Kindle Deals for February 9, 2020
Today’s deals will take you from a Southern table to the high seas, with a stop at a beautiful and mysterious place.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South, by Michael W. Twitty, $1.99. Whether you love Southern cooking or know nothing about it, you will definitely be interested what Twitty has to say. As he tells the story of how traditional cuisine developed, he takes on slavery, racism, class, and religion.
A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, The World’s First National Park, by Erin Peabody, $1.99. Yellowstone is a place like few others in the world, and this book traces its fascinating history. This book, aimed at teens to adults, covers the park’s discovery, the protection act that created the first national park, and the science and nature that make Yellowstone so unique. Copious historical and current photos enhance the reading experience.
Lintang and the Pirate Queen, by Tamara Moss, $2.99. This middle-grade fantasy novel is perhaps better known in Australia, where it was initially published. I love all the strong female characters. Here’s how the publisher describes it: “Lintang is an island girl who longs for daring and danger. When she meets the feared pirate Captain Shafira and her all-female crew, Lintang is determined to join them. Secrets within secrets, life-or-death battles with spectacular monsters, and hair’s breadth escapes keep readers turning the pages of a story populated by women of color who are fighters, adventurers, and leaders.”
STILL ON SALE
How to Read Poetry Like a Professor: A Quippy and Sonorous Guide to Verse, by Thomas C. Foster, $1.99. Poetry doesn’t have to be intimidating. This guide to understanding the meanings of poems will help teens and adults find the beauty in verse. Along the way, Foster introduces and explains all the language scholars use to talk about poetry — meter, figurative language, rhyme structure, and more.
The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco, $2.99. This is one of my favorite novels. The movie version of the book, starring Sean Connery, is in our Medieval History movie list, but the book is even better. This is an incredibly faithful and richly detailed tale of monastic life that is also full of page-turning intrigue and mystery.
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker, by Patricia Hruby Powell and Christian Robinson, $1.99. This lovely children’s biography of Josephine Baker covers both her performance career and her civil rights work. It is written in a jazz-style poetry that calls to mind the 1920s. The simple, vivid illustrations won the Coretta Scott King Honor distinction.
Science in Seconds: 200 Key Concepts Explained in an Instant, by Hazel Muir, $1.99. This illustrated guide to scientific concepts explains everything from thermodynamics to the Doppler effect. It’s an excellent resource for when you need a refresher or a way to answer a homework question.
Wonders of the Solar System, by Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, $2.99. This book companion to the impressive BBC series is full of amazing images. Brian Cox is very much like Carl Sagan — his science is rigorous but filled with lyricism and wonder.
In Progress: Seeing Inside a Lettering Artist’s Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector, by Jessica Hische, $2.99. I love to learn about how things are made, and this peek into a lettering artist’s work process is really fascinating to me. This is a great introduction to the terminology, tools, and business of lettering. You’ll enjoy this look behind the scenes even if you, like me, have no talent for fancy handwriting.
Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe, by Tim Leong, $1.99. If you love comic books, this is the book for you. If you know very little about superheroes but enjoy infographics, this is also the book for you. Tim Leong breaks down the world of superheroes and supervillians by color, geographic area, height, weight, and more.
Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor, $1.99. This sci-fi novella 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 is beautifully written and a whirlwind of activity. It’s short, but it packs a punch.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson, $1.99. From our Spooky (and Not-So-Spooky) Book guide: “After the rest of their family dies suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, Merricat and Constance live an isolated life in their family's grand old house. Jackson manages her usual balance of macabre humor and growing unease in this story that slowly grows more and more un-put-down-able as you read.”
How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans, by Jared Blando, $4.99. I’m a big fan of meeting kids where they are to sneak in some meaningful learning. In creating a fantasy world and building an accurate map, budding cartographers will have a crash course in geography. The book offers good starting points for discussion of geographic features, cities and transportation, political history, and heraldry. The excellent and varied illustrations break the complex process into manageable steps.
Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, $1.99. This is a great deal on a massive, informative book, so snap it up! It is very easy to get stuck in thinking about all of the problems and disasters facing the modern world. Pinker uses meticulous sociological research to show that human conditions have been steadily improving since the Enlightenment. Far from resting on laurels, Pinker encourages readers to continue embracing reason and science to defend the world against the ever-encroaching tribalism, demagoguery, and fatalism that also seem to be a persistent part of human nature.
Paperback Crush, by Gabrielle Moss, $2.99. Calling all women in their thirties and forties! Did you go through a horse book phase in middle school? Did you morbidly rubberneck the doomed romances of terminally ill teens? This book is a love letter to the mass market teen paperbacks of the 1980s and 1990s. Revisit the extremely specific genres of books you loved but have probably forgotten.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, by Michio Kaku, $2.99. Renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes on science fiction to determine which fictional technologies are possible and which violate our current understanding of the laws of physics. This could be a good book to get a sci-fi fan more interested in the science aspects of popular TV and movies.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for February 3, 2020
Today’s deals include a book on understanding poetry and a book written in verse!
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
How to Read Poetry Like a Professor: A Quippy and Sonorous Guide to Verse, by Thomas C. Foster, $1.99. Poetry doesn’t have to be intimidating. This guide to understanding the meanings of poems will help teens and adults find the beauty in verse. Along the way, Foster introduces and explains all the language scholars use to talk about poetry — meter, figurative language, rhyme structure, and more.
The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco, $2.99. This is one of my favorite novels. The movie version of the book, starring Sean Connery, is in our Medieval History movie list, but the book is even better. This is an incredibly faithful and richly detailed tale of monastic life that is also full of page-turning intrigue and mystery.
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker, by Patricia Hruby Powell and Christian Robinson, $1.99. This lovely children’s biography of Josephine Baker covers both her performance career and her civil rights work. It is written in a jazz-style poetry that calls to mind the 1920s. The simple, vivid illustrations won the Coretta Scott King Honor distinction.
STILL ON SALE
Science in Seconds: 200 Key Concepts Explained in an Instant, by Hazel Muir, $1.99. This illustrated guide to scientific concepts explains everything from thermodynamics to the Doppler effect. It’s an excellent resource for when you need a refresher or a way to answer a homework question.
Wonders of the Solar System, by Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, $2.99. This book companion to the impressive BBC series is full of amazing images. Brian Cox is very much like Carl Sagan — his science is rigorous but filled with lyricism and wonder.
Detective Science: 40 Crime-Solving, Case-Breaking, Crook-Catching Activities for Kids, by Jim Wiese, $2.99. This fun introduction to forensic science will have your kids analyzing lip prints, tracking down footprints, and chemically analyzing liquids.
In Progress: Seeing Inside a Lettering Artist’s Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector, by Jessica Hische, $2.99. I love to learn about how things are made, and this peek into a lettering artist’s work process is really fascinating to me. This is a great introduction to the terminology, tools, and business of lettering. You’ll enjoy this look behind the scenes even if you, like me, have no talent for fancy handwriting.
Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe, by Tim Leong, $1.99. If you love comic books, this is the book for you. If you know very little about superheroes but enjoy infographics, this is also the book for you. Tim Leong breaks down the world of superheroes and supervillians by color, geographic area, height, weight, and more.
Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt, by Barbara Mertz, $1.99. You may know Barbara Mertz by her pen name, Elizabeth Peters. She has written a very enjoyable mystery series about Egyptologists. Mertz is actually a well-known Egyptologist herself, and brings her vast knowledge to a general audience in this book. History is shared with humor and context.
Gmorning, Gnight! Little Pep Talks for Me and You, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, $4.99. This book is purely charming. Miranda’s pairs of short poems bookend a day, one for the morning and one for bedtime. They read like the offspring of Mr. Rogers and Shel Silverstein. Funny illustrations round out the experience.
Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor, $1.99. This sci-fi novella 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 is beautifully written and a whirlwind of activity. It’s short, but it packs a punch.
Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat, by Megan Olivia Hall, $1.99. Need a little bit of science inspiration? This book is here to help. With adventures in carbonation, bioluminescence, chromatography, and many others, there is plenty to keep kids busy. Key scientific concepts are clearly highlighted for each experiment. The book is designed as a workbook and comes with instructions on how to input notes.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson, $1.99. From our Spooky (and Not-So-Spooky) Book guide: “After the rest of their family dies suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, Merricat and Constance live an isolated life in their family's grand old house. Jackson manages her usual balance of macabre humor and growing unease in this story that slowly grows more and more un-put-down-able as you read.”
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments, by George Johnson, $2.99. This collection of experiments is a crash course in the history of science. What makes an experiment “beautiful,” in Johnson’s view, is not flashiness but simplicity and clarity. From Galileo’s experiments with gravity to Millikan’s work with electrons, each chapter highlights a major breakthrough in science and the creative and persistent scientists (unfortunately, not a very diverse group) who made it happen.
How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans, by Jared Blando, $4.99. I’m a big fan of meeting kids where they are to sneak in some meaningful learning. In creating a fantasy world and building an accurate map, budding cartographers will have a crash course in geography. The book offers good starting points for discussion of geographic features, cities and transportation, political history, and heraldry. The excellent and varied illustrations break the complex process into manageable steps.
Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, $1.99. This is a great deal on a massive, informative book, so snap it up! It is very easy to get stuck in thinking about all of the problems and disasters facing the modern world. Pinker uses meticulous sociological research to show that human conditions have been steadily improving since the Enlightenment. Far from resting on laurels, Pinker encourages readers to continue embracing reason and science to defend the world against the ever-encroaching tribalism, demagoguery, and fatalism that also seem to be a persistent part of human nature.
Paperback Crush, by Gabrielle Moss, $2.99. Calling all women in their thirties and forties! Did you go through a horse book phase in middle school? Did you morbidly rubberneck the doomed romances of terminally ill teens? This book is a love letter to the mass market teen paperbacks of the 1980s and 1990s. Revisit the extremely specific genres of books you loved but have probably forgotten.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, by Michio Kaku, $2.99. Renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes on science fiction to determine which fictional technologies are possible and which violate our current understanding of the laws of physics. This could be a good book to get a sci-fi fan more interested in the science aspects of popular TV and movies.
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler, by Ryan North, $4.99. Paging through this book is the most fun I’ve ever had learning about civilization and technology. This book is fairly high concept; North has created a comprehensive guide to everything a time traveler would need to survive if they were to end up stuck in the past. He covers major areas of human achievement, such as language, music, medicine, science, and philosophy, with lots of humor and useful information. Go read the preview! You’ll be hooked. (Content note: this is generally appropriate for all ages but does contain some information about sex and birth control.)
The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, $1.99. This Newberry Honor Book follows the medieval quest of Secundus and Boy. Boy has always been an outcast and is pleased when Secundus asks him to become his servant on a long pilgrimage. Their adventures take many turns, some humorous, others dangerous.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for February 2, 2020
Science lovers, rejoice! Today’s deals are perfect for you.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Amazon has great deals on science books today! Blurbs will be brief so that I can get more titles out to you. Keep in mind, most of these will go up in price tomorrow, so don’t delay!
Rotten!: Vultures, Beetles, Slime, and Nature’s Other Decomposers, by Anita Sanchez, $2.99. This fun and fact-dense book about decomposers will thrill upper elementary or middle school readers. Lots of funny illustrations bring the scientific portions to life.
This is Your Brain on Parasites, by Kathleen McAuliffe, $2.99. A parasite needs a compliant and useful host, and it may evolve ways to adjust the host’s behavior. This book is full of fascinating details about how microbes affect the brains of animals (yes, including humans).
Human Errors: A Panorama of Our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes, by Nathan H Lents, $2.99. I’ll be honest, I lost Library Chicken on this one and had to return it only partway read. But I was really enjoying Lents’s collection of the odd bit and pieces of human biology. Why are humans so likely to catch colds? Why do so many of us have terrible eyesight? Lents explains these and many more with information from medicine, engineering, and evolutionary biology.
The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery, by Sam Kean, $3.99. Sam Kean is a fantastic science writer who brings a lot of humanity to his topics. In this book, he delves into how medical science came to understand how the brain works by focusing on individual cases.
My Penguin Year: Life Among the Emperors, by Lindsay McCrae, $2.99. Wildlife lovers will enjoy McCrae’s account of the year he spent observing emperor penguins through an entire breeding cycle. McCrae shares the extraordinary details of both human and penguin life in earth’s most extreme environment.
Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives, by Mark Miodownik, $2.99. The author of the brilliant Stuff Matters is back with a deep exploration of the liquids that make modern life possible. This book will take you from LCD displays to the magma flowing underneath the ground.
Science in Seconds: 200 Key Concepts Explained in an Instant, by Hazel Muir, $1.99. This illustrated guide to scientific concepts explains everything from thermodynamics to the Doppler effect. It’s an excellent resource for when you need a refresher or a way to answer a homework question.
Wonders of the Solar System, by Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, $2.99. This book companion to the impressive BBC series is full of amazing images. Brian Cox is very much like Carl Sagan — his science is rigorous but filled with lyricism and wonder.
Detective Science: 40 Crime-Solving, Case-Breaking, Crook-Catching Activities for Kids, by Jim Wiese, $2.99. This fun introduction to forensic science will have your kids analyzing lip prints, tracking down footprints, and chemically analyzing liquids.
