Kindle Deals for December 15, 2019
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K LeGuin, $2.99. From our what to read if you loved the Narnia books list: “A Wizard of Earthsea is the first book in Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea trilogy. With its Taoist ethics, feminist sensibility, and nuanced world building, Earthsea is a worthy follow-up to the Narnia books for older readers.”
Ghost Talkers, by Mary Robinette Kowal, $2.99. I loved Kowal’s Lady Astronaut series, and I’m very intrigued by the concept of this book. Here’s what the publisher says: “Ginger Stuyvesant, an American heiress living in London during World War I, is engaged to Captain Benjamin Harford, an intelligence officer. Ginger is a medium for the Spirit Corps, a special Spiritualist force. Each soldier heading for the front is conditioned to report to the mediums of the Spirit Corps when they die so the Corps can pass instant information about troop movements to military intelligence.”
To Be Taught, If Fortunate, by Becky Chambers, $1.99. Becky Chambers is one of my favorite contemporary scifi authors. This book brings us to a world where humans are able to adapt their bodies to hostile climates, enabling them to explore space more freely. Here’s the flap description: “A team of these explorers, Ariadne O’Neill and her three crewmates, are hard at work in a planetary system fifteen light-years from Sol, on a mission to ecologically survey four habitable worlds. But as Ariadne shifts through both form and time, the culture back on Earth has also been transformed. Faced with the possibility of returning to a planet that has forgotten those who have left, Ariadne begins to chronicle the story of the wonders and dangers of her mission, in the hope that someone back home might still be listening.”
STILL ON SALE
Cathedral, by David Macaulay, $2.99. The gorgeous and detailed classic from my childhood has been colorized! Macaulay walks readers through every step of medieval construction, from cutting down the wood to carving the finest details. Kids will be fascinated by how many types of skilled workers it takes to create a beautiful building.
Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom, by Jennifer S. Holland, $2.99. It’s time for your daily dose of “Awwwww!” This collection of short nonfiction stories celebrates animal companionship. From the orphaned elephant who found a mother figure in a sheep to the baby deer and bobcat who bonded at an animal rescue, these adorable pairs will warm your heart. The book is pleasantly peppered with charming photos.
The Language of Houses: How Buildings Speak to Us, by Alison Lurie, $2.99. My favorite thing about college was learning to notice and think critically about the everyday things (films, advertisements, music, art, etc.) around me. Alison Lurie adds architecture to this mix by considering the psychology and sociology of the buildings around us. Lovely drawings help to illustrate her points.
Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas, by Jane O’Connor, $1.99. This English major has always loved reading Fancy Nancy books to kids. I love how excited Nancy gets about language! Nancy declares Christmas to be the fanciest of all the holidays and walks you through all the reason why with her trademark big words and charm.
The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, by Melinda Gates, $2.99. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been working to improve living conditions around the world for years. In this book, Melinda Gates shares some of the insights she has gained from her extensive travels. She says, “If you want to lift a society up, you need to stop keeping women down.”
Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids, by Christina Herkert Schul, $1.99. Do you need some fresh ideas for STEM activities? This book is designed for kids and gives them clear step-by-step instructions for creating fun projects. While some (like the ones on the cover) are pretty standard engineering activities, others (e.g., Solar Water Distiller) are pretty unique!
The Stars Now Unclaimed, by Drew Williams, $2.99. My husband really enjoyed this book and recently recommended it to one of his favorite teens. Unfortunately, he’s not here to give me his summary so we will have to defer to the publisher: “Jane Kamali is an agent for the Justified. Her mission: to recruit children with miraculous gifts in the hope that they might prevent the Pulse from once again sending countless worlds back to the dark ages. Hot on her trail is the Pax--a collection of fascist zealots who believe they are the rightful rulers of the galaxy and who remain untouched by the Pulse. Now Jane, a handful of comrades from her past, and a telekinetic girl called Esa must fight their way through a galaxy full of dangerous conflicts, remnants of ancient technology, and other hidden dangers.”
The Afterlife of Holly Chase, by Cynthia Hand, $1.99. This YA reimagining of A Christmas Carol will intrigue adults and teens alike. When Holly is visited by ghosts who tell her to change her ways, she doesn’t listen. And then she dies. Now she must serve as a Ghost of Christmas Past. Her afterlife isn’t going well, but there may be an opportunity for a second chance.
Problem Solving 101, A Simple Book for Smart People, by Ken Watanabe, $4.99. Ken Watanabe wrote this book for Japanese school kids to get them practicing decision making and problem solving instead of just memorization. Through a series of interesting adventures and challenges, Watanabe teaches the readers how use logic, trial and error, and teamwork to solve complicated problems. The examples and illustrations are fun for all ages; this book became a Japanese bestseller popular with business leaders!
Ivy and Bean, One Big Happy Family, by Annie Barrows, $1.99. This is the 11th book in the delightful Ivy and Bean series, but each one stands alone. This is a hilarious and heartwarming book for early chapter book readers. Ivy is worried that she is spoiled because she is an only child. How can she fix it? By getting a little sister, of course. And Ivy and Bean know just where to find one.
