Because Literacy starts at home
Welcome to Holding Steadfast!
Ideas are contagious and the battle for the attention, the heart, and the minds of our children has never been more apparent, more real, or more pressings. While there are many other platforms you can visit for reviews on books and summaries, what those reviews lack is detail. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been burned more than a few times when I thought a series was clean and wholesome, to later find out that the character’s lifestyles or choices as well as themes and events were not ones that I endorse nor want my children thinking on.
Holding Steadfast was born out of the desire to help fellow families seeking to put quality reading material in front of their children. As an educator of almost 20 years and a mother to two teenagers who love to read, I know first-hand the difficulties many families face. Families want to foster a love for reading and imagination but also have too many time constraints to pre-read everything their children reads. My mission is to be a reliable stopping point for an honest review from a fellow mom/parent seeking the same clean, wholesome reading material you can feel confident about. What you will find here is an honest review with specific details and page numbers for anything questionable as well as reviews for material I come across that should be avoided.
Additionally, you may notice that I read a lot of books in a series. This is because there are many book series that pull in readers and lull parents into thinking they are clean only to slide in material and ideas in books five or thirteen that would astonish - I know! It has happened to me. Moreover, you will often find that the ideas presented in books are sometimes subtle, sometimes your reader may not even be aware. It is my prayer and aim that the material presented here will be of some use to you as you navigate the minefield of the library and bookstore and that you can find great material to keep your children reading long past childhood.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8 KJV).
If all of this resonates with you, please subscribe to join my newsletter where I will share weekly book reviews and updates.
For access to more great resources, consider becoming a member.
More about me and my journey that lead to the building of Holding Steadfast.
A Look Back at 2024
Quick Access to my 2025 reading list: Click HERE
Do NOT assume that a book on this list is appropriate for your reader. Please take a moment to look over my review before making that determination.
Some available links are Amazon affiliate links.