Kindle Deals for August 23, 2021
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.)
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Do You Dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh, $1.99. This sci-fi book won the Alex prize for adult fiction of particular interested to YA readers. A team of teens and adult scientists is sent off on a 20-year mission to prepare a new planet for human colonization. Locked within the spaceship for decades, they must rely fully on each other for survival. Oh captures the alternating boredom and terror of a life in the unknown. Though the setting inextricably influences the story, the real plot is about the human interactions, not space itself.
I Know What You Did Last Summer, by Lois Duncan, $2.99. Lois Duncan is a master of classic YA suspense. The stakes are very high in this 1970s novel about teens trying to evade a mysterious stranger who is out to punish them for a hit-and-run accident. I can’t remember enough about the 1990s movie adaptation to specifically recommend it, but if you have a suspense/horror fan, you could do a book-movie comparison!
Elatsoe, by Darcy Little Badger, $2.99. This award-winning fantasy novel presents a fresh and unique voice. From the publisher: “Elatsoe—Ellie for short—lives in an alternate contemporary America shaped by the ancestral magics and knowledge of its Indigenous and immigrant groups. She can raise the spirits of dead animals—most importantly, her ghost dog Kirby. When her beloved cousin dies, all signs point to a car crash, but his ghost tells her otherwise: He was murdered. Who killed him and how did he die? With the help of her family, her best friend Jay, and the memory great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother, Elatsoe, must track down the killer and unravel the mystery of this creepy town and its dark past. But will the nefarious townsfolk and a mysterious Doctor stop her before she gets started? A breathtaking debut novel featuring an asexual, Apache teen protagonist, Elatsoe combines mystery, horror, noir, ancestral knowledge, haunting illustrations, fantasy elements, and is one of the most-talked about debuts of the year.”
The Testing, by Joelle Charbonneau, $1.99. Calling all fans of The Hunger Games or Divergent! This series should scratch that dystopian coming-of-age itch. Here’s a summary from the publisher: “It’s graduation day for sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale, and the entire Five Lakes Colony (the former Great Lakes) is celebrating. All Cia can think about—hope for—is whether she’ll be chosen for The Testing, a United Commonwealth program that selects the best and brightest new graduates to become possible leaders of the slowly revitalizing post-war civilization. When Cia is chosen, her father finally tells her about his own nightmarish half-memories of The Testing. Armed with his dire warnings (“Cia, trust no one”), she bravely heads off to Tosu City, far away from friends and family, perhaps forever. Danger, romance—and sheer terror—await.”
STILL ON SALE
Betty Before X, by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renee Watson, $2.99. This book, which was featured in several Best Children’s Books of 2018 lists, tells a story of the Civil Rights movement through the eyes of Malcolm X’s daughter, Betty. The 11-year-old’s unique perspective will help middle-grade readers engage with the historical details in a deeper way. For a more in-depth review, check out Amy’s Readaloud of the Week post!
My Family Divided, by Diane Guerrero, $2.99. Guerrero is known for her work on Orange is the New Black, but before she became an actress, she was a Latinx kid growing up near Boston. Diane was a citizen; her parents were not. One day, while Diane was at school, her parents were arrested and then deported. Since that time, she has been a passionate voice for immigration reform. My Family Divided is the young readers version of Guerrero’s memoir about her childhood and activism.
Prairie Lotus, by Linda Sue Park, $2.99. If your kids enjoy Little House on the Prairie but you are looking to increase the diversity of your reading list, you should definitely pick up this one! Hanna is an Asian girl living in a small prairie town in 1880. She wants to make friends and go to school, but the racism of the other townspeople make her existence hard. Park doesn’t shrink from the harsh realities of history, but the story is touching and funny.
Dog Days, by Karen English, $1.99. You may have encountered English’s previous early chapter book series, Nikki and Deja. The Carver Chronicles is set in that same universe but centers boys’ stories! Dog Days is about Gavin, a new kid who loves skateboarding. When he is assigned care of his great-aunt’s fussy Pomeranian as a consequence for getting into trouble, he worries no one will ever think he is cool with the dog in tow. Short chapters and dynamic illustrations make this one a fun read.
