The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

The Hiding Place, written by Corrie ten Boom, is a true story about the author's experiences during the holocaust. Corrie ten Boom was a leader in the Underground. With the help of her family, she kept many Jews safe from the Nazis. However, she was eventually caught, and along with her family, thrown into prison and a concentration camp.

This inspirational story is about how Corrie found faith and held onto it for dear life. She witnessed many miracles, but the greatest miracle to me, is that Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were able to maintain such a positive outlook because of their unwavering faith in God. I mean, Betsie prays IN GRATITUDE for the fleas in the bunker, which do, amazingly enough, turn out to have a good purpose.

Here is a brief excerpt:

"Corrie Ten Boom stood naked with her older sister Betsie, watching a concentration camp matron beating a prisoner. "Oh, the poor woman," Corrie cried. "Yes. May God forgive her," Betsie replied. And, once again, Corrie realized that it was for the souls of the brutal Nazi guards that her sister prayed."

The Hiding Place is a life-changing classic. It is a quick read. Although it is about the holocaust, it is not deeply depressing but enlightening. I hope you enjoy it! It is one of the best books I have ever read.

The above review was published on this blog in 2008.

Grace's Note, 2019: What an incredible book. I'm 13 and I loved it. Have your kids read it! It's informational about WWII and uplifting.

Just David by Eleanor H. Porter Book Review

 Just David by Eleanor H. Porter

   From the author who wrote Pollyanna, another beautiful classic. I absolutely loved Just David! 
   Ten year old David has never known his last name or his father's name. As far back as he can remember, he has lived on the mountain in the house with his father and spent his days enjoying nature. So when his father takes him down the mountain on a journey, gives him money, and dies in a stranger's barn in the middle of the night, David is left in the care of the people of the strange town where his father died. He is taken in by Mr. and Mrs. Holly, who are hardworking, no-nonsense people.
   The whole town is astounded with the boy- the boy who doesn't know at all what money or death or hard work is, who knows Latin and French, who can identify every plant and animal in the forest, who is the best violinist they have ever heard, and plays what the world looks like to him. 
   His unheard-of ways, his talent, his determination and ability to see good in every single thing when a normal person could see none, and the mystery behind who his father is, makes him a misfit with the boys his age in the village. Despite all this, with time, his music and his kind heart touch the hardened hearts of the town. 
   I read The Good and the Beautiful version, which is completely clean, but I'm sure the normal version is as well. I thought it would be boring but it was a sweet story and super engaging. Anyone can read it, but it is probably geared toward ten or eleven year olds. Five stars from me! 
   -Grace

Our Current Reading

I'm usually a One-Book-at-a-Time kinda girl, but at the moment I'm all over the place.

As much of a reader as I've been over the last decade, I feel like my eyes are just beginning to open, and I feel this thirst for more knowledge...and it feels good.

Right now, I'm making my way through...

Non-LDS Books


The Cat of Bubastes by G. A. Henty-There's so much to learn from his historical fiction. Wow! Makes a great read-aloud. Long at times, I admit, but it's quite the adventure. We're all enjoying it.


Les Miserables by Victor Hugo-So great when I read it, but I find myself drawn to other books first.


LDS Books


10 Critical Keys for Highly Effective Mormon Families by William Dyer and Philip Kunz-Interesting look at what successful families do.


The Infinite Atonement by Tad R. Callister-Beautiful. Great insights.


The Temple Experience by Wendy Ulrich-Haven't read much yet, but I'm hoping that it will help me get more out of my temple experiences.



That's it at the moment. What are you reading?

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

It is rumored that Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe at the beginning of the Civil War and said, "So this is the little lady who started this great war."

Despite changing the course of America's history, this is a book many people have heard of, but far fewer have read.

Well-drawn characters are interwoven in a web of stories that portray life in the slave states. Through unimaginable trials, most of the slaves in the story buckle under pressure and lose hope. However, some stay strong and true to their Christian faith.

Uncle Tom is a strong character who looks to God for guidance. When all the other slaves buckle under the pressure of a tyrannical slave-owner, he stands strong in his faith and doesn't budge.

What a beautiful example of true Christianity! Tom realizes that no matter what is done to him on Earth, he will be rewarded in Heaven for sticking to his morals and his God.

Well-written, although definitely written with an anti-slavery slant that sometimes comes before the story itself, this book instantly rose to be on my list of most wonderful, life-changing, powerful books.