Periodic Tales: A Cultural History of the Elements, from Arsenic to Zinc, by Hugh Aldersley-Williams, $1.99. I love science, but I’m also a social science person; I applied to college as a biochemistry major and graduated with an English degree. Periodic Tales is the best of both worlds. Aldersley-Williams explains not just what each element does, but how it got discovered and what roles it has played in history and modern society. This is a great companion for a high school chemistry course.
The Tornado Scientist: Seeing Inside Severe Storms, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. These middle-school level books about scientists in the field offer kids a great chance to see how and where modern science is being done. This book follows the fascinating and dangerous work of a storm scientist. Color photos break up the text.
The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe: How to Know What’s Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake, by Steven Novella, $2.99. I bought this book last year when I kept wanting to refer to my library copy after I returned it. Start the new year with a fresh look at fake news, real science, and how to tell the difference. This is a perfect book to introduce teens to media awareness, critical thinking, and today’s current scientific debates (e.g., vaccines, global warming, radio waves).
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life, by Ed Yong, $1.99. This book absolutely fascinated and disturbed me. Ed Yong’s extensive book is a guide to the millions of microbes that live in and on all creatures. You will learn about how microorganisms improve the lives of their hosts — making squid invisible, leading mice right to the cats who want to eat them, and defending humans from disease. This will change your outlook on the many lives around you.
STILL ON SALE
In Progress: Seeing Inside a Lettering Artist’s Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector, by Jessica Hische, $2.99. I love to learn about how things are made, and this peek into a lettering artist’s work process is really fascinating to me. This is a great introduction to the terminology, tools, and business of lettering. You’ll enjoy this look behind the scenes even if you, like me, have no talent for fancy handwriting.
Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe, by Tim Leong, $1.99. If you love comic books, this is the book for you. If you know very little about superheroes but enjoy infographics, this is also the book for you. Tim Leong breaks down the world of superheroes and supervillians by color, geographic area, height, weight, and more.
Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt, by Barbara Mertz, $1.99. You may know Barbara Mertz by her pen name, Elizabeth Peters. She has written a very enjoyable mystery series about Egyptologists. Mertz is actually a well-known Egyptologist herself, and brings her vast knowledge to a general audience in this book. History is shared with humor and context.
Gmorning, Gnight! Little Pep Talks for Me and You, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, $4.99. This book is purely charming. Miranda’s pairs of short poems bookend a day, one for the morning and one for bedtime. They read like the offspring of Mr. Rogers and Shel Silverstein. Funny illustrations round out the experience.
Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor, $1.99. This sci-fi novella 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 is beautifully written and a whirlwind of activity. It’s short, but it packs a punch.
Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat, by Megan Olivia Hall, $1.99. Need a little bit of science inspiration? This book is here to help. With adventures in carbonation, bioluminescence, chromatography, and many others, there is plenty to keep kids busy. Key scientific concepts are clearly highlighted for each experiment. The book is designed as a workbook and comes with instructions on how to input notes.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson, $1.99. From our Spooky (and Not-So-Spooky) Book guide: “After the rest of their family dies suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, Merricat and Constance live an isolated life in their family's grand old house. Jackson manages her usual balance of macabre humor and growing unease in this story that slowly grows more and more un-put-down-able as you read.”
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments, by George Johnson, $2.99. This collection of experiments is a crash course in the history of science. What makes an experiment “beautiful,” in Johnson’s view, is not flashiness but simplicity and clarity. From Galileo’s experiments with gravity to Millikan’s work with electrons, each chapter highlights a major breakthrough in science and the creative and persistent scientists (unfortunately, not a very diverse group) who made it happen.
How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans, by Jared Blando, $4.99. I’m a big fan of meeting kids where they are to sneak in some meaningful learning. In creating a fantasy world and building an accurate map, budding cartographers will have a crash course in geography. The book offers good starting points for discussion of geographic features, cities and transportation, political history, and heraldry. The excellent and varied illustrations break the complex process into manageable steps.
Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, $1.99. This is a great deal on a massive, informative book, so snap it up! It is very easy to get stuck in thinking about all of the problems and disasters facing the modern world. Pinker uses meticulous sociological research to show that human conditions have been steadily improving since the Enlightenment. Far from resting on laurels, Pinker encourages readers to continue embracing reason and science to defend the world against the ever-encroaching tribalism, demagoguery, and fatalism that also seem to be a persistent part of human nature.
Paperback Crush, by Gabrielle Moss, $2.99. Calling all women in their thirties and forties! Did you go through a horse book phase in middle school? Did you morbidly rubberneck the doomed romances of terminally ill teens? This book is a love letter to the mass market teen paperbacks of the 1980s and 1990s. Revisit the extremely specific genres of books you loved but have probably forgotten.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, by Michio Kaku, $2.99. Renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes on science fiction to determine which fictional technologies are possible and which violate our current understanding of the laws of physics. This could be a good book to get a sci-fi fan more interested in the science aspects of popular TV and movies.
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler, by Ryan North, $4.99. Paging through this book is the most fun I’ve ever had learning about civilization and technology. This book is fairly high concept; North has created a comprehensive guide to everything a time traveler would need to survive if they were to end up stuck in the past. He covers major areas of human achievement, such as language, music, medicine, science, and philosophy, with lots of humor and useful information. Go read the preview! You’ll be hooked. (Content note: this is generally appropriate for all ages but does contain some information about sex and birth control.)
The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, $1.99. This Newberry Honor Book follows the medieval quest of Secundus and Boy. Boy has always been an outcast and is pleased when Secundus asks him to become his servant on a long pilgrimage. Their adventures take many turns, some humorous, others dangerous.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 31, 2020
We are rounding out January with books about superheroes, honeybees, and creative lettering.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Sweetness and Light: The Mysterious History of the Honeybee, by Hattie Ellis, $1.99. This looks like a fascinating microhistory. From the publisher: “In Sweetness and Light, Hattie Ellis leads us into the hive, revealing the fascinating story of bees and honey from the Stone Age to the present, from Nepalese honey hunters to urban hives on the rooftops of New York City. Uncovering the secrets of the honeybee one by one, Ellis shows how this small insect, with a collective significance so much greater than its individual size, can carry us through past and present to tell us more about ourselves than any other living creature.”
In Progress: Seeing Inside a Lettering Artist’s Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector, by Jessica Hische, $2.99. I love to learn about how things are made, and this peek into a lettering artist’s work process is really fascinating to me. This is a great introduction to the terminology, tools, and business of lettering. You’ll enjoy this look behind the scenes even if you, like me, have no talent for fancy handwriting.
Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe, by Tim Leong, $1.99. If you love comic books, this is the book for you. If you know very little about superheroes but enjoy infographics, this is also the book for you. Tim Leong breaks down the world of superheroes and supervillians by color, geographic area, height, weight, and more.
STILL ON SALE
Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt, by Barbara Mertz, $1.99. You may know Barbara Mertz by her pen name, Elizabeth Peters. She has written a very enjoyable mystery series about Egyptologists. Mertz is actually a well-known Egyptologist herself, and brings her vast knowledge to a general audience in this book. History is shared with humor and context.
ER Vets: Life in an Animal Emergency Room, by Donna M. Jackson, $2.99. What happens when an animal gets really sick? This photo-filled book is full of details about the work emergency vets do to save animals in need of critical care. This book, written for a tween audience, will give kids an introduction to an exciting field of animal medicine.
Gmorning, Gnight! Little Pep Talks for Me and You, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, $4.99. This book is purely charming. Miranda’s pairs of short poems bookend a day, one for the morning and one for bedtime. They read like the offspring of Mr. Rogers and Shel Silverstein. Funny illustrations round out the experience.
Winterhouse, by Ben Guterson, $2.99. Amy profiled this middle-grade mystery/fantasy novel in 2018. It has now expanded into a full trilogy! When Elizabeth is sent to stay at the Winterhouse Hotel, she finds the library to be a delightful escape. A mysterious book reveals that she may be part of Winterhouse’s history, and it is up to her to solve a mystery and possibly break a curse.
Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor, $1.99. This sci-fi novella 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 is beautifully written and a whirlwind of activity. It’s short, but it packs a punch.
Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat, by Megan Olivia Hall, $1.99. Need a little bit of science inspiration? This book is here to help. With adventures in carbonation, bioluminescence, chromatography, and many others, there is plenty to keep kids busy. Key scientific concepts are clearly highlighted for each experiment. The book is designed as a workbook and comes with instructions on how to input notes.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson, $1.99. From our Spooky (and Not-So-Spooky) Book guide: “After the rest of their family dies suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, Merricat and Constance live an isolated life in their family's grand old house. Jackson manages her usual balance of macabre humor and growing unease in this story that slowly grows more and more un-put-down-able as you read.”
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments, by George Johnson, $2.99. This collection of experiments is a crash course in the history of science. What makes an experiment “beautiful,” in Johnson’s view, is not flashiness but simplicity and clarity. From Galileo’s experiments with gravity to Millikan’s work with electrons, each chapter highlights a major breakthrough in science and the creative and persistent scientists (unfortunately, not a very diverse group) who made it happen.
How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans, by Jared Blando, $4.99. I’m a big fan of meeting kids where they are to sneak in some meaningful learning. In creating a fantasy world and building an accurate map, budding cartographers will have a crash course in geography. The book offers good starting points for discussion of geographic features, cities and transportation, political history, and heraldry. The excellent and varied illustrations break the complex process into manageable steps.
Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, $1.99. This is a great deal on a massive, informative book, so snap it up! It is very easy to get stuck in thinking about all of the problems and disasters facing the modern world. Pinker uses meticulous sociological research to show that human conditions have been steadily improving since the Enlightenment. Far from resting on laurels, Pinker encourages readers to continue embracing reason and science to defend the world against the ever-encroaching tribalism, demagoguery, and fatalism that also seem to be a persistent part of human nature.
Paperback Crush, by Gabrielle Moss, $2.99. Calling all women in their thirties and forties! Did you go through a horse book phase in middle school? Did you morbidly rubberneck the doomed romances of terminally ill teens? This book is a love letter to the mass market teen paperbacks of the 1980s and 1990s. Revisit the extremely specific genres of books you loved but have probably forgotten.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, by Michio Kaku, $2.99. Renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes on science fiction to determine which fictional technologies are possible and which violate our current understanding of the laws of physics. This could be a good book to get a sci-fi fan more interested in the science aspects of popular TV and movies.
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler, by Ryan North, $4.99. Paging through this book is the most fun I’ve ever had learning about civilization and technology. This book is fairly high concept; North has created a comprehensive guide to everything a time traveler would need to survive if they were to end up stuck in the past. He covers major areas of human achievement, such as language, music, medicine, science, and philosophy, with lots of humor and useful information. Go read the preview! You’ll be hooked. (Content note: this is generally appropriate for all ages but does contain some information about sex and birth control.)
The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, $1.99. This Newberry Honor Book follows the medieval quest of Secundus and Boy. Boy has always been an outcast and is pleased when Secundus asks him to become his servant on a long pilgrimage. Their adventures take many turns, some humorous, others dangerous.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 30, 2020
Learn about ancient Egypt and veterinary medicine, then be charmed and inspired by poetry.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt, by Barbara Mertz, $1.99. You may know Barbara Mertz by her pen name, Elizabeth Peters. She has written a very enjoyable mystery series about Egyptologists. Mertz is actually a well-known Egyptologist herself, and brings her vast knowledge to a general audience in this book. History is shared with humor and context.
ER Vets: Life in an Animal Emergency Room, by Donna M. Jackson, $2.99. What happens when an animal gets really sick? This photo-filled book is full of details about the work emergency vets do to save animals in need of critical care. This book, written for a tween audience, will give kids an introduction to an exciting field of animal medicine.
Gmorning, Gnight! Litttle Pep Talks for Me and You, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, $4.99. This book is purely charming. Miranda’s pairs of short poems bookend a day, one for the morning and one for bedtime. They read like the offspring of Mr. Rogers and Shel Silverstein. Funny illustrations round out the experience.
STILL ON SALE
Winterhouse, by Ben Guterson, $2.99. Amy profiled this middle-grade mystery/fantasy novel in 2018. It has now expanded into a full trilogy! When Elizabeth is sent to stay at the Winterhouse Hotel, she finds the library to be a delightful escape. A mysterious book reveals that she may be part of Winterhouse’s history, and it is up to her to solve a mystery and possibly break a curse.
Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor, $1.99. This sci-fi novella 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 is beautifully written and a whirlwind of activity. It’s short, but it packs a punch.
Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat, by Megan Olivia Hall, $1.99. Need a little bit of science inspiration? This book is here to help. With adventures in carbonation, bioluminescence, chromatography, and many others, there is plenty to keep kids busy. Key scientific concepts are clearly highlighted for each experiment. The book is designed as a workbook and comes with instructions on how to input notes.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson, $1.99. From our Spooky (and Not-So-Spooky) Book guide: “After the rest of their family dies suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, Merricat and Constance live an isolated life in their family's grand old house. Jackson manages her usual balance of macabre humor and growing unease in this story that slowly grows more and more un-put-down-able as you read.”
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments, by George Johnson, $2.99. This collection of experiments is a crash course in the history of science. What makes an experiment “beautiful,” in Johnson’s view, is not flashiness but simplicity and clarity. From Galileo’s experiments with gravity to Millikan’s work with electrons, each chapter highlights a major breakthrough in science and the creative and persistent scientists (unfortunately, not a very diverse group) who made it happen.
