Meaningful Books That Promote Mental Health Awareness

In this day and age, the term “mental health” or “mental health awareness” are frequently mentioned in differently platforms, such as the social media, schools, society, and social media. What is the definition of mental health and why do many organizations and influential people promote it? In the broadest sense, it is the part of a person’s holistic health that entails his emotional, psychological, and social fitness. It often helps identify the ways people manage stressful events, connect to others, and create decisions.

Hence, if you are looking for the best books that tackle and promote mental health, then here are the titles that you should look out for.

Bipolar Chronicles: From Crazed to Content by Diana Grippo

The first edition of the book Bipolar Chronicles: From Crazed to Content by Diana Grippo was recently published last June 20, 2021 by BookBaby. It narrates the personal accounts of the author as she battled hallucinations, depression, substance abuse, and delusions. Grippo begins to heal only to experience a relapse. The event went over and over for several years. Regardless of her unfortunate situation, she healed through a spiritual method that entails The Twelve Steps, music therapy, and Dialect Behavior Therapy. So from a street dweller, she became an educator, founder and executive director, and basically works with Apple.

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.d. and Oprah Winfrey

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.d. and Oprah Winfrey is a bestselling book that gives strong scientific and emotional knowledge to the patterns of actions that many are having a hard time to comprehend. Winfrey begins to share her personal experiences and gets a better grasp on the fragility that results after battling traumas and uncertainties in her youth. Moreover, both of the authors also concentrate on comprehending individuals, actions, and identities. It is a slow but deep change in your approach to trauma and enables you to be enlightened of your past to have a better future — which means opening the way to resilience and mending in a better method.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.

Bessel Van Der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma was reprinted by Penguin Books last 2015. Thus, this bestselling books unravels the great ability of our connections to give us pain and help us mend. The renowned author also utilizes the recent scientific developments to showcase the ways trauma remolds an individual’s mind and body. As a result, it compromises people’s abilities for pleasure, interaction, self-control, and more. He also digs into a variety of treatments that provide fresher ways to betterment through activating the mind’s innate neuroplasticity.

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

Published in 2020 by Dutton Books for Young Readers, Watch Over Me is a remarkable book written by Printz award-winning author Nina LaCour. It follows the tale of a girl named Mia who enjoys solitude. Perhaps it is the reason why she agreed to the chance of residing in a remote location together with the flowers, fogs, and other natural features. However, she has no idea about the ghosts. The farm that she lives in is her safe haven but little did she know that it is haunted by the recent traumas of its young dwellers have come to run away fun. So, Mila’s memories begin to emerge to the place. What would she do?

We’ve Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health by L.D. Green, Kelechi Ubozoh, and Robert Whitaker

We’ve Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health is a collection of tales and essays from the front lines of the revolutionary health movement. It was edited by L.D. Green and Kelechi Ubozoh, and presents a foreword by Robert Whitaker. The book tackles the different aspects that result to extreme modified conditions and suicidal thoughts. Moreover, the said factors include but not limited to forced hospitalizations, overmedication, and traumas. This book also serves or gives voices to those who have gone through psychiatric mistreatments.

Brilliant Books Every Amazing Parent Must Read

There is no easy way for parenting. It is one of the most difficult yet most rewarding journeys that many had the privilege to experience. Knowing that you are no longer a bachelor and you have to make the wisest decision so that you could raise a child in the best way possible is always a challenge. Therefore, there are many adjustments to be made and many judgments to be thought thoroughly.

Endless and efficient parenting mediums emerge to help new and existing parents grow along with their kids, and one of them is books. With the great number of tips, guides, and instructions conveyed in many parenting books, you can definitely learn from them and become a better parent. That said, listed below are the best reads every parent must read.

Talk, Play, and Read with Me Daddy by Jo Ann Gramlich

Talk, Play, and Read with Me Daddy by Gramlich is a Pinnacle Book Achievement awardee that was published in 2020 by AuthorHouse. Moreover, the book centers on the magic that happens after a parent-child interaction, especially on moments where you are motivating the kid to speak their first words. Beginning at birth, you can slowly talk, play, and read with your offspring and be actively hands-on in the kid’s first phases of communication. This book will not only give you guidance but also offer you and your child a variety of amazing activities and games that are development-focused and are created to help improve your kid’s communication skills.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber

Adele Faber’s How to Talk, So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will is a bestselling classic book that promotes parent-child communication. This book also provides great insights and recommendations, as well as Faber’s proven ways to solve basic issues and create foundations for a strong bond. There are also other significant things that it tackles, such as the following: manage with your kid’s negative emotions; communicate your strong emotions without harshness; develop your kid’s willing cooperation; lay down firm boundaries and preserve goodwill; utilize other means of negative reinforcement to promote self-discipline; and a whole lot more.