I highlighted a few parts of this classic as I read. One sentence that struck me was this: "It's pretty generally understood that men don't aspire after the absolute right, but only to do about as well as the rest of the world." This is only too true. How often do we do things just because it is commonly accepted? Whether or not they are right?

Highly recommended for teens and adults.

Book Review: The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany Aching, age 9, is a responsible  and sensible girl. She makes cheese and watches after her sticky little brother. Generation after generation of Achings have been sheep herders.

But Tiffany wants to be something more. She wants to be a witch.

When creatures from Fairyland start invading her farm, she does what anyone would do...arms herself with a frying pan.

Luckily she has a better weapon. The Nac Mac Feegle, also known as the Wee Free Men, are on her side. They're tiny blue men with lots of tattoos. They love to fight and drink strong drink. Their battle cries are hilarious. We laughed out loud when they said, "They can tak' oour lives, but they cannae tak' oour troousers!" They're also always chanting, ""Nae king! Nae quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willnae be fooled again!" ***

Tiffany has mixed feelings about taking care of her brother all the time, but when he is whisked away by the evil Queen of Fairyland, she knows she doesn't have a choice but to save him...and of course, the Wee Free Men are more than anxious to help.

Once they are in Fairyland, the story gets a bit more complicated, with different levels of dreaming and reality.

This story is not only entertaining, but it has a multitude of life lessons. I read it after a friend said that it was a great analogy for becoming a leader. Because of this, I saw many great insights I may have missed. After a series of dreams, Tiffany realizes, "The secret is not to dream. The secret is to wake up. Waking up is harder."

Tiffany is a great character. She wonders about her lack of emotions. She knows she has a seed of greatness inside of her, so she seeks a mentor to help her become what she wants to be. After all, everyone starts small, "like oak trees". She believes in herself and does what she has to do.

In terms of age-appropriateness, I recommend this book for tweens and teens. Like I said, the Nac Mac Feegle love their strong drink. Also, Granny Aching, Tiffany's grandma, smoked cigars. The cigar packaging plays a large part in the story and is once said to look like a naked woman's sillouette if you hold the package just so.

I read it aloud to my kids, skipping the things aforementioned. Use your judgment.

***Funny story. One evening in AZ, the kids, in desperate need of a bath, were marching through the house chanting, "No baths, no showers, no soap. We won't be fooled again!"

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal


A Guest Review by LaChelle, the Sugar Duchess

Jane Ellsworth lives in an alternate Regency England, where accomplished young ladies not only sing and play and paint, but also manipulate folds of magic called "glamour." Jane and her sister Melody are polar opposites - Jane is particularly talented with glamour, but rather plain, and nearly a confirmed spinster; Melody is younger and more beautiful, but has little skill with glamour. Sparks fly as both sisters fall in love with the same man, and romantic mayhem ensues as new gentlemen arrive, past scandals are uncovered, attractions form, and secret engagements come to light.

The whole premise of Shades of Milk and Honey is "Jane Austen with magic." This book is a faster read and less convoluted than most of Jane Austen's works, but it has everything we love in a good Austen story: Great social action, sparkling prose, intelligent characters (and ridiculous characters), and most of all, that wonderful romantic tension! Mary Robinette Kowal also throws in a sprinkling of twists and surprises, which were pulled off really well. The magic system is intelligent and fascinating on its own, and is able to color the characters and events of the story without breaking Regency England. And the whole thing is completely clean!

Recommended for any age, and for anyone who loves intelligent light fantasy and Jane Austen.

Read any good, clean books lately? Send a review my way!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I recently finished reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (on my new Kindle  :) What a wonderful classic! I thoroughly enjoyed it...but I wonder if most teens today would struggle with it. It is long, and it isn't particularly exciting. It's just a picture of life in the 1800's. An idealistic picture full of morals...which might be unwelcome to some...but turned out to be just what I was in the mood for.

Page after page, I found myself drawing welcome advice from Alcott's wisdom. I almost saw it as a manual for motherhood hidden within a fun, romantic story.

Four daughters are being raised by their mother while their father is away fighting in the Civil War. The family struggles with poverty but tries to make the most of what they have. The sisters and their mother are close and loving as can be as they face trials together.

Here are some quotes that stood out to me...