How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans, by Jared Blando, $4.99. I’m a big fan of meeting kids where they are to sneak in some meaningful learning. In creating a fantasy world and building an accurate map, budding cartographers will have a crash course in geography. The book offers good starting points for discussion of geographic features, cities and transportation, political history, and heraldry. The excellent and varied illustrations break the complex process into manageable steps.
Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, $1.99. This is a great deal on a massive, informative book, so snap it up! It is very easy to get stuck in thinking about all of the problems and disasters facing the modern world. Pinker uses meticulous sociological research to show that human conditions have been steadily improving since the Enlightenment. Far from resting on laurels, Pinker encourages readers to continue embracing reason and science to defend the world against the ever-encroaching tribalism, demagoguery, and fatalism that also seem to be a persistent part of human nature.
Paperback Crush, by Gabrielle Moss, $2.99. Calling all women in their thirties and forties! Did you go through a horse book phase in middle school? Did you morbidly rubberneck the doomed romances of terminally ill teens? This book is a love letter to the mass market teen paperbacks of the 1980s and 1990s. Revisit the extremely specific genres of books you loved but have probably forgotten.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, by Michio Kaku, $2.99. Renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes on science fiction to determine which fictional technologies are possible and which violate our current understanding of the laws of physics. This could be a good book to get a sci-fi fan more interested in the science aspects of popular TV and movies.
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler, by Ryan North, $4.99. Paging through this book is the most fun I’ve ever had learning about civilization and technology. This book is fairly high concept; North has created a comprehensive guide to everything a time traveler would need to survive if they were to end up stuck in the past. He covers major areas of human achievement, such as language, music, medicine, science, and philosophy, with lots of humor and useful information. Go read the preview! You’ll be hooked. (Content note: this is generally appropriate for all ages but does contain some information about sex and birth control.)
The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, $1.99. This Newberry Honor Book follows the medieval quest of Secundus and Boy. Boy has always been an outcast and is pleased when Secundus asks him to become his servant on a long pilgrimage. Their adventures take many turns, some humorous, others dangerous.
City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris, by Holly Tucker, $2.99. Do you enjoy riveting true crime with a hearty helping of history? This true tale of court intrigue in 17th century Paris may fit the bill! When two magistrates are killed, King Louis XIV tasks Nicolas de la Reynie with restoring order. Reynie discovers a network of conspiracy with threads all over Paris.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 29, 2020
Today’s Kindle deals bring a spooky, bookish mystery, sci-fi adventure, and experiments you can eat!
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Winterhouse, by Ben Guterson, $2.99. Amy profiled this middle-grade mystery/fantasy novel in 2018. It has now expanded into a full trilogy! When Elizabeth is sent to stay at the Winterhouse Hotel, she finds the library to be a delightful escape. A mysterious book reveals that she may be part of Winterhouse’s history, and it is up to her to solve a mystery and possibly break a curse.
Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor, $1.99. This sci-fi novella 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 is beautifully written and a whirlwind of activity. It’s short, but it packs a punch.
Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat, by Megan Olivia Hall, $1.99. Need a little bit of science inspiration? This book is here to help. With adventures in carbonation, bioluminescence, chromatography, and many others, there is plenty to keep kids busy. Key scientific concepts are clearly highlighted for each experiment. The book is designed as a workbook and comes with instructions on how to input notes.
STILL ON SALE
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson, $1.99. From our Spooky (and Not-So-Spooky) Book guide: “After the rest of their family dies suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, Merricat and Constance live an isolated life in their family's grand old house. Jackson manages her usual balance of macabre humor and growing unease in this story that slowly grows more and more un-put-down-able as you read.”
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments, by George Johnson, $2.99. This collection of experiments is a crash course in the history of science. What makes an experiment “beautiful,” in Johnson’s view, is not flashiness but simplicity and clarity. From Galileo’s experiments with gravity to Millikan’s work with electrons, each chapter highlights a major breakthrough in science and the creative and persistent scientists (unfortunately, not a very diverse group) who made it happen.
How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans, by Jared Blando, $4.99. I’m a big fan of meeting kids where they are to sneak in some meaningful learning. In creating a fantasy world and building an accurate map, budding cartographers will have a crash course in geography. The book offers good starting points for discussion of geographic features, cities and transportation, political history, and heraldry. The excellent and varied illustrations break the complex process into manageable steps.
Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, $1.99. This is a great deal on a massive, informative book, so snap it up! It is very easy to get stuck in thinking about all of the problems and disasters facing the modern world. Pinker uses meticulous sociological research to show that human conditions have been steadily improving since the Enlightenment. Far from resting on laurels, Pinker encourages readers to continue embracing reason and science to defend the world against the ever-encroaching tribalism, demagoguery, and fatalism that also seem to be a persistent part of human nature.
Paperback Crush, by Gabrielle Moss, $2.99. Calling all women in their thirties and forties! Did you go through a horse book phase in middle school? Did you morbidly rubberneck the doomed romances of terminally ill teens? This book is a love letter to the mass market teen paperbacks of the 1980s and 1990s. Revisit the extremely specific genres of books you loved but have probably forgotten.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, by Michio Kaku, $2.99. Renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes on science fiction to determine which fictional technologies are possible and which violate our current understanding of the laws of physics. This could be a good book to get a sci-fi fan more interested in the science aspects of popular TV and movies.
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler, by Ryan North, $4.99. Paging through this book is the most fun I’ve ever had learning about civilization and technology. This book is fairly high concept; North has created a comprehensive guide to everything a time traveler would need to survive if they were to end up stuck in the past. He covers major areas of human achievement, such as language, music, medicine, science, and philosophy, with lots of humor and useful information. Go read the preview! You’ll be hooked. (Content note: this is generally appropriate for all ages but does contain some information about sex and birth control.)
The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, $1.99. This Newberry Honor Book follows the medieval quest of Secundus and Boy. Boy has always been an outcast and is pleased when Secundus asks him to become his servant on a long pilgrimage. Their adventures take many turns, some humorous, others dangerous.
City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris, by Holly Tucker, $2.99. Do you enjoy riveting true crime with a hearty helping of history? This true tale of court intrigue in 17th century Paris may fit the bill! When two magistrates are killed, King Louis XIV tasks Nicolas de la Reynie with restoring order. Reynie discovers a network of conspiracy with threads all over Paris.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 28, 2020
Today’s Kindle deals bring chills, experiments, and the ability to build a new world.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson, $1.99. From our Spooky (and Not-So-Spooky) Book guide: “After the rest of their family dies suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, Merricat and Constance live an isolated life in their family's grand old house. Jackson manages her usual balance of macabre humor and growing unease in this story that slowly grows more and more un-put-down-able as you read.”
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments, by George Johnson, $2.99. This collection of experiments is a crash course in the history of science. What makes an experiment “beautiful,” in Johnson’s view, is not flashiness but simplicity and clarity. From Galileo’s experiments with gravity to Millikan’s work with electrons, each chapter highlights a major breakthrough in science and the creative and persistent scientists (unfortunately, not a very diverse group) who made it happen.
How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans, by Jared Blando, $4.99. I’m a big fan of meeting kids where they are to sneak in some meaningful learning. In creating a fantasy world and building an accurate map, budding cartographers will have a crash course in geography. The book offers good starting points for discussion of geographic features, cities and transportation, political history, and heraldry. The excellent and varied illustrations break the complex process into manageable steps.
STILL ON SALE
Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, $1.99. This is a great deal on a massive, informative book, so snap it up! It is very easy to get stuck in thinking about all of the problems and disasters facing the modern world. Pinker uses meticulous sociological research to show that human conditions have been steadily improving since the Enlightenment. Far from resting on laurels, Pinker encourages readers to continue embracing reason and science to defend the world against the ever-encroaching tribalism, demagoguery, and fatalism that also seem to be a persistent part of human nature.
Paperback Crush, by Gabrielle Moss, $2.99. Calling all women in their thirties and forties! Did you go through a horse book phase in middle school? Did you morbidly rubberneck the doomed romances of terminally ill teens? This book is a love letter to the mass market teen paperbacks of the 1980s and 1990s. Revisit the extremely specific genres of books you loved but have probably forgotten.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, by Michio Kaku, $2.99. Renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes on science fiction to determine which fictional technologies are possible and which violate our current understanding of the laws of physics. This could be a good book to get a sci-fi fan more interested in the science aspects of popular TV and movies.
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler, by Ryan North, $4.99. Paging through this book is the most fun I’ve ever had learning about civilization and technology. This book is fairly high concept; North has created a comprehensive guide to everything a time traveler would need to survive if they were to end up stuck in the past. He covers major areas of human achievement, such as language, music, medicine, science, and philosophy, with lots of humor and useful information. Go read the preview! You’ll be hooked. (Content note: this is generally appropriate for all ages but does contain some information about sex and birth control.)
The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, $1.99. This Newberry Honor Book follows the medieval quest of Secundus and Boy. Boy has always been an outcast and is pleased when Secundus asks him to become his servant on a long pilgrimage. Their adventures take many turns, some humorous, others dangerous.
City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris, by Holly Tucker, $2.99. Do you enjoy riveting true crime with a hearty helping of history? This true tale of court intrigue in 17th century Paris may fit the bill! When two magistrates are killed, King Louis XIV tasks Nicolas de la Reynie with restoring order. Reynie discovers a network of conspiracy with threads all over Paris.
Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George, $1.99. Amy did a wonderful full review of this book. Here are some highlights: “Creel is not your typical heroine. When her impoverished family decides to sacrifice her to the local dragon in the hopes that a wealthy knight will rescue her, marry her, and allow the whole clan to prosper, Creel discovers that the local dragon has zero interest in holding damsels hostage or battling questing knights. She seizes the opportunity, borrows a pair of mysterious blue shoes from her reluctant captor, and sets off for the capital with only a bit of embroidery thread and her wits to guide her. This is a delightful, girl-powered story—and one in which the heroine doesn’t have to become a warrior to save the day. Creel is consistently, awesomely herself throughout this book—she changes and grows, of course, but in normal, everyday ways that normal, everyday people change and grow. She’s intelligent and resourceful, good at her job, and willing to stick her neck out when she believes in something, whether it’s dealing with a mean girl at work or coming up with a plan to get the dragons on the right side of the coming war.”
100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names, by Diana Wells, $1.99. This book is a lovely combination of several genres. It’s a gardening book with lovely and careful botanical drawings. It’s a book about words, etymology, and history. And because so many flowers got their names from Latin and Greek gods, this book ends up being a crash course in mythology as well. Every flower tells a story.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 27, 2020
Three fascinating nonfiction books will expand the way you think about the world.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, $1.99. This is a great deal on a massive, informative book, so snap it up! It is very easy to get stuck in thinking about all of the problems and disasters facing the modern world. Pinker uses meticulous sociological research to show that human conditions have been steadily improving since the Enlightenment. Far from resting on laurels, Pinker encourages readers to continue embracing reason and science to defend the world against the ever-encroaching tribalism, demagoguery, and fatalism that also seem to be a persistent part of human nature.
Paperback Crush, by Gabrielle Moss, $2.99. Calling all women in their thirties and forties! Did you go through a horse book phase in middle school? Did you morbidly rubberneck the doomed romances of terminally ill teens? This book is a love letter to the mass market teen paperbacks of the 1980s and 1990s. Revisit the extremely specific genres of books you loved but have probably forgotten.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, by Michio Kaku, $2.99. Renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes on science fiction to determine which fictional technologies are possible and which violate our current understanding of the laws of physics. This could be a good book to get a sci-fi fan more interested in the science aspects of popular TV and movies.
STILL ON SALE
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler, by Ryan North, $4.99. Paging through this book is the most fun I’ve ever had learning about civilization and technology. This book is fairly high concept; North has created a comprehensive guide to everything a time traveler would need to survive if they were to end up stuck in the past. He covers major areas of human achievement, such as language, music, medicine, science, and philosophy, with lots of humor and useful information. Go read the preview! You’ll be hooked. (Content note: this is generally appropriate for all ages but does contain some information about sex and birth control.)
The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, $1.99. This Newberry Honor Book follows the medieval quest of Secundus and Boy. Boy has always been an outcast and is pleased when Secundus asks him to become his servant on a long pilgrimage. Their adventures take many turns, some humorous, others dangerous.
City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris, by Holly Tucker, $2.99. Do you enjoy riveting true crime with a hearty helping of history? This true tale of court intrigue in 17th century Paris may fit the bill! When two magistrates are killed, King Louis XIV tasks Nicolas de la Reynie with restoring order. Reynie discovers a network of conspiracy with threads all over Paris.
Big History: From the Big Bang to the Present, by Cynthia Stokes Brown, $3.99. The Big History movement combines science with history to study Earth from the moment of the big bang all the way through current events. Brown does a remarkable job finding through lines in the vast sweep of history. Each era is necessarily brief, but readers will be pleased to see that the history is not overly focused on Western civilization.
