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A ticking package…a strange sickness…a villainous power…
Sixth grade superhero Clark Keane receives a mysterious gift at school—a smartwatch. This isn’t just any smartwatch. It’s a smartwatch-turned-stink-bomb and it’s counting down the minutes until Aldrich Middle School hits Level P.U.
A stink bomb isn’t the only thing that smells.
New kid, Red Handel, appears at school with the power to gift the kids of Aldrich Middle whatever they want. When the joy over the gifts mutates into feverish fury, Clark must transform into Eagleboy, the Savior of the Skies, to discover the truth behind his classmates’ desires. But there’s a tickle in Clark’s throat and superpowers might not be enough to withstand the sickness overtaking the school. In this novelette about comparison and contentment, Clark must decide whether saving the day is worth the sacrifice.
My 11-year-old son got to this book first. Isn’t the cover amazing? Which fantasy-loving reader wouldn’t swipe it from his mom’s to-read pile?
The next day he returned it, saying, “Mom, you gotta write a review for this book and put it in your next giveaway.”
Wow. That’s a great endorsement. He reads a lot of books, but has never said that so I knew this read would be something special.
Laurie Christine’s Garden of Mysteries follows Seth, the son of Adam and Eve as he seeks to break the curse God has placed on the earth, as well as the dragon who wants to turn Seth against the King (God).
I loved this premise–what if Adam and Eve’s son tried to break sin’s curse? Much about this time in the Bible is little known, so it was fun to see Christine’s imagination at work. Every chapter, I looked forward to how she’d weave fact and fiction together. Speaking of… In the back that she included a chapter-by-chapter ‘Fact or Fiction’ section to share what is in the Bible and what she imagined for the story. So fun!
I think all kids, but boys especially, will connect with Seth’s desire to change his world. He wants to ease the burdens and hurts his parents carry. Justice, family, and doing what’s right are important to him, even if he needs to learn how to do those things in submission to the King’s plan. The author created a hero who reflects the many amazing qualities young boys have and empowers boys to step into those traits.
But what really captivated me about this story is the book’s gospel-centered heart. There is a real struggle here between Seth and the Dragon that represents the struggle between God’s people and Satan, who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10) and to separate us from God. This book highlights that battle in a way that shows the threat, but ultimately focuses on God’s sovereign power and love for his people.
The last thing I want to share is something readers might not think much about: book formatting. The text layout in this book is especially easy on the eyes, with short paragraphs and lots of blank space, grey-scale illustrations, and cute little pomegranate section dividers. These features make this book absolutely perfect for those who might feel ready for middle grade books, but are scared off by lots of text.
Bottom Line: Garden of Mysteries, A Dragon Slayer Bible Story, is great for kids 8-12, especially boys, who like adventure stories based on the Bible. With an imagination-provoking premise and a hero we want to root for, Laurie Christine draws us into God’s larger story of redemption while reminding us to be courageous warriors!
It’s 1911. The Mona Lisa, a little-known painting by an old artist, has vanished. As Nicholas Day tells it, it’s the best thing to happen to The Mona Lisa’s career.
Have a kid who loves non-fiction? Have a kid you’d like to get more into non-fiction? The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day would be a great book to encourage an interest in the stories that happen all around us. Every detail of the theft of the Mona Lisa was interesting, especially told in Nicholas Day’s conversational voice. This book touches on art history, history of police investigation, the history of the Italian Renaissance, birth of newspapers, and so much more!
While I didn’t know what to expect from this book, I certainly didn’t expect how engaging this book was. It read like a story while staying firmly in the non-fiction realm (not historical fiction). Being engaging is good because the book is quite hefty. The shorter chapters that flip back and forth between the creation of painting and its theft were smart decisions by the author and will help a middle grade or young adult audience stay interested.
I also didn’t expect this book to have a message, but it certainly does. Day brings up how people often choose to believe lies over truth, fabulous stories over boring real life. While this message can be skated over by readers who just want to find out what happened, it would make great discussion for families or a class.
Bottom Line: The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day is non-fiction for middle grade or young adult readers who like compelling historical events or like to learn, told in a conversational tone. Great for discussion and/or to pair alongside early 20th century or Renaissance history.
