Hiding in the Library: 2025 in Books

By Mindi Popovich-Schneider and the Interns

Each year, the interns and I compile our favorite books of the year. Here are our books of 2025.

Adult/Teen:

The Secrets of Ormsdale series by Christina Baehr

When I finished this series in early March, one of my first thoughts was, “I can’t wait to write about this in our annual book round-up!” I flew through the whole series in a week, and the only reason it took me that long was because of Hoopla’s limitations on checking out books! 

Set in Victorian England, this series follows Edith Worms, a clergyman’s daughter, who travels to her estranged family’s estate after the death of her uncle. Edith finds herself pulled into the secrets of Wormwood Abbey and its mythical creatures (who aren’t so mythical after all).

Edith is a delightful, charming main character, and her reliance on Christ to help her through every challenge is one of the loveliest parts of the book. (There are a few unnecessary digs at Catholicism throughout, but that is the only criticism I have!)

The Professor by Charlotte Bronte

This story is about a young man named William Crimsworth who is looking for a job that suits him and a soulmate.  Throughout this book, one can see how the process of choosing a spouse is not only based on physical beauty, but a beauty of character, intelligence, and depth.

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

In this low fantasy novel, an orphan teen is “adopted,” – or rather, selected to train along with other teen boys for a special task. The assignment? Pretend to be the long-lost prince in order to help the rebellion take the throne. The catch? The boys who are not chosen will be disposed of to protect the rebellion’s secrets.

Children’s Books:

Watership Down by Richard Adams

This book tells the story of a group of rabbits who must evacuate their old warren.  Tag along on the adventures these fuzzy bunnies have as they face the difficulties of finding a new location and does to help populate it.

Early/Leveled Readers

Mr. Putter & Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant

When I was a little girl, Mr. Putter & Tabby was one of my favorite books. For the first time this year, I read the rest of the series, and the follow-up entries are almost as wonderful as the original. I especially like Mr. Putter & Tabby Walk the Dog. 

Picture books:

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

This beautiful book tells the story of a farmhouse and the family that once lived in it. It is illustrated with beautiful collages, the components of which were taken from the farmhouse that the book is about. 

Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel by Leslie Connor

This historical fiction tells the story of Miss Bridie, and how her choice to bring her shovel with her to America affected her life. 

Michael Bird Boy by Tomie de Paola

I love pretty much anything written by Tomie de Paola, but this surprising little book is especially charming and whimsical.

What were your best books of the year? Which ones should we add to our lists!?

Hiding in the Library: 2024 in Books

by Mindi Popovich-Schneider

Each year, I like to share a “wrap-up” of the best books I’ve read throughout the year. This year, I’m pleased to join my recommendations to those of our wonderful team of interns. We hope that if you pick up any of these books, you’ll not only enjoy them but you’ll get something meaningful from them as well! 

Picture Books:

The Three Wise Kings by Tomie dePaola

Since we pulled this book out a couple weeks ago, my toddler has been talking endlessly about “Herrod evil man, Wise Kings so happy!” With dePaola’s signature illustrations, this is a simple, lovely tale that follows the Wise Men on their journey to Bethlehem. My two favorite illustrations are a full-spread depiction of the flaming star and a tableau of the Wise Men finally greeting the Theotokos and Christ child. Recommended by Mindi

Peter, Apostle of Jesus: The Life of a Saint by Boris Grebille

This story retells the gospels from the perspective of Apostle Peter. The illustrations are sweet and approachable, and the text, while somewhat lengthy, is simple and straightforward. We enjoy singing the hymns of the Church while we look at the illustrations together. Recommended by Mindi

Children’s/Middle Grade:

Ferris by Kate diCamillo

Like all of Kate diCamillo’s books, this story touches on many of the difficult aspects of life in a profoundly hopeful way. Ferris’s younger sister is a complete menace. Even worse, their beloved grandmother is ill and sees a ghost who insists that they must light the great chandelier in the dining room. Convinced that following the ghost’s orders will help set everything to rights, Ferris undertakes this great task with the help of her eccentric uncle and virtuosically talented best friend. Recommended by Mindi

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Sepetys and Sheinkin are known for their meticulous work in historical fiction and nonfiction, respectively. Here they join forces to offer a fictional upper-middle grade story about the work of the Bletchley codebreakers during WWII. Escaping from being sent to live with her grandmother in the states, 14-year-old Lizzie ends up at Bletchley with her older brother, a codebreaker. Her brother Jakob wants to focus on his work to help the Allies win the war, but Lizzie is determined to uncover the truth of what happened to their mother–no matter the cost. This book would also appeal to teens and adults! Recommended by Mindi

Young Adult:

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

When her beloved (the son of a duke) is kidnapped, Tress–a window-washer–stows away on a pirate ship to rescue him, even though she knows they can never be together. This book was so whimsical and cozy. I was immediately drawn in by Tress and Charlie’s story. I loved seeing Tress grow as a person throughout her intense journey. It’s the perfect read for fans of The Princess Bride or anyone who loves fantastical and fantastic world-building. Recommended by Caroline and Mindi

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

As a child, Theodora was cursed by a faerie during his unsuccessful attempt to steal her soul. With only half a soul left, she does not experience feelings such as fear or embarrassment, which often leads to awkward misunderstandings in polite society! When her curse catches the attention of the Lord Sorcier, Dora reluctantly gets pulled into the peculiar affairs of faeries.

