Kindle Deals for September 7, 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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DKFindOut Engineering, by DK Publishing, $1.99. After you’ve read some fun picture books about machinery, pick up this nonfiction book for some fascinating details. Elementary-age kids will be able to read this one on their own to learn about simple machines, roller coasters, engineering for space, cars, robots, and many more topics. As always, the DK books are filled with photo illustrations, break out boxes, and bright colors.
Bomb: The Race to Build — and Steal — the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin, $2.99. Sheinkin writes great, engaging nonfiction books for younger readers, and Bomb is no exception. Here he tells the story of the German efforts to build an atomic bomb, and the rest of the world’s attempts to harness the new and powerful technology for themselves before the Germans had a chance to use it. There are spies, scientist, battles, and lots of intrigue in this middle grade/YA history.
Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream, by Joshua Davis, $3.99. What a tremendous story! When a group of teens decides to enter a prestigious robotics competition, they are at a major disadvantage. They don’t have corporate sponsors or money to buy materials, and they need to keep a lower profile because all of them are undocumented. Through an incredible amount of perseverance, the team is able to successfully compete with their robot made primarily of scavenged and repurposed parts. There’s also a pretty good movie based on the same true story.
Inventology: How We Dream Up Things that Change the World, by Pagan Kennedy, $1.99. Pagan Kennedy is fascinated by inventions and inventors. By studying the processes that led to some of today’s significant devices, Kennedy has discovered the environments and methods that produce successful innovation.
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Knockout, by K.A. Holt, $1.99. Levi was chronically ill as a kid, but he has grown out of most of his issues and is sick of people treating him like he is fragile. When his father suggests that he try boxing, Levi sees a path to independence. This is a fast-paced novel-in-verse that will appeal to kids who are interested in sports. (It’s also a sequel to House Arrest, but it takes place 11 years later and reading the first book isn’t necessary.)
Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter, by Beth Fantaskey, $1.99. Middle grade readers will have a lot of fun with this historical mystery! Isabel sells newspapers on the corner, but she’s dreaming of becoming a famous reporter. When she stumbles upon an actual murder, she thinks it might be her big break! I haven’t found many engaging fiction books for kids set in the 1920s, and this one is particularly fun with its use of period slang.
Ender’s World: Fresh Perspectives on the SF Classic Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card and others, $3.99. Ender’s Game (not so much the sequels) is a masterpiece of YA literature, and a touchstone for many gifted kids. This collection of essays from big names in literature and and even military strategists offers a deeper dive into the Ender’s universe.
Theodore Gray’s Completely Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home, But Probably Shouldn’t, by Theodore Gray, $2.99. In this case, I think the title really says it all. Gray is known for his gorgeous science books filled with detailed photographs and facts. He brings this style to a collection of wild experiments that highlight important scientific principles. Whether you should really make a Flaming Bacon Lance remains to be seen, but you’ll get clear instructions on how to do it (and why) in this fun book.
Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab, by Bob Pflugfelder, $2.99. Your junior scientist and engineers will love these high-action tales that also contain instructions for making the same mechanical creations as Nick and Tesla. Many of the projects can be accomplished with things you probably already have around the house.
Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives, by Rachel Simmons, $1.99. Rachel Simmons has written a follow up to Odd Girl Out. In this new book, she looks at the unreasonable standards girls and young women place on themselves and offers parents concrete guidance for reinforcing confidence.
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.”
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.”
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 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.