Literature and Books

This entertaining volume sheds light on the life of England's King George III. It begins when he was a bashful boy who blushed easily, goes on to his early days as king, and finally examines his role in the American Revolution - when Americans ceased to think of him as good King George. Fascinating history made accessible for young readers.

Jem and his cousin Nathan find Copper's tracks end at a dark canyon up in the hills. Jem remembers an old Indian legend Strike-it-rich Sam is fond of retelling about people disappearing and no one ever seeing them again. What is the real story of the canyon of danger? Have thieves found the perfect hideout?

In this second Jack and Jenny Mystery, the Carltons head to Hong Kong on another family business trip. The four children soon find themselves captives on the Twin Dragon at the mercy of dangerous criminals who pulled off the ingenious armored-car robbery.

Chebron, the young son of an Egyptian high priest, and Amuba, a young slave in the boy's household, are close friends; but their lives are greatly altered when Chebron accidentally kills a cat, an animal held sacred by the ancient Egyptians. Forced to flee for their safety, the boys and their companions begin a long and dangerous journey.

Mention "creative writing" to most typical boys, and they'll run screaming from the house, or play sick, or try to flush their creative writing book down the toilet. However, "Caution: Writing In This Book Might Be Fun!" was written by a boy who really hates creative writing. Stephen, my son, sympathizes with your son's writing struggles and tries to give your son ideas of zany-boy things to write about. Full of bright colors and obnoxious color schemes, writing examples to get the proverbial ball rolling, and crazy ideas (with a few cautionary comments from Mom Kemmerer - er, me), your son might actually enjoy creative writing! 

"Caution: Writing In This Book Might Be Fun!" (Girls version) was written by my daughter and my daughter-in-law. My daughter, Monica, loves to write and desires to pass her sense of enjoyment on to other students. My daughter-in-law, though she doesn't profess to "love" writing, is a wonderful writer. She is, however, one of the most talented, feminine, delightful young ladies you'd ever want to meet. Monica and Rachel teamed up to create a book full of wonderful, girly ideas to write about. Your daughter might actually enjoy creative writing! 

Angus, Duncan's younger brother, comes of age, physically and spiritually, as Scottish Covenanters face Highlanders at Drumclog. Covenanters wrestle with Christ's command to love their enemies.

Rebel’s Keep concludes the Crown & Covenant series with a new, high-intensity adventure. Set in 17th century Scotland, in the midst of the brutal persecutions of King Charles II of England, Rebel’s Keep follows the history after Duncan’s War and King’s Arrow, the first two books in the series, and picks up the historical thread just before the devastating defeat of the Covenanters at Bothwell Brig, 1679. Thereafter the story follows the fortunes of the fictional M’Kethe family, from the point of view of the two younger boys, Angus and Malcolm.

Fifty classics are addressed with a short description of each title, objective and discussion questions (like a mini-quiz) for each book, a list of vocabulary words in their context (quoted right from the book your child is reading), important quotations, and more.  

Text and black and white illustrations show how the Romans planned and constructed their cities for the people who lived within them.  The illustrations are very detailed and beautiful. 

Tragedy and heartache seem to be waiting for Drew Carter at every turn, but college offers Drew a chance to start over—until an accident during a physics experiment leaves him blind and his genius friend, Benjamin Berg, missing.

Early in May 1861, twenty-one-year-old Sam R. Watkins of Columbia, Tennessee, joined the First Tennessee Regiment, Company H, to fight for the Confederacy. Of the 120 original recruits in his company, Watkins was one of only seven to survive every one of its battles, from Shiloh to Nashville. Twenty years later, with a "house full of young 'rebels' clustering around my knees and bumping about my elbows," he wrote this remarkable account of "Co. Aytch".

For Joshua Stewart and his family, the Kentucky frontier is their promised land. It's a fresh start away from the difficulties of Virginia. It's an opportunity to own as much land as they care to claim. It's a chance of a lifetime, a dream come true. The only problem is getting there. Will the Stewarts overcome the hardships that await them in the mountains of Pennsylvania? 

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

(Recommended reading for Notgrass's Exploring World History, 2014 Edition.)

"Cry, the Beloved Country" is a beautifully told and profoundly compassionate story of the Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his son Absalom, set in the troubled and changing South Africa of the 1940s.

In an acclaimed new translation that is as accessible as it is faithful to Cervantes' original text, here is the epic story of Don Quixote of La Mancha and his squire, Sancho Panza.