The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson is recognized as New York Times and Amazon bestseller. The authors provide a comprehensive approach to raising a child with a dozen of strategies that nurture healthy brain development, resulting in a more relaxed and joyful kid. Hence, this book will help you find ways to create good emotional and intellectual development so your kids can cultivate meaningful and better lives.

Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster

Emily Oster’s Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool is the second book of The ParentData series. The author discusses the significant challenge in the early stages of parenting, which is making decisions. As newbies in the parenting world, there is definitely a couple of frequently conflicting pieces of advice thrown at you from different people. During these moments, parents get the message that they should create particular choices when it comes to sleeping, eating, and scheduling or everything will go on to drain. However, the advantages of these choices can be exaggerated, and the compensation can be deeper. The question is, how do you create the best decision?

All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood by Jennifer Senior

In this bestselling book, the author evaluates the different methods children remold their parents’ lives. She raises an argument that the modifications done in the past half-century have entirely changed the roles of present parents; thus, making their directives more complicated and less accurate. All Joy and No Fun, moreover, will definitely help everyone rethink some aspects of the culture, especially regarding parenthood, while putting the spotlight on the best methods that every kid can develop and contribute purpose to every parent’s life.

Perks of Reading Stories to Children

If there is a word that best describes children, it would be “teachable.” Why? It is because kids are still going through the early stages of development. They are still young, innocent, and pure, meaning they haven’t had that much understanding of the world. That said, they need constant and thorough guidance on different circumstances and things that they encounter. There are different ways of nurturing, guiding, and teaching these adorable kids, and reading their stories is one of the best methods.

There are millions of remarkable stories in the world of literature, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where the Wild Things Are, The Song of Solomon the Snail, and Chika Chika Boom Boom. You can select from the wide array of books and read them to kids during leisure time, bonding moments, and bedtime. This activity can bring so many benefits to young minds. What could the perks be? Please see the list below.

Mold their cognitive skills

Cognitive skills pertain to the core abilities utilized by the brain to learn, think, recall, read, and more. Therefore, it is crucial for people to develop their cognitive skills because it plays a significant role in processing fresh information. By reading stories to kids, you are helping them mold their cognitive abilities. There are various stories that can hit and develop each area of cognition, leading to kids achieve full cognitive development. The more stories you read to them, the more chance that they can learn how to manage their attention, get a better grasp on the world slowly, and more.

Enhance their comprehension

Reading wonderful stories to children is one way to improve their comprehension. Knowing that they are still young with abilities and talents that are yet to be discovered slowly helping them comprehend the stories that you tell and the words that they read. There are millions of children’s books out there. Whether you are reading the kids with picture books, board books, fables, fairy tales, or alphabet books, it is essential that your storytelling tone and the pace are enough that the kids can catch up and understand the book. Children’s books come in a variety of vibrant colors and illustrations. You may also want to show the kids the illustrations to help them comprehend the tale better.

Strengthen relationships

The parent-child relationship is extremely important, as well as the teacher-learner bond. Even though both connections are different when it comes to the designation of the people involved, they are still similar in a way that both center around comfort, growth, guidance, and more. Reading a story with kids can help establish and strengthen the relationship that you’ve had and actually develop it into something closer. This activity, moreover, can make the child feel nurtured, loved, and attended. He will consider you as a safe and trustworthy person to confide in his struggles, emotions, and everything that will happen in his life as he grows up. This little activity can definitely make you more attached to one another.

Teach them moral values

Stories, specifically children’s books, showcase a variety of moral values that aim to instill in kids. By taking a bunch of time to read these tales to the kids, you are also teaching the children values that are essential in life more than just getting them entertained. The bunch of lessons that kids learn can help them establish their goals in life. There will also be a great chance that the values can help the younger ones in directing their plans, traits, and behaviors to be advantageous and rewarding activities. The moment they live their lives based on these morals, they can also create various relationships and mold a better mindset.

