Redeemed Reader Starred Reviews

With the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, we, like many others, closed up the shop to customers and went to an online-selling-only format for a few weeks. That period coincided with the closure of libraries, schools, and many other activities families participated in, so demand for reading books became intense! We had never seen fiction fly off our shelves like that before! And customers weren't bringing us used books to keep those shelves full, so we quickly had large gaps in our inventory. 

We had a decision to make. We could simply start ordering more at a time of the books we normally carried; or, we could start using all of our free time (ha!) to expand our selection. If you know us at Exodus at all, you know which path we took.

Now, we like to read, but we pull ideas for titles from all over. Along with suggestions from friends, book lists and curriculum catalogs have been our main go-to for years. But they tend to focus on the tried and true, and while wonderful, they can get a little stale. 

Enter Redeemed Reader. This blog, written and administrated by four remarkable ladies—Janie Cheaney, Betsy Farquhar, Megan Saben, and Hayley Schoeppler—is an excellent answer to the problem. Primarily focusing on new books, they rate and review books from a Protestant Christian perspective, and they do it extremely well. Active for 9+ years, they have several hundred reviews on the site, and include picture books, easy readers, books for middle grades, teens, and adults. Their rating system is designed to show how well a book reflects Truth & Story. Since it's possible for a book to be excellently told artistically, yet be antagonistic to Biblical faith; or the converse: a story may be Biblically sound, yet poorly written—so their ratings (scales of 1-5) show both, and then are averaged. If that average rating is 4.5 or higher, they might give the book a "starred review," meaning the book is among the best of the best. It's a book worth owning or giving as a gift, and will probably bear potentially frequent rereading. 

Although they've reviewed many other books we carry as well, we've decided to intentionally carry as many of the starred reviews as we can, and those are collected here. We'll continue to add more as they do! 

