Morality Tales

No one wants their kids reading complete trash. It's pretty widely understood that what goes in comes out, and if kids consume a steady diet of books with bad morals, chances are they're going to retain those attitudes, regardless of the instruction they get at home. Wouldn't it be better to have them read books with clear messages of Christian virtue and well-behaved main characters?

Yes and no—obviously, we want good examples set for our children, and character-building stories often provide them. At the same time, they have a tendency to portray their heroes and heroines as too good, so that kids see a completely unrealistic picture of childhood which they consequently reject, if not at home, then later in life when it matters even more.

In the Bible, of course, Jesus Himself is presented as our example for leading a godly life. The difference is that these books are supposed to be representations of ordinary people, not the Son of God. To suggest that human beings (especially children!) can attain a state of near-sinless perfection is dangerously close to heresy.

That said, even stories of this kind are better than a lot of the available reading material for youngsters. If the goal is to raise children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, giving them an unattainable standard is superior to giving them one far too easily achieved, or none at all. Stories about selfish kiddos, kiddos who get their way, kiddos who are more wise than adults—these aren't the kind of stories our impressionable tykes need to read.

With that in mind, we offer this collection of morality tales, or wholesome fiction. A lot of these books are Victorian-era novels highly influenced by the moralist tones of the period, but many are also more recent ventures (and also a little more realistic). We suggest you not make a steady diet of these sorts of books (they don't typically feature the best writing), but every now and then it's not a bad idea to refresh your children's pool of good examples.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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101 Items found Print
Active Filters: 10th grade (Ages 15-16)
America Is Born
A History for Peter #1
by Gerald W. Johnson
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-12th grade
1960 Newbery Honor Book
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
Arthur Erskine's Story
Reformation Trail Series #14
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$25.95
Book of Discovery
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-12th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$20.95
Book of Genesis
The Bible for School and Home #1
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
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$11.86
By Far Euphrates
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade
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Coronation of Glory
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by Deborah Meroff
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Biography for 8th-10th grade
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Countryside Rambles
by W.S. Furneaux
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$14.95
Cross Triumphant
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Florence Morse Kingsley
from Lamplighter Publishing
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Crushed Yet Conquering
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from Inheritance Publications
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Czar, The
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$19.95
Daisy Chain
by Charlotte Yonge
from Beautiful Feet Books
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$16.95
Daisy Chain
by Charlotte Yonge
from Living Book Press
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Dark Year of Dundee
Reformation Trail Series #06
by Deborah Alcock
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$10.95
Days of Prince Maurits
Reformation Trail Series #17
by Mary O. Nutting
from Inheritance Publications
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$25.95
Defender of the Faith
William and Mary Trilogy Volume 2
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
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Doctor Adrian
Reformation Trail Series #13
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$15.95
Done and Dared in Old France
Huguenot Inheritance Series #7
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$14.95
Drawing, Design, and Craft-Work
by Frederick J. Glass
from Yesterday's Classics
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
Driven into Exile
Huguenot Inheritance Series #5
by Charlotte Maria Tucker
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
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$9.95
Early Church
by George Hodges
from Yesterday's Classics
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$11.86
English Literature for Boys and Girls
by H. E. Marshall
Ill from Yesterday's Classics
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$23.95
Escape
Huguenot Inheritance Series #1
by A. Van der Jagt
from Inheritance Publications
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Everyman: A Morality Play
by Anonymous
from Samuel French
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in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED)
$1.00 (10 in stock)
Exiles in Babylon
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E.
from Lamplighter Publishing
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in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Falsely Accused in the High Sierras
by Frederick Vining Fisher
from Lamplighter Publishing
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Famous Men of the Middle Ages
by John H. Haaren & A.B. Poland
from Yesterday's Classics
Historical Reference for 5th - 10th grade
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$13.95
For God and the King
William and Mary Trilogy Volume 3
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 9th-12th grade
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$15.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Friends of Pascal
Huguenot Inheritance Series #11
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$18.95
Governor of England
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
Biography for 9th-12th grade
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$17.95 $10.00 (3 in stock)
Hannibal
Makers of History Series
by Jacob Abbott
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-12th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$12.95
Hedge of Thorns
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by John Hatchard & Mark Hamby
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 9th-Adult
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Hidden Hand
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by E.D.E.N. Southworth
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Hidden Treasure
Reformation Trail Series #21
by Lucy Ellen Geurnsey
from Inheritance Publications
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$17.95
Highlands of Galilee: When Christ Came
The Bible for School and Home #5
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Bible for School and Home (Location: BIB-YC)
$11.86
How They Kept the Faith
Huguenot Inheritance Series #3
by Grace Raymond
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$19.90
Hubert Ellerdale
Reformation Trail Series #01
by W. Oak Rhind
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$12.95
Huguenot Inheritance Series
by Various Authors
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade
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$115.20
I Will Maintain
William and Mary Trilogy Volume 1
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
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in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$15.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
In His Steps
by Charles M. Sheldon
from Revell Publishing
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$6.99
In the City