Jane Austen Cover to Cover: 200 Years of Classic Covers, by Margaret C. Sullivan, $3.99. Ok, I’ll admit it — this is a VERY specific book, but I know some of you will appreciate it. Sullivan has collected images of dozens of physical copies of Austen’s works. She provides an excellent chronology of their publication and reissue. If you are fascinated by book-binding, cover art, or Austen, you will love this book.
Booked: A Traveler’s Guide to Literary Locations Around the World, by Richard Kreitner, $3.99. If you’ve ever wanted to visit the setting of your favorite book, you will want to pick up this travel guide. Kreitner has selected places made famous in children’s and adult literature, both in the US and abroad. He includes short passages from the books in question, along with a discussion of the significance of each place and practical tips for visiting.
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks — A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life, by Annie Spence, $2.99. Do we need another book about books? I’m going to go with yes. Annie Spence reads a lot, loves her books, and has interested takes on new and old classics. The first part of the book is hilarious letters to books of many genres and age ranges. Some are love letters, some are angry notes. The second second is full of essays about the joys and sorrows of reading and book lists in various categories.
Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters, by Mallory Ortberg, $2.99. This fun, short book is a huge hit at HSL. It’s a collection of conversations with fictional characters, from Mr. Rochester to Daisy Buchanan. The conversations are clever, funny, and intelligent. I can’t think of another book that does a better job of encouraging readers to dig deep into the classics. If you’re well-read, you’ll get all the jokes. The conversation with Dido is one of my favorites.
Howl’s Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones, $3.50. Amy used this book and others to create a massive Studio Ghibli unit study. Here is her review: “Sometimes a curse can be just what you needed, as Sophie discovers in this delightful fantasy about a hat maker's daughter who's cursed to premature old age by the Witch of the Waste. To break the curse, Sophie will need to team up with the mysterious wizard Howl, who happens to be stuck under a curse of his own—but first, she'll have to get to his castle, which has a habit of wandering around. I love this as a readaloud, on its own, or (of course) a companion piece to the equally wonderful (though often quite different) movie adaptation.”
The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, $3.50. From our What You Should Read in High School list: “Perhaps no author better captures the downward spiral of depression into madness than Plath does in this semi-autobiographical novel.”
Stinkiest! 20 Smelly Animals, by Steve Jenkins, $3.99. Can you name 20 smelly animals? I’m not sure I could without reading this fun picture book. There’s a skunk on the cover, but Jenkins introduces readers to opossoms, hoopoes, millipedes, and lots of other big and little stinkers. If your kids are into gross facts (and who isn’t?), they will have a great time with this book.
Seeing Science: An Illustrated Guide to the Wonders of the Universe, by Iris Gottlieb, $2.99. This book is really cool. Gottlieb is an illustrator who is fascinated by the natural world. She brings her unique blend of cartoon and realism to topics in biology, earth science, and physics. The result is a charming and and detailed look at many interesting aspects of science. Visual learners and science fans will love this. The topics range from basic (how we know something is alive) to theoretical and complex (quantum superposition).
Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are, by Danny Gregory, $2.99. My daughter loves doing art and fills lots of her spare time making things. I’ve never considered myself an artist and struggle to find time to develop my skills. This book is a great place to start. Danny Gregory has created short, fun activities that take 10 minutes or less. They will encourage you to make art a regular part of your life. This book is a great way to add some art education to your homeschool, or to carve out a bit of time for your own creativity.
How Art Can Make You Happy, by Bridget Watson Payne, $1.99. A lot of homeschoolers I know have trouble working art into their education plans. This little book can help to bring some fresh ideas to your school year! With a focus on finding joy in experiencing and making art, this collection of tips, quotes, and pep talks is useful and inspiring.
Grammar Girl’s 101 Words to Sound Smart, by Mignon Fogarty, $3.99. I really like Mignon Fogarty’s grammar guides. She is thorough but fun and quippy. This short book is a collection of interesting words (e.g., diaphanous and jejune) that are often thrown around by smart people. Each word gets a paragraph or two explaining what it means and one or more quotations offering examples of how to use it. You’ll find the book useful for beefing up SAT vocabulary and adding sophistication to high school writing.
