Romance
The Looking-Glass Illusion by Sara Ella
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Looking-Glass Illusion brings the story from The Wonderland Trials to a clever and satisfying conclusion in this fantasy series for teens. The Looking-Glass Illusion ...
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*Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
By Janie Cheaney |
Ferris, the latest novel by two-time Newbery author Kate DiCamillo, embraces a world full of sorrow but ruled by love. *Ferris by Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick, ...
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Yours from the Tower by Sally Nichols
By Janie Cheaney |
In Yours from the Tower, three young ladies overcome obstacles and find true love in late 19th-century England. Yours from the Tower by Sally Nichols. ...
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YA Fantasy: Murtagh, Theft of Sunlight, & Wind Daughter
By Hayley Morell |
A rapid fire round up of three YA fantasy novels that belong to bigger worlds: Murtagh, A Darkness at the Door, and Wind Daughter. Murtagh ...
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*Daughter of Arden Trilogy by Loren Warnemuende
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Daughter of Arden Trilogy is an epic retelling of an older fairy tale; in its new version, strong echoes of Christian faith mingle with ...
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*Charis in the World of Wonders by Marly Youmans
By Betsy Farquhar |
Charis in the World of Wonders is a richly satisfying novel of a young Puritan woman who learns much about the world and herself through ...
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*The Carver and the Queen by Emma Fox
By Betsy Farquhar |
An adventurous fairy tale set in Imperial Russia, perfect for teens who enjoy books like The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis. *The Carver and ...
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YA Graphic Novels: Graceling, Cheshire Crossing & Lore Olympus
By Hayley Morell |
A rapid fire round up of three YA graphic novels for mature teen readers. Graceling by Kristin Cashore, adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds. Clarion ...
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Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson
By Janie Cheaney |
A first-person psychological thriller inside one young woman's remarkable consciousness. Ultraviolet, by R. J. Anderson. Carolrhoda Lab, 2011, 303 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, Ages 14-upRecommended ...
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Buffalo Flats by Martine Leavitt
By Janie Cheaney |
Buffalo Flats takes readers to the Northwest Territory of Canada, for an unforgettable story of spiritual growth and romance. Buffalo Flats by Martine Leavitt. Margaret ...
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*Arthur, the Always King by Kevin Crossley-Holland
By Janie Cheaney |
The lavishly-illustrated Arthur the Always King communicates the doomed majesty of the Arthurian legend. *Arthur, the Always King by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Chris Riddell. ...
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Enter the Body by Joy McCullough
By Janie Cheaney |
Enter the Body engages three tragic heroines of Shakespeare in a discussion of love, oppression, and what they might have done differently. Enter the Body ...
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Romantic Reads for Teens: A Book List for Girls and Guys
By Betsy Farquhar |
Enjoy this unapologetic list of romantic reads for teens: great love stories and high romance without LGBTQ elements. For the genre-junkies out there, it's worth ...
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Belittled Women by Amanda Sellet
By Janie Cheaney |
Belittled Woman features a contemporary Meg, Jo, and Amy reluctantly participating in their mother’s pet project: a tourist attraction reenacting scenes from a certain 19th-century ...
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*The Red Palace by June Hur
By Betsy Farquhar |
Eighteenth century Korea comes to life in The Red Palace, a gripping—and gritty—historical mystery for teens. *The Red Palace by June Hur. Feiwel and Friends, ...
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The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella
By Betsy Farquhar |
Alice wants to be a Wonder and compete in the Wonderland Trials, but she's just an ordinary Normal girl in this inventive take on Alice ...
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*The Song that Moves the Sun by Anna Bright
By Janie Cheaney |
The Song that Moves the Sun takes four teens through the cosmos of Dante, with revelations on harmony, love, and friendship. *The Song that Moves ...
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*Love and Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean
By Janie Cheaney |
*Love and Other Great Expectations puts romance in its place as part of life’s great adventure (but not all of it). Love and Other Great ...
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Valentine’s Day Picture Books: Valentine, Be Mine, The House of Love, and Ballad of Valentine
By Megan Saben |
Three picture books about Valentine's Day: Valentine, Be Mine is practical, The House of Love invites the reader to anticipate a party at home with ...
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Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee
By Janie Cheaney |
The biracial heroine of Luck of the Titanic sees dreams fulfilled just before disaster strikes, in this romantic thriller. Luck of the Titanic by Stacey ...
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Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Awesomely Austen Series)
By Janie Cheaney |
The "Awesomely Austen" series makes Jane Austen accessible to elementary-age readers. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by Katherine Woodfine, illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. Hodder Children’s ...
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The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys. Philomel, 2019. 512 pages. The Fountains of Silence tells a gripping story of love and danger during Franco's ...
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The Arrow and the Crown by Emma Fox
By Betsy Farquhar |
Adventure meets fairy tale in this delightful fantasy read for teens (and their parents!). The Arrow and the Crown by Emma Fox. Independently published, 2019. ...