Emily Out of Focus, by Miriam Spitzer Franklin, $1.99. A few of my friends have recently completed international adoptions, so books that address the topic are more on my radar. Here’s the publisher’s description of a middle-grade book that caught my eye: “Twelve-year-old Emily is flying with her parents to China to adopt and bring home a new baby sister. She’s excited but nervous to travel across the world and very aware that this trip will change her entire life. And the cracks are already starting to show the moment they reach the hotel—her parents are all about the new baby, and have no interest in exploring. In the adoption trip group, Emily meets Katherine, a Chinese-American girl whose family has returned to China to adopt a second child. The girls eventually become friends and Katherine reveals a secret: she’s determined to find her birth mother, and she wants Emily’s help. New country, new family, new responsibilities—it’s all a lot to handle, and Emily has never felt more alone.”
Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George, $1.99. Amy did a wonderful full review of this book. Here are some highlights: “Creel is not your typical heroine. When her impoverished family decides to sacrifice her to the local dragon in the hopes that a wealthy knight will rescue her, marry her, and allow the whole clan to prosper, Creel discovers that the local dragon has zero interest in holding damsels hostage or battling questing knights. She seizes the opportunity, borrows a pair of mysterious blue shoes from her reluctant captor, and sets off for the capital with only a bit of embroidery thread and her wits to guide her. This is a delightful, girl-powered story—and one in which the heroine doesn’t have to become a warrior to save the day. Creel is consistently, awesomely herself throughout this book—she changes and grows, of course, but in normal, everyday ways that normal, everyday people change and grow. She’s intelligent and resourceful, good at her job, and willing to stick her neck out when she believes in something, whether it’s dealing with a mean girl at work or coming up with a plan to get the dragons on the right side of the coming war.”
100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names, by Diana Wells, $1.99. This book is a lovely combination of several genres. It’s a gardening book with lovely and careful botanical drawings. It’s a book about words, etymology, and history. And because so many flowers got their names from Latin and Greek gods, this book ends up being a crash course in mythology as well. Every flower tells a story.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 26, 2020
All of today’s books will transport you to another era!
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler, by Ryan North, $4.99. Paging through this book is the most fun I’ve ever had learning about civilization and technology. This book is fairly high concept; North has created a comprehensive guide to everything a time traveler would need to survive if they were to end up stuck in the past. He covers major areas of human achievement, such as language, music, medicine, science, and philosophy, with lots of humor and useful information. Go read the preview! You’ll be hooked. (Content note: this is generally appropriate for all ages but does contain some information about sex and birth control.)
The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, $1.99. This Newberry Honor Book follows the medieval quest of Secundus and Boy. Boy has always been an outcast and is pleased when Secundus asks him to become his servant on a long pilgrimage. Their adventures take many turns, some humorous, others dangerous.
City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris, by Holly Tucker, $2.99. Do you enjoy riveting true crime with a hearty helping of history? This true tale of court intrigue in 17th century Paris may fit the bill! When two magistrates are killed, King Louis XIV tasks Nicolas de la Reynie with restoring order. Reynie discovers a network of conspiracy with threads all over Paris.
STILL ON SALE
Big History: From the Big Bang to the Present, by Cynthia Stokes Brown, $3.99. The Big History movement combines science with history to study Earth from the moment of the big bang all the way through current events. Brown does a remarkable job finding through lines in the vast sweep of history. Each era is necessarily brief, but readers will be pleased to see that the history is not overly focused on Western civilization.
Emily Out of Focus, by Miriam Spitzer Franklin, $1.99. A few of my friends have recently completed international adoptions, so books that address the topic are more on my radar. Here’s the publisher’s description of a middle-grade book that caught my eye: “Twelve-year-old Emily is flying with her parents to China to adopt and bring home a new baby sister. She’s excited but nervous to travel across the world and very aware that this trip will change her entire life. And the cracks are already starting to show the moment they reach the hotel—her parents are all about the new baby, and have no interest in exploring. In the adoption trip group, Emily meets Katherine, a Chinese-American girl whose family has returned to China to adopt a second child. The girls eventually become friends and Katherine reveals a secret: she’s determined to find her birth mother, and she wants Emily’s help. New country, new family, new responsibilities—it’s all a lot to handle, and Emily has never felt more alone.”
Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George, $1.99. Amy did a wonderful full review of this book. Here are some highlights: “Creel is not your typical heroine. When her impoverished family decides to sacrifice her to the local dragon in the hopes that a wealthy knight will rescue her, marry her, and allow the whole clan to prosper, Creel discovers that the local dragon has zero interest in holding damsels hostage or battling questing knights. She seizes the opportunity, borrows a pair of mysterious blue shoes from her reluctant captor, and sets off for the capital with only a bit of embroidery thread and her wits to guide her. This is a delightful, girl-powered story—and one in which the heroine doesn’t have to become a warrior to save the day. Creel is consistently, awesomely herself throughout this book—she changes and grows, of course, but in normal, everyday ways that normal, everyday people change and grow. She’s intelligent and resourceful, good at her job, and willing to stick her neck out when she believes in something, whether it’s dealing with a mean girl at work or coming up with a plan to get the dragons on the right side of the coming war.”
100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names, by Diana Wells, $1.99. This book is a lovely combination of several genres. It’s a gardening book with lovely and careful botanical drawings. It’s a book about words, etymology, and history. And because so many flowers got their names from Latin and Greek gods, this book ends up being a crash course in mythology as well. Every flower tells a story.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World’s Richest Museum, by Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino, $1.99. Do you love a good scholarly scandal as much as I do? Learn about the Getty museum’s history of buying artifacts looted from historic sites and how the discovery of this malfeasance led other museums to return more than 100 artifacts to their native countries.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 24, 2020
Today’s deals will take you on a whirlwind tour of history, then to China and Australia!
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Big History: From the Big Bang to the Present, by Cynthia Stokes Brown, $3.99. The Big History movement combines science with history to study Earth from the moment of the big bang all the way through current events. Brown does a remarkable job finding through lines in the vast sweep of history. Each era is necessarily brief, but readers will be pleased to see that the history is not overly focused on Western civilization.
Emily Out of Focus, by Miriam Spitzer Franklin, $1.99. A few of my friends have recently completed international adoptions, so books that address the topic are more on my radar. Here’s the publisher’s description of a middle-grade book that caught my eye: “Twelve-year-old Emily is flying with her parents to China to adopt and bring home a new baby sister. She’s excited but nervous to travel across the world and very aware that this trip will change her entire life. And the cracks are already starting to show the moment they reach the hotel—her parents are all about the new baby, and have no interest in exploring. In the adoption trip group, Emily meets Katherine, a Chinese-American girl whose family has returned to China to adopt a second child. The girls eventually become friends and Katherine reveals a secret: she’s determined to find her birth mother, and she wants Emily’s help. New country, new family, new responsibilities—it’s all a lot to handle, and Emily has never felt more alone.”
Tracks: One Woman’s Journey Across 1,700 Miles of Australian Outback, by Robyn Davidson, $2.99. With Australia’s wildfires so much in the news today, I thought you might be interested in this unusual travelogue. Robyn Davidson decides to trek from Alice Springs (in the center of Australia) all the way to the ocean with only her dog and four camels to carry her gear. Readers will enjoy detailed descriptions of landscapes rarely seen by visitors, as well as wild mishaps that befall the expedition.
STILL ON SALE
Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George, $1.99. Amy did a wonderful full review of this book. Here are some highlights: “Creel is not your typical heroine. When her impoverished family decides to sacrifice her to the local dragon in the hopes that a wealthy knight will rescue her, marry her, and allow the whole clan to prosper, Creel discovers that the local dragon has zero interest in holding damsels hostage or battling questing knights. She seizes the opportunity, borrows a pair of mysterious blue shoes from her reluctant captor, and sets off for the capital with only a bit of embroidery thread and her wits to guide her. This is a delightful, girl-powered story—and one in which the heroine doesn’t have to become a warrior to save the day. Creel is consistently, awesomely herself throughout this book—she changes and grows, of course, but in normal, everyday ways that normal, everyday people change and grow. She’s intelligent and resourceful, good at her job, and willing to stick her neck out when she believes in something, whether it’s dealing with a mean girl at work or coming up with a plan to get the dragons on the right side of the coming war.”
100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names, by Diana Wells, $1.99. This book is a lovely combination of several genres. It’s a gardening book with lovely and careful botanical drawings. It’s a book about words, etymology, and history. And because so many flowers got their names from Latin and Greek gods, this book ends up being a crash course in mythology as well. Every flower tells a story.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World’s Richest Museum, by Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino, $1.99. Do you love a good scholarly scandal as much as I do? Learn about the Getty museum’s history of buying artifacts looted from historic sites and how the discovery of this malfeasance led other museums to return more than 100 artifacts to their native countries.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 23, 2020
Today’s deals introduce you to dragons and take you behind the scenes of flower names and a literary classic.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George, $1.99. Amy did a wonderful full review of this book. Here are some highlights: “Creel is not your typical heroine. When her impoverished family decides to sacrifice her to the local dragon in the hopes that a wealthy knight will rescue her, marry her, and allow the whole clan to prosper, Creel discovers that the local dragon has zero interest in holding damsels hostage or battling questing knights. She seizes the opportunity, borrows a pair of mysterious blue shoes from her reluctant captor, and sets off for the capital with only a bit of embroidery thread and her wits to guide her. This is a delightful, girl-powered story—and one in which the heroine doesn’t have to become a warrior to save the day. Creel is consistently, awesomely herself throughout this book—she changes and grows, of course, but in normal, everyday ways that normal, everyday people change and grow. She’s intelligent and resourceful, good at her job, and willing to stick her neck out when she believes in something, whether it’s dealing with a mean girl at work or coming up with a plan to get the dragons on the right side of the coming war.”
100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names, by Diana Wells, $1.99. This book is a lovely combination of several genres. It’s a gardening book with lovely and careful botanical drawings. It’s a book about words, etymology, and history. And because so many flowers got their names from Latin and Greek gods, this book ends up being a crash course in mythology as well. Every flower tells a story.
The Annotated Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott and John Matteson, $2.99. This former English major is a sucker for annotated classics. I love reading through a book and finding little nuggets of information about historical events, the author’s life, unusual word usage, and more. Little Women has returned to the spotlight this winter, so now would be a great time to look at it with fresh eyes.
STILL ON SALE
The List, by Patricia Ford, $1.99. I don’t know how I’ve missed reading this book. It looks awesome and has been compared to The City of Ember. Here’s the publisher’s description: “The city of Ark is the last safe place on Earth. To make sure humans are able to survive, everyone in Ark must speak List, a language of only 500 words. Everyone that is, except Letta. As apprentice to the Wordsmith, Letta can read all the words that have ever existed. Forbidden words like freedom, music, and even pineapple tell her about a world she's never known. One day her master disappears and the leaders of Ark tell Letta she is the new Wordsmith and must shorten List to fewer and fewer words. Then Letta meets a teenage boy who somehow knows all the words that have been banned. Letta's faced with a dangerous choice: sit idly by and watch language slowly slip away or follow a stranger on a path to freedom… or banishment.”
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World’s Richest Museum, by Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino, $1.99. Do you love a good scholarly scandal as much as I do? Learn about the Getty museum’s history of buying artifacts looted from historic sites and how the discovery of this malfeasance led other museums to return more than 100 artifacts to their native countries.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 22, 2020
Today’s deals will have you eager to solve mysteries and appreciative of the power of language.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
The List, by Patricia Ford, $1.99. I don’t know how I’ve missed reading this book. It looks awesome and has been compared to The City of Ember. Here’s the publisher’s description: “The city of Ark is the last safe place on Earth. To make sure humans are able to survive, everyone in Ark must speak List, a language of only 500 words. Everyone that is, except Letta. As apprentice to the Wordsmith, Letta can read all the words that have ever existed. Forbidden words like freedom, music, and even pineapple tell her about a world she's never known. One day her master disappears and the leaders of Ark tell Letta she is the new Wordsmith and must shorten List to fewer and fewer words. Then Letta meets a teenage boy who somehow knows all the words that have been banned. Letta's faced with a dangerous choice: sit idly by and watch language slowly slip away or follow a stranger on a path to freedom… or banishment.”
Caveat Emptor: The Secret Life of an American Art Forger, by Ken Perenyi, $2.99. How do you breathe life into your art history studies? With a little crime, of course! Ken Perenyi is a master art forger whose work fooled the public, museum staff, and even members of the FBI. You’ll be fascinated by the detailed descriptions of his forging process, and his skill as an artist speaks for itself.
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova, $4.99. Sherlock Holmes's prodigious mind has fascinated readers for more than a century. In this clever and fascinating book, psychologist Maria Konnikova examines Sherlock’s powers of observation and deduction to show readers how the brain works and what steps those of us who are not master detectives can take to improve our abilities.
STILL ON SALE
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World’s Richest Museum, by Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino, $1.99. Do you love a good scholarly scandal as much as I do? Learn about the Getty museum’s history of buying artifacts looted from historic sites and how the discovery of this malfeasance led other museums to return more than 100 artifacts to their native countries.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 21, 2020
Today’s deals will introduce you to scientists, scandal, and Snow White!
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, by Mary Kay Carson, $2.99. The Scientists in the Field series aims to show tweens and teens the interesting places where scientists do their research. Biosphere 2 is an earth science research lab in rural Arizona that contains replicas of several major ecosystems. Scientists use this space to research climate change and other environmental science topics. This book is full of photos, facts, and stories of scientists pursuing their research interests.
Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World’s Richest Museum, by Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino, $1.99. Do you love a good scholarly scandal as much as I do? Learn about the Getty museum’s history of buying artifacts looted from historic sites and how the discovery of this malfeasance led other museums to return more than 100 artifacts to their native countries.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, $2.99. This graphic novel is Snow White like you have never seen her before. Doran’s breathtaking illustrations are a twist on medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a dark, otherworldly feel. Gaiman’s creepy story is nothing like the Disney version!
STILL ON SALE
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, $2.99. This inspirational book tells the story of Kamkwamba, who was determined to bring wind power to his village in Malawi. Armed with a few spare parts and outdated textbooks, he figured out how to use the wind to bring electricity and water to his small village. This book is a tribute to the power of self-taught knowledge and ingenuity.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, by Matt Ridley, $1.99. This genetics book is organized uniquely: Ridley profiles one gene on each chromosome. Each short chapter illuminates something interesting about what makes us human. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the complexity of genetics, this is a great entry point for learning more.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
New Boy: William Shakespeare’s Othello Retold, by Tracy Chevalier, $4.99. Historical fiction author Tracy Chevalier has taken on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello. This time she has transplanted the story to 1970s Washington, where the son of a African diplomat enters a new private school and immediately befriends a popular white girl. Another boy, jealous with the friendship and uncomfortable with the way it challenges his racial beliefs, begins a campaign tear them apart. Note: this is a story about kids, but not for kids.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 20, 2020
Today’s deals will bring you powerful women, mental health mysteries, and the first in an eerie YA series.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath, $1.99. This gorgeous book is must-read for anyone who doesn’t feel like the princess trope represents them. Porath has collected mythical and historical women who have discarded social norms to accomplish great (and sometimes terrible) things. There are amazing, colorful illustrations of each woman. Not all of these stories are appropriate for young children, so each tale has a color-coded maturity guide and content warnings for violence, sex, and other tricky issues.
The Great Pretender: The Undercover Mission that Changed Our Understanding of Madness, by Susannah Cahalan, $3.99. Perhaps you’ve heard of David Rosenhan’s 1970s experiment where healthy subjects pretended to have symptoms of schizophrenia in order to experience diagnosis and treatment in America’s mental hospitals. When Cahalan began to investigate this groundbreaking study, she realized that things were not as they were initially reported. Along the way, she shares what she has learned about the history of mental health treatment. This book reads like a page-turning mystery!
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
STILL ON SALE
The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson, $2.99. This beautiful poem by award-winning author Kwame Alexander is illustrated with images of strong and triumphant African American people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. The text highlights slavery, civil rights, and the continued perseverance against racial injustice.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, $2.99. This inspirational book tells the story of Kamkwamba, who was determined to bring wind power to his village in Malawi. Armed with a few spare parts and outdated textbooks, he figured out how to use the wind to bring electricity and water to his small village. This book is a tribute to the power of self-taught knowledge and ingenuity.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, by Matt Ridley, $1.99. This genetics book is organized uniquely: Ridley profiles one gene on each chromosome. Each short chapter illuminates something interesting about what makes us human. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the complexity of genetics, this is a great entry point for learning more.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
New Boy: William Shakespeare’s Othello Retold, by Tracy Chevalier, $4.99. Historical fiction author Tracy Chevalier has taken on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello. This time she has transplanted the story to 1970s Washington, where the son of a African diplomat enters a new private school and immediately befriends a popular white girl. Another boy, jealous with the friendship and uncomfortable with the way it challenges his racial beliefs, begins a campaign tear them apart. Note: this is a story about kids, but not for kids.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $4.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
Kindle Deals for January 19, 2020
Today we have great deals on some of the most popular books of 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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, by Dan Gemeinhart, $2.99. This middle-grade story of a girl and her dad traveling the country in an old school bus has lots of fodder for discussion. Coyote and her father have been traveling ever since her mother and sisters died in an accident, but when she finds out her old neighborhood is about to be demolished, she must trick/convince her father to return home. On the way back, they encounter a strange bunch of misfit travelers and end up discovering more about themselves.
Gods of Jade and Shadow, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, $2.99. I’ve been reading such good things about this historical fantasy set in 1920s Mexico. Casiopea has a busy but boring life caring for her grandfather’s house until she opens a mysterious box and unleashes the Mayan god of death. This sets off a chain of events that sends Casiopea on a quest taking her to sparkling Mexico City, the mysterious jungle, and even the underworld.
The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson, $2.99. This beautiful poem by award-winning author Kwame Alexander is illustrated with images of strong and triumphant African American people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. The text highlights slavery, civil rights, and the continued perseverance against racial injustice.
Let’s Make Ramen, by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan, $2.99. My daughter has gotten me hooked on the graphic novel format, and I am always thrilled to find a graphic nonfiction title. This one is a fun and informative guide to all the many varieties of authentic Japanese ramen (no packets of seasoning powder in sight).
The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow, $3.99. I’ve just started reading this atmospheric fantasy novel. January has lived more or less alone in her benefactor’s house for years when she finds the book. The book tells of other worlds accessible through secret doors. Could January’s life hold more than she ever imagined?
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, by Abbi Waxman, $1.99. Nina is pretty happy with her self-contained life when she gets unexpected news: the father she never knew has died, leaving her something unexpected in his will and a whole bunch of new family members who had no idea she existed. I really enjoyed this smart, introverted heroine sorting her way through a complicated situation.
STILL ON SALE
Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton, $2.99. Introduce a new generation to the book that started a massive franchise! Crichton’s story of genetic engineering run amok still feels relevant, and it’s an exciting read.
Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History, by Keith O’Brien, $2.99. Even today, aviation is a male-dominated field, but women have been a vital part of aviation history. Fly Girls follows five women in the early 20th century who were determined to take to the skies. Amelia Earhart is the most famous, but the other names you probably haven’t heard had just as much to contribute. This edition includes audio and video clips! A young readers’ version is also available.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, $2.99. This inspirational book tells the story of Kamkwamba, who was determined to bring wind power to his village in Malawi. Armed with a few spare parts and outdated textbooks, he figured out how to use the wind to bring electricity and water to his small village. This book is a tribute to the power of self-taught knowledge and ingenuity.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the Word’s Coral Reefs, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This gorgeous picture book tells the story of environmental scientist Ken Nedimyer, who has spent his career working to restore coral reefs. Working with tiny grafts of coral, Nedimyer reseeds reefs that have been damaged. The text is set off by lush illustrations — each page could be framed art.
Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson, $2.99. From our summer 2018 reading list: “Ellingham Academy is one of the most competitive private schools in the country—and also the scene of one of the country’s most notorious unsolved mysteries. New student Stevie Bell is determined to put her true crime obsession to work on Elligham’s famous cold case, but the murderer may not be ancient history after all.” This is the first in a series, and each book ends in a cliffhanger. But if you start now, you’ll be ready when the third book releases on January 22nd!
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, by Matt Ridley, $1.99. This genetics book is organized uniquely: Ridley profiles one gene on each chromosome. Each short chapter illuminates something interesting about what makes us human. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the complexity of genetics, this is a great entry point for learning more.
The Princess Diarist, by Carrie Fisher, $1.99. Before she died, Carrie Fisher discovered the diaries she had written during the filming of Star Wars in 1977. She collected excerpts and rounded them out with recollections of her life before and during the creation of her iconic role. If you have a Star Wars-shaped void now that the trilogy is over, this may be the nostalgia you need. Older teens might enjoy this, but parents may want to screen it first, as Fisher describes a variety of scandalous activities.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker, $2.99. From our Homeschool Gift Guide: This story about a boy and his beloved pet fox trying to find their way back together—told in alternating chapters—is tender and heart-wrenching, gentle and harsh. It’s lovely. My daughter’s co-op book club read this when she was 8, and the class was decidedly mixed. Some thought it was wonderful, and others were troubled. It may not be the best choice for a sensitive child.
Pride, by Ibi Zoboi, $1.99. This modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is set among the Afro-Latino community in Brooklyn. Zuri worries about gentrification as wealthy families move into her Bushwick neighborhood. She is determined not to engage with Darius Darcy, even though her older sister seems to be falling for his brother. This book is an excellent way to get a reluctant teen interested in Jane Austen and the fascinations of book adaptations.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
What If? The World’s Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, edited by Robert Cowley, $4.99. This collection of essays ponders major events in military history and what might have happened if they had turned out differently. What if Alexander the Great had died young? What if D-Day had not been effective? What if the Spanish Armada had won? Historians like Stephen Ambrose, David McCollough, and John Keegan take on these possibilities and more.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and More, by Mallika Chopra, $2.99. I’ve talked about Mallika Chopra’s other wellness book for young people, Just Feel (also on sale this week!). In Just Breathe, Chopra focuses on calming and centering practices. She offers basic meditation instructions, as well as guided meditations for sleep, test anxiety, and more.
The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking, $2.99. Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, and he has spent years traveling the world to learn more about happiness in different cultures. Here, he has consolidated what he has learned into a charming little book. Tackling the topics of togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness, Wiking draws on tips from all over the world. His other book, The Little Book of Hygge, is also on sale this week.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
New Boy: William Shakespeare’s Othello Retold, by Tracy Chevalier, $4.99. Historical fiction author Tracy Chevalier has taken on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello. This time she has transplanted the story to 1970s Washington, where the son of a African diplomat enters a new private school and immediately befriends a popular white girl. Another boy, jealous with the friendship and uncomfortable with the way it challenges his racial beliefs, begins a campaign tear them apart. Note: this is a story about kids, but not for kids.
Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents, by Carole P. Roman, $0.99. Learn about WWII from the perspective of spies! With chapters on gear, famous spies, how spies helped win the war, and much more, this book would be a fun addition to a WWII study. The engaging and accessible language will keep middle-grade readers interested. Helpful illustrations and maps enhance the text.
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects, by Emily Prokop, $1.99. Have you ever wondered who invented the lollipop, hula hoops, or the Comic Sans font? This collection of stories from podcaster Emily Prokop will answer all your burning questions. This is a great one to dip into for a little hit of trivia.
The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery, by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles, $2.99. I am not usually much of a military history fan, but this story is so crazy that I find it fascinating. The US Army created a division of artists and other creatives designed to confuse the enemy by moving decoy tanks and other equipment to strategic locations.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $1.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, by Hank Green, $2.99. Hank Green, of Sci Show, Crash Course, and Vlog Brothers, has written a novel, and it’s an interesting one! When April and Andy discover a strange sculpture, they upload a video about it. The video goes viral, and April becomes and a public figure overnight. This is simultaneously a fast-paced mystery of the sculpture’s meaning and origin and a thoughtful consideration of the highs and lows of social media fame.
The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman, $1.99. It’s time to abandon the term “bird brain.” New research shows that some birds may be as smart as primates! Ackerman tells the fascinating story of research into bird intelligence and will make you understand how much scientists are still discovering. The evocative writing will keep you eagerly reading on.
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict, $1.99. This fast-paced, info-packed book is a somewhat fictionalized account of Hedy Lamarr’s years in Austria. Hedy Lamarr is famous as an actress, but she was also a scientist who developed a frequency hopping technique that was instrumental in cell phone technology. Hedy’s position in Austrian society made her privy to secrets of the Third Reich’s plans, which she shared after her dramatic escape from the country. This book is whirlwind and is an excellent read for lovers of classic film, WWII history, or women in science!
All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness, $1.99. This price is way too good to pass up! When Diana Bishop finds a long-lost manuscript in an Oxford library, she is drawn into an unexpected supernatural world that has been hiding in plain sight for centuries. If you liked Outlander but also maybe wished it had a vampire, this is the series for you.
Greystone Secrets: The Strangers, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, $1.99. I haven’t read this middle-grade novel yet, but it seems perfect for the long, dark evenings of winter. The publisher’s description is thrilling and chilling: “The Greystone kids thought they knew. Chess has always been the protector over his younger siblings, Emma loves math, and Finn does what Finn does best—acting silly and being adored. They’ve been a happy family, just the three of them and their mom. But everything changes when reports of three kidnapped children reach the Greystone kids, and they’re shocked by the startling similarities between themselves and these complete strangers. The other kids share their same first and middle names. They’re the same ages. They even have identical birthdays. Who, exactly, are these strangers? Before Chess, Emma, and Finn can question their mom about it, she takes off on a sudden work trip and leaves them in the care of Ms. Morales and her daughter, Natalie. But puzzling clues left behind lead to complex codes, hidden rooms, and a dangerous secret that will turn their world upside down.
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee, $1.99. This middle-grade novel has been compared to The Hate U Give. Shay is a 12-year-old girl who hates trouble and doesn’t want to stand out. When a tragedy moves her to stand up for what she believes in, she finds out that some things are worth a bit of trouble.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, $2.99. If you or your teen hasn’t read this fast-paced dystopian series yet, what are you waiting for? Join Katniss on her fight for survival in the epic, televised fight to the death. There’s lots to discuss here about politics, media, morality, and more.