Marmee (mother) was a "tall, motherly lady with a 'can I help you' look about her which was truly delightful. She was not elegantly dressed, but a noble-looking woman, and the girls thought the gray cloak and unfashionable bonnet covered the most splendid mother in the world." The maid said of her, "Some poor creeter came a-beggin', and your ma went straight off to see what was needed. There never was such a woman for givin' away vittles and drink, clothes and firin'."
-Wouldn't you like to have such things said about you? I would.

The girls often put on plays. What could be better, honestly? "It was excellent drill for their memories, a harmless amusement, and employed many hours which otherwise would have been idle, lonely, or spent in less profitable society." Yes! The value in spending time with our families and amusing ourselves together.

When the girls left the house, "they always looked back before turning the corner, for the mother was always at the window to nod and smile, and wave her hand to them. Somehow it seemed as if they couldn't have got through the day without that, for whatever their mood might be, the last glimpse of that motherly face was sure to affect them like sunshine."
-I want to be sunshine to my kids...not the tall person that growls when they don't make their beds.

"For love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride."

When the youngest sister, Amy, is punished for something at school with a strike to the hand, it says, "She had been governed by love alone (at home), and a blow of that sort had never touched her before. The smart of her hand and the ache of her heart were forgotten in the sting of the thought, "I shall have to tell at home, and they will be so disappointed in me!"
-This is ideal, I think...getting our kids to want to do what is right. Not because it will free them of a spanking, but because Mom (and their Father in Heaven) will be disappointed...though always loving.

Marmee tells her daughter, Jo, how their father helped her by saying, "He never loses patience, never doubts of complains, but always hopes, and works and waits so cheerfully that one is ashamed to do otherwise before him...he showed me that I must try to practice all the virtues I would have my little girls possess, for I was their example. It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own." Later, in another teaching moment, she says, "If I don't seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend, even than Father, to comfort and sustain me. My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning and may be many, but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother."

"I'd rather see you poor men's wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace."

I like that Marmee allows the girls to make some mistakes. When they desperately want a week off from their responsibilities, she allows them to make an experiment of it. She says, "I think by Saturday night you will find that all play and no work is as bad as all work and no play." To solidify her point, she and the maid take time off, too. As you can imagine, things don't run very smoothly when no one is cooking, cleaning, and making fires.

"The clocks were striking midnight and the rooms were very still as a figure glided quietly from bed to bed, smoothing a coverlet here, settling a pillow there, and pausing to look long and tenderly at each unconscious face, to kiss each with lips that mutely blessed, and to pray the fervent prayers which only mothers utter." Sound familiar? It's a special time at night, isn't it? Before mother snuggles into her own rest, she checks on her babies, makes sure their warm, uttering silent prayers for them?

Anyway, this post is super-long...but I wanted to share the inspiration this book brought to me.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Book Review: Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Isn't Anne of Green Gables a perfect classic? We just finished listening to it.

Poor Anne has had a difficult life, moving from one house to another, always taking care of children, and then ending up in an orphanage. Although she doesn't pity herself, she longs for a home (with a large scope for imagination, of course).

Finally, someone wants to adopt her, and her little heart can hardly dare to hope it will work out. She almost falls apart when she discovers that Mathew and Marilla of Green Gables meant to adopt a boy and intend to send her back.

But who can resist Anne with her wild imaginings and endearing ways? She is a great character: well-drawn, imperfect but trying to be good, and quite entertaining.

Don't miss this book!

And now for a different kind of review...

We listened to Anne of Green Gables on LibriVox.org. This website has been a great addition to our homeschooling. Books that are in the public domain (in other words, classics published before 1923) have been recorded by volunteers. You can listen to them for free from your computer or download the mp3 and use it however you'd like!

We are now listening to A Christmas Carol while we do handcrafts together.

The only negative that I have found with LibriVox, is that sometimes you won't like the voice of the reader and sometimes different chapters of the same book are read by different readers. But...what do you expect? It's free!  The most popular classics have been recorded multiple times, so if you don't like one reader, you can always try another.

Book Review: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

A Little Princess has always been a favorite book of mine. Though bittersweet, it leaves you wanting to live a more grateful, imaginative life.

Sarah Crewe has lived a privileged life, to say the least. She has always been given everything her heart desired, and been waited on hand and foot. You might think that a girl like this would be spoiled and selfish, but Sarah has a generous heart. She entertains the girls in her boarding school with wild stories of India, befriending even those less popular.