Develop their imagination

Children are imaginative. They have a great imagination, which makes them more adventurous and enthusiastic. Most stories in children’s literature are fun, vibrant, and creative. The said tales can push the children in developing different aspects of their lives and well-being; thus, pushing them to discover new things and explore greater heights. With imagination, kids can also picture out every scene in the story and make your reading or storytelling time more entertaining, interactive, fun, and exciting. All you need is to pick a relevant book, tell them to the kids, and let their imagination help them comprehend the events.

Why Self-development Is Essential

In this fast-paced world, the quest to self-improvement is a difficult thing to finish. Why? The competition and pressure is directly proportional to the innovation and advancement that the world is experiencing. Knowing that there are already several individuals that you knew who have obtained success or on the brink of achieving their goals while you are still on step one of in the middle can absolutely stress you out. But, you should know that progress is not linear and self-development doesn’t have a schedule to follow.

Everyone goes through development at random points in their lives. What others are experiencing right now can be the event that will take place in your future. But what could be the reasons why many aspire to develop themselves? Here’s what you need to know.

Heal wounds

Healing is essential. There are many individuals who have gone through various disappointments, committed several mistakes, faced multiple failures, and dealt with a lot of discouragement. Perhaps you are also one of those who have fallen at their lowest points. But, all your wounds and pains will be healed once you take part in activities and focus on self-development.

There are many ways and means that you can utilize to attain self-improvement. You can read Aura McClain’s book about God, which can guide you to obtain different vital things that you often overlooked. You can allocate some time to reflect on yourself and actions. There are so many ways that you can do that can lead to growth and later on to healing.

Rebuild broken bridges

In this lifetime, there are several people that will surely enter your world and leave significant marks on it. There are many positive things that bonds and relationships offer, which you can enjoy and maximize. However, it cannot be avoided that you somehow grow apart from one another or scar your connection due to unfortunate circumstances. Both your personal life and mental health can be affected when those events happen, leading you to face struggles in moving on and going forward.

When bridges fall and crumble, the fault lies on the people involved. Hence, there could be something wrong or lacking between you and the other party. The time that you have reflected on your past actions and realized what you did wrong, that is the only moment that you will be driven to right the wrong and solve the problem. Your bravery and candor can propel your growth and help you rebuild the connection that was lost.

Improve skills

Developing oneself is essential because there are various things that can come out after it. Among the said outcomes is skill improvement. A person is capable of doing different things and achieving greater heights because of their abilities and motivation. Solving problems, being creative, finding ways, thinking critically, and communicating effectively are some of the essential skills that an individual utilizes and maximizes.

But, when you go through the process of development, you can unlock more abilities and talents that can bring you to better paths and greater heights. You can also find more amazing interest and hobbies in the middle of your quest for improvement. There are will definitely a lot of opportunities that will knock on your door once you arrive at this state.

Reshape mindset

Mindset is vital in molding a person’s character and boosting his confidence. With proper mindset, an individual can see the bigger picture of everything and can make sound judgment on different situations. In self-development, reshaping one’s mindset is one of its best perks. Why? People view things differently. Some may live their lives different from yours. Others may believe things contradicting to your principles.

There are various factors that can explain why people live the way they do and environment and influence are among them. But, everyone should know and normalize changing one’s mindset. Not everything that you have believed in and your perspectives. Thus, reshaping your mindset can help you grow into a better and happier person. From having a fixed to a growth mindset, you can definitely identify your toxic traits, know what areas to improve, push yourself to your limit, and look forward for better days ahead.

Romantic Suspense Tropes You Should Take Note of

Romantic suspense is blend of two popular literary genres, which are romance and suspense. It basically features a love story with a notable plot twist, which is often a mystery or suspense. There are millions of books representing these two features, such as Jasmine: A Woman of Color by Monique Boyd, Verity by Colleen Hoover, The Witness by Nora Roberts, The Girl in Cabin 13 by A.J. Rivers, and Saving Meadow by Riley Edwards.

While romantic suspense continuously garners a wide array of readers, it cannot be denied that many fanatics have observed various tropes in the stories. Tropes are primarily defined as a particular theme or device utilized in tales or movies. People often referred to it as cliché. That said, here are the typical romantic suspense tropes you might have observed in reading tales of his unique genre.

