Recommendations

As Christians, it can be hard to know what things are Biblical, God-honoring and appropriate for us to read, watch, and listen to. That's why I have started this list of books, movies, music, and more that I like. It will continue to grow as I think of more, so if you have a recommendation for a book, movie, artist, blog, magazine, or other media, please leave it in the comments!

*I will feature more detailed reviews on the blog from time to time; watch for those to get more details about a specific book or movie! 

*My age rankings are based on specific criteria; if a book or movie has violence, dark themes, language, alcohol/drugs, or sensuality it will be ranked accordingly. (I will not put media on this list with highly offensive content.)

*For a book to make it on this list, it must rank at least four or five stars in my opinion when I read it.

*If I have done a more detailed review of a book on the blog, it is linked here. 

BOOKS
Nonfiction/Biography

• Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris (12+)
• One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (10+)
• Dancing Through It by Jenifer Ringer (12+)
• The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (13+)
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (12+)
• My God Is True and Setting Our Sights on Heaven by Paul Wolfe (my associate pastor) (12+)
• She Said Yes by Misty Bernall (13+)
• The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung (12+)

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

• The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (10+, or slightly younger if read to them)
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (8+)
• Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis (12+)
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (12+)
• The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (12+)
• Beauty by Robin McKinley (10+)
• The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley (10+)
• Skellig by David Almond (8+)
• The Giver by Lois Lowry (10+)

Historical

• My Heart Remembers by Kim Vogel Sawyer (12+)
• In Every Heartbeat (sequel) by Kim Vogel Sawyer (12+)

Contemporary

• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (10+)
• The Penderwicks and sequels by Jeanne Birdsall (10+)
• Grace Unplugged by Melody Carlson (13+)
• The Mitford Series by Jan Karon (13+)

Classics

• Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott (all ages)
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (12+)

Romance

• The Perfect Blend by Trish Perry (13+)

MOVIES
Sci-fi/Fantasy

• The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies (rated PG-13; 13+ or slightly younger if they can handle the violence)
• Cinderella (the 2015 live-action one; rated PG; 8+)
• The Princess Bride (12+)

Historical/Period Dramas

• Amazing Grace (rated PG; 12+)
• Pride and Prejudice (BBC miniseries) (10+)

Animated

• Beauty and the Beast (all ages)
• Mulan (all ages)
• Tangled (all ages)  
• Up (all ages)

MUSIC
Christian

• Casting Crowns
• Michael W. Smith
• Amy Grant
• Michael Card

Other

• Josh Groban (his songs are always appropriate, good for those who like pop but aren't into the more mainstream songs)

BLOGS

• Apple Trees and Pumpkin Seeds
• Fresh Modesty
• Lies Young Women Believe
• GirlDefined
• The Rebelution
• A Tightrope to the Sun
• A Writer's Heart 
• A Lovely Calling