When Sarah's lot in life changes drastically, she becomes a penniless servant, hungry and cold. She pretends to be a princess, and reminds herself to be gracious and share the little she has.

I highly recommend this story for listeners of all ages. Like I said, it was a favorite of mine as a child, and now I realize that it still holds a place in my heart.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien

I picked this book up at a yard sale a while back, and it was promptly shelved. Hesitant to read it to my kids, there it sat. The hesitance stemmed from my memories of the rather creepy movie version I used to watch as a kid.

I was wrong to wait. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a delightful story, full of mystery, adventure, science, and compassion. In short, we loved this Newbery Award winning classic.

Mrs. Frisby may be just a little mouse, but she is full of heart and courage. Her family needs to move before the farm plow comes through, but her son, Timothy, is too ill. She gathers her courage and  goes to seek the counsel of a wise owl. While there, the owl advises her to ask for help from the rats, but everyone knows the rats keep to themselves.

Will they help her in time to save her little family?

Such a sweet, fun story, it almost made me like mice. Almost. But no.

Highly recommended for any young readers or listeners.

Books With Impact

A friend asked me what books have had an impact on me. There are many, many books that I have loved over the years. These books are ones that have changed my life for the better.





The Burning Within by Ranelle Wallace

RaNelle and Terry Wallace were in a plane crash. Terry walked away with only minor burns, but RaNelle was severely burned. Hours after the crash, she died. Her account of the heavens is beautifully written and inspiring. She speaks of the overpowering love of God and man.

I reflect on the following quote often: "...I was seeing my entire life...Entirety does not describe the fullness of this review. It included knowledge about myself, that all the books in the world couldn't contain. I understood every reason for everything I did in my life. And I also understood the impact I had on others."

She goes on to give accounts of people she helped in life and others who she failed to help. This section of the book has helped me look outside myself and seek out opportunities to be God's hand in this life.

The Burning Within is not only a Near-Death Experience. It is a story of love, overcoming the unimaginable, and of RaNelle finding herself. The NDE is actually a relatively small portion of the book.

Stand for the Family by Sharon Slater

Stand for the Family, unfortunately, is not full of joyful things. It's all about the terrible attacks being made on the family, both overt and covert. It's disturbing at times, yet so important. The author talks about what we can (and must) do to save the family institution, as well as why it is important to our country as a whole. 

It's a well-researched, well-written call to action. I read this book very recently, and now I want to shout about it from the rooftops so everyone I know will read it.

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

Here's what I want to ask this book...Where have you been all my life?I wonder how I never read this classic until now. It's amazing.

Marcellus Gallio, a Roman Tribune, is ordered to crucify Jesus. Although he believes Jesus is innocent of any crime, he follows orders. During the crucifixion, he takes the Robe that Jesus wore.

That dark day nearly kills Marcellus. He is overwhelmed with guilt and curiosity. Marcellus travels to Galillee to learn more about this mysterious man who was crucified, taking the Robe along.

This historical fiction classic tells the story of one man's quest for the meaning of life. Full of faith, love, and adventure, this book has it all.

This is not a quick and easy read, by any means, but if you are in the mood for an inspiring Christian classic, this might be the one for you.

Recommended for adults and teens who enjoy classics.

The Creative Family by Amanda Soule
At first glance, this may appear to just be a book full of craft projects. However, look a little closer and you'll find inspiration galore, not just about doing craft projects that Amanda Soule suggests, but about how to live a more creative life. 


Amanda Soule tells the who, what, how, and why of being creative. If you like her popular blog, SouleMama, you are sure to love this book even more.


Here's an excerpt: "A large part of nurturing a spirit of creativity comes from being mindful, slowing down, observing, and looking around you at the beauty and inspiration all around. We are blessed as parents to have the best teachers for this--our children. Stop and watch your children often. Really stop and watch, and you'll see them using such creativity in everything they do..."


You should see me book. Half the pages are dog-eared.

Left to Tell : Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza

The subtitle of this book says it all...Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust. While the unthinkable is happening all around her, Immaculee Ilibagiza finds peace in God's love.

Immaculee grew up in a Rwandan paradise. It wasn't until she was ten, that she even learned the words Hutu and Tutsi. When her teacher began taking ethnic roll call, she didn't know which tribe she belonged to. However, prejudices deepened into hatred, and when Immaculee was 24, a massive genocide took place. It is estimated that a million Tutsis were killed in three months.

