“A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by nettles, and torn by briars; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin.”
If you just read that quote and found yourself nodding with a grin, reminiscing on the fond memory of a classic story, then you’re probably one of those fortunate few who still love receiving a great book at Christmas.
If, on the other hand, that gritty prose rings no bells, well, there’s still time. In fact, there’s no better time. You can be blessed with the joy of reading Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations for the very first time. Now, that’s cause for celebration.
As for the young people in your life, this might also be the perfect time to send them off on a fresh reading adventure—instead of offering them continued button mashing or smartphone scrolling for the holidays. So, here’s a list of some enjoyable new books that we at Plugged In reviewed this past year.
Pocket Bear
by Katherine Applegate. (Children’s fiction. Fantasy adventure.)
This sweet and thoughtful book showcases a slightly tattered and torn street cat who knows how to handle herself. Zephyrina goes where she pleases, doing what she wants … except when it comes to a small stuffed bear named Pocket. For this little mascot bear, Zephyrina will do anything. This endearing book mixes some historical insight into its tale while talking to young readers about the power of friendship and loyalty. And it suggests that even those with self-acknowledged character flaws can be transformed for the better through companionship, appreciation and love.
The Bletchley Riddle
by Ruta Sepetys; Steve Sheinkin. (Middle Grade. Historical. Mystery.)
If you want a bit more of that historical vibe, The Bletchley Riddle may have the code-breaking juice. This rollicking World War II adventure is all about a teen named Lizzie and her older brother, Jakob. They race to decipher clues and unravel a shocking conundrum as the enemy’s bombs begin to drop. The Bletchley Riddle is well-written fiction, but it also contains historically accurate nuggets. The book praises devotion to friends and family. And it encourages young people to use their skills to help others in times of need.
The Trouble with Heroes
by Kate Messner (Tweens and teens. Adventure.)
Finn Connelly is caught vandalizing a woman’s cemetery headstone. But the deceased former hiker’s daughter makes Finn an unusual offer: She’ll drop the charges if he agrees to climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in a single summer. The story is compelling, but the book throws in another twist: It’s written in various styles of poetic verse—a dynamically cool approach to how Finn deals with grief, wrestles with priorities and faces life’s challenges. Parents of younger readers should, however, be aware that there are discussions of alcoholism and grief, some angry disobedience and some light violence.
God With Us: Bible Stories on the Road to Emmaus
by Matt Mikalatos; Illustrated by David Shephard. (Tweens and teens. Graphic Novel. Christian.)
This well-crafted graphic novel uses the curiosity of an elderly couple and their two young charges to give us a fresh perspective on God’s long-term purpose for mankind, the forgiveness He offers us and the interconnected nature of biblical stories. It’s an interesting blend of many quick-take stories from the Bible, woven together to illustrate Luke 24:13-35. Collectively, the book suggests that the things of the Bible are not accidental. Instead, they are completely interlocked, planned by our heavenly Father. This is an enjoyable read even for those without knowledge of the source material.
Once a Castle: A Carrick Hall Novel, Vol 2
by Sarah Arthur (Young Adult. Fantasy adventure.)
The Addison siblings and their friends discover that there are portals connecting their English village and the magical fantasy realm of Ternival. They must make their way through enchantments, dark mysteries and mayhem to somehow save both realities from an evil witch. Chronicles of Narnia vibes anyone? There are perilous and deadly moments here that might be disturbing for younger readers. But this sequel is an immersive tale that encourages readers to push back against the ever-present evil of our world, sacrifice for others and hold fast to virtues—such as bravery, honesty, faith and love.
Well, there you have it, five good titles that you can think about for the young readers on your Christmas list. Of course, as Dickens said: “Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.” So please take a moment to read the full reviews of these and other books at pluggedin.com/books/.
And happy holidays!
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