Media Matters

 Book by Kirby Larson. This is a fantastic historical fiction novel about a 16 yr old woman who inherits a Montana homestead claim during WW1. She confronts the ugliness of discrimination against German born US citizens and learns that character and kindness are far more important than looks (“Handsome is as handsome does.”)  This is the type of book that will make you both laugh and cry. It doesn’t have a neatly wrapped up ending, but it still manages to feel hopeful.  There is no objectionable content, so this could truly be enjoyed by the whole family.

 2023 movie This movie is based on a true story of a superintendent who begins a Latino high school golf team who break down barriers despite opposition and prejudices. It’s both entertaining and eye-opening.

 Book by Sid Fleishman. This is a historical gold rush adventure that could be enjoyed by the whole family, particularly in its full cast audio form. It reminded me a lot of Kenneth Oppel’s Airborn audiobook.

This 2024 movie is a romantic comedy centered around the 1969 moon landing. Although it has a historical basis, it also has a strong fictional component. The romance is charming and the theme of propagandizing through the media is quite relevant for our time. Note: there are a handful of expletives 

 Nonfiction religious book by Lili DeHoyos Anderson. This was a fascinating book, laying out a definition of telestial, terrestrial, and celestial behaviors and attitudes and how those attitudes and behaviors affect personal development and family dynamics. The author is a marriage and family therapist, and she gave eye-opening real life examples to illustrate her doctrinal points. A lot of food for thought and potential for discussion in this book! Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was good.

 Picture book by Guojing. This is a wordless picture book about a woman patiently building a relationship with a stray dog. The illustrations are gorgeous and do a marvelous job of telling this heartwarming story.

Picture book by Vashti Harrison. This picture book is about a young girl shedding fat-shaming labels and recognizing who she really is. It is beautifully written and illustrated!