Tag: Book Review

Shadows: Visible and Invisible

Short Stories from Catholic Teen Books Put the Hallowtide Focus on the Saints and Holy Souls

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Shadows: Visible and Invisible

by Leslea Wahl, Carolyn Astfalk, Corinna Turner, Antony B. Kolenc, Theresa Linden, Marie Keiser, T. M. Gaouette
Published by Catholic Teen Books

Shadows: Visible and Invisible, the newest story anthology from Catholic Teen Books, is a must-read for teens during the spooky season. With powerful tales ranging from historical fiction to contemporary stories to sci-fi and speculative fiction, the authors gently nudge readers to appreciate the importance and efficacy of praying for souls at all times of year.

Shadows: Visible and Invisible

These are powerful stories. There’s definitely suspense, but readers won’t experience the kind of terror they may feel when reading secular horror books. Because each author carefully and gently makes the connection to the true origins of the Hallowtide triduum (All Hallow’s Eve, or Halloween as it is now known, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day), the reader is left not with unsettling despair, but instead comforted that our prayers for souls — even the souls of people we don’t know — can and do make a difference.

What I love about the story anthologies from Catholic Teen Books is the variety of genres included in each volume, and the opportunity to get to know characters from the authors’ longer works. While all the stories in this book are standalones, many have a connection to other books by these authors, which make books like this an excellent introduction to the novels and novellas by the featured authors. A short story is also a great opportunity to try a new genre!

Recently, Leslea Wahl and Antony Barone Kolenc, two authors whose work is featured in this collection, appeared on an episode of the Catholic Momcast to talk about this book.

Enter the giveaway to win a copy of this book and some Shadows swag! (US entries only)

From the publisher:

This fall, discover the true origins of Halloween and how your prayers can assist those in Purgatory.

Catholic Teen Books is excited to share its third anthology, Shadows: Visible & Invisible. This collection of short stories by 7 different authors is centered around the All Hallowtide Triduum of All Hallows Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These fictional stories are meant to help teens learn more about the history of these important days on the Church calendar through engaging tales.

 

"Shadows: Visible and Invisible" from CatholicTeenBooks.com

What’s in this book?

Shadows: Visible & Invisible by Leslea Wahl, Carolyn Astfalk, Corinna Turner, Antony B. Kolenc, Theresa Linden, Marie Keiser, T. M. Gaouette.

  • Grace doesn’t know what it means to go “souling,” but she certainly wasn’t expecting it to be like this!
  • A storm drives William and his friends inside the dark church for shelter. Are animals making noises in the loft or is it something more sinister?
  • Trapped in the mountains by a blizzard and a pack of T. rex, Darryl, Joshua and Harry’s All Hallows’ Eve is looking dangerous enough–even before things take an eerie turn.
  • A medieval girl in a nunnery struggles with conflicts when another novice breaks her vows on the day of All Souls, revealing a shocking secret.
  • Vanessa doesn’t need anyone’s help, and she sets out to prove it by going alone to investigate strange lights in the cemetery.
  • When you live on a spaceship like Philip does, visiting the cemetery to pray for the dead always comes with the risk of joining them.
  • It’s another All Hallowtide, and on this All Soul’s Day, a young man finds himself at the cemetery yet again, but he’s not alone. Will tonight be the night, or will the torment continue?

 

"Shadows: Visible and Invisible" from CatholicTeenBooks.com

Copyright 2024 Barb Szysziewicz

Images courtesy of CatholicTeenBooks.com, all rights reserved, used with permission

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

"An Open Book: December 2024" by Barb Szyszkiewicz (FranciscanMom.com)

An Open Book: August 2024

franciscanmom5 Comments

The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading during July:

Fiction

Meet Me at the Starlight by Rachel Hauck.

A split-time romance centered around a roller-skating rink on the Florida coast. The rink’s mysterious origins set it apart in the small town, and it’s always been a haven in the community, but 1980s developers threaten to raze it so they can build high-rise beach condos. A hotheaded Hollywood celebrity returns to help his grandmother, Tuesday, save the rink and strikes up a romance with a former supermodel who wants to escape her painful past. My favorite part of this book was the 1930s storyline, in which Tuesday struggles to run the rink and raise two boys on her own while her husband disappears for weeks at a time — denying (without much success) that he’s involved in any criminal activity.

 

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center.

Aspiring screenwriter Emma has put her life on hold for 10 years to care for her brain-injured dad and support her sister until graduation, so she takes the chance to cowrite a screenplay for a famous Hollywood writer whose writer’s block is likely due to a project outside his usual genre. What’s an action-adventure writer doing writing a rom-com? That’s complicated, but entertaining, as is the cast of characters populating this story.

YA/Children’s

Saint Joan of Arc: The Soldier Saint by Maria Riley.

Saintly inspiration and friendship for independent readers! Maria Riley’s Adventures with the Saints series gives young readers a chance to meet the saints, up close and personal, as they explore ways to handle real-life situations. These books are just right for the beginning chapter-book reader and make excellent read-alouds in the home or classroom. This installment highlights a courageous young saint who serves as an example to kids who experience or witness bullying. https://amzn.to/3AbF6J6

 

6 Blocks Home by Tara J. Stone

When 12-year-old Sam, who’s been raised without stability, faith, or friendship, has to move in with the neighbors after a tragic accident, she finds out what family life, friendship, and faith are all about. While the situation in this YA novel is a little far-fetched, Sam believably struggles with the emotional conflict she feels when she compares her life at home to her stay with the Howard family — and deals with the crush she has on their teenage son (it’s mutual, by the way).