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, $1.49. As a word nerd, I find this book so cool! The authors cover more than 100 different emotional states and offer ideas for what it might look like if a character was experiencing them, or if they were trying to cover them up. This goes well beyond happy or angry; sections include horror, insecurity, and envy.
How to Write a Story, by Kate Messner, $1.99. I love this picture book! It’s a step-by-step guide to writing a story, from brainstorming an idea to putting a polished version down on paper. It’s definitely educational, but not the least bit boring. The illustrations follow a girl as she creates her own very exciting story involving dragons and sea monsters.
The Princess Will Save You, by Sarah Henning, $2.99. This action-packed YA novel has some definite Princess Bride vibes, but with a fierce twist. When Princess Amarande’s father dies, the ruler of a neighboring kingdom tries to force her into marriage by kidnapping her beloved. But Amarande is a warrior and is not going to go without a fight. The result is lots of swashbuckling, a bit of romance, betrayal, and bravery.
The Star-Touched Queen, by Roshani Chokshi, $2.99. This YA fantasy novel got a lot of buzz a few years ago. Here’s the publisher’s description: “Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...
But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most… including herself.”
Royal Academy Rebels: Misfits, by Jen Calonita, $0.99. Devin wants to be a veterinarian, but alas, she was born a princess and must attend the Royal Academy. At this prestigious boarding school for future rulers, Devin and her fellow classmates will learn all they need to know, but their headmistress seems very worried about the possibility of an attack. Are they in danger? Note: This book ends in the middle of the action, so be prepared to seek out the second book in the series right away!
The Princess Rules: It’s a Prince Thing, by Philippa Gregory, $0.99. Being a princess comes with a long list of rules and expectations. But in Florizella’s kingdom, princes can do whatever they want. When the stork delivers a baby boy to the palace, Princess Florizella is determined to show her brother all the wonders of the kingdom… and to fight the customs that give boys options and girls restrictions. You may know Philippa Gregory for her richly detailed adult historical fiction. She brings the same skill to this series for early middle-grade readers.
Demigods and Monsters: Your Favorite Authors on Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, edited by Rick Riordan, $3.99. This is a really fun essay collection about the world of Percy Jackson. 15 (mostly YA and science fiction) authors have come together to write about how to identify a monster when you see one, why humans are drawn to mythology, how Percy’s dyslexia and ADHD shape his character, and many other interesting topics. I know so many kids who have devoured every Riordan book (and all of the books from his publishing imprint); they will love this book!
Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark, by Chronicle Books, $2.99. These folktales are full of trolls, ogres, dragons, and other creatures. A few are familiar, but most are not well know in the U.S. You’ll find tales of trickery, transformation, and travel in this charmingly illustrated collection.
The Brothers Grimm: Illuminated Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm, $1.99. Occasionally you find a book that is uniquely designed for the ebook format. This collection of Grimm Fairy Tales is beautifully illustrated, with subtly animated elements! As you read, you can watch the witch threaten Hansel and Gretel. Each story is illustrated in a different artist, and you could compare and contrast their styles for a fun art lesson.
The Jane Austen Handbook, by Margaret Sullivan, $2.99. Both Austen newbies and proper Janeites will find this delightful little guidebook very useful. A light, tongue-in-cheek tone pairs well with a serious vault of knowledge about Regency England. Not sure whether a Marquis outranks a Duke? Or how rich Mr. Darcy would be in modern terms? This book will help fill in all the gaps.
Who is Greta Thunberg? by Jill Leonard, $4.99. Get to know Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg in this elementary biography. From the publisher: “When she was just fifteen years old, Greta Thunberg knew she wanted to change the world. With a hand-painted sign that read "School strike for the climate" in Swedish, Greta sat alone on the steps of the Swedish parliament to call for stronger action on climate change. Her one-person strike would soon spark a worldwide movement. This exciting story details the defining moments in Greta's childhood that led up to her now-famous strike and all the monumental ones that have fueled her revolution since, including being named Time's Most Influential Person of the Year in 2019.”
