A Mom Who Pre-reads

Hi, Mama.

You’re here trying to figure out whether this series is safe, right? And just who is Katharos Press, anyway?

Here's my story: My kids blew through the Little House Series, Narnia, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Ranger's Apprentice, and more. As they began to read independently, we gave them stories we remembered from our childhood (I’m looking at you, Ramona series… ) but then saw immediate differences in how they treated each other. It’s a lot of work pre-reading everything! (I know it, and you probably do, too!) It was a huge blow to find out that many of the things we remembered as being good (as well as recommendations from friends) needed re-evaluation. I’ve often wished I could see where authors of the various series stood on the important issues, but none that I have found speak clearly to those things. 

Over and over, I have been faced with the dilemma. What can my kids read next?

They have opinions about that, of course. Their tendency is to just want to read what all their friends are reading. But I’m often not comfortable with that. I want to keep their plate full, but they can consume two or more books in one day! They also re-read ferociously, so anything that’s on the shelf might end up memorized at some point. I love that they are avid readers, and I don't want that to stop.

So many times, we have let them start a fun-looking series only to hear that five books down the line, or in series three by the same author, crazy topics or scenarios will rear their ugly heads. Has this happened to you? 

So, I understand the problem:

• You discover other parents have different comfort levels with content
• Your kids start quoting or modeling inappropriate behavior or language
• Your kids are exposed to levels of violence or other topics that you aren't comfortable with

I want to know what my kids are reading BEFORE the uncomfortable conversation strikes. Don't you? 

Long story short, we've now limited the trusted recommendations to people we really trust or books we've pre-read. But I want there to be more and more great books available for my kids!

 We have found so many of these tropes represented in child-targeted literature: 

• the child with the bad attitude who has no consequences
• the child who's smarter than all the adults and saves the day by disobeying
• the child who outright lies or steals to achieve their goals with no consequences
• the underage romantic relationships that generate inappropriate feelings in pre-teens
• the non-traditional genders and relationships that get subtly (or not-so-subtly) introduced 

I am building the world of Katharos for my kids. And for anyone else who wants cozy, clean fantasy with a fun ensemble of forest animals. 

 And because we went through this experience with our kids, I can make you a promise:

 These books will always be clean and safe for your middle-grade readers. 

 My first series, “The Ballad of the Badger King,” which is written primarily for ages 7-14,  illustrates good character attributes, consequences, and how to handle tough situations. I don't sacrifice plot or pacing, and there isn't any heavy-handed moralizing. The first book “Mugwort’s Shadow” is loosely based on the theme of the parable of The Good Samaritan.

My books are set in the world of Katharos, which is populated by beasts of every shape and size. Yarrow the hedgehog and his friends from Blueberry Forest work to help their badger friend reclaim her rightful throne from an evil mole king. They encounter enemies and riddles at every turn and are accompanied by an ensemble of interesting and quirky animal characters. It’s appropriate for fans of The Green Ember, Redwall, and Narnia, and anyone else who enjoys a rollicking good story set in a fantastic world.

So please, check out my article on the Theology of Fiction for more information so you can make the best decision possible. 

 Thanks so much for being here. I appreciate you.