Staff Favorites & Reviews

Store Location

No staff is entirely static, staying exactly the same for years with no additions or subtractions. We realize that, but we're also pretty proud of our current personnel, and the many ways they've helped shape Exodus Books and point it in some unforeseen and wonderful directions. So, in 2011 we started asking each individual to share their favorite books, curricula, games, etc., and these pages are the result.

Because sharing favorites is fairly personal, we thought you should get to know each of these peculiar persons and asked them all to write a main bio, as well as section-specific bios. These are partly to show why they selected the titles and products in their lists, and partly just to show you that Exodus Books is inhabited by real people who do real things.

One of our biggest in-store services is making recommendations and helping people find what works best for them. These lists aren't as customer-specific, but they serve the same purpose—we're not just trying to parade our excellent taste or prove that we're literate, we're trying to help you discover things you may never have found otherwise, and maybe to rediscover some old favorites.

It's probably a fact universally true of book-lovers: given the chance, they'll talk your ear off about the books they love, the books they hate, and all the books you'll never read but that are really much better than the well-known books you will read. This isn't pretension. It's simply what happens to those who love words and want to share them. We've tried to cut the talk down here, though we'll gladly answer any pertinent questions.

With that, we present Staff Favorites. You'll find some overlap (lots of people seem to like The Chronicles of Narnia), but rarely if ever will you find complete consensus on a single title, product, or curriculum line. That's why we let everyone make their own lists: you know the official Exodus stance by reading our reviews, but the individuality that makes our store unique and awesome is what's on display here. Enjoy, and don't judge too harshly.

	Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Sterling Classics by Mark Twain, illustrated by Scott McKowen from Sterling Publishing Co. for 6th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $14.95
	All American History Volume I - Student Reader The Explorers to the Jacksonians by Celeste W. Rakes from Bright Ideas Press for 5th-8th grade in All American History (Location: HISCUR-US) $64.95
	All American History Volume II - Student Reader The Civil War to the 21st Century by Celeste W. Rakes from Bright Ideas Press for 6th-9th grade in All American History (Location: HISCUR-US) $64.95
	America the Beautiful Part 1 by Charlene Notgrass 2^nd edition from Notgrass Company for 5th-8th grade in Notgrass America the Beautiful (Location: HISCUR-NG) $45.00
	America the Beautiful Part 2 by Charlene Notgrass 2^nd edition from Notgrass Company for 5th-8th grade in Notgrass America the Beautiful (Location: HISCUR-NG) $45.00
	Anne of Green Gables Anne #1 by L. M. Montgomery from Tundra Books (NY) Orphan Stories for 5th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $19.99
	Book of Nations An Introduction to Every Country on Earth by Rebecca Allen from Beautiful Feet Books for 3rd-8th grade in Beautiful Feet Books (Location: HISCUR-BFB) $35.00
	Cave Book Wonders of Creation Series by Emil Silvestru from Master Books for 4th-10th grade in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO) $15.19
	Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn & Hal Iggulden from William Morrow & Company for 3rd-Adult in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN) $22.99
	Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff, illustrated by C. Walter Hodges from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Everyman's Library Children's Classics (Location: FIC-ELC) $20.00
	Ecology Book by Jean Lightner, Tom Hennigan from Master Books for 5th-10th grade in Ecology (Location: SCI-ECO) $15.19
	European World 400-1450 by Barbara Hanawalt from Oxford University for 5th-8th grade in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID) $39.95
	Fossil Book Wonders of Creation Series by Gary & Mary Parker from Master Books for 4th-10th grade in Dinosaurs & Fossils (Location: SCI-DINO) $15.19
	From Adam to Us - Our Creative World Stories, Poems, Documents, Art, and Architecture from World History by John Notgrass from Notgrass Company for 4th-8th grade in Notgrass From Adam to Us (Location: HISCUR-NG) $25.00
	From Adam to Us Part 1 Creation to Cathedrals by Ray Notgrass, Charlene Notgrass from Notgrass Company for 5th-8th grade in Notgrass From Adam to Us (Location: HISCUR-NG) $45.00
	Geology Book Wonders of Creation Series by John D. Morris from Master Books for 4th-10th grade in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO) $15.19
	Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean from Eerdmans for 4th-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $20.00
	Good Fight How World War II Was Won by Stephen Ambrose from Atheneum WWII Historical Reference for 4th-9th grade in World War II (1939-1945) (Location: HISA-20WW2) $27.99
	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter Book 2 by J. K. Rowling First American Edition from Arthur A. Levine Books for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $26.99
	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition Harry Potter Book 2 by J. K. Rowling Illustrated from Arthur A. Levine Books for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $39.99
	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Harry Potter Book 7 by J. K. Rowling 1^st edition from Arthur A. Levine Books for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $34.99 $16.00 (1 in stock)
	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry Potter Book 4 by J. K. Rowling 1st American Edition from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $29.99 $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry Potter Book 6 by J. K. Rowling 1st American Edition from Scholastic Inc. for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $29.99 $16.00 (1 in stock)
	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter Book 5 by J. K. Rowling 1st American Edition from Arthur A. Levine Books for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $29.99
	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter Book 3 by J.K. Rowling 1^st edition from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $29.99 $15.00 (2 in stock)
	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Illustrated Edition from Arthur A. Levine Books for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $39.99
	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Harry Potter Book 1 by J. K. Rowling from Scholastic Press for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $29.99
	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Illustrated Edition Harry Potter Book 1 by J. K. Rowling from Arthur A. Levine Books for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $39.99
	Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition Harvey's Language Course by Thos. W. Harvey from Mott Media for 4th-8th- grade in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG) $15.00 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Harvey's Revised English Grammar Harvey's Language Course by Thos. W. Harvey from Mott Media for 4th-8th grade in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG) $17.50 $10.00 (2 in stock)
	Hobbit There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin Fantasy for 5th-9th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $19.99
	Life of Fred: Advanced Algebra (as serious as it needs to be) Life of Fred by Stanley Schmidt Expanded edition from Polka Dot Publishing for 8th-10th grade in Life of Fred Math (Location: MAT-FRED) $49.00 $25.00 (1 in stock)
	Life of Fred: Advanced Algebra - Zillions of Practice Problems by Stanley Schmidt from Polka Dot Publishing for 8th-10th grade in Life of Fred Math (Location: MAT-FRED) $39.00 $27.00 (1 in stock)
	Life of Fred: Beginning Algebra (as serious as it needs to be) Life of Fred by Stanley Schmidt Expanded edition from Polka Dot Publishing for 7th-8th grade in Life of Fred Math (Location: MAT-FRED) $49.00 $30.00 (1 in stock)
	Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 0 with Physics from Polka Dot Publishing for 7th-9th grade in Life of Fred Math (Location: MAT-FRED) $39.00 $26.00 (1 in stock)
	Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 1 with Biology by Stanley F. Schmidt from Polka Dot Publishing for 6th-9th grade in Life of Fred Math (Location: MAT-FRED) $39.00 $26.00 (1 in stock)
	Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 2 with Economics by Stanley F. Schmidt from Polka Dot Publishing for 7th-10th grade in Life of Fred Math (Location: MAT-FRED) $39.00 $26.00 (1 in stock)
	Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, illustrated by M.E. Gray Unabridged from Everyman's Library Realistic Romantic Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Everyman's Library Children's Classics (Location: FIC-ELC) $16.95
	Luther Biography of a Reformer by Frederick Nohl from Concordia Publishing House for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $15.99 $7.50 (4 in stock)
	Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Daniel Miyares from Levine Querido for 6th-9th grade 2024 Newbery Honor Book in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $21.99
	Math-U-See Algebra 1 (LE) - Student Pack Legacy Edition from Math-U-See for 8th grade in Math-U-See (Location: MAT-MUS) $48.00
	Math-U-See Algebra 1 (PSM) - Instructor Handbooks Principles of Secondary Mathematics from Math-U-See for 8th grade in Math-U-See (Location: MAT-MUS) $150.00
	Math-U-See Algebra 1 (PSM) - Student Pack Principles of Secondary Mathematics from Math-U-See for 8th grade in Math-U-See (Location: MAT-MUS) $110.00
	Mineral Book by David McQueen from Master Books for 4th-10th grade in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO) $15.19 $11.00 (1 in stock)
	Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban, illustrated by David Small from Arthur A. Levine Books for 4th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $19.99
	Mystery of History Volume I 3^rd edition from Bright Ideas Press for 4th-8th grade in Mystery of History (Location: HISCUR-MoH) $99.95
	Mystery of History Volume II The Early Church and the Middle Ages by Linda Lacour Hobar 2^nd edition from Bright Ideas Press History Curriculum for 5th-8th grade in Mystery of History (Location: HISCUR-MoH) $99.95
	Mystery of History Volume III The Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of Nations by Linda Lacour Hobar from Bright Ideas Press for 6th-9th grade in Mystery of History (Location: HISCUR-MoH) $99.95
	Mystery of History Volume IV Wars of Independence to Modern Times by Linda Lacour Hobar from Bright Ideas Press for 8th-12th grade in Mystery of History (Location: HISCUR-MoH) $99.95
	New Astronomy Book Wonders of Creation Series by Jonathan Henry 2^nd edition from Master Books for 4th-10th grade in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST) $15.19
	New Ocean Book Wonders of Creation Series by Frank Sherwin from Master Books for 4th-10th grade in Oceanography & Marine Biology (Location: SCI-OCEAN) $15.19 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	New Weather Book Wonders of Creation Series by Michael Oard 2^nd edition from Master Books for 4th-10th grade in Meteorology (Weather & Climate) (Location: SCI-WEA) $15.19 $11.00 (1 in stock)
	North Star Geography by Tyler H. Hogan 1^st edition from Bright Ideas Press for 7th-12th grade in Geography Curriculum (Location: GEO-CUR) $89.95 $49.00 (1 in stock)
	Novare Earth Science God's World, Our Home by Kevin Nelstead 2^nd edition from Novare for 8th grade in Novare Science & Math (Location: SCICUR-NOV) $86.95 $55.00 (1 in stock)
	Novare Introductory Physics - Solutions Manual by John D. Mays 2^nd edition from Novare for 8th-11th grade in Novare Science & Math (Location: SCICUR-NOV) $18.95
	Novare Life Science by Tracy Creek from Novare for 6th-8th grade in Novare Science & Math (Location: SCICUR-NOV) $89.95
	Omnibus I - Text Only Biblical and Classical Civilizations by Doug Wilson & G. Tyler Fischer 4^th edition from Veritas Press for 7th-10th grade in Veritas Press Omnibus (Location: LITCUR-OMN) $85.00
	Omnibus II - Text Only Church Fathers through the Reformation by Doug Wilson & G. Tyler Fischer 4^th edition from Veritas Press for 8th-11th grade in Veritas Press Omnibus (Location: LITCUR-OMN) $85.00
	Omnibus II - Text with CD-ROM Church Fathers through the Reformation by Doug Wilson & G. Tyler Fischer 4^th edition from Veritas Press for 8th-11th grade in Veritas Press Omnibus (Location: LITCUR-OMN) $99.00
	Our Heritage by Pathway from Pathway Publishers for 8th grade in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH) $11.00
	Pages of History Volume 1 Secrets of the Ancients by Bruce Etter, Alexia Detweiler 2^nd edition from Veritas Press for 6th-10th grade in Veritas Press History (Location: HISCUR-VP) $25.00
	Pages of History Volume 2 Blazing New Trails from Veritas Press for 6th-10th grade in Veritas Press History (Location: HISCUR-VP) $25.00
	Princess and the Goblin Everyman Library by George MacDonald from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Fantasy for 5th-8th grade in Everyman's Library Children's Classics (Location: FIC-ELC) $18.00
	Princess Bride by William Goldman from Harcourt Humorous Adult Fairy Tale for 8th-12th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $30.00
	Streams of Civilization Volume One by Albert Hyma & Mary Stanton 3^rd edition from Christian Liberty Press for 8th-10th grade in CLP History (Location: HISCUR-CLP) $48.10 $29.00 (2 in stock)
	Uncle Sam and You - Part 1 by Ray & Charlene Notgrass with Mary Evelyn McCurdy from Notgrass Company for 5th-8th grade in Notgrass Uncle Sam and You (Location: GOV-CURNG) $45.00
	Uncle Sam and You - Part 2 by Ray & Charlene Notgrass with Mary Evelyn McCurdy from Notgrass Company for 5th-8th grade in Notgrass Uncle Sam and You (Location: GOV-CURNG) $45.00 $31.00 (1 in stock)
	Watership Down by Richard Adams Reissue from Atheneum for 10th-Adult 1972 Carnegie Medal in Scribner Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SCRIB) $29.99
	We the People Words from the Makers of American History by John & Charlene Notgrass (Editors) 2^nd edition from Notgrass Company for 5th-8th grade in Notgrass America the Beautiful (Location: HISCUR-NG) $25.00 $15.00 (2 in stock)
	William Shakespeare's Star Wars Trilogy: The Royal Imperial Boxed Set Includes: Verily, a New Hope; The Empire Striketh Back; The Jedi Doth Return William Shakespeare Star Wars by Ian Doescher from Quirk Books for 4th-10th grade in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX) $47.97 $32.00 (1 in stock)
	Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Robert Ingpen from Sterling Publishing Co. Humorous Animal Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $24.95
	Wonders of the Human Body - Volume 3 (old) The Nervous System by Dr. Tommy Mitchell from Master Books for 5th-10th grade in Old Edition Science (Location: OSCI) $14.39
	Wonders of the Human Body - Volume 4 (old) The Digestive System & Metabolism by Dr. Tommy Mitchell from Master Books for 5th-10th grade in Old Edition Science (Location: OSCI) $14.39
	Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick First Edition from Scholastic Press for 5th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $29.99

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