Resources for Engaging Teens with Books
If you are a subscriber to Blog, She Wrote, then you have access to the free eBook How to Engage Your Teens with Books A Homeschooler’s Guide to Reading with Teens. This page is a list of the resources mentioned in the book.
Books about Books for Teens
Read for the Heart Whole Books for WholeHearted Families– This book by Sarah Clarkson is one of my favorites. She writes a compelling argument for using good books with your family and includes an annotated bibliography for books through high school.
Honey for a Teen’s Heart– Gladys Hunt does a great job of telling us how to stay connected to teens through books.
Some of My Best Friends Are Books: Guiding Gifted Readers– This book not only defines gifted readers, but gives advice for using books well with big readers including teens.
Curriculum That Engages Teens with Books
One Year Adventure Novel– A video instruction program which focuses on adventure story and teaching teens how to outline a 12 chapter novel by year’s end. The best part of this curriculum, as a parent, is watching the videos with my student and discussing the things that Mr. Schwabauer says. Teens learn so much about story through the video and text. There is also an optional book list for students to read in full the books he refers to throughout the curriculum.
Other Worlds– The second module in One Year Adventure Novel focuses on fantasy and science fiction. Because teens have to create a whole other world for these genres, it’s easiest to start with the simpler plot of adventure. You’ll enjoy lots of lectures on what makes these unique literature types.
Excellence in Literature: Reading and Writing through the Classics– A self directed program of study for classic literature. We’ve been using this as our core English course for 8th grade and up.
Literary Lessons from The Lord of the Rings– This is a great study for Middle Earth lovers. It includes vocabulary, essays, outlines, unit studies on related topics.
Other Resources
The Gospel According to Harry Potter: The Spiritual Journey of the World’s Most Famous Seeker– All three of our teens are going through a co-op class with this guide. Lots of lively discussions occur weekly with this one. This is a lot of fun for fans of Harry Potter.
From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy– Two of my teens and I had the opportunity to hear this author speak recently. This is a college aged text all about the influence of stories through the ages on modern fantasy.
Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings– This book investigates free will and moral choices within the world of Middle Earth. Great discussion fodder!
A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth– Fantastic read on worldview. Wrestle with questions like, “Is mercy sometimes too expensive?”, “What is the cost of military victory?”, “Is torture sometimes justified?”, “Are there any moral absolutes in a world of competing faiths and cultures?”
How to Engage Your Teens with Books: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Reading with Teens– Is the companion book to the master class at The Read Aloud Revival. If you’d like to see the class recording, you can do so through membership at The Read Aloud Revival. Be sure to subscribe below in order to download the book.