“A road trip’s about the journey, not the destination.”
This line from Wierwille’s book is at the heart of main character Kimmy’s search for family and friends.
As a girl with only half an arm, Kimmy has always felt out-of-place, so when she sees her lost dog featured in a magazine article, she knows her search for friendship is only a few hours away. But as she travels from Pennsylvania to New York with her aunt, Kimmy discovers her lost dog is not the only creature who loves her. She has all the friends and family she needs.
This family-friendly, realistic fiction tugged at both my heart and my thirteen-year-old daughter’s. It was a quick read, both in length and pacing, but packed in so much. The community in this book shines as the main character is surrounded by people who love her, even if she doesn’t quite realize it. The characters are relatable and realistic. The mystery of how Kimmy’s dog got in the magazine article and her impatience pulls us along the winding road into New York until we have to know what Kimmy’s parents seem to be hiding…
The end of the story sets up a second book while resolving Kimmy’s story, meaning this book can stand alone or lead into Wierwille’s next two books. (Right now the kickstarter for the third installment is live! Check it out here.)
Bottom Line: The lessons Kimmy learned are for all of us. For instance…
…that God loves us and perfectly puts us in our circumstances—good or bad—to grow us.
…that we are blessed when we have family and friends around us.
…that we often have more than we think we do.
All these beautiful truths would make Roadtrip Rescue a great read for a preteen girl either on her own or alongside a special woman in her life. It would also make a great family read-aloud!
A mini-review of a Narnia-like book without the magical wardrobe
Set in England during WWII, three siblings find themselves orphaned and are sent to the country to be removed from a bomb threat while really searching for a new family. A far-fetched plot, maybe, but with quick pacing and relatable characters, readers will be happy to cozy up with William, Edmund, and Anna as they search for a family.
The war is a backdrop for the action, but removed enough from the plot so this book doesn’t have a ‘scary’ or ‘ominous’ feel to it, which is nice for sensitive or younger readers. There is talk of a character’s husband who died and a scene where the boys have to kill rats for money, but the author is able to do both in a way that give William, Edmund, and Anna challenges but is still conscientious of her audience.
The three siblings face numerous obstacles, but with Albus’s amazing characterization, I was immediately rooting for them. Both brothers and sister are distinct with their own strengths and irritating, yet lovable qualities.
And the author creates just enough suspense to keep me engaged as I had to know which family the siblings end up with (although some readers might be able to guess).
Bottom Line: With an emphasis on family, loveable characters, and a bit of suspense, A Place to Hang the Moon would make a great family read-aloud or individual read for kids who like historical fiction that’s not too scary!
Twelve Months in 2025, twelve books geared towards kids ages 10-12 that are perfect to read together as a family!
Do you love reading with your kids, but struggle to pick out the right book to read to them?
I do too. As a mom and Christian writer, I’m always on the lookout for our next family read aloud, but I’m picky. My time is limited and reading a book aloud is an investment. I want our next family read to be fun and exciting for the kids but also hopeful and thought-provoking.
If you feel the same way this giveaway is for you.
I’ve hand selected twelve amazing books from different authors and genres geared towards kids ages 10-12 (including my first full-length novel The Great Friend Feud)! I think all of these would make great family read-alouds. While I am a Christian author and my book has Christian themes, most of these books are not faith-focused. But all of them meet the criteria of being hopeful or thought-provoking and many of them emphasize family or friendship in some way.
Okay. Okay. Let’s get to the books already…
The winner will receive a copy of these twelve books in hardback form:
The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The Great Friend Feud by Lacey Markt
Roadtrip Rescue by Becca Wierwille
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
The Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
The winner will be announced on my website January 9th and through my newsletter on January 14th!
You might notice in the picture that there are only eleven books. That is because my book, The Great Friend Feud isn’t available until March. That means the winner of the giveaway will get eleven books shipped to them in January and my book will be shipped separately when it becomes available in March.
While only one person can win the giveaway, all entrants agree to subscribe to my newsletter and will receive monthly book recommendations and a link to a free copy of my novella Clark Sees Red. You can unsubscribe at anytime.
