Literature | Salt and Light Year II

Hey everyone! I wanted to get the blog post up that has all of the literature picks for Salt and Light Homeschool Year 2. As always, you can use these for any school year and these are not required reads. We like to do a mix of classic literature, cultural, religious, newer pieces, a mix of poetry, nonfiction and fiction.

I will also take this time to note, in case you're new around here, I fully support reading to your teens. Yes, they can read for themselves but they still want you to read to them. Even picture books. Don't you love gorgeous illustrations in books? I LOVE pretty pictures and have instilled this love in my children through my own desire for those types of books. They could groan and complain, but they secretly love it when you read to them anyways.

If you're looking for the required reads for Year 2 of Salt and Light Homeschool, check this link out here. 

For trying to figure out level placement, this is at the discretion of the parent. You know your child best! You want them challenged but you also want reading to be enjoyable or they won't bother with it in adulthood. Read to them a higher level book if you like. It exposes them to higher language. Let them read a picture book or lower level book just for fun!

I said all of that because take these categories with a grain of salt. Any of them could be read alouds or solo reads. The titles are there for those that need a bit of guidance. Middle Grades should select some books from either the lower or upper category depending on maturity and reading ability.

Always check to see if they're available at your library if you have access to one.

You could also check free domain for classics and choose audible + hard copy for your dyslexic children. Trust me on this. Brie [our severely dyslexic daughter] went from a non-reader to a voracious reader in a few years time and no longer needs or uses audible alongside her books. Well worth the expensive investment since reading is the core of learning.

All Grades/Read Alouds 

A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year [this will be required in Year 3]
The Princess Bride

Pre K & Kindergarten

Animals of God Volume 1
Pip the Gnome series
The Chestertons and the Golden Key
Our Lady's Wardrobe
The Legend of Saint Nicholas

Elementary 

Father Brown Reader
Father Brown Reader II
Homer Price
The Chestertons and the Golden Key
Perfect Gifts [The Adventures of Nick & Sam]
Shepherds to the Rescue [Gospel Time Trekkers]
Animals of God Volume 1
The Prince Martin Epic Books
Our Lady's Wardrobe
The Legend of Saint Nicholas 
Tin Cups & Tinder : A Catholic Little Boy's Book of Fire, Food & Fun
Tea & Cake with the Saints : A Catholic Young Lady's Introduction to Hospitality and the Home Arts

Middle Grades

The Red Bandana
Outlaws of Ravenhurst  or here
Blood Red Crescent or free here
The King's Prey : Saint Dymphna of Ireland [upper middle]
St. Catherine of Siena
Pope Pius X
The Count of Monte Cristo [Great Illustrated Classics]

High School/Teens 

Crown of the World [written by a homeschooler!]
Blood Red Crescent or free here
Pride & Prejudice or free here
The Star & The Shamrock
Jane Eyre or free here
The Hunger Games [great for discussion on society]
In Defense of Sanity : Best Essays of G.K. Chesterton [possibly required in Year 3]
The Book Thief [older teen. about nazis - mild/moderate language]
Pope Pius X
Roland West : Loner or free here
The Quiet Light
The King's Prey : Saint Dymphna of Ireland