Friends to Lovers

This is often observed in many books and even films. Without a doubt, this trope works because the girl and the boy already have knowledge about one another and have somehow developed an emotional bond that can strengthen the future romance. Like most tales, there are different devices that are mixed to also highlight the suspense feature. Thus, among the many stories that showcase this trope, such as Tears of Moon by Nora Roberts and Unbreak Me by Michelle Hazen.

Second Chance Romance

You probably have experienced this trope in some time in your fiction-like life. This is often called as reunion romances because a couple who already parted ways decided to give it another shot at love. There may be some expectations that were set by the patrons as to why the power couple initially broke up to see the developments on both characters and the way they can find a better love to one another. Mixed with a dash of suspense, getting a second chance on romance might be a little too difficult or eerie road to take.

Enemies to Lovers

Have you read Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian? What about When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon? Then, you might have observed how the main character and its love interest are clashing with one another before becoming head over heels with each other. There are different kinds of things that the future couple is fighting or disagreeing, which can also be the reasons why they slowly fall in love with one another. This trope is the best one to use to heighten the thrill and attraction of the readers to the story. Although this is often utilized, especially in young adult romance books, this never fails to hook the readers up.

Workplace Romance

Often a workplace romance is conflicted with work ethics and the prying eyes of other colleagues. But, there are still successful workplace romances in romance genre alone, such as in Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. When it comes to romantic suspense novels, the common scenario is that the one or the other has a dark secret that the character is trying its best to hide from his prospected significant other. This secret can either make or break the growing attachment between them.

The Lie

In most suspense novels, a particular lie heightens the tension of the story. The lie can center on toxic relationships, creepy cults, and other eerie or beyond the normal situations. It is commonly inflicted in psychological thriller books or films. A great film that showcase this trope is Secret Obsession, which is a 2019 movie starred by Brenda Song. The husband lied to the main character and have made her believed that he is her real husband and they are living a perfect life.

Missing Person

A missing person in every romantic suspense book always leads the story into a great amount of twists and turns. The main character, on its journey to find the missing person, stumbles upon many events that can either stray him on achieving his goal or push him to solve the mystery. The missing individual may be the protagonist’s love interest, which encourages him to find her or it could be an important person in his life that is the key to a significant event or secret.

Great Reads Under Nonfiction

Literature is made up of several genres that house millions of books. These categories have their own traits like how people have their own characteristics. Nonfiction is among the major genres of the literary world with multiple sub-categories, making each reader entertained and educated in every book that they read. It is primarily defined as any piece of writing that presents accurate data, such as incidents, people, and information, using an objective or subjective point of view.

If you are looking for great reads under nonfiction to satisfy your cravings for knowledge, develop a growth mindset, and boost inspiration, then here are some of the must-read titles you shouldn’t miss.

Taking the History of Science Really Seriously by Scott A. Kleiner

Scott A. Kleiner’s book titled Taking the History of Science Really Seriously was published in 2020 by BookBaby. This book is written to provide a historical, theoretical, and systematic evaluation of particular iconic revolutions in the avenue of science, specifically the beliefs and practices. There are several significant dates mentioned as well as important people in the scientific field. Three different parts are highlighted in the book. The first section centers on the reevaluation of The Copernican Revolution in the view of philosophical thinking rega rding the history of science that came into view in the past 60 years after its publication. The second part features the Darwinian Revolution while the third section tackles different subjects including Mendel, Fisher, cytology, and Morgan’s mapping of the Drosophilia chromosomes.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson is a bestselling book that was published in 2011. It is also a National Book Critic’s Circle Award winner, Dayton Literary Peace Prize finalist, Mark Lynton History Prize winner, and Heartland Award winner. Moreover, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author recounts the untold tales of the history of America, which is the migration of residents that escaped the South for northern and western states to seek for better quality of living for years. Thus, this excellent and bold work of Wilkerson outstandingly narrates the story of an unknown immigration in the bounds of our own land.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

This New York Times and Amazon bestselling book was penned by David Grann and was published in 2017. It was named as the National Book Award Finalist, 2017 Shelf Awareness’s Best Book of 2017, Amazon Editor’s Pick for The Best Book of 2017, and best book of the year by multiple renowned platforms Wall Street Journal and more. The author narrates and evaluates the dreadful sequence of crimes where many individuals were killed in cold blood. Based on long time of thorough study and shocking new evidences, the book is considered a marvelous feat of narrative nonfiction as every move that the investigation makes uncovers a sequence of horrendous secrets.

Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Written by bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear immediately becomes a New York Times bestseller and an Amazon editor’s pick for best nonfiction. The author delves deeper into her personal generative process to share her knowledge and one-of-a-kind view on creativity. With deep empathy and radiant generosity, Gilbert provides strong insights to the peculiar nature of inspiration and encouragement. Thus, she raises some questions for readers to welcome their curiosity and free themselves from unnecessary pain.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson is the first book of the series of the same name as the book title. It has sold more than 6 million copies all over the globe and has been known as an Amazon and New York Times bestseller. This book gives readers an invigorating reading experience for a generation to support them in achieving a happy and contented life.

Meaningful Biographies to Read in This Lifetime

According to Philip Guesdalla, “Biography is a very definite region bounded on the north by history, on the south by fiction, on the east by obituary, and on the west by tedium.”

Biographies are remarkable pieces of literature. They do not only tell a bunch of heartwarming stories but also teach a couple of lessons that readers can apply as they journey through life. Also, they have the ability to bring life to their subjects through their effective way of storytelling. What makes this genre more meaningful is the fact that people live different lives. But, in that difference, readers can still get a bunch of learning that can help them understand how the world works and how failures can soon become a success.

If you are a bookworm whose looking for great biography reads; then here are the best titles that you must check out.

Sex, Womanizing and … by Fred Sights

Sex, Womanizing and … by Fred Sights is a promising book published by Page Publishing, Inc. in 2019. It is story about an individual, the author, who finds it difficult to conquer his inner conflicts and the embarrassment that came from particular traumatic incidents.  The lives of people surrounding the author become significantly impacted. Self-redemption and the lengthy journey to acceptance and healing is a tale that everyone must relate to.  There are a lot of people who experienced having suicidal thoughts, including the author. However, reaching the lowest point of his life pushed him to face himself. So, he is grateful to the Lord for playing an important role in his life because without His guidance he wouldn’t be here now.

All We Know: Three Lives by Lisa Cohen

The reprint edition of this book was published in 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. It was recognized as among the Top 10 Best Books of 2012 by Publishers Weekly. The author describes three remarkable women: the amazing New York braniac Esther Murphy, classic fan Mercedes de Acosta, and icon Madge Garland. Their smart choices, complex mistakes, and controversial private lives are being tackled with empathy and lyricism. It also discusses a concealed history of modernism and gives tribute to their captivating lives.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

You probably have heard about Sir Alexander Hamilton or have seen the Broadway musical Hamilton! a couple of times. This book by Ron Chernow, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, created a biography of the promising historical figure of America.  It discusses both the political and economic eminence of America as the product of Hamilton’s infinite sacrifices to win concepts that were frequently disputed back in his time. Thus, the author chronicles his life from the moment he was born as an illegitimate child to an orphan, and through his other experiences that led him to be the respectable Sir Alexander Hamilton today.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Untamed by Glennon Doyle is a bestselling book that has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. It was also referred to as one of the best books of the year by many renowned platforms, such as Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, The Oprah Magazine, and more. It narrates the author’s denial of her discontentment. Then, she gave a talk in a conference and sees a lady, which she immediately fell in love with. Her mind generated three words afterward, which are There She Is. She realizes that those words emerge from within her. That voice was the one she hid for years of numbing, addiction, and other process to suppress it. Thus, she soon decided to turn her life around by embracing her true self rather than running away from the expectations that the world has of her.

A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

Sylvia Nasar’s A Beautiful Mind tells the personal account of John Forbes Nash, Jr. He was a mathematician and economist known for winning a Nobel Prize in Economics. The book covers different significant events in Nash’s life starting from his childhood. It also tells about his experiences studying at Princeton and MIT, which were followed by his career in RAND Corporation. Then, it also tackles his family life and his journey in battling schizophrenia.  Moreover, this book was awarded with the National Book Critics Circle Award for biography in 1998 and became a Pulitzer Prize for biography finalist.

Meaningful Books You Shouldn’t Miss Reading

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” – Charles W. Eliot

Many often underestimate the power of books. But, little did they know that every novel contains such lessons that they can apply in different phases of life. There are many benefits a book can offer, such as entertainment, learning, experience, and advice. Their ability to encourage and impact the lives of their readers goes beyond people’s expectations.

If you are part of the reader community, then you probably have known how books can become a good adviser, friend, and teacher. There are just so much amazing things a story can bring to a person’s life.  That said, here are some of the most meaningful books that you shouldn’t miss reading.