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson, $3.99. My tween absolutely loves this comic series about a group of unusual girls at a summer camp. In addition to having a great time doing your typical camp activities, this gang face off with some supernatural creatures and go on a classic fantasy quest. This is girl power all the way! If you like this one, most of the other books in the series are also on sale right now.
Kindle Deals for January 17, 2020
Dinosaur disasters and inspiring women’s history books!
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton, $2.99. Introduce a new generation to the book that started a massive franchise! Crichton’s story of genetic engineering run amok still feels relevant, and it’s an exciting read.
Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History, by Keith O’Brien, $2.99. Even today, aviation is a male-dominated field, but women have been a vital part of aviation history. Fly Girls follows five women in the early 20th century who were determined to take to the skies. Amelia Earhart is the most famous, but the other names you probably haven’t heard had just as much to contribute. This edition includes audio and video clips! A young readers’ version is also available.
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Young Readers’ Edition), by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, $1.99. I really enjoyed the adult version of this Ruth Bader Ginsburg biography. It’s easy to see the Supreme Court as formal and inaccessible, but these authors do a great job of incorporating humor, popular culture, and inspiration. Middle-grade and YA readers will learn about Ginsburg’s focus on women’s rights in the workplace, the trajectory of her career, and her famous dissents. There’s also a “grown-up” version.
STILL ON SALE
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, $2.99. This inspirational book tells the story of Kamkwamba, who was determined to bring wind power to his village in Malawi. Armed with a few spare parts and outdated textbooks, he figured out how to use the wind to bring electricity and water to his small village. This book is a tribute to the power of self-taught knowledge and ingenuity.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the Word’s Coral Reefs, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This gorgeous picture book tells the story of environmental scientist Ken Nedimyer, who has spent his career working to restore coral reefs. Working with tiny grafts of coral, Nedimyer reseeds reefs that have been damaged. The text is set off by lush illustrations — each page could be framed art.
Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson, $2.99. From our summer 2018 reading list: “Ellingham Academy is one of the most competitive private schools in the country—and also the scene of one of the country’s most notorious unsolved mysteries. New student Stevie Bell is determined to put her true crime obsession to work on Elligham’s famous cold case, but the murderer may not be ancient history after all.” This is the first in a series, and each book ends in a cliffhanger. But if you start now, you’ll be ready when the third book releases on January 22nd!
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, by Matt Ridley, $1.99. This genetics book is organized uniquely: Ridley profiles one gene on each chromosome. Each short chapter illuminates something interesting about what makes us human. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the complexity of genetics, this is a great entry point for learning more.
The Princess Diarist, by Carrie Fisher, $1.99. Before she died, Carrie Fisher discovered the diaries she had written during the filming of Star Wars in 1977. She collected excerpts and rounded them out with recollections of her life before and during the creation of her iconic role. If you have a Star Wars-shaped void now that the trilogy is over, this may be the nostalgia you need. Older teens might enjoy this, but parents may want to screen it first, as Fisher describes a variety of scandalous activities.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker, $2.99. From our Homeschool Gift Guide: This story about a boy and his beloved pet fox trying to find their way back together—told in alternating chapters—is tender and heart-wrenching, gentle and harsh. It’s lovely. My daughter’s co-op book club read this when she was 8, and the class was decidedly mixed. Some thought it was wonderful, and others were troubled. It may not be the best choice for a sensitive child.
Pride, by Ibi Zoboi, $1.99. This modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is set among the Afro-Latino community in Brooklyn. Zuri worries about gentrification as wealthy families move into her Bushwick neighborhood. She is determined not to engage with Darius Darcy, even though her older sister seems to be falling for his brother. This book is an excellent way to get a reluctant teen interested in Jane Austen and the fascinations of book adaptations.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
What If? The World’s Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, edited by Robert Cowley, $4.99. This collection of essays ponders major events in military history and what might have happened if they had turned out differently. What if Alexander the Great had died young? What if D-Day had not been effective? What if the Spanish Armada had won? Historians like Stephen Ambrose, David McCollough, and John Keegan take on these possibilities and more.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and More, by Mallika Chopra, $2.99. I’ve talked about Mallika Chopra’s other wellness book for young people, Just Feel (also on sale this week!). In Just Breathe, Chopra focuses on calming and centering practices. She offers basic meditation instructions, as well as guided meditations for sleep, test anxiety, and more.
The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking, $2.99. Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, and he has spent years traveling the world to learn more about happiness in different cultures. Here, he has consolidated what he has learned into a charming little book. Tackling the topics of togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness, Wiking draws on tips from all over the world. His other book, The Little Book of Hygge, is also on sale this week.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
New Boy: William Shakespeare’s Othello Retold, by Tracy Chevalier, $4.99. Historical fiction author Tracy Chevalier has taken on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello. This time she has transplanted the story to 1970s Washington, where the son of a African diplomat enters a new private school and immediately befriends a popular white girl. Another boy, jealous with the friendship and uncomfortable with the way it challenges his racial beliefs, begins a campaign tear them apart. Note: this is a story about kids, but not for kids.
Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents, by Carole P. Roman, $0.99. Learn about WWII from the perspective of spies! With chapters on gear, famous spies, how spies helped win the war, and much more, this book would be a fun addition to a WWII study. The engaging and accessible language will keep middle-grade readers interested. Helpful illustrations and maps enhance the text.
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects, by Emily Prokop, $1.99. Have you ever wondered who invented the lollipop, hula hoops, or the Comic Sans font? This collection of stories from podcaster Emily Prokop will answer all your burning questions. This is a great one to dip into for a little hit of trivia.
The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery, by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles, $2.99. I am not usually much of a military history fan, but this story is so crazy that I find it fascinating. The US Army created a division of artists and other creatives designed to confuse the enemy by moving decoy tanks and other equipment to strategic locations.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $1.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, by Hank Green, $2.99. Hank Green, of Sci Show, Crash Course, and Vlog Brothers, has written a novel, and it’s an interesting one! When April and Andy discover a strange sculpture, they upload a video about it. The video goes viral, and April becomes and a public figure overnight. This is simultaneously a fast-paced mystery of the sculpture’s meaning and origin and a thoughtful consideration of the highs and lows of social media fame.
The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman, $1.99. It’s time to abandon the term “bird brain.” New research shows that some birds may be as smart as primates! Ackerman tells the fascinating story of research into bird intelligence and will make you understand how much scientists are still discovering. The evocative writing will keep you eagerly reading on.
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict, $1.99. This fast-paced, info-packed book is a somewhat fictionalized account of Hedy Lamarr’s years in Austria. Hedy Lamarr is famous as an actress, but she was also a scientist who developed a frequency hopping technique that was instrumental in cell phone technology. Hedy’s position in Austrian society made her privy to secrets of the Third Reich’s plans, which she shared after her dramatic escape from the country. This book is whirlwind and is an excellent read for lovers of classic film, WWII history, or women in science!
All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness, $1.99. This price is way too good to pass up! When Diana Bishop finds a long-lost manuscript in an Oxford library, she is drawn into an unexpected supernatural world that has been hiding in plain sight for centuries. If you liked Outlander but also maybe wished it had a vampire, this is the series for you.
Greystone Secrets: The Strangers, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, $1.99. I haven’t read this middle-grade novel yet, but it seems perfect for the long, dark evenings of winter. The publisher’s description is thrilling and chilling: “The Greystone kids thought they knew. Chess has always been the protector over his younger siblings, Emma loves math, and Finn does what Finn does best—acting silly and being adored. They’ve been a happy family, just the three of them and their mom. But everything changes when reports of three kidnapped children reach the Greystone kids, and they’re shocked by the startling similarities between themselves and these complete strangers. The other kids share their same first and middle names. They’re the same ages. They even have identical birthdays. Who, exactly, are these strangers? Before Chess, Emma, and Finn can question their mom about it, she takes off on a sudden work trip and leaves them in the care of Ms. Morales and her daughter, Natalie. But puzzling clues left behind lead to complex codes, hidden rooms, and a dangerous secret that will turn their world upside down.
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee, $1.99. This middle-grade novel has been compared to The Hate U Give. Shay is a 12-year-old girl who hates trouble and doesn’t want to stand out. When a tragedy moves her to stand up for what she believes in, she finds out that some things are worth a bit of trouble.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, $2.99. If you or your teen hasn’t read this fast-paced dystopian series yet, what are you waiting for? Join Katniss on her fight for survival in the epic, televised fight to the death. There’s lots to discuss here about politics, media, morality, and more.
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson, $3.99. My tween absolutely loves this comic series about a group of unusual girls at a summer camp. In addition to having a great time doing your typical camp activities, this gang face off with some supernatural creatures and go on a classic fantasy quest. This is girl power all the way! If you like this one, most of the other books in the series are also on sale right now.
Kindle Deals for January 16, 2020
Today’s deals bring stories of people overcoming challenges to better their lives.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, $2.99. This inspirational book tells the story of Kamkwamba, who was determined to bring wind power to his village in Malawi. Armed with a few spare parts and outdated textbooks, he figured out how to use the wind to bring electricity and water to his small village. This book is a tribute to the power of self-taught knowledge and ingenuity.
A Crazy-Much Love, by Joy Jordan-Lake, $1.99. This sweet picture book tells the story of an international adoption and many milestones that follow in a young girl’s family.
George, by Alex Gino, $3.99. George may look like a boy, but she knows she is really a girl. Determined to win the role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte’s Web, she sets out to make sure everyone else can see her the way she sees herself. Books that address the experiences of transgender tweens are rare, and this one does it well, so snag it for your middle-grade reader.
STILL ON SALE
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the Word’s Coral Reefs, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This gorgeous picture book tells the story of environmental scientist Ken Nedimyer, who has spent his career working to restore coral reefs. Working with tiny grafts of coral, Nedimyer reseeds reefs that have been damaged. The text is set off by lush illustrations — each page could be framed art.
Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson, $2.99. From our summer 2018 reading list: “Ellingham Academy is one of the most competitive private schools in the country—and also the scene of one of the country’s most notorious unsolved mysteries. New student Stevie Bell is determined to put her true crime obsession to work on Elligham’s famous cold case, but the murderer may not be ancient history after all.” This is the first in a series, and each book ends in a cliffhanger. But if you start now, you’ll be ready when the third book releases on January 22nd!
The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this middle-grade book yet, but I’ve been seeing it on “Best of” booklists for two years. Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s decription: Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, by Matt Ridley, $1.99. This genetics book is organized uniquely: Ridley profiles one gene on each chromosome. Each short chapter illuminates something interesting about what makes us human. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the complexity of genetics, this is a great entry point for learning more.
The Princess Diarist, by Carrie Fisher, $1.99. Before she died, Carrie Fisher discovered the diaries she had written during the filming of Star Wars in 1977. She collected excerpts and rounded them out with recollections of her life before and during the creation of her iconic role. If you have a Star Wars-shaped void now that the trilogy is over, this may be the nostalgia you need. Older teens might enjoy this, but parents may want to screen it first, as Fisher describes a variety of scandalous activities.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker, $2.99. From our Homeschool Gift Guide: This story about a boy and his beloved pet fox trying to find their way back together—told in alternating chapters—is tender and heart-wrenching, gentle and harsh. It’s lovely. My daughter’s co-op book club read this when she was 8, and the class was decidedly mixed. Some thought it was wonderful, and others were troubled. It may not be the best choice for a sensitive child.
Pride, by Ibi Zoboi, $1.99. This modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is set among the Afro-Latino community in Brooklyn. Zuri worries about gentrification as wealthy families move into her Bushwick neighborhood. She is determined not to engage with Darius Darcy, even though her older sister seems to be falling for his brother. This book is an excellent way to get a reluctant teen interested in Jane Austen and the fascinations of book adaptations.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
What If? The World’s Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, edited by Robert Cowley, $4.99. This collection of essays ponders major events in military history and what might have happened if they had turned out differently. What if Alexander the Great had died young? What if D-Day had not been effective? What if the Spanish Armada had won? Historians like Stephen Ambrose, David McCollough, and John Keegan take on these possibilities and more.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and More, by Mallika Chopra, $2.99. I’ve talked about Mallika Chopra’s other wellness book for young people, Just Feel (also on sale this week!). In Just Breathe, Chopra focuses on calming and centering practices. She offers basic meditation instructions, as well as guided meditations for sleep, test anxiety, and more.
The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking, $2.99. Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, and he has spent years traveling the world to learn more about happiness in different cultures. Here, he has consolidated what he has learned into a charming little book. Tackling the topics of togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness, Wiking draws on tips from all over the world. His other book, The Little Book of Hygge, is also on sale this week.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
New Boy: William Shakespeare’s Othello Retold, by Tracy Chevalier, $4.99. Historical fiction author Tracy Chevalier has taken on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello. This time she has transplanted the story to 1970s Washington, where the son of a African diplomat enters a new private school and immediately befriends a popular white girl. Another boy, jealous with the friendship and uncomfortable with the way it challenges his racial beliefs, begins a campaign tear them apart. Note: this is a story about kids, but not for kids.
Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents, by Carole P. Roman, $0.99. Learn about WWII from the perspective of spies! With chapters on gear, famous spies, how spies helped win the war, and much more, this book would be a fun addition to a WWII study. The engaging and accessible language will keep middle-grade readers interested. Helpful illustrations and maps enhance the text.