Immaculee hid in a bathroom with six other women. The space was so small, that they had to take turns standing. When someone needed to use the toilet, everyone had to shift to accomodate her. The ladies nearly starved to death. Worse still, they could her the killers outside looking for them, chanting horrible death songs.

Immaculee spent nearly all her time praying in that bathroom. The women couldn't talk to one another because they might be heard, so Immaculee talked to God, who spared their lives because of her prayers.

Each time it seemed that Immaculee's life would end or that there was no way to go on, she prayed "show me" how to do this, and God would literally show her what to do.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

This is a true story about the author's experiences during the holocaust. Corrie ten Boom was a leader in the Underground. With the help of her family, she kept many Jews safe from the Nazis. However, she was eventually caught, and along with her family, thrown into prison and a concentration camp.

This inspirational story is about how Corrie found faith and held onto it for dear life. She witnessed many miracles, but the greatest miracle to me, is that Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were able to maintain such a positive outlook because of their unwavering faith in God. I mean, Betsie prays IN GRATITUDE for the fleas in the bunker, which do, amazingly enough, turn out to have a good purpose.

Here is a brief excerpt:

"Corrie Ten Boom stood naked with her older sister Betsie, watching a concentration camp matron beating a prisoner. "Oh, the poor woman," Corrie cried. "Yes. May God forgive her," Betsie replied. And, once again, Corrie realized that it was for the souls of the brutal Nazi guards that her sister prayed."

The Hiding Place is a life-changing classic. It is a quick read. Although it is about the holocaust, it is not deeply depressing but enlightening and uplifting. I hope you enjoy it! It is one of the best books I have ever read.

A Thomas Jefferson Education and Leadership Education by the DeMilles

I didn't realize that this book had already changed my life before I even read it. One of my BYU professors read an excerpt from A Thomas Jefferson Educationthat has truly stuck with me through the years. I am relieved to see the actual story in print. It has influenced my parenting as well as my views on creativity in education. Here is the story...
"The teacher handed out crayons and paper and announced that it was time to draw a picture. The little boy enthusiastically grabbed the crayons and began to imagine all the things he could draw: mountains, lakes, airplanes, his familiy, his dog, the ocean, the stars at night...
Hundreds of ideas raced through his creative little mind.
His teacher, seeing that he had started drawing, stopped him and said that today the class would be drawing flowers. The boy's mind again ran wild: daisies, daffodils, roses, carnations, violets, lilacs, pansies, mixed bouquets, green gardens full of rainbows of colors...
The teacher again interrupted, informing the class that today they would be drawing a certain kind of flower.
Taking colored chalk, the teacher went to the board and drew a green stem, with two leaves, and four identical pink petals. The little boy, eager to please, dutifully copied her drawing.
After several attempts, his drawing looked exactly like hers. The teacher congratulated him for doing such good work.
As the school year passed, the little boy became a very good student; he learned to listen, obey instructions and get the right answers on tests. His parents were very proud of him, and his teacher was impressed with his excellent progress.
When the next school year arrived, the boy had done so well in his classes that he was enrolled in an accelerated program. During the first week of class, the teacher handed out crayons and paper and announced that it was time to draw a picture. The little boy, still in love with art, enthusiastically picked up his crayons and waited for instructions.
After several minutes the teacher noticed that the little boy wasn't drawing. "Why haven't you started?" she asked. "Don't you like to draw?"
"I love to draw," responded the little boy, "but I was waiting for you to tell us what the assignment is."
"Just draw whatever you want," the teacher smiled and left the little boy to his creativity.
The little boy sat for a long time, watching the minutes tick off the clock and wondering what he should draw. Nothing came to mind.
Finally, in a burst of creative inspiration, he picked up his crayons and began to draw:
A green stem, with two leaves, and four identical pink petals."
This story breaks my heart. It broke my heart enough that it changed my life.
A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century by Oliver Van DeMille is a book about traditional, classics-based education. It is not just a homeschool book, but a book about what has worked historically in terms of education. It is a look into how our Founding Fathers were taught and inspired and an appeal for current educational systems to return to the classics.
The book is well-written, accessible, and thought-provoking.
I recommend it to anyone who is interested in life-long learning for themselves and the young people they interact with.


Please share any books that have changed your life for the better and how. Thanks!