The Face of Hunger: Reflections on a Famine in Ethiopia by Byron Conner

This book is penned by Dr. Byron Conner and is based on his experiences as a missionary in Ethiopia. The Face of Hunger: Reflections on a Famine in Ethiopia shows an engrossing presentation of a horrific humanitarian crisis, which is famine, that risked the lives of many Ethiopians. There were around four to five hundred thousand that were fallen because of famine between the years 1983 and 1985.

It ignited a strong response worldwide. Hence, people from all around the world were united to help the people in Ethiopia. Many relief and humanitarian associations brought food, clothes, medicines, and other essentials. For the author and his wife, their missionary journey in the famine-stricken country was the start of a fresher method of community outreach and ministry.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is a bestselling book that has sold over 10 million copies all around the globe. It was also recognized as a Reese’s Book Club Pick and a Business Insider Defining Book of the Decade. This story is set in the late 1969 in Barkley Cove in North Carolina.

A guy named Chase Andrews was found dead and the considered suspect was the Marsh Girl named Kya Clark. But, Kya seems to be opposite on how people viewed her. She possesses qualities that embody a smart and strong woman. This is the perfect book to read that showcases a heartwarming coming-of-age story mixed with mystery and thrill.

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

The 20th anniversary edition of this award-winning book was published by Mariner Books in 2010. It is an unconventional reflection on war, imagination, and other aspects in life. Moreover, it depicts the story of men named Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowam and the character that has the same name as the author.

The story is told through the eyes of Tim O’Brien, who talks about the things every man in the Alpha Company brings with them. Most of these things are for physical use. However, the things they carry rely on different factors, such as their priorities, constitutions, beliefs, and more.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Patrick Ness’ young adult novel titled A Monster Calls was published in 2011 by Walker. It contains several illustrations by Jim Kay. However, the original concept for this book is by Siobhan Dowd, who have left the Earth and never got the chance to pen the story.

The story follows a boy who is having a hard time coping up with the effects of his mother’s medical condition. Every night, a peculiar creature visits him to tell him a story. The monster, however, told the boy that after he tells all his stories, it would be Conor’s turn to tell his. With the amazing story and illustration, the author and the illustrator was awarded with the Carnegie Medal and the Greenaway Medal after a year of the book’s publication.

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated is a promising memoir written by Tara Westover. It was published by Random House in 2018 and has won the Alex Award the year after. It narrates the story of how the author conquered her survivalist Mormon family so that she could attend college. She highlighted the significance of education in expanding her world.

Activities Every Catholic Family Must Embrace

Family time is when children and parents can interact with each other heart to heart, which is crucial for every catholic family. When kids are constantly increasing screen time; it might be best to think of faith-filled activities that every family member can enjoy. Empowering every member to nourish and deepen their faith may take a village, one must take measures to achieve. Nevertheless, the outcome will always be something great. Imagine seeing a family where faith is evident; what a beautiful sight would it be. A family with shared strong faith creates strong bonds.

Inside the Catholic Family: Reflections of a Parish Priest is a book about intertwined with poems and stories of faith by Father Peffley. This book will provide a meaningful experience to its readers. It can deepen the understanding of faith at the same time strengthen their belief system. Inside the Catholic Family is an excellent book at the disposal of every Catholic family; you can use it as a tool for daily devotions.

The role of parents in the faith formation of their children is important. They are the ones who can empower their children to have a strong belief. Raising Godly children means demonstrating the teachings of God, which means demonstrating love and peace. In return, you will raise children with a full view and understanding of the truth. As mentioned, it will not be easy to uproot faith-filled children. But with the appropriate ways, one can provide with this. In this blog, activities that can improve and strengthen a family’s faith are tackled. Below is simple pursuit parents can incorporate into their daily lives and develop and maintain a loving relationship with God and others:

Quick and Meaningful Family Devotions

This activity can nourish bond and unity in Catholic families. When each member shares their heartfelt feelings, they tend to understand each other more than anything. Opening up the fears, hopes, and prayers with each other can lift their spirits. This will also open windows to significant and meaningful conversation, which is very important for every family. The benefits of family devotions are going to change lives. Establishing a time frame for this activity can be challenging. Nevertheless, with creative planning, this activity can be a worthwhile investment.