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects, by Emily Prokop, $1.99. Have you ever wondered who invented the lollipop, hula hoops, or the Comic Sans font? This collection of stories from podcaster Emily Prokop will answer all your burning questions. This is a great one to dip into for a little hit of trivia.
The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery, by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles, $2.99. I am not usually much of a military history fan, but this story is so crazy that I find it fascinating. The US Army created a division of artists and other creatives designed to confuse the enemy by moving decoy tanks and other equipment to strategic locations.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $1.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, by Hank Green, $2.99. Hank Green, of Sci Show, Crash Course, and Vlog Brothers, has written a novel, and it’s an interesting one! When April and Andy discover a strange sculpture, they upload a video about it. The video goes viral, and April becomes and a public figure overnight. This is simultaneously a fast-paced mystery of the sculpture’s meaning and origin and a thoughtful consideration of the highs and lows of social media fame.
The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman, $1.99. It’s time to abandon the term “bird brain.” New research shows that some birds may be as smart as primates! Ackerman tells the fascinating story of research into bird intelligence and will make you understand how much scientists are still discovering. The evocative writing will keep you eagerly reading on.
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict, $1.99. This fast-paced, info-packed book is a somewhat fictionalized account of Hedy Lamarr’s years in Austria. Hedy Lamarr is famous as an actress, but she was also a scientist who developed a frequency hopping technique that was instrumental in cell phone technology. Hedy’s position in Austrian society made her privy to secrets of the Third Reich’s plans, which she shared after her dramatic escape from the country. This book is whirlwind and is an excellent read for lovers of classic film, WWII history, or women in science!
All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness, $1.99. This price is way too good to pass up! When Diana Bishop finds a long-lost manuscript in an Oxford library, she is drawn into an unexpected supernatural world that has been hiding in plain sight for centuries. If you liked Outlander but also maybe wished it had a vampire, this is the series for you.
Greystone Secrets: The Strangers, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, $1.99. I haven’t read this middle-grade novel yet, but it seems perfect for the long, dark evenings of winter. The publisher’s description is thrilling and chilling: “The Greystone kids thought they knew. Chess has always been the protector over his younger siblings, Emma loves math, and Finn does what Finn does best—acting silly and being adored. They’ve been a happy family, just the three of them and their mom. But everything changes when reports of three kidnapped children reach the Greystone kids, and they’re shocked by the startling similarities between themselves and these complete strangers. The other kids share their same first and middle names. They’re the same ages. They even have identical birthdays. Who, exactly, are these strangers? Before Chess, Emma, and Finn can question their mom about it, she takes off on a sudden work trip and leaves them in the care of Ms. Morales and her daughter, Natalie. But puzzling clues left behind lead to complex codes, hidden rooms, and a dangerous secret that will turn their world upside down.
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee, $1.99. This middle-grade novel has been compared to The Hate U Give. Shay is a 12-year-old girl who hates trouble and doesn’t want to stand out. When a tragedy moves her to stand up for what she believes in, she finds out that some things are worth a bit of trouble.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, $2.99. If you or your teen hasn’t read this fast-paced dystopian series yet, what are you waiting for? Join Katniss on her fight for survival in the epic, televised fight to the death. There’s lots to discuss here about politics, media, morality, and more.
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson, $3.99. My tween absolutely loves this comic series about a group of unusual girls at a summer camp. In addition to having a great time doing your typical camp activities, this gang face off with some supernatural creatures and go on a classic fantasy quest. This is girl power all the way! If you like this one, most of the other books in the series are also on sale right now.
Kindle Deals for January 14, 2020
Science! Star Wars! Proper word usage! We’ve got it all today.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, by Matt Ridley, $1.99. This genetics book is organized uniquely: Ridley profiles one gene on each chromosome. Each short chapter illuminates something interesting about what makes us human. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the complexity of genetics, this is a great entry point for learning more.
The Princess Diarist, by Carrie Fisher, $1.99. Before she died, Carrie Fisher discovered the diaries she had written during the filming of Star Wars in 1977. She collected excerpts and rounded them out with recollections of her life before and during the creation of her iconic role. If you have a Star Wars-shaped void now that the trilogy is over, this may be the nostalgia you need. Older teens might enjoy this, but parents may want to screen it first, as Fisher describes a variety of scandalous activities.
That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means: The 150 Most Commonly Misused Words and Their Tangled Histories, by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, $2.99. Ross and Kathryn are coming to your rescue! They have collected a group of words and phrases that are commonly misused. Do you know the difference between abrogate and arrogate? What about mitigate and militate? The short histories of the words or phrases will keep you interested and help to make the differences stick in your mind. The tone is just right, not condescending or stuffy.
STILL ON SALE
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker, $2.99. From our Homeschool Gift Guide: This story about a boy and his beloved pet fox trying to find their way back together—told in alternating chapters—is tender and heart-wrenching, gentle and harsh. It’s lovely. My daughter’s co-op book club read this when she was 8, and the class was decidedly mixed. Some thought it was wonderful, and others were troubled. It may not be the best choice for a sensitive child.
Pride, by Ibi Zoboi, $1.99. This modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is set among the Afro-Latino community in Brooklyn. Zuri worries about gentrification as wealthy families move into her Bushwick neighborhood. She is determined not to engage with Darius Darcy, even though her older sister seems to be falling for his brother. This book is an excellent way to get a reluctant teen interested in Jane Austen and the fascinations of book adaptations.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
What If? The World’s Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, edited by Robert Cowley, $4.99. This collection of essays ponders major events in military history and what might have happened if they had turned out differently. What if Alexander the Great had died young? What if D-Day had not been effective? What if the Spanish Armada had won? Historians like Stephen Ambrose, David McCollough, and John Keegan take on these possibilities and more.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and More, by Mallika Chopra, $2.99. I’ve talked about Mallika Chopra’s other wellness book for young people, Just Feel (also on sale this week!). In Just Breathe, Chopra focuses on calming and centering practices. She offers basic meditation instructions, as well as guided meditations for sleep, test anxiety, and more.
The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking, $2.99. Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, and he has spent years traveling the world to learn more about happiness in different cultures. Here, he has consolidated what he has learned into a charming little book. Tackling the topics of togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness, Wiking draws on tips from all over the world. His other book, The Little Book of Hygge, is also on sale this week.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
New Boy: William Shakespeare’s Othello Retold, by Tracy Chevalier, $4.99. Historical fiction author Tracy Chevalier has taken on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello. This time she has transplanted the story to 1970s Washington, where the son of a African diplomat enters a new private school and immediately befriends a popular white girl. Another boy, jealous with the friendship and uncomfortable with the way it challenges his racial beliefs, begins a campaign tear them apart. Note: this is a story about kids, but not for kids.
Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents, by Carole P. Roman, $0.99. Learn about WWII from the perspective of spies! With chapters on gear, famous spies, how spies helped win the war, and much more, this book would be a fun addition to a WWII study. The engaging and accessible language will keep middle-grade readers interested. Helpful illustrations and maps enhance the text.
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects, by Emily Prokop, $1.99. Have you ever wondered who invented the lollipop, hula hoops, or the Comic Sans font? This collection of stories from podcaster Emily Prokop will answer all your burning questions. This is a great one to dip into for a little hit of trivia.
The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery, by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles, $2.99. I am not usually much of a military history fan, but this story is so crazy that I find it fascinating. The US Army created a division of artists and other creatives designed to confuse the enemy by moving decoy tanks and other equipment to strategic locations.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $1.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, by Hank Green, $2.99. Hank Green, of Sci Show, Crash Course, and Vlog Brothers, has written a novel, and it’s an interesting one! When April and Andy discover a strange sculpture, they upload a video about it. The video goes viral, and April becomes and a public figure overnight. This is simultaneously a fast-paced mystery of the sculpture’s meaning and origin and a thoughtful consideration of the highs and lows of social media fame.
The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman, $1.99. It’s time to abandon the term “bird brain.” New research shows that some birds may be as smart as primates! Ackerman tells the fascinating story of research into bird intelligence and will make you understand how much scientists are still discovering. The evocative writing will keep you eagerly reading on.
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict, $1.99. This fast-paced, info-packed book is a somewhat fictionalized account of Hedy Lamarr’s years in Austria. Hedy Lamarr is famous as an actress, but she was also a scientist who developed a frequency hopping technique that was instrumental in cell phone technology. Hedy’s position in Austrian society made her privy to secrets of the Third Reich’s plans, which she shared after her dramatic escape from the country. This book is whirlwind and is an excellent read for lovers of classic film, WWII history, or women in science!
All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness, $1.99. This price is way too good to pass up! When Diana Bishop finds a long-lost manuscript in an Oxford library, she is drawn into an unexpected supernatural world that has been hiding in plain sight for centuries. If you liked Outlander but also maybe wished it had a vampire, this is the series for you.
Greystone Secrets: The Strangers, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, $1.99. I haven’t read this middle-grade novel yet, but it seems perfect for the long, dark evenings of winter. The publisher’s description is thrilling and chilling: “The Greystone kids thought they knew. Chess has always been the protector over his younger siblings, Emma loves math, and Finn does what Finn does best—acting silly and being adored. They’ve been a happy family, just the three of them and their mom. But everything changes when reports of three kidnapped children reach the Greystone kids, and they’re shocked by the startling similarities between themselves and these complete strangers. The other kids share their same first and middle names. They’re the same ages. They even have identical birthdays. Who, exactly, are these strangers? Before Chess, Emma, and Finn can question their mom about it, she takes off on a sudden work trip and leaves them in the care of Ms. Morales and her daughter, Natalie. But puzzling clues left behind lead to complex codes, hidden rooms, and a dangerous secret that will turn their world upside down.
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee, $1.99. This middle-grade novel has been compared to The Hate U Give. Shay is a 12-year-old girl who hates trouble and doesn’t want to stand out. When a tragedy moves her to stand up for what she believes in, she finds out that some things are worth a bit of trouble.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, $2.99. If you or your teen hasn’t read this fast-paced dystopian series yet, what are you waiting for? Join Katniss on her fight for survival in the epic, televised fight to the death. There’s lots to discuss here about politics, media, morality, and more.
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson, $3.99. My tween absolutely loves this comic series about a group of unusual girls at a summer camp. In addition to having a great time doing your typical camp activities, this gang face off with some supernatural creatures and go on a classic fantasy quest. This is girl power all the way! If you like this one, most of the other books in the series are also on sale right now.
Kindle Deals for January 13, 2020
Today’s books will have you laughing, crying, and considering the implications of modernizing a classic.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker, $2.99. From our Homeschool Gift Guide: This story about a boy and his beloved pet fox trying to find their way back together—told in alternating chapters—is tender and heart-wrenching, gentle and harsh. It’s lovely.
My daughter’s co-op book club read this when she was 8, and the class was decidedly mixed. Some thought it was wonderful, and others were troubled. It may not be the best choice for a sensitive child.
Pride, by Ibi Zoboi, $1.99. This modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is set among the Afro-Latino community in Brooklyn. Zuri worries about gentrification as wealthy families move into her Bushwick neighborhood. She is determined not to engage with Darius Darcy, even though her older sister seems to be falling for his brother. This book is an excellent way to get a reluctant teen interested in Jane Austen and the fascinations of book adaptations.
Challenge Accepted! 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl, by Celeste Barber, $1.99. You may have seen Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber’s hilarious Instagram photos attempting to copy ridiculous celebrity poses. If you’re interested in her take on childbirth, what it’s like to share so much of her life on the internet, body image, and more, this book is a breezy, laugh-out-loud read. Note: If you are squeamish about crude language, this may not be the book for you.
STILL ON SALE
What If? The World’s Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, edited by Robert Cowley, $4.99. This collection of essays ponders major events in military history and what might have happened if they had turned out differently. What if Alexander the Great had died young? What if D-Day had not been effective? What if the Spanish Armada had won? Historians like Stephen Ambrose, David McCollough, and John Keegan take on these possibilities and more.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and More, by Mallika Chopra, $2.99. I’ve talked about Mallika Chopra’s other wellness book for young people, Just Feel (also on sale this week!). In Just Breathe, Chopra focuses on calming and centering practices. She offers basic meditation instructions, as well as guided meditations for sleep, test anxiety, and more.
The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking, $2.99. Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, and he has spent years traveling the world to learn more about happiness in different cultures. Here, he has consolidated what he has learned into a charming little book. Tackling the topics of togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness, Wiking draws on tips from all over the world. His other book, The Little Book of Hygge, is also on sale this week.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
New Boy: William Shakespeare’s Othello Retold, by Tracy Chevalier, $4.99. Historical fiction author Tracy Chevalier has taken on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello. This time she has transplanted the story to 1970s Washington, where the son of a African diplomat enters a new private school and immediately befriends a popular white girl. Another boy, jealous with the friendship and uncomfortable with the way it challenges his racial beliefs, begins a campaign tear them apart. Note: this is a story about kids, but not for kids.
Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents, by Carole P. Roman, $0.99. Learn about WWII from the perspective of spies! With chapters on gear, famous spies, how spies helped win the war, and much more, this book would be a fun addition to a WWII study. The engaging and accessible language will keep middle-grade readers interested. Helpful illustrations and maps enhance the text.