Molecules: The Elements and Architecture of Everything, by Theodore Gray, $0.99. If you’ve already gotten to know the periodic elements, it is time to step up to learning about molecules. Theodore Gray starts by explaining the basics of bonding and how bond types affect physical structure. The rest of the book is made up of profiles of different compounds, detailing their composition, usage, and history. As in all of Gray’s books, there are copious detailed photo illustrations.
Ripped From the Headlines: The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movies’ Most Memorable Crimes, by Harold Schechter, $1.99. So many of the plotlines from famous movies have been taken from true-life events. Historian Harold Schechter reveals all the fascinating stories behind films like Scream, Psycho, and Dirty Harry. This is a fun exploration for true crime fans and movie buffs alike!
Rise of the Jumbies, by Tracey Baptiste, $1.99. I’ve featured The Jumbies in the Kindle deals before. If your kids enjoy Rick Riordan books, they will get excited about this series based on Carribbean folklore. In the second book, Corinne must venture into to sea to request the help of the powerful jumbie Mama D’Leau. Mama D’Leau’s price for help is a powerful object, and Corinne and her friends must set off on a dangerous quest to retrieve it.
Tasting the World: One Country at a Time, by Nicole O’Donnell, $2.99. This book is so cool! O’Donnell has collected recipes from more than 200 countries. I wish there were pictures, but I do appreciate her ratings system for ease of preparation, availability of ingredients, and degree of divergence from American flavor profiles. Pair this book with your geography lessons for a delicious enrichment.
Recipes from the World of Tolkein: Inspired by the Legends, by Robert Tuesley Anderson, $1.99. Supplement your reading to The Lord of the Rings with some “authentic” recipes! This small volume has many recipes (Brandywine Fish Pie, Beorn’s Twice-Baked Cakes) and beautiful watercolor illustrations. Essays about the importance of food in Middle Earth make for delicious reading.
The Language of Spells, by Garret Weyr, $1.99. Amy liked this book, but warns that it is SAD. It’s a metaphor of the Holocaust through dragon-based fantasy. Here’s a bit of her review: “A lonely Viennese girl teams up with a dragon to solve the biggest mystery of World War II and figure out what happened to all the dragons. You’re plunged into an alternate magical world, where cats can run government agencies and dragons can spend decades trapped inside a teapot, and it’s a thrilling plunge. It’s alternate history! And magic! And lonely girls finding their people (or, you know, dragons) for the first time.”
The Classical Music Book, by DK Publishing, $1.99. This book is overflowing with music history information. Inside, you’ll find details about famous (and less famous) composers, instruments, musical styles, and much much more.
Nicola and the Viscount, by Meg Cabot, $1.99. Meg Cabot, who you may know from The Princess Diaries, is back with a historical YA romance. Here’s the publisher’s description: “Nicola Sparks, sixteen and an orphan, is ready to dive headlong into her first glittering London society season. She's also ready to dive headlong into the arms of handsome and debonair Lord Sebastian Bartholomew. Nicola's dream is a proposal from the viscount—a dream she's about to realize at last! So naturally, Nathaniel Sheridan's insinuations about her fiancé's flawed character annoy her mightily. But when Nicola's natural curiosity gets the best of her, she begins to piece together a few things for herself. To her great surprise, Nicola realizes she's had the wrong viscount all along . . . but is it too late to make things right?”
Her Right Foot, by Dave Eggers, $2.99. This beautiful picture book takes a look at the history of the Statue of Liberty. More than that, Eggers uses the statue to address the inherent freedoms that form the basis of American culture and government. Shawn Harris’s mixed-media illustrations are simple but visually interesting.
City Signs, by Zoran Milich, $3.99. Help your child get to know the words they might find around a city! The only text in this book is found on the signs themselves, but flipping through the photos is an excellent starting point for conversations about all the workers, transportation, and businesses you can find in an urban environment.
DK Readers: Homes Around the World, by Max Moore, $2.99. This level 1 reader will takes kids around the world to visit houses on stilts, in caves, and high up in trees. As always, DK’s gorgeous photo illustrations bring each setting to life.
The Sun is a Compass: My 4,000-Mile Journey Into the Alaskan Wilds, by Caroline Van Hemert, $4.49. Caroline Van Hemert is an ornithologist who was feeling frustrated with how much time she was spending in the lab. Determined to get back in touch with nature, she decided to take a massive trip, by boat and on foot, through the wilderness of Alaska. She approaches her journey with an adventurer’s spirit and a biologist’s eye for details in the world around her.