 

680 Miles Away by Tara J. Stone

Sequel to 6 Blocks Home. This might be the first novel I’ve read with a pandemic setting; I’d wondered how long it would take for that to filter into fiction. In this story, Evie is a talented violinist who’s a little spooked when she and a friend spot a teenager who looks like Evie’s younger self. As she struggles with her romantic feelings toward her longtime friend Finn, Evie must find a way to stop running from her problems, and eventually she’s dramatically confronted with an unexpected truth: she has a sister who shares her musical abilities. I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series, and it can be read as a standalone; the author did a great job filling in the background info without boring the reader. (Review copy)

 

Nonfiction

Stories of the Eucharist: A Family Treasury of Saints and Seekers by Heidi Hess Saxton

This book was written for families to enjoy together, but older children, teens, or adults can still benefit from reading it on their own. Heidi has collected the stories of 40 people and events that highlight the graces and miracles that have resulted from deep devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Parents with sensitive children will appreciate content warnings about martyrdom stories. Heidi combines masterful, compelling storytelling with historical information and food for family conversation and prayer in this lovely book designed to encourage Eucharistic devotion through the domestic church.

 

 

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.

Follow my Goodreads reviews for the full list of what I’ve read recently (even the duds!)

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

 

 

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Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2023 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission

"An Open Book: December 2024" by Barb Szyszkiewicz (FranciscanMom.com)

An Open Book: July 2024

franciscanmom3 Comments

The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:

Fiction

Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzler (Tyndale Fiction)

When Henry agrees to allow his sister’s incoming tenant to use a room in his house after his sister’s house is flooded, he thinks she’s an elderly lady. Edith, for her part, is convinced that Henry is an old man who can’t climb the stairs in his own home anymore. They communicate by notes on the kitchen table as they keep passing each other on their way to work opposite shifts — but their communication soon goes beyond the day-to-day household matters, leaving the reader wondering when they’ll ever find out the truth and get together. This charming novel packs in so much mistaken identity and so many near misses between the title characters that you can’t imagine how they haven’t figured things out yet … and then you turn the page and there’s even more! It’s hilarious. Set in a small town where the residents seem to know things even before the main characters do, this book is partially told in letter form, which I always enjoy.

 

Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House)

If you like Hollywood stories and late-1940s historical fiction, this is the book for you. The characters in this book were terrific. Mercy and Rusty were pen pals during their childhood, both daughters of miners in different states, and both no strangers to loss. When Mercy finally gets away from her hometown to find Rusty in Colorado, she misinterprets some local news and believes Rusty is dead. She continues on to Hollywood but alienates some power brokers by insisting on safe conditions for the extras on the movie set where she’s acting in the last silent film Hollywood will ever make. Escaping incognito to Colorado once again, Mercy seeks to build a new life, finds Rusty still alive, and teams up with her to solve a mystery and reunite some friends long alienated from the rest of the town. I thought Mercy was just a little too twenty-first-century in some things she thought and said, but overall, it was an excellent story.

 

Looking for Leroy by Melody Carlson (Revell)

Leroy is the owner of a small family winery; his youngest daughter wants to bring in customers by opening a tasting room and giving tours. Her new website brings in two teachers traveling for the summer, along with a man they’d met on the way. One of the teachers, Brynna, is sure that she’d met (and fallen in love with) Leroy at summer camp long ago when they were teens. Bamboozled by one of Leroy’s unsuspecting daughters into taking a job at the winery, Brynna struggles with whether it would even be a good idea to tell Leroy who she really is.

 

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh (Thomas Nelson)

When junior editor Kelsey is hit by a delivery truck on her way back to the office from picking up her boss’s coffee, she winds up in a hospital room next to publishing magnate Georgina Tate, who has a big secret: she’s  dying. Georgina (who could be the inspiration for the title character in The Devil Wears Prada) is clearly facing some regrets, and Kelsey has regrets of her own, and big dreams besides. Kelsey decides to say yes to all the things she’s said no to before — particularly spending time with friends and family she’s ignored in the name of getting ahead at work, which hasn’t worked out very well for her. After convincing Georgina to join her in this summer-long adventure, Kelsey makes it her business to track down Georgina’s estranged family and reunite them. This is a fun read and would be perfect to take along on your summer vacation! (Netgalley review; now available)

 

The Authenticity Project by Claire Pooley (Penguin Books)

Julian, a lonely, elderly artist who feels dissatisfied with his own past choices, writes a brief entry detailing the truth about his life in a notebook and leaves it in Monica’s cafe. She’s also looking for more out of life, and in an unguarded moment, writes down her own truths and drops the book off in a nearby wine bar. Soon the notebook has made the rounds of several people and even traveled as far as the South Pacific; eventually everyone who’s written in the book is reunited and led to face the truths they were only willing to admit in writing. This book is set in Britain, and there are f-bombs galore. Be ready for that if you pick this book up.