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Briar and Rose and Jack by Katherine Coville
By Janie Cheaney |
Briar and Rose and Jack mixes fairy-tale motifs with clear themes of good and evil in a magical and satisfying adventure. Briar and Rose and ...
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Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
By Janie Cheaney |
The “momentous event" of transitioning to high school presents Aven Green, the armless girl-wonder, with new challenges. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus ...
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Song of the Abyss by Makiia Lucier
By Hayley Morell |
Song of the Abyss is a sequel that does not disappoint and yet succeeds in its own right as a standalone novel. In our Redeemed ...
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Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai
By Janie Cheaney |
An unlikely romance tinged by tragedy makes Butterfly Yellow a winning read for mature teens. Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai. Harper, 2019, 284 pages. Reading ...
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House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin Craig
By Hayley Morell |
A dark fairytale retelling of the twelve dancing princesses for mature YA fantasy lovers House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig. (Delacorte Press), 2019, ...
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Lovely War by Julie Berry
By Janie Cheaney |
Lovely War is a satisfying romance that will leave readers with much to think about. Lovely War by Julie Berry. Viking, 2019, 451 pages. Reading ...
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Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden
By Janie Cheaney |
Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden. Bloomsbury, 2019, 257 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 14-up Judy 12, 1881, Savannah, Georgia: Essie Mirth ...
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Pride and Prejudice: The Original and the Others
By Hayley Morell |
It's Valentine's Day. So, of course, we're going to talk about Jane Austen! Nothing can compare to the original, but Hayley and Betsy have been ...
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At the Well by Kristen Tiber
By Betsy Farquhar |
At the Well is a short book urging singles (teens and up) to wait on the Lord for marriage and for his timing. At the Well: Discovering God's Plan for Finding True Love by Kristen Tiber. Kristen Summers LLC, 2018. 146 pages. Reading Level: ...
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The Susan Pevensie Problem
By Janie Cheaney |
A new teen fantasy novel draws inspiration from Susan Pevensie's rejection of Narnia to spin a similar tale. In the almost 70 years since C. ...
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The Princess Bride by William Goldman
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Princess Bride is just as delightful in book form as it is in movie form (or vice versa, depending on which you've already experienced!). ...
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Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier
By Hayley Morell |
Mysterious maps, sea creatures, and an island kingdom where dark secrets threaten to emerge . . . All the makings for an excellent story. Isle ...
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The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer Nielsen
By Janie Cheaney |
This YA fantasy adventure places a spunky nobleman’s daughter in the middle of a “traitor’s game” between her corrupt father and a compromised opposition. Ages ...
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A School for Brides by Patrice Kindl
By Janie Cheaney |
A fun romantic read for Jane Austen fans, A School for Brides is also very positive about marriage. Ages 12-18 A School for Brides by ...
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Those Love Stories We Loved
By Janie Cheaney |
The RedeemedReader ladies recall our favorite "love stories" as teens, and rejoice that we grew out of them! But what do we like now? You ...
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Five Red Flags to Watch for in YA Christian Romance Fiction
By Janie Cheaney |
Christian romance fiction feels "safe," but it's not always without pitfalls . . . and it's not always Christian, either. I remember when Jeanette Oke ...
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Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix
By Alysha |
Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix. Katherine Tegan Books, 2015. 304 pages. Ages 12-15 Reading Level: Young Adult Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Young Adult 15+ ...
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The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Pearl Thief is a prequel to the award-winning Code Name Verity, but it lacks the same sophistication and character development. The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein. ...
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*You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
By Janie Cheaney |
In this appealing multicultural novel, three generations of a Bengali family find life and love in America. *You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins. ...
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The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
By Janie Cheaney |
A town where qualities disappear every seven years is the setting for The Disappearances, a clean, thought-provoking teen mystery. The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy. ...
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Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
By Hayley Morell |
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. 512 pages. Noemi Vidal will die for her country, but an abandoned spaceship and a ...
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Cruel Beauty: a Redeemed Reader Discussion
By Alysha |
Some of the staff here at Redeemed Reader decided to discuss Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge as it relates to the story of Beauty and ...
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Valentine’s Day 2017 – We’ve Been Here Before!
By Janie Cheaney |
All of us here at RedeemedReader.com love a good romance, and over the years we've written about some of our favorites. Not all romance is ...
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Good Reading for Teens–Except for One Thing . . .
By Janie Cheaney |
Lately I read two books for teens, one fiction and one nonfiction, that conformed to time-honored, even classic, storylines. The novel, A Step toward Falling, ...
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Romance + Reading = Love
By Hayley Morell |
Once Upon a Time... ... there was a little girl who loved stories and fairytales. She discovered Andrew Lang’s colored fairy books and read through them—pretty ...
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*Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace
By Hayley Morell |
Coming-of-age, romance, and historical fiction is combined in a little-known novel, Emily of Deep Valley, by a classic American author. *Emily of Deep Valley by Maud ...
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Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
By Hayley Morell |
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw. Puffin, 1985, 288 pages Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-14 Recommended for: Ages 12-up Bottom Line: Ancient ...