In 1520, thirteen-year-old Anne Boleyn, jealous of her older sister's beauty and position at court, declares that she will one day be queen of England, and that her sister will kneel at her feet. Though born without great beauty, wealth, or title, Anne Boleyn blossomed into a captivating woman. She used her wiles to win the heart of England's most powerful man, King Henry VIII, and to persuade him to defy everyone--including his own wife--to make her his new queen. But Anne's ambition proved to be her fatal flaw.

Dr Oma is a story set in the time of the reformation. Juliana von Stolberg (1506 – 1580) the Queen Mother of the Netherlands, is cherished by the Dutch people as a wise and gifted healer. Juliana gains an able apprentice when her granddaughter Maria comes to live with her. Will Maria learn to trust her fears to God while her father, the courageous William of Orange, fights to free Holland from Spanish rule? Will one woman’s belief save the Netherlands and change the world? 

Joshua Harris shares how we can rediscover the relevance and power of Christian truth. Whether you are just exploring Christianity or you are a veteran...

Edward MacDowell and His Cabin in the Pines - a sensitive, appealing and lively biography of America's beloved composer which boys and girls (all others, too) will take to their hearts and treasure. His Quaker beginnings, his irrepressible interest in music, his youthful triumphs abroad, his visit to the master, Franz Liszt, who greeted him warmly and asked him back again to play at the festival in Zurich - his romance with his pupil, the lovely Marian Nevins, their marriage and return to America, the launching of the Peterboro, New Hampshire, colony, which bears his name - these are some of the delightful stories in the rich career of America's greatest composer, told gently, sensitively and with feeling, in a truly inspiring book.

Intended to complement Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher's classic Edward McDowell and His Cabin in the Pines. Packed with timelines, maps, reading comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about MacDowell's' life, particularly his remarkable childhood. 

This is the fascinating biography of the Scottish hero of the 1924 Olympics whose story was portrayed in Chariots of Fire and who went on to become a missionary in China.

Most people will remember Eric Liddell as the inspiration for the award-winning movie Chariots of Fire. But his life away from athletic competition was even more compelling and held an influence that reached all the way to a Japanese internment camp in China.

The American Revolution ignites a fire that rallies patriots to fight! Sandy M'Kethe, along with freeman Salem Poor, find themselves enlisted together in George Washington's army. An expert marksman with the longbow, Sandy's skill attracts the attention of the intrepid sea captain John Paul Jones. Sandy and Salem are bound for high-seas adventures. Together, can they navigate the guns of Providence?

Foundlings, book one of The Peleg Chronicles is Historical Fiction that takes place in the time period of Peleg, soon after the tower of Babel dispersion. In a land of giants and dragons, and men running from the knowledge of their Creator, wickedness spreads as a plague, but a remnant of faithful souls shine in the darkness.

This courageous Christian penned The Star Spangled Banner.  Francis Scott Key sowed seeds of aith to his family and friends all his life. The beauty of his words and the example of his Chritian life allow us to appreciate him today.

"From Sea to Shining Sea" (grades 6-12) is a recommended spine book for several TQ guides: " "Age of Revolution 1," and "Age of Revolution 2." What is a "spine book"? Remember, in TruthQuest history, no single book is "required," however, there are a number of books that are referred to to create an educational/historical spine in which your student can "hang" all his new-found knowledge. If you are using TQ history, you may find it helpful to include one or two of these in your study.

Cheryl Harness uses her wonderfully vibrant art and down-to-earth writing style to "chip away the marble" and present George Washington as more than a monument. We see George the adventurous boy, tromping through the woods with his dog and his hunting rifle; George the courageous military leader fighting alongside his men; George the cunning military strategist, outfoxing the British and forcing their surrender at Yorktown; George the brilliant statesman presiding over the Constitutional Convention; and George the President, wisely protecting our country from enemies foreign and domestic so it could grow strong. 

Give Them Grace is a guide to help Christians parent their children with grace and an emphasis on the cross. How are parents to raise children so they don't become Pharisees (legalists) or prodigals (rebels)? It's all about grace-filled, gospel-driven parenting, says the mother/daughter team of Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson. Christian parents, in their desire to raise godly children, can tend toward rule-centered discipline. There is, however, a far more effective method- a grace-motivated approach that begins with the glorious truth of God's love for sinners.

In World of Animals You will explore every facet of the animal kingdom. From cuddly mammals and slimy frogs, to jellyfish and bacteria, you and your child will discover how God created each animal to be unique. The activities make learning about animals even more fun.  

In God's Great Covenant, New Testament 1: A Bible Course for Children, students will follow the story of Jesus, the Messiah and King, as He is born and fulfills all God's promises.

