Modern boys live in a setting where the world around them promotes selfishness, disloyalty, disobedience, and cowardice. Indeed, most of what they would see on the television teaches these and other vices.
There exist, however, books which teach the opposite, many of which are in the public domain and available for free. We have posted some of them here. Most are about boys, some are about animals, (and some are even about girls)... but they all teach lessons that Christian boys need to learn. Scripture is the most important place for a Christian boy to learn about what God wants him to do; but these books have helped our family learn about many of the values that Scripture teaches. Von Fantasy The Wind in the Willows is technically prose, but reads like poetry. Millions of children (of all ages) have lost themselves in these wonderful descriptions of life alongside the river with Mole, Rat, Mr. Badger, and the inimitable Mr. Toad.
A fascinating allegory by GK Chesteron. Much more difficult to read, and very difficult to understand: Chesterton has a marvelous grasp of imagery.
Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan (audio version) One of the most famous books in all of Christendom, The Pilgrims Progress is a hard read for modern readers, but well worth the effort. It is an 'allegory', which means that nothing is as it seems, and everything means something. Historical Fiction GA Henty was a favorite children's author in England, and he has been rediscovered by many children of today.This tale is of heroic exploits during a tragic time: the Huguenot wars of France.
GA Henty was a favorite children's author in England, and he has been rediscovered by many children of today. This heroic tale tells the first half of the founding of the Dutch Republic; of their war of independence against the Spanish.
Captains Courageous, by Rudyard Kipling One of my favorite books, and a book I modeled my book 'No Forwarding Address' after, Captains Courageous is a story of courage, hard work, and of boys becoming men. Captains Courageous tells the story of a very spoiled, very rich boy losing everything and having to work himself up a place among fishermen. The Lost Prince, by Francis Hodgson Burnett The Lost Prince is a fantastic adventure of loyalty, bravery, and determination... and a wonderful example of filial loyalty... demonstrated within a marvelous and unique friendship of two very dissimilar boys. A modern boy who wishes to rise above his own culture would be well advised to read, and take notice of, the examples of Marco and the Rat. Tom Brown's School Days, by Thomas Hughes Tom Brown goes off to school and faces bullying head on, making himself a place among the other boys in games and friendships. But he finds the inward enemy of disobedience and distraction harder to fight, until he is given two very unexpected allies. HANS BRINKER OR THE SILVER SKATES, By Mary Mapes DodgeOutward Bound, by Oliver Optic
I hadn't read any of Oliver Optic before I began creating this library, and now I want to read more of him. This story, Outward Bound, is the first in a series of adventure stories about a group of American boys sailing around the world. The Forest Runners, by Joseph A. Altsheler A STORY OF THE GREAT WAR TRAIL IN EARLY KENTUCKY This author is a new find for me, but so far I am impressed with it's emphasis on courage. From the first chapter:
His terrors came back upon him in full sweep. He loved life, and, scholar though he was, he loved his life in the young wilderness of Kentucky, where he was at the beginnings of things. Every detail of what they would do to him, every incident of the torture was already photographed upon his sensitive mind, but again the brave lad called up all his courage, and again he triumphed, keeping his body still and his face without expression. He merely looked up at them, as if placidly waiting their will. Humor PG Wodehouse is, for those that appreciate English humor, the funniest writer of all time. The Politeness of Princess is one of his 'school' stories, celebrating the old English Public School. Poetry Poetry, like song, has a way of speaking directly and powerfully to our souls. Some of these are fun, some of them are serious; all of them are classic and excellent... even as they challenge us to be. Included are poems by Kipling, Phillips, and others. |
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Maintanence >
The Christian Boys Adventure Library
Subpages (18):
At the Back of the North Wind: MacDonald
By Pike and Dike: GA Henty
Captains Courageous: Rudyard Kipling
Donal Grant by George MacDonald
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift DD
Hans Brinker; or, the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge
OUTWARD BOUND; OR, YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT. by OLIVER OPTIC
Poems
Saint Bartholomew's Eve: A Tale of the Huguenot Wars: GA Henty
Suggestions
The Forest Runners by Joseph A. Altsheler
The Lost Prince: Francis Hodgson Burnett
The Man who was Thursday: GK Chesterton
The Pilgrim's Progress
The Politeness of Princes: PG Wodehouse
The Wind in the Willows: Kenneth Grahame
Tom Brown's School Days: Thomas Hughes
Understood Bestsy: Dorothy Canfield
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Von's BooksVon started writing ten years ago, and loves sharing his writing with others. You will find a variety of writing here, but mostly Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy for young adults.
He loves comments: send comments, questions, website problems to von@vonsbooks.com or comment on our Facebook page. Disclaimer: Books on this site are the property and copyright of the authors concerned, except for public domain books, and the author and the author alone is responsible for the content of his books: including theology, language quality issues, etc. Von publishes with I'd rather be reading Chesterton!
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