Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

Ember Falls, by S. D. Smith – The second in The Green Ember series, and the third in publication order of said series, is an exploration of how quickly life can change and how easily we can be deceived. Heather and Picket Longtreader have settled into their new lives, still hoping to save their family. Deceit is a major theme in this book and courage to do what’s right even when it isn’t easy. This is a great read aloud.

The Black Star of Kingston, by S. D. Smith – Number 0.5 in The Green Ember series (the second in publication order of said series) and the first book in The Tales of Old Natalia, this is a quick read chronicling the heroic acts of Fleck Blackstar, a rabbit who became part of the legend of King Whitson Mariner. A beautiful story of friendship and the burden of leadership, it builds on the mythos created in The Green Ember and helps shed light on adventures that happen in Ember Falls. There are some sad bits, death featuring rather prominently, but there is still a gentleness to the story. This is a great read aloud.

The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan – Considered by many a ‘Christian Classic’, this book most certainly lived up to my expectations. Part One follows the story of Christian and his adventures as he journeys through life on the road to salvation and sanctification. Part Two follows the story of his wife, Christiana, their four boys, and Christiana’s friend, Mercy as they come to salvation and sanctification. I did not read an abridged or updated language version, but my copy did have verses and a few synonyms for words we typically no longer see in literature. This is a great read aloud.