 

Nonfiction

Glorious Encounters with Mary: A Guide to Living the Mysteries of the Rosary by Maria V. Gallagher (Marian Press)

Enter into the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary with Maria Gallagher as your guide. You’ll contemplate the significance of these mysteries in your own life, along with the lives of familiar saints and Maria’s own reflections. This book opens the door to a deeper devotion to the Rosary. This book is a follow-up to Maria’s first book, Joyful Encounters with Mary, which I also highly recommend. You don’t need to read them in a particular order, and both feature brief but powerful entries that open the door to times of deeper prayer, as well as questions for discussion or journaling. (Review copy received from publisher)

 

All Things Catholic by Shaun McAfee (Sophia Institute Press)

This book is organized encyclopedia-style, with alphabetized entries for an extremely easy-to-use research experience. There’s also a table of contents that lists each entry (this might be overkill in a book already organized alphabetically, but it does let you see at a glance whether the term you’re looking up has an entry). If you have a question about the Church, this is a great place to get started. My favorite part of All Things Catholic is the occasional “Catholic Tip,” set off in a box from the rest of the text. These tips are usually written informally, offering real-life examples of some of the information included in this book. Read my full review. (Review copy received from publisher)

 

Catholicism Everywhere: From Hail Mary Passes to Cappuccinos, How the Catholic Faith is Infused in Culture by Helen Hoffner (Sophia Institute Press)

This book covers all the things you never knew were Catholic — as well as plenty of Catholic things you didn’t realize were so fascinating! I didn’t have to read more than 20 pages before I found a location mentioned that was very familiar to me: a shrine at a parish church in a town near where I grew up. A few pages later, I learned that the inventor of the first modern submarine (launched in the Passaic River, also near my hometown) had been a Christian Brother — the same religious order that founded and still ministers at the university all my children attended. I loved making these connections as I read this book. Read my full review. (Review copy received from publisher)

 

I like to dip into nonfiction a little at a time, and that’s what I’ve been doing with these two books, which I’m “reading for fun” and have not yet completed:

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear (Avery Books)

“Work smarter” has always been my motto — not because it saves me from “working harder” but because it means finding a faster, more efficient, or more effective way to do something. This leaves me more time or energy to do the things I want. I’m reading this book to find out how building good habits can help me to work even smarter. The author, James Clear, undertook the study of habits as part of his recovery from a traumatic brain injury.

 

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt (Penguin Press)

This book is intense. It’s a sociological description of what has happened as children have had smartphones, and social media, in their pockets 24/7 over the last decade and a half. I left the classroom in 2015 and my youngest child is 22, so I really haven’t seen this phenomenon as it’s played out in schools, but I can attest to the difference in my kids’ adolescence when I compare the oldest one (in high school just as smartphones were coming out — and he didn’t have one until college) and the youngest, who got a smartphone during middle school. I’d definitely recommend The Anxious Generation to parents and educators.

 

 

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.

Follow my Goodreads reviews for the full list of what I’ve read recently (even the duds!)

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

 

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Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2023 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission

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A Pair of Books that Show Catholicism’s Ins, Outs, and Influence

franciscanmom1 Comment

While I’m not sure these books were intended to be a series, they go together amazingly well and, together, provide a refresher course on Catholic doctrine, traditions, and beliefs as well as a look at the ways Catholicism has shaped our lives without our even realizing it. They’re fascinating to pick up and browse through; while not as large as coffee-table books, these are excellent books to leave around for your kids, visitors, or yourself to explore.

Either or both of these books would make perfect gifts for Confirmation, for someone who has recently joined the Church or completed their sacraments, or for a man beginning formation for the permanent diaconate.

 

All Things Catholic: A Guide from A to Z

by Shawn McAfee
Sophia Institute Press

All Things Catholic is organized encyclopedia-style, with alphabetized entries for an extremely easy-to-use research experience. There’s also a table of contents that lists each entry (this might be overkill in a book already organized alphabetically, but it does let you see at a glance whether the term you’re looking up has an entry). If you have a question about the Church, this is a great place to get started.

Most entries are at least a half page in length, which is enough to easily satisfy most general queries. Some of them include a “Further reading” section listing more in-depth sources including books and papal encyclicals. Small illustrations, often photographs of sacred art, portraits of historical figures and saints, or simple line drawings, complement many of the entries in this book.

My favorite part of All Things Catholic is the occasional “Catholic Tip,” set off in a box from the rest of the text. These tips are usually written informally, offering real-life examples of some of the information included in this book. Some of the “Catholic Tips” provide explanations on how to pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, as well.

 

 

Catholicism Everywhere: From Hail Mary Passes to Cappuccinos, How the Catholic Faith Is Infused in Culture

by Helen Hoffner
Sophia Institute Press

This book covers all the things you never knew were Catholic — as well as plenty of Catholic things you didn’t realize were so fascinating! I didn’t have to read more than 20 pages before I found a location mentioned that was very familiar to me: a shrine at a parish church in a town near where I grew up. A few pages later, I learned that the inventor of the first modern submarine (launched in the Passaic River, also near my hometown) had been a Christian Brother — the same religious order that founded and still ministers at the university all my children attended. I loved making these connections as I read Catholicism Everywhere.