Huguenot Inheritance Series #13
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$13.95
In the Days of Alfred the Great
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
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$12.95
In the Days of Queen Elizabeth
by Eva March Tappan
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In the Days of Queen Victoria
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
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In the Days of William the Conqueror
by Eva March Tappan
from Yesterday's Classics
for 6th-10th grade
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$12.95
In the Desert
Huguenot Inheritance Series #12
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$13.95
Ishmael
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by E.D.E.N. Southworth
1st edition from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Joshua and the Judges
The Bible for School and Home #3
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Bible for School and Home (Location: BIB-YC)
$11.86
King's Gold
by Mrs. Elizabeth Cheney
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
King's Service
Reformation Trail Series #18
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$11.95
Life in the Eagle's Nest
by Charlotte Maria Tucker
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$9.95
Lost Clue
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by O. F.Walton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Loyal Huguenot Maid
Huguenot Inheritance Series #8
by Margaret S. Comrie
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$15.95
Luther by Those Who Knew Him
Reformation Trail Series #20
by Elizabeth R. Charles
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$19.95
Mansion, The
by Henry van Dyke, illustrated by Elizabeth Shippen Green
from Harper & Brothers
for 3rd-Adult
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Manual of Clay Modeling
by Hermione Unwin
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-12th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$11.95
Martin Luther: The Man and His Work
Reformation Trail Series #19
by Arthur C. McGiffert
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$19.95
Martyr of Kolin
Young Burning Hearts Series
by H. O. Ward
from Inheritance Publications
for 5th-10th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$12.95
Martyr of the Catacombs
by Anonymous Christian
from Kregel Publications
Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Moses and the Exodus
The Bible for School and Home #2
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Bible for School and Home (Location: BIB-YC)
$11.86
Must I Give Him Up?
Huguenot Inheritance Series #14
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$8.95
Not for Crown or Sceptre
Reformation Trail Series #15
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$25.95
Our Empire Story
by H. E. Marshall
from Yesterday's Classics
for 4th-10th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$22.95
Peep Behind the Scenes
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by O.F. Walton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Prior's Tithe
Reformation Trail Series #05
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$9.95
Prisoners of Hope
Reformation Trail Series #09
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$9.95
Prisoners of the Sea
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Prophets and Kings
The Bible for School and Home #4
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Bible for School and Home (Location: BIB-YC)
$11.86 $4.80 (1 in stock)
Refugees
Huguenot Inheritance Series #6
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
from Inheritance Publications
Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$19.95
Rita Comes Home
by Andrew Siegrist
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 6th-Adult
in Rod & Staff Fiction (Location: REA-R&S)
Roman Students
Reformation Trail Series #03
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$17.95
Romance of Protestantism
Reformation Trail Series #04
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$12.95
Romulus
Makers of History series
by Jacob Abbott
from Yesterday's Classics
History for 8th-12th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.95
Rules for a Knight
by Ethan Hawke, illustrated by Ryan Hawke
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for 4th-12th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Scotland's Story
by H. E. Marshall
from Yesterday's Classics
for 5th-12th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$20.95
Secret Mission
Huguenot Inheritance Series #2
by A. Van der Jagt
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$13.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Self-Raised
by EDEN Southworth
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Shepherd of Bethlehem
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E.
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by W. E. Cule
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Soldier of Virginia
by Marjorie Bowen
from Inheritance Publications
Biography for 9th-12th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$12.95
Spanish Brothers
Reformation Trail Series #10
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$14.95
Spanish Brothers
by Deborah Alcock
from Lamplighter Publishing
Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
St. Mark
The Bible for School and Home #8
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Bible for School and Home (Location: BIB-YC)
$11.86
St. Matthew
The Bible for School and Home #7
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Bible for School and Home (Location: BIB-YC)
$11.86 $4.80 (1 in stock)
Stepping Heavenward
by Elizabeth Prentiss
from Lamplighter Publishing
Femininity/Realistic Fiction for 8th-12th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Story of Europe
by H. E. Marshall
from Yesterday's Classics
European History Reference for 8th-10th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
$15.95
Story of Roland
by James Baldwin
from Yesterday's Classics
for 6th-10th grade
$14.95
Story of the Last Days of Jerusalem
by Alfred J. Church
from Yesterday's Classics
History for 7th-10th grade
in Israel (Location: HISW-ANIS)
$10.95
Story of the Persian War
by Alfred J. Church
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-10th grade
in Ancient Greece (Location: HISW-ANGR)
$12.95
The Lamplighter
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Maria S. Cummins
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Titus: A Comrade of the Cross
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Florence Morse Kingsley
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
True to the Last
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Evelyn Everett-Green
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Trust God, Keep the Faith
by Bartha Hill
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$9.95
Under the Inquisition
Reformation Trail Series #11
by Elizabeth H. Walshe
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$15.95
Under the Southern Cross
Reformation Trail Series #16
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 9th-Adult
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$21.95
Viking Tales
by Jennie Hall
from Yesterday's Classics
for 7th-10th grade
$10.95
Well in the Orchard
Huguenot Inheritance Series #10
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02)
$8.95
When the Christ Came: The Road to Jerusalem
The Bible for School and Home #6
by J. Patterson Smyth
from Yesterday's Classics
for 8th-12th grade
in Bible for School and Home (Location: BIB-YC)
$11.86
White Gypsy
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Anette Lyster
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
With Two Hands
Hidden Heroes #1
by Rebecca Davis
from Christian Focus Publications
for 6th-10th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Wonder Book for Girls and Boys
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
from Yesterday's Classics
Myths for 5th-10th grade
$12.95
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