Your Inner Fish, a Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Yea History of the Human Body, by Neil Shubin, $4.99. We know humans share common ancestors with pretty much all creatures on earth if you go far back enough. Paleontologist Neil Shubin walks us through the fossil and DNA records to show which parts of our body we share with other current and extinct animals. This book brings ancient history to life by showing how the traces are still visible in our own hands, heads, and more.
Hanukcats, and Other Traditional Jewish Songs for Cats, by Laurie Loughlin, $1.99. Do you love the holidays, humor, and also cats? This might be your lucky day. This collection of funny Hanukkah-themed songs are written from the perspective of your household cat. Funny, charming illustrations make this book fun for all ages. If your family or your cat celebrates Christmas, you might want to check out Catmas Carols by the same author.
The Poisoner’s Handbook, Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York, by Deborah Blum, $4.99. We take CSI shows completely for granted now. Of course there will scientific experts carefully examining the scene of the crime, right? Surprisingly, forensic science was not a major part of law enforcement until approximately one hundred years ago. Poisoning was a nearly undetectable crime until a pair of scientists systematically studied the effects and traces of poisons. This is fascinating, if dark at times, history.
The Templeton Twins Have an Idea, by Ellis Weiner, $0.99. This new series has delightful Lemony Snicket feel. The publisher’s description gives you a great sense of the book’s tone: “Suppose there were 12-year-old twins, a boy and girl named John and Abigail Templeton. Let's say John was pragmatic and played the drums, and Abigail was theoretical and solved cryptic crosswords. Now suppose their father was a brilliant, if sometime confused, inventor. And suppose that another set of twins—adults—named Dean D. Dean and Dan D. Dean, kidnapped the Templeton twins and their ridiculous dog in order to get their father to turn over one of his genius (sort of) inventions. Yes, kidnapped. Wouldn't it be fun to read about that? Oh please. It would so. Now in paperback, this is just the first in a series perfect for boys and girls who are smart, clever, and funny (just like the twins), and enjoy reading adventurous stories (who doesn't?!).”
The Magic Thief, by Sarah Prineas, $3.99. Magic is in short supply in Conn’s world. When Conn attempts to pick the pocket of a wizard, the wizard decides to make Conn his apprentice. As Conn learns to navigate the world of magic, he must find his own power and help his master discover who or what is draining the city of its magic. This is the first in an exciting middle-grade series.
We Hunt the Flame, by Hafsah Faizal, $2.99. The Best Books of 2019 lists are rolling in, and this YA fantasy novel has been on several of them. The publisher’s description looks pretty exciting: “Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.”
Something in Between, by Melissa de la Cruz, $2.99. Melissa de la Cruz is a prolific YA author known largely for vampire novels, Alexander Hamilton stories, and the Descendants novels. In Something in Between, she veers into more realistic fiction to tell the story of a young Filipino girl who discovers that her parents overstayed their visas, and that everyone in their family is an illegal immigrant. The story encompasses both her legal journey and a romance plot. This is a feel-good story about a difficult situation that may be more optimistic than realistic, but it could be a good way to introduce and personalize the topic of illegal immigration for middle and high school readers.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl, $1.99. This vivid and delicious, though sometimes dark, novel is a children’s classic. Kids everywhere will relate to Charlie’s adventure at the chocolate factory and take delight in the terrible mishaps that befall the misbehaving children on the tour. I loved this book as a child; Dahl has the perfect balance of joy and the kind of dark humor kids love.
The Bad Seed, by Jory John, $2.99. This kid’s book about a bad seed who reconsiders his path in the world is sure to entertain kids of all ages.
Just Jaime, by Terri Libenson, $2.99. My tween daughter really likes the books in this series of illustrated novels, which are great for fans of Raina Telgemeier. In this one, Jaime struggles when her friend group wants her to conform or go away. With support from adults and other friends, Jaime is able to stay true to herself.
Notorious RBG, by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, $2.99. This is a thorough, respectful, and still irreverent biography of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Legal scholarship has never been so interesting!
My Jasper June, by Laurel Snyder, $1.99. I just bought this one for my daughter, who said, “It’s probably going to make me cry, but I’ll like it anyway.” Here’s how the publisher describes this moving middle grade story: The school year is over, and it is summer in Atlanta. The sky is blue, the sun is blazing, and the days brim with possibility. But Leah feels. . . lost. She has been this way since one terrible afternoon a year ago, when everything changed. Since that day, her parents have become distant, her friends have fallen away, and Leah’s been adrift and alone. Then she meets Jasper, a girl unlike anyone she has ever known. There’s something mysterious about Jasper, almost magical. And Jasper, Leah discovers, is also lost. Together, the two girls carve out a place for themselves, a hideaway in the overgrown spaces of Atlanta, away from their parents and their hardships, somewhere only they can find. But as the days of this magical June start to draw to a close, and the darker realities of their lives intrude once more, Leah and Jasper have to decide how real their friendship is, and whether it can be enough to save them both.
The Parenting Project: Build Extraordinary Relationships With Your Kids Through Daily Conversation, by Amy Alamar and Kristine Schlichting, $3.27. I scooped this one up before I even started writing up today’s deals. The idea behind The Parenting Project is that frequent and intentional conversations with tweens and teens are the foundation of a healthy relationship. The book provides conversation starters to help parents get to know their children better. The second half of the book provides helpful guides for talking about specific tricky issues, like bullying, self-harm and suicide, sexuality, healthy friendships, future planning, and more.