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If you have boys somewhere between ten and fourteen, you know the problem. Too old for picture books, not ready for the heavy stuff, and half of what is on the bookstore shelf we would rather they skip.
This summer Harvest House Publishers sent us a stack from their Harvest Kids line. They have been in the van, at the cabin, and in the homeschool basket. The books were gifted to us, and here is what we think of them.
You can also shop our favourites on our Amazon storefront.
First up is Blades of Eternity by Zach Fox, a middle-grade fantasy series about a kingdom of Summer, a kingdom of Winter, and a prince sent on a secret mission to find the missing Keeper of Peace. Book one, Blades of Eternity and the Keeper of Peace (find it on Amazon), won the 2025 Good Book Mom award for best fiction. Book two, Blades of Eternity and the Curse of the Black Saber (find it on Amazon), came out this August. Swords, secret prisoners, and nothing we would have to skip over.
The Sapphire Saga by Robert L. Fuller is a trilogy about three siblings who rescue a strange dog in the mountains of New Mexico and end up on an interplanetary adventure to save the world. It starts with The Sapphire Sword (find it on Amazon), continues with The Sapphire Song (find it on Amazon), and wraps up with The Sapphire Star (find it on Amazon). We were sent books two and three, so book one is on our list.
The Gospel Way Catechism for Kids by Trevin Wax, Thomas West, and Jessica Blanchard (find it on Amazon) is fifty short question-and-answer chapters on the basics of the Christian faith, written for ages eight to twelve. Each one ends with Table Talk questions and a short prayer. We may try one each morning in our homeschool. It looks like a great devotional and conversation starter for kids who ask big questions.
Awesome Good Clean Jokes for Kids by Bob Phillips (find it on Amazon) is riddles, puns, knock-knocks, and tongue twisters, all safe to repeat to Grandma. Small, cheap, and a good stocking stuffer or road-trip book.
101 Awesome Bible Puzzles for Kids by Steve and Becky Miller (find it on Amazon) walks kids through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation with codes, mazes, and word searches, each tied to a few verses. A good one for the days when a worksheet is not going to happen but a puzzle will.
And one for the girls. Let's Have a Tea Party by Emilie Barnes, illustrated by Laura Leigh Bean (find it on Amazon), is a hardcover with fifteen themed tea parties, each with invitations, menus, recipes, and crafts, all in soft watercolour. A lovely gift for a girl aged eight to twelve who likes to host.
If you are building a homeschool library or a Christmas list, we hope this helps. You can find all of these on the Harvest House website or on our Amazon storefront.