Chapters in this book include:

  • The Catholic Calendar
  • Health Care
  • Catholics on the Road
  • Catholics at Sea
  • Traveling the Skies
  • Catholic Education
  • Catholic Fashion
  • Food, Fasting, and Faith
  • Television and Radio: Broadcasting the Faith
  • Science and Catholicism
  • Weather from a Catholic Perspective
  • God’s Creatures Great and Small
  • Catholicism in the Garden
  • Sports and Recreation: The Catholic Influence
  • Expressing Faith through the Arts
  • Catholic Weddings
  • Catholics in the Military
  • Catholic Organizations
  • The Catholic Roots of Common Expressions

Catholicism Everywhere is a lot of fun; it explores how Catholicism has influenced so many aspects of our lives without our even realizing it. Did you know about LeBron James’s Catholic-school legacy? How about the name of the patron saint of pierogi? You’ll learn about the priest who created the Big Bang Theory (not the TV show), and that we can still invoke the intercession of Saint Christopher before we head out on a journey.

A glossary and a brief Frequently Asked Questions section complete this book.

 

 

Ask for All Things Catholic and Catholicism Everywhere at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Sophia Institute Press.

Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Image copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved
This article contains Amazon affiliate links; your purchase through these links supports the work of this website at no cost to you.

"An Open Book: December 2024" by Barb Szyszkiewicz (FranciscanMom.com)

An Open Book: June 2024

franciscanmom1 Comment

The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:

Fiction

null I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys. This is one of my 12 Books, and one of the best I’ve read all year. Ruta Sepetys is a terrific storyteller. This novel takes place in Romania in 1989, portraying family life at the end of the Ceausescu regime. Cristian, a teenager blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer, learns the hard way that he can trust no one—not even the people closest to him. He doesn’t want to betray the people he loves, so he looks for ways to undermine the evil dictatorship in his country, and eagerly joins the revolution when the time comes, at great cost. This was a harrowing story that will stick with me for a long time.

 

The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick. When reclusive, burnt-out bestselling writer Essie Starling suddenly dies and leaves instructions for her housekeeper Liv to finish her last novel, Liv’s writing dreams come true … and she learns that writing isn’t the dream occupation she thinks it is. Kept in the dark by Ms. Starling’s attorney and hounded by the publisher to complete the book early, Liv discovers secrets about her former employer that she might rather not know. An excellent novel about writing, complete with plot twists you won’t see coming.

 

nullJingle Boys by Herb Williams-Dalgart. Wally Lipkin fears turning 18, because he knows he’ll be drafted to fight World War II despite an anxiety issue that causes him to faint in times of stress. With his brother and some friends, he enters a jingle-writing contest, figuring his family’s background in vaudeville will help him win a stateside government job. But that contest, the job, and the people he meets are not what they appear, and Wally finds himself making life-or-death decisions that will affect the people he loves most, as well as the girl who loves him.

 

YA/Children’s

The Night Train by Lorelei Savaryn. Twins about to turn 13 learn they’ve inherited their recently deceased grandmother’s ability to communicate with souls that are unable to rest. Like their grandmother, they consider it their duty to help those souls, even when it requires the girls to defy their parents, who refuse to believe them. As they seek to help the soul of a little girl they encounter in a home their parents are renovating, Maddie (the narrator) and Nat discover that one of them is now in danger. Their friend’s Catholic faith helps him understand and explain how the concept of thin places and an actual Faustian bargain factor into an historic event in their home town. This understanding leads the two to a willingness to risk their own lives in order to help souls from the past (all of which were children) and to protect children in the future. The novel definitely has an eerie aspect, but that’s more from the character who’d sold his soul to the devil than from the souls of the children, and the suspense was off the charts. There’s no violence, but the story is definitely intense. Recommended for middle-school students. (Netgalley review; book releases August 20, 2024).

 

What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski. Anna, a new 8th-grader at her middle school, is confused about why one of her classmates is so completely ostracized by the rest. There’s a big secret, and no one’s telling. To win a contest, she decides to create a podcast and solve the mystery about Rachel. Along the way, the story becomes more and more complex, and what seemed at first to be a cyberbullying situation gone wrong proved to be much, much more. This is a YA book, but it’s a cautionary tale for parents whose kids use cell phones as well as for educators.

 

Nonfiction

The Handy Little Guide to Novenas by Allison Gingras. Whether you’re new to the concept of a novena, confused about why and how to pray one, or just have trouble sticking with it for the full time period, Allison Gingras shares helpful information and encouragement to persevere in prayer. You’ll even find some novena prayers right in this book! Learn why novenas are for everyone, and how praying novenas can help you grow spiritually.

 

Defend Us in Battle: The Promise of St. Michael and the Heavenly Angels by Marge Steinhage Fenelon. In this Living Novena, Marge Steinhage Fenelon emphasizes ways we can grow in virtue with the help of St. Michael the Archangel and the nine choirs of angels. This book is much more than a reminder to persevere in prayer; it is an invitation to live out the virtues we pray to develop. (Endorsement copy received from publisher)

 

 

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.

Follow my Goodreads reviews for the full list of what I’ve read recently (even the duds!)

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

 

 

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Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2023 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission

"An Open Book: December 2024" by Barb Szyszkiewicz (FranciscanMom.com)

An Open Book: May 2024

franciscanmom3 Comments

The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:

Fiction

nullEmma’s Hero by Carrie Walker.

One word sums up this book and that is HOPE. So many of the characters are seeking that bright spark of hope in their lives, and in various ways, they end up bringing that hope to each other. When you look at the synopsis and see that the story is about a mom with a baby who has a life-threatening condition, don’t assume that means this is a downer of a story. In fact, the tears I cried while reading this were happy tears!
I loved seeing the transformations in each character—Emma, Ben, and Mason—that happened because of hope. I cannot wait for future books in this series.

