Opinion/Resources/Teen Perspective 

By Teen Opinion Contributor Maggie Verdught

Photo: Deposit

As I write this post, the glory of fall is upon the Midwest. The leaves are turning colors and falling, and there is much to see and enjoy in its beauty. This is a beautiful time of the year. Of course, eventually, the beauty fades and winter begins to set in. But do not despair! This time of year has many things to offer yet.

One of which includes reading– I love to read, and I love sharing the books I enjoy with others. The books that I have included in this article are all somewhat “seasonal” reads, and each book includes certain chunks that occur in the fall-winter months. I often feel a warm connection with the characters in a book when I know they are experiencing the same autumnal briskness and winter cold that I am. Whether or not you feel the same, all of these books are worth a try! Happy reading!

The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall

This is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book. It is also a very seasonal book; the story moves along through the year, detailing what the farmer (set in olden times, about the late 1800s) does for his family to prepare for the next year! It is very simple in its poetic style, and the illustrations represent the story in a lovely way. I highly recommend this story as a read-aloud; even younger children as old as four or five will enjoy it!

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

Okay, perhaps this book isn’t “seasonal” as I said it would be; there is not really a season attached to the story! The setting of the novel is in a dump: the Stung Meanchey dump, in Cambodia. The story centers on a young woman named Sang Ly, who lives in the dump with her sick baby son and husband. Life is not easy there. But when Sang Ly gets to know and learn to read from her harsh, mysterious landlord, Sopeap– everything changes. I don’t cry at every book I read, I promise. But this story is so beautifully written, with such powerful themes and symbolism woven throughout, that I couldn’t help but cry (a lot) at the end. Age range for the book: mature 11 or 12 year olds, to adults! This is a must-read.

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

This novel is about three orphaned children: William, Edmund, and Anna, who leave to the countryside during WWII for refuge and to find a new home. They are placed in several “homes” that treat them terribly, with mean foster siblings and meager amounts of food. I won’t spoil the ending, but their true home is eventually found, and is quite wonderful! It is a lovely story, with good characters, and is relatable to the reader. Many great themes abound in this book, and I adored it. (Age range is roughly around 9-13 year olds, though any adult would enjoy it, as well!) This book is very much worth the read!

The Vanderbeekers chapter book series by Karina Yan Glaser

This series is probably more well-known than some others… but I couldn’t resist including it in this list! I particularly love the first book in the series. The themes of family, love, loyalty, hope, and home are all there, and the characters are absolutely wonderful! In “The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street,” the five Vanderbeeker children aim to persuade their landlord to renew their lease on the brownstone. They only have eleven days to do before they must move out. Each Vanderbeeker contributes to save their home with chaotic, yet charming efforts. This book is a beautiful tale of perseverance and family. Age range for the book: really, all ages! It is a great story to read aloud, too.

Mr. Putter and Tabby picture-chapter book series by Cynthia Rylant

This series is great for younger children. They are picture books, mostly, but with just enough “meat” to make it read like a chapter book. I especially love the story “Mr. Putter and Tabby Stir the Soup,” and you can look for other great reads that occur during fall-wintertime, as well! The simple outline/background you may wish to know is this: Mr. Putter lives with his fine cat, Tabby. His neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry often goes on outings with him, and they do fun and interesting things together (she has a good–but sometimes naughty–dog, named Zeke). 🙂 This series is simply charming. Your children will love it, and you will love it, too. I highly recommend this one.

Summary

I sincerely hope that you will consider giving a few of these books a try! It is a privilege to share the stories I love and treasure so much with you. May you fully surrender yourself to the One who wrote the best story ever– the story that brings everlasting joy and comfort. Have a great week!

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The opinions in this article are specific to its author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire Counter Culture Mom team. 

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Maggie VerDught is a high school student who enjoys learning about culture, news, and politics.

She is passionate about sharing the truth, especially with her generation. Maggie loves to run, read, and write poetry in her spare time.

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