Stefani's Heroes of Faith Booklist

5/6/2021

Heroes of Faith Booklist for the whole family

I had some pretty amazing adventures as a child, especially considering I simply grew up in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri.

I snuck into Hindu temples with my skin stained brown from coffee beans. I hid in a small cave, holding my breath as the King's soldier went by, looking for heretics. I watched God feed dozens of children even though our cupboards were bare. I sat in a Native American teepee and carefully translated Bible stories into their language. Every day was full of adventure, heroism, passion for Jesus, and faith, thanks to the constant stream of books I devoured with my heart and mind.

My mom worked hard to feed that appetite and our book cases were always loaded with good, faith-building biographies and stories. And now I'm ready to pass that heritage on to my kids. However, this can be easier said than done. That's why we're declaring this the Heroes of Faith Summer in our home and here at WHM!

To say I'm excited about this reading theme for our Summer would be an understatement. I can hardly wait to share some of my favorite childhood memories with my kids as we read some amazing books together.

I'll be sharing our favorite reads on Instagram (and so will Elli! If you're not following WHM on Insta, you should be. ;) ) throughout the Summer and I'm putting together a list here as well! I hope you find a few good reads to add to your bookshelf.

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So, without anymore chatter, here are a few favs:

For elementary - middle school

Hero Tales tells the stories of many different men and women of faith, including well known people like Amy Carmichael and heroes we hear of less, like Samuel Morris.
Featuring an introduction to each person, along with three stories, questions, and Bible verses, this books is perfect for reading together with your kids. This is going to be our main Summer read aloud, with a few of the others available for the kids to read on their own.
You can also get: Volume 2, Volume 3, and Volume 4, along with Heroes of Black History (which I have not read but plan to).

With Daring Faith - speaking of Amy Carmichael, this biography of her is the best! I read it over and over again as a child. The reading level is elementary, but I enjoyed it well into my teen years and my kids loved when I read it aloud to them when they were in kindergarten and first grade. Amy's story is told with humor and passion, which fits her personality well! It starts with her childhood, which engaged my kid's attention right away. A must-have for every library!

Captive Treasure - while this book is actually fiction, it fanned a flame within me as a child. Caroline Talbot was 9 or 10 when she was captured by a war party while traveling with her missionary parents. She was holding her family's Bible when she fell out of the covered wagon and bravely taught it's truth to anyone that would listen as she spent several seasons with a Native American tribe. This is a captivating, fun, and easy to read book you'll enjoy reading with your kids, or they can read it on their own.

For preteens - teenagers

Not Regina was an absolute favorite of mine as a preteen and teenager. A fictional story based on the history of the anabaptists, it has a bit of romance and plenty of intrigue to keep a young teen reading. The actual writing may feel a bit clunky, but it never bothered me when I was younger. I always felt inspired to hold onto my faith, no matter the cost, by the time I had finished it.

Thrilling Escapes by Night - this book has all the adventure a kid could hope for: secret passageways, caves, castles, midnight boat rides and, of course, thrilling escapes. But it's more than that - it's a fictional retelling of the William Tyndale's determination to translate the Bible, even though the King's men were out to kill him for it. This book would make a great read aloud for the whole family!

Ink On His Fingers - the Bible was the center of a lot of controversy in the church as Europe emerged from the Dark Ages and into the Age of Exploration. William Tyndale believed it should be in English so any one, educated or uneducated, could read it. Johann Gutenberg believed it should be printed rather than hand-written, which would boost its availability. Ink on His Fingers is a fictional re-telling of Gutenberg's story, through the eyes of a young apprentice.

God Planted Five Seeds is the true story of five men who sacrificed their lives so that an unreached tribe in Bolivia. They were martyred years before Jim Elliot and Nate Saint began their mission to reach a remote tribe with the gospel, yet we do not hear their story often. This book was written by one of the widows of the slain missionaries, and goes beyond her husband's martyr death to tell the story of reaching the very men who killed him. A must-read for your older kids (and you!).

A Thousand Shall Fall - Franz Hasel was a devoted Christian and pacifist when he was drafted into Hitler's army. Would it be possible to stay true to his faith and avoid prison or worse? And what about his family left at home, enduring night-time bombings, interrogations, and more? And what about the Jews Hitler wanted to eradicate? Could the Hasel family do their part to protect them? This true story, written by Franz's daughter is riveting from start to finish. It is not written for young children, but would be a great conversation piece for you and your preteens/teenagers.

Silas Diary
Titus Diary
Timothy Diary

First Century Diaries - I would pretty much classify these as a much-read for everyone. I love everything written by Gene Edwards, but I never get tired of reading these. This series tells the story of the Apostle Paul through the eyes of his friends. I have laughed, cried, learned, and been inspired every time I read them. The insight poured into each of these books is incredible. The cultural setting is fascinating, especially as the reader "sits" with Paul as he writes each epistle. You and your teenagers will probably not want to put these down.

I could share so many more, but I'm going to stop here for now. Maybe I'll make a follow up post. Also, be sure to check out Elli's book list. She's got some great ones too!

I had some friends ask about books for toddlers, which is when I realized I've never seen any great books for toddlers about Christian toddlers. And then I got to thinking that, while maybe unintentional in the Christian world, it's also strategic. Let's build our littlest ones up in the Word of God with Bible stories and simple passages and then supplement their inspirational diet with stories of heroes of the faith when they're a little older. My favorite Bible story book for little ones is the Jesus Storybook Bible. I know it's everyone's favorite, but seriously, there's a reason.

I'd love to hear about your favorite Heroes of Faith books. Share them in the comments!

King's daughter, wife to the best, mom to a small army of knights, and the founder of Warrior Hearted Mom. Stefani and her family live on a small farm with a view of the Rocky Mountains, in a land that is reminiscent of Narnia under the Snow Queen. She loves outdoor adventures, indoor cozy evenings, and quality time spent with family and friends. Also, writing, of course.

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