 

nullThe Oystercatcher of Southwark by Erica Colahan.

This split-time novel tells the story of Mary, a young first-generation Italian-American woman living in South Philly and working at a sweatshop while she helps her father manage the grocery store for which he’s beholden to mob boss Rocco. Mary has captured the hearts of three men: the brutish Rocco, who insists Mary’s father “owes him” and must let him marry her; Cenzo the kindly fishmonger; and Jakob, a young Jewish man who becomes embroiled in shady business deals after Mary becomes pregnant and they elope and set up housekeeping in Newark, NJ. The present-day story line follows Bella, who’s brokenhearted after a recent divorce and shocked to learn that some of her ancestors were Jewish: this story had never been told to the younger generations. Together, Bella and a newfound older cousin piece together the story of Mary’s eventual return to Philadelphia with her children.
It’s lovely to read historical novels when the scene is set so well. As I read, I felt like I could very well have been walking those streets of South Philly where this novel takes place. Erica Colahan has taken the true story of her own great-great-grandmother and brought the people as well as the place to life. The novel explores the life of a young mother and tells how she, driven to desperation, seeks to protect her children from all harm. I can’t wait to read this novel a second time! (Advance review copy received from the publisher, but I’ve already preordered my own copy from Chrism Press. Releases July 2024.)

 

nullLove in the Eternal City: A Swiss Guard Romance by Rebecca W. Martin.

At last: a heroine who isn’t perfect and doesn’t try to pretend she is! Elena’s fiance and best friend betrayed her professionally and romantically, and her confidence is shaken by continuing panic attacks after a terrifying cyberstalking situation. Seeking a new start, she heads to Rome with a scrubbed social media profile and a new job, only to meet Benedikt (Beni), a Swiss Guard who’s spent his life failing to measure up to his father’s expectations.
Working in the Vatican, Elena and Beni are in frequent contact with highly-ranked clergy, including the pope, and both the pope and Elena’s boss inject wisdom and humor in difficult situations. Those two characters charmed me from their first mention, and one of them has made it his mission to get the Elena and Beni together.
There’s a surprising espionage subplot, a couple of kindly landlords, and a not-so-little stepsister who becomes a BFF to Elena and a friend to her older brother Beni.
All in all, this is a charming novel with engaging characters–and I guarantee you’ll be hoping those characters get engaged, pretty much as soon as you meet them. It’s a lovely read. (Advance review copy received from the publisher, but I’ve already preordered my own copy from Chrism Press. Releases August 2024.)

 

nullCanary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini.

Set in Britain during World War I, this novel follows the lives of several young women who work as “munitionettes,” assembling explosive shells in a converted sewing-machine factory, frantically trying to keep up with demand for ammunition as they support their families and try to ignore their worsening health due to the poisonous effects of the TNT they’re packing into the ammunition each day. The yellow color of their skin (a symptom of liver dysfunction caused by the TNT exposure) earns them the nickname “Canary Girls.”

Anything but delicate or birdlike, these women are strong and determined, hoping to keep morale up by forming football (soccer) teams and supporting each other. This book, along with others like The Radium Girls, brings home the truth of the sacrifices made by women on the home front, underscoring how they often took invisible but extreme risks to support the war effort.

 

YA/Children’s

nullBecause of You by Hannah Currie.

When 16-year-old Chloe sets out on the mission trip she’s looked forward to since the age of 10, she doesn’t know what to expect, and the boot camp held by the Christian organization running the trip didn’t prepare her much. But when she arrives in an extremely primitive orphanage for girls in a remote part of Thailand, she’s also not prepared to lose her heart to the 40 young children who’d been rescued from traumatic situations and, in some cases, saved from lives of human trafficking.

Chloe has to learn survival skills like washing her dishes, clothes, and hair in an icy-cold river—and her ability to make friends is tested by one of her fellow teen missionaries, who spends most of the time crying and complaining that she misses her mom. Some of the most valuable lessons Chloe learns have nothing to do with orphans, Thailand, or survival: they’re lessons of trust, faith, and friendship.

Definitely recommended for any teen hoping to participate in a mission or service trip! This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’ll be checking out her backlist after reading this one. (Advance review copy received from publisher WhiteSpark Books; releases May 15).

 

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.

Follow my Goodreads reviews for the full list of what I’ve read recently (even the duds!)

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

 

 

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Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2023 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission

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Focus on Lent: Spiritual Resources for the Journey

franciscanmom6 Comments

Lent is only one short week away. It’s time to prepare for the journey.

That doesn’t mean you need to weigh yourself down with every devotional ever published. I agree with Nicole Berlucchi, who recently wrote that we should just pick one book, devotional, program, or practice. For Lent this year, let’s do one thing and do it well. I’m still making my plan, and I thought I’d show you some of the resources I’ve been looking at.

There’s an App for That

Magnificat Lenten Companion App

This app is packed with features, including the daily readings and prayers for Mass, daily morning and evening prayer based on the Liturgy of the Hours, inspirational essays and poetry, Stations of the Cross, a Lenten penance service, audio hymns, and daily Lenten reflections by Catholic writers. Priced at only $2.99, it’s less expensive than the print version of Magnificat and contains more content.