To enter, click on the KingSumo link on my home page, laceymarkt.com.
An Irreverent Christmas Read that gets at the Heart of the Holiday
Ebenezer Scrooge. The Grinch. The Herdmans.
Wait. Who?
Herdmans. Six children from Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever who carve out…er, or burn down a place in history as best Christmas bad guys.
Yet, I had never heard of Robinson’s humorous children’s book. In search of a Christmas read for my family, I came upon this 1971 tale of six kids who bully their way into becoming the stars of their town’s Christmas pageant.
My husband, kids, and I listened to this book on audio while doing a jigsaw puzzle. It took two nights (the audiobook; the puzzle took longer). We laughed at Robinson’s sparkling humor and true-to-life character portrayals. Who doesn’t know someone like Mrs. Armstrong, who micromanages every committee or Alice Wendleken, the obnoxiously perfect “Mary” who keeps a list of the Herdman’s wrongdoings or Beth’s dad, who is over pageant politics and just wants his dinner.
Of course, this book was filled with winces, too—kids who smoke cigars? Who fat-shame other kids to get charm bracelets? Take the Lord’s name in vain?
I wondered: Should I be inflicting the Herdmans on my own children? What kind of parent am I to let them listen to this?
But, I think that’s Barbara Robinson’s point. God didn’t put on flesh and come to earth for kids (and adults) who had it altogether. Because no matter how hard we try, we can’t get it together. Sure, we might not be smoking cigars in a church bathroom stall, but we are nowhere close to the perfection God requires.
That’s the point of Christmas. Jesus was born in a stinky manger, lived a perfect human life, and died a brutal death on a cross. He did that for me and for you. The way to God is open now for those who receive the gift of Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Yep, I inflicted the Herdmans on my children, crassness, imperfections, and all. In doing so, we were reminded that Jesus came into the mess, for our mess. And we were reminded to sit in awe of that act of love and give back in worship whatever we have, whether that’s gold, frankincense, and myrhh…or a Christmas ham.
Bottom Line: Funny, riotous, and irreverent…The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson is a parent’s worst nightmare—a kid’s book with too much questionable content. However, I would read it with my kids again.
The message is beautiful and reminds me of John 3:17: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
If you feel condemned today, know that Jesus doesn’t condemn you. He sees the imperfections that separate you from God and died the death you were meant to have. He saved you!
If you’d like to know more, I’d encourage you to check out a church this Christmas or email me. I’d love to help you have assurance that God loves you and take next steps toward Him.
You, like me, have probably seen the many amazing reviews for the just released The Wild Robot movie, based on The Wild Robot book by Peter Brown. While I haven’t seen the movie, I just finished the book and if you are wondering what the story is about and whether the book is worth checking out, keep reading.
Roz the robot (ROZZUM unit 7134) is storm-tossed in her crate onto a deserted island. She is awakened by otters and her programming kicks in, propelling her to learn and survive. She camouflages herself to hide from bear cubs, climbs trees, and speaks to the animals.
Around Chapter 20 (only page 40—short chapters, thankfully, because the start of the story was a bit slow), Roz accidentally causes a rockslide, killing all but one egg in a family of geese. Roz decides to take care of the egg and here the story really takes off.
She must work with the animals to raise the little gosling. We see her making shelter and a garden, teaching the gosling how to fly, and interacting with the different inhabitants. She’s playing house, which both 8-12 year old girls and boys will probably enjoy. Eventually, as the gosling goes south for the winter, Roz must find a new purpose—helping the animals and eventually protecting her friends by fighting off the robots that come to collect this defective robot.
While I’m not sure what themes the film pulled from this book or what the author intended, to me, humanity’s very purpose is the question at the heart of this story. What should I do with my life? What is the difference between surviving and living? And because I’m a Christian, the story led me to ask: what is the purpose God has designed me for? These are deep questions that could yield some rich conversations between chapters or over the dinner table.
Some considerations before reading: I think kids will love imagining a robot protagonist in the “wild”. Roz becomes a mom and is “playing house”, which is relatable. The fight scene at the end of the book adds excitement and drama for a sequel. And who doesn’t love talking animals?
