I enjoy fiction set in places I know. I also enjoy fiction that tackles tough topics. Gladys Krueger’s novel False Love, True Love does both of these. The story is set in small-town Saskatchewan, not too far from where I grew up in Alberta. Through a teacher’s point of view, Gladys addresses the topic of child […]
Otherworld: A Novel by Erin E. M. Hatton
Erin Hatton’s novel Otherworld grabbed me from the first pages and kept me reading until the end. Even when I realized that this story was an allegory, I was intrigued. More a novella than a novel, this story is a quick, easy read. The first time I saw him, I didn’t think much of him. That’s […]
A Birth Mom’s Story: God Gives and Takes Away
November is National Adoption Awareness Month. Several years ago, I shared an adoption story by a friend of mine. Today, I’d like to share the other side of adoption—the birth mom’s story. Christine is an award-winning author who gave up her oldest daughter for adoption. Here, with excerpts from her new memoir about her daughter’s […]
The Chief Factor’s Daughter by Vanessa Winn
Victoria’s history is written in her streets and landmarks, from Mount Tolmie to Begbie Street. Living there, I knew that many of the names were based on historical figures. Other than reading the occasional historical plaque, I never took the time to find out more. Then I picked up The Chief Factor’s Daughter by Vanessa […]
Penny Loves Wade, Wade Loves Penny by Caroline Woodward
It seemed ironic to me that I began reading Penny Loves Wade, Wade Loves Penny just after watching The Odyssey by the girls. I saw immediately the parallels between this modern novel and the classic play. Wade is Odysseus, leaving home on a long-haul trucking trip. Penny is Penelope, keeping everything going at home while […]
How I Chose My Homeschool Curriculum
One of the biggest questions facing a homeschooler is what curriculum to use. There are tons of great curriculum options available to homeschool families. For me, the deciding factor has been talking to fellow homeschoolers about what has worked for them in their daily routines. Last summer, when I began planning to homeschool Sunshine for […]
My Favourite Canadian Books: Janette Oke’s Animal Friends
Today I’m joining up with the Canadian Homeschool Blogging Team to talk about our favourite Canadian books. My first thought was—one book? I have to pick ONE favourite Canadian book? Um…… I was a voracious reader during my childhood and teenage years. When I was ten, my mom gave me an old journal in which […]
Rosina, the Midwife by Jessica Kluthe
Jessica Kluthe’s debut book Rosina, the Midwife grabbed me for three reasons. First, it’s about a midwife, and after having midwives for two of my daughters’ births, I love all things midwife. Second, it’s about Jessica’s family, and I’ve also thought about tracing and writing about my own family, so I was curious to see […]
One Smooth Stone by Marcia Laycock
One Smooth Stone by Marcia Lee Laycock is the story of Alex Donnelly, a young man who has spent the last five years hiding out the Yukon Territory in northern Canada, trying to escape his past, the police, and God. But with the passing of his twenty-first birthday comes an inheritance from his parents… money […]
Book Review: Mrs. B Has Cancer by Glynis Belec
In today’s world, nearly every family has been touched by cancer. I’ve shared about losing a dear family friend and my best friend’s mom to cancer. It seems there is always someone in our circle of friends who is battling cancer as well. Yet trying to explain this disease to children is tough. Of course, […]