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects, by Emily Prokop, $1.99. Have you ever wondered who invented the lollipop, hula hoops, or the Comic Sans font? This collection of stories from podcaster Emily Prokop will answer all your burning questions. This is a great one to dip into for a little hit of trivia.
The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery, by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles, $2.99. I am not usually much of a military history fan, but this story is so crazy that I find it fascinating. The US Army created a division of artists and other creatives designed to confuse the enemy by moving decoy tanks and other equipment to strategic locations.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $1.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, by Hank Green, $2.99. Hank Green, of Sci Show, Crash Course, and Vlog Brothers, has written a novel, and it’s an interesting one! When April and Andy discover a strange sculpture, they upload a video about it. The video goes viral, and April becomes and a public figure overnight. This is simultaneously a fast-paced mystery of the sculpture’s meaning and origin and a thoughtful consideration of the highs and lows of social media fame.
The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman, $1.99. It’s time to abandon the term “bird brain.” New research shows that some birds may be as smart as primates! Ackerman tells the fascinating story of research into bird intelligence and will make you understand how much scientists are still discovering. The evocative writing will keep you eagerly reading on.
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict, $1.99. This fast-paced, info-packed book is a somewhat fictionalized account of Hedy Lamarr’s years in Austria. Hedy Lamarr is famous as an actress, but she was also a scientist who developed a frequency hopping technique that was instrumental in cell phone technology. Hedy’s position in Austrian society made her privy to secrets of the Third Reich’s plans, which she shared after her dramatic escape from the country. This book is whirlwind and is an excellent read for lovers of classic film, WWII history, or women in science!
All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness, $1.99. This price is way too good to pass up! When Diana Bishop finds a long-lost manuscript in an Oxford library, she is drawn into an unexpected supernatural world that has been hiding in plain sight for centuries. If you liked Outlander but also maybe wished it had a vampire, this is the series for you.
Greystone Secrets: The Strangers, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, $1.99. I haven’t read this middle-grade novel yet, but it seems perfect for the long, dark evenings of winter. The publisher’s description is thrilling and chilling: “The Greystone kids thought they knew. Chess has always been the protector over his younger siblings, Emma loves math, and Finn does what Finn does best—acting silly and being adored. They’ve been a happy family, just the three of them and their mom. But everything changes when reports of three kidnapped children reach the Greystone kids, and they’re shocked by the startling similarities between themselves and these complete strangers. The other kids share their same first and middle names. They’re the same ages. They even have identical birthdays. Who, exactly, are these strangers? Before Chess, Emma, and Finn can question their mom about it, she takes off on a sudden work trip and leaves them in the care of Ms. Morales and her daughter, Natalie. But puzzling clues left behind lead to complex codes, hidden rooms, and a dangerous secret that will turn their world upside down.
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee, $1.99. This middle-grade novel has been compared to The Hate U Give. Shay is a 12-year-old girl who hates trouble and doesn’t want to stand out. When a tragedy moves her to stand up for what she believes in, she finds out that some things are worth a bit of trouble.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, $2.99. If you or your teen hasn’t read this fast-paced dystopian series yet, what are you waiting for? Join Katniss on her fight for survival in the epic, televised fight to the death. There’s lots to discuss here about politics, media, morality, and more.
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson, $3.99. My tween absolutely loves this comic series about a group of unusual girls at a summer camp. In addition to having a great time doing your typical camp activities, this gang face off with some supernatural creatures and go on a classic fantasy quest. This is girl power all the way! If you like this one, most of the other books in the series are also on sale right now.
Kindle Deals for January 12, 2020
Books about books and a tribute to the moon round out today’s Kindle deals.
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.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
The Read-Aloud Family, by Sarah Mackenzie, $1.99. Sarah Mackenzie, of the popular Read Aloud Revival podcast and website, loves to help families form lasting connections over books. She encourages families to keep reading together, from infancy to long past when a child can read for themselves. This book offers practical tips and book ideas that will help keep your family meaningfully engaged with books.
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan, $3.99. This atmospheric and complex novel about a bookstore that is not what it seems is perfect for grown-up fans of The Westing Game or the Mr. Lemoncello series. When Clay takes the overnight shift at a 24-hour bookstore, he is confused by the behavior of a small number of repeat clients who keep “checking out” obscure books. He assumes the store is a front for some other activity and sets out to discover what is really going on.
A Kite for Moon, by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, and Matt Phelan, $0.99. When a small boy notices that the moon looks sad, he attaches a note to his kite and sends it up to her, saying he will come to visit her. Over next next decades, the boy never loses his fascination with the moon and trains to be an astronaut, eventually arriving for that visit. This lovely picture book is dedicated to Neil Armstrong.
STILL ON SALE
What If? The World’s Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, edited by Robert Cowley, $4.99. This collection of essays ponders major events in military history and what might have happened if they had turned out differently. What if Alexander the Great had died young? What if D-Day had not been effective? What if the Spanish Armada had won? Historians like Stephen Ambrose, David McCollough, and John Keegan take on these possibilities and more.
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley, $1.99. From our Adventure and Suspense reading list: Orphaned girl Harry Crewe is living a perfectly ordinary life — until the day she is kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk to fulfill a destiny she never imagined. Is Harry really a true warrior who can wield the legendary blue sword? And even if she is, will she believe in herself enough to seize her fate?
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes, $1.99. This sweet picture book captures the emotional essence of childhood. Five toys sit by a window, each waiting for something different to happen. Simple, but resonant text and warm illustrations make this a delightful read.
ABCs of Art, by Sabrina Hahn, $1.99. This charming alphabet book is organized around famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many others. Each letter gets a short poem, a work of art to explore, and a question about what is going on in the art.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, by Steven Pinker, $4.99. This book is fascinating and long. I bought it when I couldn’t finish my library copy in time (and I wanted to be able to refer to it again). Word nerds and anthropology fans will love this genre mashup. Find out what the words people use for swearing, humor, and metaphor say about us as human beings.
Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, $2.99. From our 12 Great Book Series to Read Together list: Homeschoolers have helped rediscover this old-fashioned British series about two groups of families who bond over a shared love of sailing in an idyllic countryside where kids are perfectly safe setting up camp on an island for the summer.
A People’s History of the Supreme Court, by Peter Irons, $4.99. In the spirit of Howard Zinn, Peter Irons brings a fresh perspective to major court decisions in American history. This book is dense, but fascinating. I don’t expect many people would read it straight through, but it is an excellent resource for when you encounter a reference to a court case.
The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter, by Jeremy Arnold, $3.99. Grab some popcorn and get ready to dig into this brief history of film from the silent era to the 1980s. For each movie, the book explains what makes it “an essential,” what elements of film-making or society mark it as a classic. There’s also a “what to look for” section for each film highlighting cinematography tricks.
The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock, by James Wyllie, David Goldblatt, and Johnny Acton, $0.99. This is a high-concept read. It presents itself as a series of travel brochures for a time travel company. For each trip back in time, there is a briefing on local customs, foods, etc. You’ll also find sight-seeing guides and a day-by-day itinerary for each historic moment. It’s a lot of fun and might pique further interest in some historical study. This is marketed as a book for adults, but it should appeal to teens as well.
Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and More, by Mallika Chopra, $2.99. I’ve talked about Mallika Chopra’s other wellness book for young people, Just Feel (also on sale this week!). In Just Breathe, Chopra focuses on calming and centering practices. She offers basic meditation instructions, as well as guided meditations for sleep, test anxiety, and more.
The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking, $2.99. Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, and he has spent years traveling the world to learn more about happiness in different cultures. Here, he has consolidated what he has learned into a charming little book. Tackling the topics of togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness, Wiking draws on tips from all over the world. His other book, The Little Book of Hygge, is also on sale this week.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag… and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha, by Jolie Kerr, $4.99. Most of us have at least one cleaning horror story (mine involves toddler poop on a popcorn ceiling). Jolie Kerr, author of the “Ask a Clean Person” column, is here for you! This collection of cleaning tips and the occasional disaster is an entertaining read that will have you actually WANTING to clean things.
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rimes, $2.99. Shonda Rimes is the mega-successful producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and other popular shows. She also is extremely introverted and struggles with anxiety. This is the memoir of the year she spent saying “YES!” to all the things that scared her.
New Boy: William Shakespeare’s Othello Retold, by Tracy Chevalier, $4.99. Historical fiction author Tracy Chevalier has taken on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello. This time she has transplanted the story to 1970s Washington, where the son of a African diplomat enters a new private school and immediately befriends a popular white girl. Another boy, jealous with the friendship and uncomfortable with the way it challenges his racial beliefs, begins a campaign tear them apart. Note: this is a story about kids, but not for kids.
Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents, by Carole P. Roman, $0.99. Learn about WWII from the perspective of spies! With chapters on gear, famous spies, how spies helped win the war, and much more, this book would be a fun addition to a WWII study. The engaging and accessible language will keep middle-grade readers interested. Helpful illustrations and maps enhance the text.
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects, by Emily Prokop, $1.99. Have you ever wondered who invented the lollipop, hula hoops, or the Comic Sans font? This collection of stories from podcaster Emily Prokop will answer all your burning questions. This is a great one to dip into for a little hit of trivia.
The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery, by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles, $2.99. I am not usually much of a military history fan, but this story is so crazy that I find it fascinating. The US Army created a division of artists and other creatives designed to confuse the enemy by moving decoy tanks and other equipment to strategic locations.
From the Corner of the Oval, by Beck Dorey-Stein, $1.99. This dishy political memoir describes the Obama White House from an unusual perspective, that of one of his twenty-something stenographers. Dorey-Stein came to the job with no political experience and got thrown into the deep end. The New York Times called this “Bridget Jones goes to the White House” — how can you pass that up?
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, by Hank Green, $2.99. Hank Green, of Sci Show, Crash Course, and Vlog Brothers, has written a novel, and it’s an interesting one! When April and Andy discover a strange sculpture, they upload a video about it. The video goes viral, and April becomes and a public figure overnight. This is simultaneously a fast-paced mystery of the sculpture’s meaning and origin and a thoughtful consideration of the highs and lows of social media fame.
The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman, $1.99. It’s time to abandon the term “bird brain.” New research shows that some birds may be as smart as primates! Ackerman tells the fascinating story of research into bird intelligence and will make you understand how much scientists are still discovering. The evocative writing will keep you eagerly reading on.
Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, $1.99. From our big immigration stories reading list (winter 2017): “When Hà’s family flees Vietnam to escape the war there, she finds it difficult to adjust to a very different kind of life in Alabama. Told in spare, simple verse, this book packs an emotional wallop and allows kids to slip inside the first person experience of being a stranger in a strange land.”
The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict, $1.99. This fast-paced, info-packed book is a somewhat fictionalized account of Hedy Lamarr’s years in Austria. Hedy Lamarr is famous as an actress, but she was also a scientist who developed a frequency hopping technique that was instrumental in cell phone technology. Hedy’s position in Austrian society made her privy to secrets of the Third Reich’s plans, which she shared after her dramatic escape from the country. This book is whirlwind and is an excellent read for lovers of classic film, WWII history, or women in science!
All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness, $1.99. This price is way too good to pass up! When Diana Bishop finds a long-lost manuscript in an Oxford library, she is drawn into an unexpected supernatural world that has been hiding in plain sight for centuries. If you liked Outlander but also maybe wished it had a vampire, this is the series for you.
Greystone Secrets: The Strangers, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, $1.99. I haven’t read this middle-grade novel yet, but it seems perfect for the long, dark evenings of winter. The publisher’s description is thrilling and chilling: “The Greystone kids thought they knew. Chess has always been the protector over his younger siblings, Emma loves math, and Finn does what Finn does best—acting silly and being adored. They’ve been a happy family, just the three of them and their mom. But everything changes when reports of three kidnapped children reach the Greystone kids, and they’re shocked by the startling similarities between themselves and these complete strangers. The other kids share their same first and middle names. They’re the same ages. They even have identical birthdays. Who, exactly, are these strangers? Before Chess, Emma, and Finn can question their mom about it, she takes off on a sudden work trip and leaves them in the care of Ms. Morales and her daughter, Natalie. But puzzling clues left behind lead to complex codes, hidden rooms, and a dangerous secret that will turn their world upside down.
This Book is Grey, by Lindsay Ward, $1.99. The other colors aren’t always friendly to Grey, and he just wants to fit in. He decides to make his own book of awesome things that are grey (hippos, clouds, kittens, etc.), but the other colors are not so enthusiastic. This is a story about fitting in, being true to yourself, and a little bit of color theory.
A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee, $1.99. This middle-grade novel has been compared to The Hate U Give. Shay is a 12-year-old girl who hates trouble and doesn’t want to stand out. When a tragedy moves her to stand up for what she believes in, she finds out that some things are worth a bit of trouble.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, $2.99. If you or your teen hasn’t read this fast-paced dystopian series yet, what are you waiting for? Join Katniss on her fight for survival in the epic, televised fight to the death. There’s lots to discuss here about politics, media, morality, and more.
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson, $3.99. My tween absolutely loves this comic series about a group of unusual girls at a summer camp. In addition to having a great time doing your typical camp activities, this gang face off with some supernatural creatures and go on a classic fantasy quest. This is girl power all the way! If you like this one, most of the other books in the series are also on sale right now.