This book did start slow, which may turn off reluctant readers, but the short chapters should help with engagement. Some readers might be disturbed to hear of the goose family being crushed in the rockslide, the gosling being teased because his mother was different, or see Roz and the other robots who come to collect her fighting with guns at the end of the book (including a picture of one of the bad robots with a hole through its body from being shot).
Bottom Line: The Wild Robot is a quiet book that could be a quick read or encourage deeper thought. The characters and adventures will appeal to kids, but some readers could be turned off by the slow start or the “wildness” of the circle of life. The second book is called The Wild Robot Escapes, and I haven’t read it yet. But I do plan on taking my family to the movie!
Heroes: A novel of Pearl Harbor by Alan Gratz is the story of Frank and Stanley, two friends living in Hawaii at the outbreak of America’s involvement in World War Two. Gratz does a great job getting us into the action quickly—Frank and Stanley are visiting a battleship that fateful December morning when Japan flies over Pearl Harbor and unleashes terror on the unprepared U.S. soldiers. But the author doesn’t shy away from giving us a very real depiction of the death, violence, and fear that would have been a part of living through that morning, which might be too much for some young readers.
Frank, who has a secret past that makes him afraid of everything, must find his courage and overcome his fears as they search for their families. Stanley, whose mother is Japanese American, faces prejudice, while heroically saving injured soldiers. Throughout these challenges, the boys’ friendship is tested.
As you can probably tell from my plot descriptions, Frank and Stanley aren’t sheltering in a bunker somewhere. They are out in the action. Gratz gives them both opportunities to be heroes. That’s something that I think makes this book stand out. His main characters, despite their age, have a lot of agency, and I think that will appeal to kids. It sends a message that they can be heroes, even as a preteen or teenager.
At the end of the book, there’s a comic written by Frank and Stanley! And a few extra pages that give deeper details on comic book history and Pearl Harbor. A kid might skip over the history “extra” as it didn’t have a kid-friendly look (I compare all history bonuses in kids’ books to American Girls’ “A Peek into the Past” because, you know, American Girl books were the kids’ historical fiction back in the day 😉), but it would still be interesting for history-lovers or homeschool families who want to go a bit deeper when studying Pearl Harbor.
Bottom Line: Heroes: A novel of Pearl Harbor by Alan Gratz is for a kid (or adult) who loves middle grade historical fiction and is ready for something more “grown-up” and gritty than the I Survived books. Heroes can be graphic as it depicts war scenes. It explores themes of bravery, friendship, and prejudice. Some sensitive issues present are the portrayals of death and violence and the exploration of prejudice towards Japanese Americans during this conflict.
We often feel a longing for things to be perfect—perfect marriage, perfect body, perfect family, perfect house. And as we pursue perfection, we spend money we shouldn’t, focus on worldly appearances rather than connection to God, and take on more than we can handle. We work and work yet are left exhausted and disappointed.
Continue reading to explore some of what the Bible says about perfectionism and a few amazing reminders for your kids who deal with perfectionism.
Can we have perfection?
So why does Jesus tell us in Matthew 5:48 to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”?
It’s a standard we can’t obtain. A level we will never be able to measure. We know it yet are told to do it. How frustrating is that? (Very, for a type A rule-follower like me. I have to check all the boxes.)
The truth is: God already knows that perfection will never be obtained on this side of heaven. Romans 3:10 says: “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one…’” God knows we can never reach His perfect standard. So He made a way for us to be rid of our imperfections.
That way is Jesus.
Jesus is God in human flesh, who took on our sin, our inadequacies, our imperfections, and put them to death. He clothes us, instead, in God’s holy righteousness. Second Corinthians 5:21 says “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
When God sees you, He sees Jesus’s blood covering you. Imperfections gone, sin washed away. Holy standard met.
That doing, that striving to get to God or have His righteousness is unnecessary. Jesus has already done the work. And when we believe that Jesus’s work stands for us, we can rest in the work God has already done for us.