This app is an excellent way to keep your Lenten devotions near at hand at all times. If you’re trying to limit your phone or tablet use during Lent, try modifying your home screen so you only see the Catholic apps like this one on the first page, and bury or remove apps that only tempt you to waste your time. (For iOS and Android; available in English and Spanish.)

 

For the Kids

Arthur the Clumsy Altar Server Plans the Perfect Lent by Theresa Kiser 

Moms, I’m warning you right now: you will cry when you read this one, so be ready. But it’s a good cry. This picture book is a terrific explanation of Lent, and how Jesus is with us every step of the way. In this story, Arthur (who thinks big) yearns to be perfect, like Jesus. And he keeps on disappointing himself every time he trips or drops something, or when his stomach growls during Mass. His parents and parish priest are understanding, and his mom beautifully explains that Arthur doesn’t need to do everything perfectly to earn Jesus’ love.

As with the other books in the Arthur series, the illustrations by Mike Schwalm make the story. At the end of the book, there are useful facts about Lent, explained in a kid-friendly way. This picture book is perfect for kids ages 4 and up; you might even find your older kids peeking at the illustrations as you read it to the younger ones. (OSV Kids)

 

Diary of a Future Saint: Faustina’s Incredible Journey by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

Whether your family has a devotion to the Divine Mercy Chaplet or you’re simply curious about the life of the twentieth-century woman whose Diary has inspired so many, this book by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle will not disappoint. Throughout this story, the reader will learn not only about the life of this extraordinary saint, but also about various ways to pray, how we are called to trust in God, the sacraments, grace, and our need to always work to avoid the devil. The author invites readers to consider their own relationship with Christ as they learn about Saint Faustina.

Each chapter ends with three special features: “Something to think about” with questions for conversation, “Pray,” and “A merciful action.” This book is described as a novel for all ages, but I think it would be best appreciated by readers 10 years old and up. (Marian Press)

 

Guided Meditation with Videos

Made for Heaven: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR

The reflections in this journal are focused on poverty, beginning with the topics of temptation and transfiguration, then considering how our voluntary poverty can be life-giving to others, and finally immersing ourselves in prayer and the power of the Cross. Each day begins with an excerpt from Scripture. Fr. Agustino then offers a daily meditation and challenges the reader to journal in response to that meditation, identifying practical ways to live out the Lenten season more fully. This book includes ample space for journaling and note-taking, as well as beautiful illustrations by Valerie Delgado.

An accompanying video series includes a video for Ash Wednesday and each Sunday of Lent, concluding on Easter. Look for these here on CatholicMom.com at 10 AM Eastern. (Ave Maria Press)

 

The Ascension Lenten Companion: Walking with Jesus to Jerusalem by Mark Toups

This journal boasts a full page of journaling space for each day of Lent (plus ample white space on other pages in case you’d like to highlight or comment on the reflections). Each day’s entry begins with a focus word and Scripture verse, then offers a reflection (about one and a half pages in length) that leads into the journaling space. A daily prayer prompt is based on a Scripture reading.

This guided journal program with a complementary video series can be used by parishes, prayer groups, and individuals. All videos, available on AscensionPress.com, are about 5 minutes in length. The illustrations that begin each week’s section in this journal are paintings by Mike Moyers, done in a simple, modern style. (Ascension)

 

Fiction during Lent? Yes, please!

Through Esther’s Eyes: A Novel by Jacqueline St. Clare

Immerse yourself in the story of Jesus’ life and ministry as told by Esther, His fictional cousin. This novel is steeped in Scripture; the words of the prophets, psalms, Gospel events, and many of Jesus’ parables are skillfully interwoven throughout the story. The author links fictional characters with the Apostles, Martha and Mary and Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, and the Blessed Mother.

This masterful and compelling debut novel by a Catholic author is a must-read! It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. You’ll feel as if you’re really there, witnessing the action. I know some people give up fiction as a Lenten sacrifice, but this novel should be an exception; reading it will really bring the events of the Gospel to life. (Marian Press)

 

The Way of the Cross

Behold Your Mother: Marian Stations of the Cross by Marge Steinhage Fenelon

Marge Steinhage Fenelon’s newly published interpretation of the Stations of the Cross looks at each Station from the point of view of a child seeking comfort from the Blessed Mother even while realizing that he is partially to blame for these terrible trials she and her Son endure and wishing to console Mary. This puts into words the conflict we, as God’s children entrusted to the care of the Mother of God, face as we consider the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Simply illustrated with striking pen-and-ink images to go along with the one-page devotion for each Station, this book is a beautiful prayer companion for use in personal or group devotions. (Our Sunday Visitor)

 

Quick Daily Devotionals

Turn to the Cross: Daily Prayers for Lent and Holy Week 2024 by Josh Noem

This little devotional is designed to be used throughout the day. Each day’s entry begins with a brief prayer or Scripture quote, then a quick reflection, a Prayer for Morning, Traveling Question, and Prayer for Evening. Reflection topics vary: these include discussion of one of the daily readings, the lives of saints, challenges to develop a particular virtue, and inspirational stories of contemporary priests and sisters of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

This devotional is well-suited for people who want a solid Lenten devotional but don’t have a large block of time to commit to using it. The small-format booklet can fit in your handbag or the map pocket of your car, so you can use it for small spiritual breaks in the course of your day. (Ave Maria Press)

 

Messages of Perseverance for Lent 2024: 3-Minute Devotions by Michael White and Tom Corcoran

Do you have three minutes? It doesn’t even matter what time of day you use this book. It’s designed to provide practical, everyday wisdom for persevering in your journey of faith. Each weekday, there’s a Scripture quote followed by a quick reflection and call to prayer, either thanking God or praying for the grace to persevere in certain situations.

