Each week I share books I’m reading for my Read 100 Challenge, as well as podcasts I’m listening to and links I love from around the blogosphere. I love to get recommendations, so please let me know what you are reading!
What I’m Reading This Week
Last week I reached my goal of reading 100 books in 2015! I read some amazing books (look for a list of my top favorites coming near the end of the year!), and this week I wanted to relax a bit.
So, I’ve been rereading one of my favorite Young Adult series–Percy Jackson: The Heroes of Olympus. If you have children who are in 5th-8th grade, I highly recommend both of the Percy Jackson series.
The first series (Percy Jackson and The Olympians) begins when Percy is 12 and follows him through the next few years of adolescence. The books are a fantastic mix of fantasy, mythology, action, adventure, and humor. Begin with the first book, The Lightning Thief, and work through the next four. The entire series would make an excellent Christmas gift for late elementary/middle school aged children.
The second series (The Heroes of Olympus) focuses on a one year period in Percy’s life. It also introduces new characters and new quests. I actually prefer this series because it shares the perspectives of each of the seven main characters instead of just Percy’s. However, I would definitely recommend reading the first series before diving into The Lost Hero, the first in The Heroes of Olympus series. These books are a little denser and a little more mature, so I would recommend them for 6-10th graders (and adults like me who love YA!).
Links I Love
Faith
Advent Resources A collection of prayers, activities, and more for an Orthodox Advent (Nativity Fast) from Orthodox Kiddos.
Cultivating Gratitude: Three Tips and Five Books Would you like to help your child develop a spirit of gratitude, humility, and thanksgiving? Catherine’s Pascha shares some great ideas.
Family
The ONE Item That Keeps Our House Clutter Free The Crazy Organized Blog shares a simple tip for reducing household clutter.
Cranberry and Almond Baked Brie I was literally drooling when I saw Frugally Blonde’s simple, but incredibly tasty, appetizer. I am so trying this for Thanksgiving!
Frugal Living
Tips to Reduce Your Heat Costs As we head into winter, heating bills can keep going up. Centsable Mama shares some ways to lower your expenses.
How to Start a Budget (When You Suck at Budgeting) One of my favorite personal finance bloggers is Rosemarie from The Busy Budgeter. This week she shared a simple way to start a budget, even if you’ve failed at them before.
What are you reading this week?
(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)
Thanks for including my post on reducing heating costs! My sixth grade son has read one of the books in the Percy Jackson series) and loved it too.
You’re very welcome! I hope he reads the rest of the books, too. So fun!
Congrats on meeting your goal! My goal for this year is 75 books, and I’m excited to be getting close. I’m thinking about going for 100 next year though. How many young adult books did you include in your 100? The ones you mention look fun, I’ll have to check them out!
Thanks, Hannah! I will definitely include a break down of the types of books I’ve read this year in an end of the year post. I’m pretty excited about writing a “Top 10” type list of the best books of the year! Just guessing right now, I’d say I read around 50 YA books–and my students keep on recommending more to me!
Rick Riordan is my oldest son’s favorite author and I’ve promised him I’ll read The Percy Jackson series. Every year the newest book come out near his birthday and I get it for him. Enjoy!
I hope you do read them, Tanya. Beware–once you read one, you just can’t stop!