Family Nights

Having a day in a week designated for family nights is going to enhance the relationship. You can find a myriad of enjoyable activities you can do during family nights that can strengthen faith. Just make sure that everybody is not having any previous plans. You don’t have to stick to one schedule. But as long as everyone is available, you can do family nights on any day of the week. No one says no to watching a tremendous faith-based movie on a Saturday night. Moreover, making sure that the movie can give insights into faith is crucial. After watching the movie, asking everybody about their reflections is a great idea.

Weekly Bible Study

Give at least once a week to God. Bible study is essential for every Catholic family. The Bible gives people a better understanding of God and his works in their lives. It shows his unchanging, loving, and gracious character. The more a family dives into God’s word, the better they become and the more they want to be like Him. Bible study is a high-powered activity. You can have some friends over for this activity to make it more substantial and engaging. You also must find pages of the Bible appropriate for your children’s ages. From there, you can gauge them and help them discover more about God.

Essentially, making time for faith-based family activities can change the whole perspective of the family. Providing children with learnings about God will hone them to be better. Most likely, if you take action to make these activities possible, you will achieve strong Catholic family faith. Establishing these mentioned activities will connect each member of the family. Giving God time allows families to enhance their bond as a family, making them closer. Don’t forget to check out Father Francis Peffley’s book, Inside the Catholic Family: Reflections of a Parish Priest. You will indeed find some powerful insights you can bring with you and your family forever.

Heartwarming Books that Your Kids Must Read

Kids are complicated yet simple all at the same time. Because of the early development process that they are going through, it is often difficult for adults to understand them due to the constant changing of their minds and interests. But, they are simple in the thought that they don’t require so much to be happy and to feel loved. What is constant and defining about them is that they express their emotions without pretentiousness. If they feel happy, they are truly delighted. If they get touched, then they get touched.  

There are many mediums that can both help your kids grow and make them feel or recognize their emotions gradually. Books are among these means. That said, here are some of the best books that can touch the hearts of your kids and make them learn some essential things in life.

The Ladybug and the Bully Frog by Caroleann Rice

The Ladybug and the Bully Frog is a children’s book penned by Caroleann Rice that was published in 2018. The story centers on how a little Ladybug faces Milton the Frog to give him a piece of advice and the Mighty Wondrous Voice of Love. Before anything else, the little ones who were denied access to the pond came to Solomon the Snail for advice. With the wisdom of Solomon, they came up with Dot as the most ideal creature to stop Milton. The tiny Ladybug named Dot is all by herself in meeting the bully but there are a lot of people that support her, such as Clover the Rabbit and a community of friends that were deprived of the fun and beauty of the pond by Milton. Thus, this book by Caroleann Rice teaches kids to not tolerate bullying and to stand up for others and themselves.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Do you know Auggie Pullman? If you do, then you probably have seen the film adaptation or have read this book. Auggie is the main character of R.J. Palacio’s remarkable book titled Wonder. He has a medical condition called Treacher Collins syndrome, which resulted in the disfiguring of his facial features. Hence, he is not a normal kid. His parents protected him from the harsh world by homeschooling him until the 4th grade. When he became a 5th grader, he started to enter a real school. Everything was new to Auggie, especially the treatment that he got from the bullies. But, he conquered it all and taught people to always choose to be kind.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein, also known as Uncle Shelby, wrote and illustrated the book titled The Giving Tree. Its first edition was published in 1964 by Harper & Row. This book is among his famous works that were translated into multiple languages. The story revolves around a little boy and an apple tree. The two created a bond, which you can identify as a give and take relationship. Even if the little boy went through the different stages of development since he’s human, the apple tree continued to refer to him as “Boy.” Moreover, this book has received multiple feedbacks from the critics. Some pointed out the selfless love of the tree to the Boy while others directed their attention to the toxic and abusive relationship that they have.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

This children’s book was written by Laura Numeroff and is part of the If You Give series. The book also contains wonderful illustrations that are the work of Felicia Bond. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a circular story drawing a slippery slope. It is told using the second-person point of view, which is great because it promotes and boosts interaction from the readers. There was a boy who handed a mouse with a cookie. Afterward, the mouse requested for a glass of milk, straw, mirror, nail scissors, and other things. Readers can definitely tell how the mouse’s demands become greater as its wishes are granted. The last request of the mouse is a cookie to eat with his milk, which definitely shows why it is referred by many as a circular tale.

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