The Saturday entry is a psalm, presented in the style of the Responsorial Psalm at Mass. And the Sunday entry sets the scene for the week and summarizes the Gospel from Sunday Mass. If you hope to develop the virtue of perseverance this Lent, try this little devotional. (Ave Maria Press)

 

Go Deeper

The Father’s House: Discovering Our Home in the Trinity by James Dominic Brent, OP

This spiritual book is not specifically Lent-themed, but what better topic to delve into during Lent than how to grow closer to the Lord in each Person of the Holy Trinity? As Kathryn Jean Lopez writes in her endorsement:

You are not meant to be separated from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are meant to live in the heart of the Trinity, in merciful love and eternal victory. Don’t delay. Let the Trinity guide you to the fullness of the Christian life through the words of this humble and wise friar.

Read one chapter of this book for eight weeks, and you’ll conclude the week after Easter with the chapter focused on the mystery of our adoption by grace into the family of God. (Pauline Books & Media)

 

This Lent, Learn More About the Mass

Mass Class: Your Questions Answered by Father Dave Dwyer

This is a book the whole family can enjoy learning from together during Lent. There are seven sections of this book, so you can cover one each week of this season. Father Dave Dwyer, host of the Busted Halo radio show, answers listener questions about Mass: why Catholics go to Mass, what we believe about the Eucharist, the various prayers and Scripture used at Mass, posture and gestures, and more—all in a very clear, friendly, and accessible manner. Occasional graphics signal the “Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions,” as well as Mass Class Notes, sidebars that offer additional helpful facts.

If you’re curious (or your family is) about why we do what we do during Mass, this is the book for you. I’d recommend it particularly for anyone preparing for Confirmation. (Paulist Press)

 

Ask for these books at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publishers, all linked above.

 

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Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images: Stencil
This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to me when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you!

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On My Bookshelf: Murder at Penwood Manor by Antony Barone Kolenc

franciscanmom2 Comments

Book 5 in Catholic novelist Antony Barone Kolenc’s Harwood Mysteries series, Murder at Penwood Manor, is one of those stories that will keep your teen reading late into the night. Xan, an orphaned teen who was first taken in by monks and then came to live with an uncle in a distant town, seeks to exonerate a crusader who has returned from the Holy Land and is now accused of the murder of a romantic rival. Xan is accompanied in his quest to save Laurence the crusader by two young women, one in formation at a local abbey and another who appears to be his love interest.

As I read this story, I was frequently reminded of this line from the Gospel of John:

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

 

Xan, Lucy, and Christina all have a lot to lose by standing up for Laurence in front of the sheriff and the townsfolk, all of whom are ready to see him put to death. Lucy even risks her religious vocation by disobeying her superiors and leaving the monastery to help solve the mystery behind the murder that opens the story. I won’t give spoilers, but I will say there’s a cliffhanger that leaves me extremely eager for the next novel in the series!

Parents and teachers will appreciate the two-page readers guide, “How to read historical fiction,” at the front of the book, and the author has also provided a map of Xan’s world, a glossary of religious and historical terms, and an author’s historical note that explains Church and feudal practices of that time and place. These bonus materials have been included with each book in the series, and are informative and useful without being condescending.

Murder at Penwood Manor is best enjoyed as part of a series, but Kolenc skillfully provides enough background information that a reader new to the series can jump in anywhere.

As with many series that begin with characters who are 10 or 11 years of age, the later books in the Harwood Mysteries seem more geared toward younger teen readers than middle-grade. I’d recommend this book (and book 4) for readers 12 and up; the first three books in the series are fine for middle-grade readers and up.

 

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Want to catch up on the other books in the series?

nullThe virtue of integrity is central to Shadow in the Dark, as Xan and his friends discover which of the people around them are who they say they are—and who can be trusted. In this story, Xan is taken in at a monastery after his village is burned down and his parents killed; Xan has little memory of the tragedy and does not know who he is. This mystery story provides a fascinating glimpse inside the feudal world and the monastic life during the Middle Ages.

 

nullThe Haunted Cathedral, Book 2, contains fictional characters and events set in a historical place and time. Lincoln Castle and Lincoln Cathedral, both of which figure in the story, were constructed about a century before the story takes place—and parts of these buildings still stand today. And you’ll find no spoilers here, but a significant event in the story was actually recorded in history! When Xan is forced to travel to the city of Lincoln with Carlo, who was involved in Xan’s parents’ death, he faces multiple obstacles that challenge him to forgive—and he learns firsthand the consequences for himself and others when he withholds forgiveness.

 

nullIn The Fire of Eden, an accident causes John, who’s been Xan’s nemesis in the monastery for quite some time, to lose his sight. Angry at his sudden dependence on those around him, John is more cruel than ever, but Xan is forced to cooperate with him as they seek to solve the mystery of a missing precious ruby belonging to a young monk who’s about to be ordained to the priesthood. Along the way, they encounter dishonest monks, traitorous guards, and a frightening magician who lives in the woods.