Science in Seconds: 200 Key Concepts Explained in an Instant, by Hazel Muir, $4.99. Looking for a quick explainer on, well, just about any major science concept? This book has got you covered. Muir has collected diagrams and short descriptions of black holes, gravity, surface tension, and dozens more topics.
Science Wide Open: Women in Physics, by Mary Wissinger, $2.99. I’m really impressed with this picture book. A curious girl asks questions about the world (e.g., “Why do things fall down?”), and the book answers each question with factual information about science and the women who contributed to each discovery. If you like this one, you might consider the other books in the series!
What If You Had Animal Feet? by Sandra Markle, $2.99. How would your life be different if you had animal feet? Would you climb walls? Balance on tiny ledges? The books in this series are full of fascinating facts about the animal kingdom, but what really sets them apart are the weird and wonderful illustrations imagining kids with animal features.
Tomorrow Most Likely, by Dave Eggers, $1.99. It may be time for bed, but one little boy’s thoughts are all about what the next day will bring. Follow his trains of thought about the sights, sounds, and smells he may discover when he wakes up. This simple, hopeful book is perfect for bedtime.
Rain Brings Frogs: A Little Book of Hope, by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, $2.99. Nate is a kid who sees things in his own special way. When faced with a setback or shortage, Nate finds something to be proud or hopeful about. The illustrations are adorable, and the message of simple gratitude is useful.
The OK Book, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, $2.99. Amy Krouse Rosenthal is one of my absolute favorite children’s authors. Her books are full of wit and warmth, and The OK Book is no exception. OK is a character (created by the letters O and K turn on their side) who likes to try a lot of things, even things that don’t come naturally. OK assures readers that it’s good to be OK at lots of things, and that trying things is how you discover what will make you great.
Binti: The Complete Trilogy, by Nnedi Okorafor, $4.99. This sci-fi novella collection introduces an exciting new universe. Binti, a Himba tribeswoman, is the first of her people to gain admission to a galactic university. Against her family’s wishes, she leaves her desert home to pursue higher education. A disaster on her transport ship has profound impacts on Binti’s future. This book collects all three Binti novellas, following Binti from her first voyage to university through Binti’s unique path to bringing peace to ancient enemies. I absolutely tore through these books, and I’m delighted that they are all packaged together.
Sleeping Giants, by Sylvain Neuvel, $3.99. I love a good epistolary novel. It’s fascinating to watch a plot come together from a collection of documents. Sleeping Giants is the first in a series about the discovery of an enormous metal hand buried underground. Where did it come from? What does it mean?
My Alien Parents, by R.L. Stine, $3.99. If you were born within 10 years of me, the name R.L. Stine probably sends a little shiver down your spine. He has been writing creepy books for kids and teens for decades. Introduce the next generation to the thrills and chills with this short, fun story about a kid who is convinced his parents are secretly aliens.
Asian-Americans Who Inspire Us, by Analiza Quiroz Wolf, $2.99. This picture book profiles 16 people who have done tremendous things in a wide variety of fields (sports, politics, activism, music). The illustrations really set this book apart. Unlike many biography collections, each person has several images accompanying the text.
Rags and Bones: New Twists on Timeless Tales, edited by Melissa Marr and Tim Pratt, $1.99. This fascinating short story collection reimagines classic stories in new genres. Big names in YA literature (e.g., Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix) have contributed stories to the collection. Some of the stories that provide original inspiration are obscure but worthy of exploration in their own right. Use this collection as a springboard for further literary explrations!
What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z, by Tiffani Teachey, $2.99. This short and sweet book highlights a wide variety of STEM careers. There is not a lot of detail about each field, but this would make an excellent jumping off point for further research. I particularly appreciate the ethnic and gender diversity in the illustrations. Every kid will find someone who looks like them within the pages.
Let’s Meet a Construction Worker, by Bridget Heos, $4.99. This is only one in a series of short books introducing community helpers of all sorts. Fun cartoon-style illustrations accompany interesting information about construction machinery, safety procedures, and more.