Naming things is a powerful activity—it was man’s first task in Genesis—and this power is explored in Richard Hamblyn’s brilliant book The Invention of Clouds: How an Amateur Meteorologist Forged the Language of the Skies. I do not think I have ever read such a satisfying, lyrical, information-packed science history book before, although I have […]
older teens and adults
For our college age young people, and also for ourselves as homeschooling moms. (I used to tag this as ‘adult’ but my hubby told me that had the wrong connotation.)
Review: Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher
After his third stint in rehab, Luke Schrock went home but no one seemed to want him. Yes, the Amish forgave him; they are required to. But that doesn’t mean they trusted him; almost everyone watched him suspiciously, remembering his devastating pranks. Handsome, charming Luke had always found it easy to win people’s trust, but […]
Review: The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman
In 17th century Europe, young Maria Merian was fascinated by butterflies. ‘Summer birds’, they were called, and no one really knew where they came from. Raised first in an engraver’s house and then an illustrator’s, Maria learned both the technical details of her craft and how to observe nature. She combined the two to become […]
Review: Once We Were Strangers by Shawn Smucker
Shawn Smucker, a middle-aged father of six who drove for Uber and Lyft when writing was slow, wanted to help the Syrian refugees. Writing a book about their situation was a way he was uniquely equipped to help them, so Lancaster’s Church World Service arranged for him to meet a Syrian refugee named Mohammed. When […]