Supplemental Literature
“Read-Aloud Favorites”
In all four Companion Guides of The Mystery of History, we offer "Supplemental Books and Resources" to enrich and enhance your studies. (these extensive lists of books and films contain hundreds of titles for younger, middle, and older students!) To help you narrow down the "best of the best" in historical fiction or reference material, suitable for the whole family, we have selected 12-15 "Read-Aloud Favorites" for every volume. For a quick and easy way to build your home library, please use the lists and links provided below. (While the following titles are "family-friendly," not all support a biblical worldview. So we suggest you screen them to meet your own standards.)
All Supplemental Literature
Goodbye, Vietnam
by Gloria Whelan
In this difficult story, a family must leave their home in Vietnam and escape to Hong Kong on an overcrowded boat! While this book contains Buddhist undertones true to the culture, it is above all a story of human perseverance.
Perfection Learning
ISBN 978-0780725140; 1993; 133 pp.
Pair with Lesson 70 of The Mystery of History Volume IV.
A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story
by Linda Sue Park
Parallel narratives set in 1985 and 2008 follow the lives of two Sudanese (Nya and Salva) caught in the crosshairs of civil unrest. While not related to the lesson on Sadat, this story brings to life the unique challenges of the African continent, which are still relevant today. This is an amazing easy-to-read true story you won’t want your students to miss!
Clarion Books
ISBN 978-0547577319; 2011; 128 pp.
Pair with Lesson 76 of The Mystery of History Volume IV.
Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein: Based on a True Story
by Jennifer Roy and Ali Fadhil
It’s not easy to find children’s stories about modern warfare, but these authors have delivered! Iraqi-born Ali Fadhil recounts his war-torn boyhood—going hungry on some days and playing video games and soccer on other days. With a dose of humor and self-reflection, Ali Fadhil takes you to the streets of Iraq in 1991. For easy reading and cross-cultural awareness, this is an excellent choice.
Clarion Books
ISBN 978-0358108825; 2019; 176 pp.
Pair with Lesson 78 of The Mystery of History Volume IV.