This is the teacher's book (from Classical Academic Press) for God's Great Covenant, OT 1.  You might be asking, “Do you need the teacher materials?” Well, the teacher materials contain the answer key, but you really don’t need it.

This is the teacher's book (from Classical Academic Press) for God's Great Covenant, OT 2.  You might be asking, “Do you need the teacher materials?” Well, the teacher materials contain the answer key, but you really don’t need it. 

Elizabeth was born into an age of religious strife, in which plots and factions were everywhere and private beliefs could be punished by death. When she became queen, her counselors urged her to marry quickly and turn the responsibilities of governing over to her husband, But she outwitted them by stalling, changing her mind; and playing one side against another, as she steered her country to the glorious era of peace and security that would be called the Elizabethan Age.

A parent’s capacity to internalize the gospel, with all its implications, has an enormous effect on their marriage, their integrity, and their love for their children. Gospel-Powered Parenting will help parents see the importance of this principle. 

Dark allegory describes the narrator's journey up the Congo River and his meeting with, and fascination by, Mr. Kurtz, a mysterious personage who dominates the unruly inhabitants of the region. Masterly blend of adventure, character development, psychological penetration. Considered by many Conrad's finest, most enigmatic story.

Herein Is Love: Leviticus by Nancy Ganz is described by the publisher (Shepherd Press) as a commentary for children.  On the one hand, I hesitate to use that description, because you might get the impression that these are reference books - dullsville!  On the other hand, I feel compelled to use the description, because it will give you an idea of the spiritual depth and richness you will find in these books.  These books are amazing.  

"Come to the Garden" is the journal/Bible study designed specifically to accompany the book, "Homeschool Supermom...NOT!" Written by my mom, a godly older woman, this journal is designed to help you dig deeper into the Bible alongside the lessons you are learning in Supermom. Each chapter in the journal corresponds with a chapter in Supermom. Author Alta Andraeas has added stories and lessons of her own to the many questions taken from the side bars of Supermom and from the "Homework for the Soul" assignments at the end of each chapter, further enriching your studies. 

It’s finally here! This book, 20 years in the making, is full of photos, ideas, tips, Scripture, humor, and practical application. In it, you will find help for your home and school and hope for your soul. You might think I’m not just a homeschool mom like you. I’m the epitomy of the Homeschool Supermom - or so it may seem. I’ve homeschooled my nine amazing kids for 20 years. But it’s time for me to climb down from the pedestal, and in total transparency, explode the Supermom myth. 

This 2-book set includes "Homeschool Supermom...NOT!" and it's companion, "Come to the Garden." For details on these 2 books, please see the individual titles. In the meantime, the set gives you both books at a reduced price. 

How do we know that God wrote the Bible? What makes the Bible different from other books? Does the Bible have errors in it? Where did the Bible come from? Answers to these types of questions can be found in this book for 4th-6th graders. With 13 chapters, professional artwork, charts, and activity pages, this resource is excellent for both Bible class and homeschool instruction.

This modern classic written by Francis Schaeffer should become a foundation for any study you do on worldviews and history. Mr. Schaeffer addresses key events in the rise and decline of western civilization and analyzes the reasons for modern society's state of affairs presenting the only viable alternative: living by the Christian ethic, acceptance of God's revelation, and total affirmation of the Bible’s truth, morals, values and meaning.

Don't be misled by the title. This book is written for you, homeschool mom. When you were a young girl, didn't you dream of growing up to become a mommy some day? Didn't you play with dollies and practice your parenting skills? What about now? Do you ever dream of the next season of life? Of being a grammy? Do you ever wonder how you can practice to equip yourself to be an effective grandparent that will pass on a legacy of the gospel for your grandchildren? The problem is that American philosophy of the retirement years has completely robbed this most-important season of life from any meaning or value. 

When the great Velazquez was painting his masterpieces at the Spanish court in the seventeenth century, his colors were expertly mixed and his canvases carefully prepared by his slave, Juan de Pareja. In a vibrant novel which depicts both the beauty and the cruelty of the time and place, Elizabeth Borton de Trevino tells the story of Juan, who was born a slave and died an accomplished and respected artist.

Young Simon, recently and tragically orphaned, becomes a scribe in the following of the exiled Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. The uncertainty of the tumultuous years leading to the infamous cathedral slaying is heightened by Simon's separation from his twin Edmund, who is in the service of King Henry II.

This classic, second only to the Bible for religious instruction and inspiration, has brought understanding and comfort to millions for centuries. Written in a candid and conversational style, the topics include liberation from worldly inclinations, preparation and consolations of prayer, and the place of eucharistic communion in a devout life.