 

nullIn The Merchant’s Curse, Xan and his companions progress through their teen years, the challenges they face—both in their faith and in their struggle to protect themselves and those they love from the very real threats they experience—have ever-higher stakes. In this story, Xan’s uncle William, who has provided him with both meaningful work and shelter, comes under threat when his business partner becomes deathly ill. His partner’s nephew, Nigel, blames the illness on a curse from a woman reputed to be a witch, but evil also seems to be lurking around William’s shop in the form of a group of thugs, and Nigel furthers the danger by befriending an enemy of the king.

 

Ask for Murder at Penwood Manor at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Loyola Press.

Copyright 2023 Barb Szyszkiewicz

This article contains Amazon links; your purchase through these links supports the work of this website at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

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On My Bookshelf: Sacred Art Every Catholic Should Know

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I know almost nothing about art history, but as a visually-oriented person, I love pondering beautiful images, statues, and stained-glass windows, especially when these works of art are faith-based. Jem Sullivan, PhD’s new book, Sacred Art Every Catholic Should Know, offers 50 masterpieces of sacred art; I recognized many of them at first glance but couldn’t tell you the name of the author, time period in which the art was created, or the place or circumstances surrounding their creation. This book fills in all that background information—and then some!

 

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When I first saw the cover of this book, the image that caught my eye was the one on the bottom left: The Virgin Adoring the Host by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1852). I see that full image frequently; it’s on the ordination card from my pastor’s priestly ordination, and those are on every bulletin board in our church. Since this book doesn’t require a start-to-finish read, but rather invites the reader to flip through and read about whatever painting strikes the eye, I turned to this one first.

As with many of the entries in Sacred Art Every Catholic Should Know, this one began with a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church explaining a theological concept behind the art (in this case, Eucharistic Adoration). You can’t see it from the capsule image shown on the book’s cover, but in the full image, the Blessed Mother is looking at a Host depicted in the lower center of the painting. The description of the image sums up Mary’s Eucharistic faith, then explains the significance of the two saints shown on either side of the Blessed Mother in the full image: Saint Helena, who is believed to have discovered the True Cross, and Saint Louis IX, a king of France and Secular Franciscan. A discussion of the Eucharist as the saving and real presence of Christ concludes the entry for this image.

Some of the other images I recognized and was eager to learn more about (and prayerfully ponder) while reading this book include:

  • Rose Window at Chartres Cathedral
  • Fra Angelico’s Annunciation
  • The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci
  • The Return of the Prodigal Son by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
  • Michelangelo’s Pietà
  • Descent of the Holy Spirit by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
  • Giotto di Bondone’s Saint Francis Preaching to the Birds
  • The Angelus by Jean-François Millet

I appreciated that for many images, the book shows capsule sections of particularly significant parts of the image, so the reader can more fully concentrate on that small piece of the image and ponder how it relates to the larger piece of art as a whole.

You don’t need to be an art scholar or a theologian to enjoy and learn from this beautiful new book.

Ask for Sacred Art Every Catholic Should Know at your local Catholic bookseller, or purchase online from Amazon.com or the publisher, TAN Books.

 

Copyright 2023 Barb Szyszkiewicz

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

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On MyBookshelf: A Picture Book by Susan Tassone about the Holy Souls

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Whether there’s been a death in the family or your children have simply expressed curiosity about what happens to us after we die, Susan Tassone’s picture book New Friends Now and Forever: A Story about the Holy Souls will help families deal with children’s inevitable questions with sensitivity, care, theological accuracy, and an emphasis on prayer. This sweet story demonstrates the importance of praying for our deceased loved ones and souls we’ve never met, as well as prayer for our family, friends, and our own cares and concerns.

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Church teaching about Purgatory is presented in a comforting way, emphasizing God’s love and our ability to help souls get to Heaven. The book starts out with a note for grown-ups detailing five important truths about Purgatory:

  • Purgatory exists.
  • Purgatory exists because God loves us.
  • Purgatory isn’t a “punishment.”
  • The souls in Purgatory suffer the loss of the sight of God.
  • Purgatory isn’t a physical fire.

The note to grown-ups also underscores the importance of prayer for the souls in Purgatory and how parents can encourage their children to pray for the Holy Souls.

In New Friends Now and Forever, a family greets Mr. Ray, an elderly man from the parish, after Mass; he tells the children that he has been praying for the soul of his deceased wife. The children decide to be the gentleman’s prayer pal and to pray for his wife’s soul as well. The family prays together at meals, bedtime, at Adoration, and when passing by a cemetery. Over and over through the book, the prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory is repeated. As the family continues to pray together, they eventually experience the loss of their friend Mr. Ray, and the power of that prayer is reinforced.

“Did You Know?” and Seek-and-Find pages complete this beautifully illustrated book. Artist Yorris Handoko created colorful, detailed images for this book that include families and friends in church, the Mass, and family activities as well as images that represent what Heaven might look like.

 

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Reading New Friends Now and Forever as a family would be an excellent way to help children learn about All Souls Day, which the Church celebrates on November 2. The prayer for souls in Purgatory is right on the back cover of the book; find a way to incorporate that prayer into your family’s daily prayers during the month of November—and beyond! As you’ll learn by reading this book, there can never be too many prayers for the Holy Souls.

Ask for New Friends Now and Forever at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the EWTN Religious Catalogue, where you’ll receive a $5 discount off the purchase price.

Copyright 2023 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Some links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!