) I might have to throw in Frankenstein although I found it deadly boring when I read it ages ago.... And I probably need to throw in a Bronte (or something) but I don't know which. The themes that come to mind are: Changing roles of children/ education Gender and class Colonialism Religion and spiritualism, and morality Science Travel Writing (as a sort-of-genre) Satire We've already read (but may need to revisit) some other books that would fit - A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, Flatland... What would you add?