Rest. That’s what I want more of. That means:
I can be close to God now and for eternity,
I don’t need to keep up a perfect, polished front
I can let go of things God hadn’t asked me to do
I can trust God to work in my issues, as well as my husband’s, kids’, coworkers’, friends’, or family’s imperfections (it’s not my job to fix people)
And so much more!
And He’s promised us a perfect world with Him one day (Revelation 21:3-4).
How cool is that?
Stuck in an Imperfect World?
Still, you may be saying, “C’mon, Lacey. That’s all good, but I still want things perfect now. What does the Bible say about that?”
I’m glad you asked.
I hate to break the news to you, but until God creates this new perfect world and finishes perfecting His people, things are not going to be…well, perfect. Your spouse won’t be perfect, your kids won’t be perfect, your work is never going to get to some ultimate perfect level, and, let’s face it, your house is probably devolving into chaos as we speak. Trying to scrub off the marker might look good for company but is not going to fix what is broken in this world.
Is there any good news for those of us impatiently waiting for perfection to come? Resolutely, yes! Not only is God working in you, perfecting you (Phil 1:6) (we like to overlook that, after all, we like to do the perfecting), but the Bible tells us that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
That means our all-powerful, perfectly good God is working in all those weak areas that we can’t seem to “perfect” on our own. For instance:
When our parenting seems insufficient for our kids, God is working to parent them, too.
When our sharing of the gospel feels stammering and ineffective, God is working.
When our houses are a mess, God can still use them to care for our families and offer hospitality to others.
And when this blog post doesn’t say things quite perfectly, God can still use it to encourage you.
Take a Moment and Reflect
So, where in your life are you striving for perfection today?
Why does that area need to be perfect?
What would it look like to trust God for perfection?
How would resting in that trust change your life?
Have a perfectionist kid?
Here are some reminders to give them when they feel they don’t measure up.
Remind them they are a work in progress: Philippians 1:6
Remind them they are given righteousness freely. They don’t have to do anything besides accept Jesus’s work on their behalf: John 14:6, Galatians 2:16
Remind them they were loved without being perfect: John 3:16, 1 John 3:1
Remind them they can rest: Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4:9-11, Psalms 127:2
Remind them that when they mess up, forgiveness is freely offered: Psalm 103:12, Psalm 32:5, 1 John 1:9
Remind them that their one “necessary” thing to do in life is to love God and others: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Matthew 22:37-40, John 13:34
I’ve got a hoard of perfectionist kids over here and one of them recently came to me crying over something she had done she knew was wrong. I reminded her God freely gives forgiveness when asked and read this kid the two Psalms verses on the list. She listened and said, “So, when I ask for forgiveness, this sin will be gone?”
“Yes, girl, you’ve got it.”
“I did that,” she said, and told me about her prayers to God last night.
She walked away with a lighter step, and I hope, today, your family can find some freedom, too.
An award-winning book on perspectives and prejudices…
New Kid by Jerry Craft, winner of the 2020 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award, is a graphic novel with perspective…lots of perspectives. Twelve-year-old Jordan Banks is enrolled in a new school. Not only is it not in his neighborhood, it’s a private school of mostly white kids and teachers. And Jordan is black.
As Jordan spends a year as the new kid, the author shows us many different perspectives of and prejudices against minorities in a primarily white setting. From Jordan’s parents who disagree about sending him to this school, to his homeroom teacher who assumes he’ll be trouble, to his new friend (a rich white kid) with whom he has more in common than he would think, and every perspective in between, this author illustrates the many reactions to Jordan’s situation.
While this is not a gripping, pull-you-in story, this novel quietly invites anyone and everyone to empathize with the main character. The themes of navigating choices made for you, being misunderstood, and finding common ground are universal and Jerry Craft uses those and his smart illustrations to connect readers to Jordan.
Bottom Line: Jerry Craft’s New Kid is an award-winning graphic novel for a reason, as it gives a voice to many African American kids, as well as portraying numerous differing perspectives humbly, yet courageously. This book validates readers who have a similar story as the main character, Jordan, as well as broadening the understanding of those who have never gone through these same challenges. Depending on the maturity and experiences of your reader, you may want to unpack some of the issues brought up while reading or after reading this novel.
