Sisters in Time

Just because the Sisters in Time series doesn't make the same mistakes other character building series are guilty of doesn't mean it isn't without flaws of its own. The good part is that the novels actually read like decent adolescent fiction, that the characters are fairly realistically drawn, and that Christian virtue is advocated without maudlin sentiment or the depiction of perfect heroes and heroines.

All good stuff when you're talking about character building fiction. Most of the books in that genre tend to be unrealistic, poorly written, and inaccurate representations of the Christian life. The Sisters in Time books are different. Each volume follows the adventures of a Christian girl in one of several periods of American history as she experiences important historical events and becomes stronger in her faith.

The one thing that's not good about these books is the anachronistic tendency. A variety of authors have lent their talents to the series, and all of them make the same literary faux pas—foisting on people of the past the attitudes and morés of modern Americans. People in the 17th century didn't think the way people think in the 21st century, but in these books they do.

Of course, these aren't intended as history curriculum. They're intended to provide interesting and profitable reading for adolescent girls, and they achieve this goal admirably. Young readers will eventually need to graduate to more weighty books (Spurgeon, Packer, and Sproul, for example), but these are a fine place to start, especially as an alternative to the often wildly humanistic fiction mostly available for middle school kids.

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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25 Items found Print
Active Filters: 6th grade (Ages 11-12)
American Dream: 1620-1765
by Colleen L. Reece, Norma Jean Lutz, Susan Martins Miller
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Anna's Fight for Hope
Sisters in Time
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Betsy's River Adventure
Sisters in Time
by Veda Boyd Jones
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Carrie's Courage
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Daria Solves a Mystery
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Elise the Actress
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Emily Makes a Difference
Sisters in Time
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Emma's Secret
by Veda Boyd Jones
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Grace and the Bully
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Janie's Freedom
by Callie Smith Grant
First Edition from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Jennie's War
by Bonnie Hinman
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Kate and the Spies
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Laura's Victory
by Veda Boyd Jones
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Lizzie and the Redcoat
by Susan Martins Miller
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Lydia the Patriot
Sisters in Time
by Susan Martins Miller
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Maggie's Dare
Sisters in Time
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Mandy the Outsider
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Maria Takes a Stand
Sisters in Time
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Maureen the Detective
by Veda Boyd Jones
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Meg Follows a Dream
Sisters in Time
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Nellie the Brave
by Veda Boyd Jones
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Rachel and the Riot
by Susan Martins Miller
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Rebekah in Danger
by Colleen L. Reece
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Rosa Takes a Chance
by Susan Martins Miller
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)
Sarah's New World
Sisters in Time
by Colleen L. Reece
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-6th grasde
in Sisters in Time (Location: SER-SIS)