A
Note to Moms
The books reviewed on Sarah’s page are mostly books
written for the general Christian market and deal with issues kids in
America deal with (with the exception of the American Girls series, which
is secular, and has been somewhat controversial because of the company’s
support of some less than Christian organizations. Sarah loved these books
as a little girl and I let her review them here even though some
Christians are presently boycotting the company. You many want to look
further into this issue before deciding to buy these books).
While I am choosy about what my daughter reads, I
have not sheltered her from some of the issues girls her age deal with
that aren’t typically discussed in the homeschool community. If you are
a homeschooler who chooses a more conservative approach, some of these
books may not be for you. Some of them deal with such issues as divorce,
abuse (though not explicit), cultural struggles, and boyfriends.
My philosophy is that my daughter needs to be
prepared to function in the real world, not just in the homeschooling
sub-culture. Though we have made careful choices about what we expose
Sarah to and when, she has been asked on occasion to function outside of
the homeschool system. Last year, for the first time, she took a class at
a local public school. We made this choice in part because we feel it is
good for her to learn to function in a non-Christian environment while she
is at home and has our support and guidance. Every parent must make these
choices for themselves.
I
feel the books she’s reviewed here have helped her see a bigger picture
than what she is often exposed to in our homeschool culture and have done
this in a context of faith. I am very thankful that these authors have
written “real” books for girls that help them process God and godly
choices in a very difficult American culture. Please don’t take these
reviews as my blanket endorsement. Read the books for yourself and decide
if these are the kinds of books God would have you choose for your
daughter. Every child is different and God is preparing each child for his
or her future. Pray and ask Him to help you make choices with your
children that shape them for the future He has prepared.
