I’ve noticed that my kids read more than their friends. Maybe it’s because our reading list is far-reaching and is not chosen to meet the school district goals. Homeschool has benefits. You get to pick the books. Here’s five of our favorites, not in any order, and not, by any means the end of the list.

1.  “Right Turns” by Michael Medved — This is biographical, humorous, insightful and one of my favorites. Michael went to college with John Kerry, Hilary and Bill Clinton and George Bush. Medved is brilliant and headed off to Yale at age 16. His story portrays his belief in God, miracles, and the journey from a liberal point of view to a conservative. It’s unique and funny. One of my son’s favorite parts was when Michael was being interviewed at his home for Harvard University —  his father walked in wearing his tidy-whities and T-shirt, and introduced himself, “hello, I’m Professor David Medved.” He wasn’t sure if that had anything to do with him not being accepted to Harvard, but it made a lasting impression. I bought several copies of this book, to give away and read. I waited in line to get one of them signed.
2.  “The Importance of Being Ernest” by Oscar Wilde — A classic play and comedy. Read the book, see the movie and see the play. I’m always amazed that Oscar Wilde understood women. My son’s favorite quote: “all women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy — men do not, that’s theirs.” 

3.  “The Moonstone” by Wilkie Collins — Probably the first English detective novel and one of the best.  It’s one of those books that creates visual scenes in your head as you read. The author-narrator takes you in — “I am asked to tell the story of the Diamond, and, instead of that, I have been telling the story of my own self. Curious, and quite beyond me to account for. I wonder whether the gentlemen who make a business and a living out of writing books, ever find their own selves getting in the way of their subjects, like me?” 

4. “The Hot Zone” by Richard Preston — is the true of how the Ebola virus was discovered. Scary in the real sense. I learned that Clorox bleach is a must-have for everyone, a true preppers storage item. The CDC cleans/disinfects the ebola-infested monkey house with this.

5.  “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho — is a journey-story of a young shepherd boy who follows a dream, meets a man named Melchizedek — “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”