Did you find this review helpful?
Parent Categories
Redeemed Reader Starred Reviews
71 Items found Print
Active Filters: 4th grade (Ages 9-10), Trade Paperback
Abigail Adams
by Natalie S. Bober
from Simon Pulse
Biography for 4th-7th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$13.95
Anna Hibiscus
by Atinuke
Reprint from Candlewick Press
for 1st-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Astrid the Unstoppable
by Maria Parr, translated from the Norwegian by Guy Puzey
from Candlewick Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Blue Birds
by Caroline Starr Rose
Dgs from Puffin Books
Narrative Poetry / Novel-In-Verse for 4th-7th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$10.99
Book of Boy
by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, illustrated by Ian Schoenherr
Frist Paperback from Greenwillow Books
for 3rd-7th grade
2019 Newbery Honor Book
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.99
Bootlace Magician
by Cassie Beasley
from Puffin Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Brixton Brothers Mystery series - Boxed Set
by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Adam Rex and Matt Myers
from Simon and Schuster
for 3rd-6th grade
in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX)
$33.99
Circus Mirandus
by Cassie Beasley
from Puffin Books
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Cody and the Fountain of Happiness
Cody series #1
by Tricia Springstubb, Illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
from Candlewick Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya
by Jane Kelly
from Square Fish Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
Ember Falls
Green Ember #2
by S. D. Smith
from Story Warren Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package
Tales from Deckawoo Drive Book 4
by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
from Candlewick Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$6.99
Faerie Gold
Classics for Young Readers
by Kathryn Lindskoog & Ranelda Mack Hunsicker
from P&R Publishing
Fairy Tales, Fables, and Folklore for 4th-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$17.99
Gardener
by Sarah Stewart & David Small
from Sunburst Book
Realistic fiction for Kindergarten-4th grade
1998 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.99
Ghost
Track book #1
by Jason Reynolds
from Atheneum
for 4th-9th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
God's Word
Making Him Known Series - Book 6
by Sally Michael
from P&R Publishing
for 2nd-6th grade
in Devotions for Kids (Location: BIB-DEV)
$23.99
Gone Fishing
by Tamara Wissinger, Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 2nd-6th grade
in Poetry (Location: POET-GEN)
$6.99
Green Ember
by S. D. Smith
from Story Warren Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$14.95
Hallelujah
by Cindy Rollins
from Blue Sky Daisies
for 1st-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$9.95
Hallelujah
by Cindy Rollins
from Circe Institute
for 1st-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
Hattie Big Sky
by Kirby Larson
from Yearling
for 4th-8th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.99
Honey For a Child's Heart
by Gladys Hunt
5th edition from Zondervan
for All ages
in Recommended Book Lists (Location: LIR-REC)
$19.79
Honey For a Child's Heart (old)
by Gladys Hunt
4th edition from Zondervan
for All ages
in Clearance: Home School Resources (Location: ZCLE-HSR)
$12.00 $7.00 (1 in stock)
How Do We Know That Christianity is Really True?
Biq Questions Series
by Chris Morphew, Illustrated by Emma Randall
from Good Book Company
for 3rd-8th grade
in Worldview & Apologetics for Kids (Location: BIBWV-APK)
$12.99
Hunt for Fang
Tree Street Kids #2
by Amanda Cleary Eastep
from Moody Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.99
I Am David
by Anne Holm
from Harcourt
Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$7.99
Jack vs. the Tornado
Tree Street Kids #1
by Amanda Cleary Eastep
from Moody Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
Jack Zulu and the Waylander's Key
by S. D. Smith & J. C. Smith
from Story Warren Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$15.99
Legends of Zita the Space Girl
Zita the Spacegirl #2
by Ben Hatke
from First Second
for 1st-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
$14.99
Light Princess
by George MacDonald, illustrated by Maurice Sendak
from Sunburst Book
Fantasy for 2nd-5th grade
$9.99
Little Taste of Poison
Uncommon Magic #2
by R.J. Anderson
from Atheneum
for 3rd-6th grade
in Mystery & Suspense (Location: FIC-MYS)
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
by Virginia Burton
from Houghton Mifflin
Personification Stories for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.99
Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
by Kate DiCamillo
from Candlewick Press
Personification for 4th-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire!
by Mrs. Bunny, translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
from Yearling
for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
New Kid
by Jerry Craft
from HarperCollins
for 4th-8th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
$12.99
Night Diary
by Veera Hiranandani
Reprint from Puffin Books
for 3rd-7th grade
2019 Newbery Honor Book
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.99
North! Or Be Eaten
Wingfeather Saga Book 2
by Andrew Peterson, illustrated by Joe Sutphin
from WaterBrook Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Nuts to You
by Lynn Rae Perkins
from Greenwillow Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$7.99
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
Wingfeather Saga Book 1
by Andrew Peterson, illustrated by Joe Sutphin
from WaterBrook Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
by Karen Foxlee
from Yearling
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$7.99
Pay Attention, Carter Jones
by Gary D. Schmidt
from Clarion Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Penderwicks in Spring
by Jeanne Birdsall
from Yearling
for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.99
Pocket Full of Murder
Uncommon Magic #1
by R. J. Anderson
from Atheneum
for 3rd-6th grade
in Mystery & Suspense (Location: FIC-MYS)
Red Butterfly
by A. L. Sonnichsen, Illustrated by Amy June Bates
from Simon and Schuster
for 4th-8th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
Return of Zita the Space Girl
Zita the Spacegirl #3
by Ben Hatke
Fir from First Second
for 1st-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
$14.99
Sam the Man and the Chicken Plan
by Frances O'Roark Dowell, Illustrated by Amy June Bates
from Atheneum
for 2nd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.99
Secret Keepers
by Trenton Lee Stewart
from Little, Brown & Company
for 4th-8th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$9.99
Secrets at Sea
by Richard Peck
from Puffin Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Seeds of America - Boxed Set
by Laurie Halse Anderson
from Atheneum
for 4th-8th grade
in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX)
$26.99 $17.00 (1 in stock)
Simple Art of Flying
by Cory Leonardo
from Simon and Schuster
for 3rd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
Sled Dog School
by Terry Lynn Johnson
from Houghton Mifflin
for 3rd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$9.99
Soldier Bear
by Bibi Dumon Tak, translated by Philip Hopman and translated by Laura Watkinson
from Eerdmans
for 3rd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
Some Writer!
by Melissa Sweet
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 3rd-6th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$18.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Stella Endicott and the Anything-is-Possible Poem
Tales from Deckawoo Drive Book 5
by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
from Candlewick Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$6.99
Sunny
Track book #3
by Jason Reynolds
from Atheneum
for 4th-8th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Tangerine
by Edward Bloor
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 4th-7th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$9.99
Tiger Boy
by Mitali Perkins
from Charlesbridge
for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Tommysaurus Rex
by Doug TenNapel, with color by Katherine Garner
from Graphix
for 2nd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
Twelve Kinds of Ice
by Ellen Bryan Obed
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 4th-7th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$6.99
Ugly: A Memoir
by Robert Hoge
from Puffin Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden
Vanderbeekers #2
by Karina Yan Glaser
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 3rd-8th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$9.99
Vanderbeekers to the Rescue
Vanderbeekers #3
by Karina Yan Glaser
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
We’re Not from Here
by Geoff Rodkey
from Yearling
for 3rd-6th grade
in Science Fiction (Location: FIC-SCI)
$8.99
Wednesday Wars
by Gary D. Schmidt
from Sandpiper Books
for 4th-6th grade
2008 Newbery Honor Book
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$9.99
What Happens When We Die?
Big Questions Series
by Chris Morphew, Illustrated by Emma Randall
from Good Book Company
for 3rd-8th grade
in Worldview & Apologetics for Kids (Location: BIBWV-APK)
When Stars Are Scattered
by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
from Dial Books for Young Readers
for 3rd-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
$12.99
Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?
Big Questions Series
by Chris Morphew, Illustrated by Emma Randall
from Good Book Company
for 3rd-8th grade
in Worldview & Apologetics for Kids (Location: BIBWV-APK)
$12.99
Wingfeather Tales
by Andrew Peterson, et al.
from Rabbit Room Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Year Money Grew on Trees
by Aaron Hawkins
from Houghton Mifflin
for 4th-10th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
Zita the Space Girl - Boxed Set
by Ben Hatke
from First Second
for 1st-6th grade
in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX)
$44.97
Zita the Spacegirl
Zita the Spacegirl #1
by Ben Hatke
from First Second
for 1st-6th grade
in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC)
$14.99