Read More The Cottage in the Woods by Katherine Coville
By Janie Cheaney |
The Cottage in the Woods by Katherine Coville. Knopf,2015. 389 pages Reading Level: Young adult,ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12 and up (especially girls) Bottom ...
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The Glass Slipper by Eleanor Farjeon
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Glass Slipper by Eleanor Farjeon. Viking, 1956. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 Bottom Line: Farjeon’s classic retelling of Cinderella ...
Read More The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes
By Janie Cheaney |
The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes. HarperTeen, 2015. 306 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 15-18 Bottom Line: ...
Read More An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund
By Hayley Morell |
An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund. Zondervan, 2015. 249 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 15 – 18 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15 – 18) and up Bottom Line: A ...
Read More Running Lean By Diana Sharples
By Janie Cheaney |
Running Lean by Diana Sharples. Zondervan/Blink, 2013. 400 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 15-18 Recommended For: ages 16 and up Bottom Line: Running Lean ...
Read More *The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Pope
By Janie Cheaney |
The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Pope. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001. 272 pages Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 5 (ages 12-14) and up ...
Read More Fairest by Marissa Meyer
By Hayley Morell |
Fairest by Marissa Meyer. Feiwel and Friends, 2015. 220 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 15-18 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) and up Bottom Line: In an originally unplanned prequel, readers are given ...
Read More First Date by Melody Carlson
By Janie Cheaney |
First Date (Dating Games #1) by Melody Carlson. Revell, 2013. 212 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) Bottom Line: ...
Read More Storm Siren by Mary Weber
By Hayley Morell |
Storm Siren by Mary Weber. Thomas Nelson, 2014. 333 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) and up Nymia ("Nym" for short) ...
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The Winner’s Curse
By Hayley Morell |
It began with a simple conversation, Marie Rutkoski explains: . . . while sitting with my friend Vasiliki Skreta on a dark blue gym mat ...
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Cinder by Marissa Meyer
By Hayley Morell |
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Square Fish, 2012. 387 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12 – 15 Recommended For: 6 (ages 15 – 18) and up Bottom ...
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Be My Valentine: The State of Teen Romance
By Janie Cheaney |
If you go back as far as I do, you remember the YA novels before there was any such category as “YA.” These were mostly ...
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Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
By Janie Cheaney |
There's a big movie release this week, based on a best-selling series of young-adult fantasy novels. Young-adult fantasy novels have proved enormously profitable for the ...
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Christian Romance: part of a well-balanced “book diet”?
By Betsy Farquhar |
A Balanced "Book Diet" Reading is like eating: you need a variety of wholesome ingredients, a little sugar, and a little moderation across the board. ...
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Hattie Ever After: A Review
By emily |
Today, I'm happy to welcome our current intern,Hayley Schoeppler, again. You guys may recall that she did a review of Mara, Daughter of the Nile ...
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Looking for Love . . . in All the Weird Places
By Janie Cheaney |
Since I first wrote about teen paranormal romance--the spark that became a blaze with the Twilight series and all its imitators--we’ve seen the entire Bella-Edward ...
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Love in the Age of Roe
By Janie Cheaney |
In our posts over the last two weeks, Emily and I have suggested that Roe v. Wade has changed America profoundly in the ways we ...
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Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
By Janie Cheaney |
Keeping the Castle: a Tale of Romance, Riches, and Real Estate, by Patrice Kindl. Viking, 2012, 261 pages. Age/interest level: 13-up. Althea Crawley, age 17, ...
Read More 7 Myths About 50 Shades Among Christians
By emily |
We've already covered a lot of ground on the Fifty Shades trilogy by E. L. James. We interviewed Tim Challies on the theology of pornography, ...
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*Entwined by Heather Dixon
By Janie Cheaney |
*Entwined, by Heather Dixon. Greenwillow, 2011, 472 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12-15 Bottom Line: Entwined is a fairy-tale romance ...
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Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
By Janie Cheaney |
Prom and Prejudice, by Elizabeth Eulberg. Point (Scholastic), 2011, 227 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12-14 and up Bottom Line: ...
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Enthusiasm by Polly Schulman
By Janie Cheaney |
Enthusiasm, by Polly Schulman. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2006, 198 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12-14 Bottom Line: Enthusiasm, a ...
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Love Will Keep Us Together by Anne Dayton
By Janie Cheaney |
Love Will Keep Us Together, by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. Hatchett: 2010, 287 pages. (Miracle Girls series #4) Reading Level: Young adult, ages 12-15 ...
Read More Looking For Love: The Paranormal Teen Romance
By Janie Cheaney |
Several years ago I started noticing references to a new YA novel that was enjoying sensational sales, especially among adolescent girls. As months passed, excitement ...
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*The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope
By Janie Cheaney |
The Perilous Gard, by Elizabeth Marie Pope. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001, 288. Age/interest level 12-up. Reading Level: Teens/Young Adults Recommended for: Ages 15-18 Bottom line: ...
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