Set in an alternate Regency England, this is a charming, fluffy, and very quick read. It’s perfect for anyone who is interested in Bridgerton or other loosely-historical romance novels but wants to avoid mature content (please note that there is some very mild language). Recommended by Mindi

Classics:

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

This book was a very meaningful and amazing read. There is a reason why it’s regarded as the greatest book ever written. Dostoevsky explores many different themes and attempts to answer some of life’s most difficult questions. Recommended by Caroline

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

This novel follows the coming of age of an orphan Pip, who moves from Kent to London, England, encountering an array of characters along the way. This novel was serialized, so the story was published bit by bit, thus incentivising Dickens to highly develop even the smallest of characters and write with creative, vivid prose to keep his readers hooked. This book offers fascinating insights on the time period! Recommended by Cecilia

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

This is Austen’s affectionate and playful satire of Gothic literature. It follows the young, naive heroine Catherine Morland who loves reading Gothic novels. Austen is able to portray the typical Gothic themes, cliches, and psychological tensions in this clever novel. Such a fun read! Recommended by Cecilia

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

This book might be my favorite of all time. I reread it earlier this year and remembered why I adored it. It is a witty and brilliant exploration of beauty, youth, pride, and evil. It proposes the problem of having no consequences for your actions and the effect of vanity. Recommended by Caroline

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

White Nights is about a young man who has been lonely his whole life. While walking through St. Petersburg, he meets a young girl named Nastenka who he spotted crying on a rail one night. Gradually, he gets to know Nastenka and falls in love with her. This short but meaningful story had such a big impact on me. It draws into the themes of loneliness, unrequited love, friendship, and yearning. Recommended by Caroline

Nonfiction:

Every Sigh can be a Prayer by Fr. Arsenie Papacioc (+2011)

Such an interesting read alongside Man’s Search for Meaning!

This book is a compilation of the teachings of the modern Romanian elder Fr. Arsenie, who was arrested over forty times and spent many years in Romanian communist prison. His warm, gentle voice can be heard through the pages of this book. There are several chapters concerning practical spiritual advice for family life. Fr. Arsenie emphasizes the importance of continual communion and conversation with God, not strict, mindless rules and orders. He says that “every moment is a taste of eternity and every sigh can be a prayer. This provides much greater benefit than many prayers or prostrations done mechanically.” As he lived so recently, he is able to offer knowledge of our world’s contemporary struggles. This is truly a must-read! Recommended by Cecilia

Joy to Serve by Juliana Schmemann

Although this book is primarily intended for priest’s wives, I think it is an important read for all mothers and women involved in a church ministry. Mat. Juliana walks through some of the common struggles (burnout, lack of time, child discipline) that mothers experience and encourages her readers to persevere joyfully. Recommended by Mindi

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

In this book, the Austrian neurologist and psychologist Viktor E. Frankl explains his psychological theory called Logotherapy, or “healing through meaning.” He survived three Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau, proceeding to write this eye-opening book. He first chronicles his personal experiences and then his own “existential analysis.” I have included some of my favorite quotes below:

• “In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.”

• “What is to give light must endure burning.”

• “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Recommended by Cecilia

Words of the Heart by Venerable Gerondissa Makrina Vassopoulou (+1995)

This book includes Gerondissa Makrina’s life and homilies. The first section of the book chronicles the inspiring story of her life of faithfulness. She was the daughter of pious parents and the spiritual daughter of the hesychast fathers Elder Joseph the Hesychast (+1959) and Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona (+2019). In her beautiful homilies, she speaks simply and practically. She especially holds a deep love for the Theotokos, which is inspiring to read about. You might try reading a homily or two each day. I am sure that any words from Geronidssa will inspire and help you! Recommended by Cecilia

Of course, our wrap-up wouldn’t be complete without sharing the books that we hope to read in the next year! 

Mindi:

Christy by Catherine Marshall

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (Currently reading)

Feast of the Sisters by Alex Scott (a Young Adult Orthodox novel about vampires)

The Sunflower: Conforming the Will of Man to the Will of God by St. John Maximovitch

Caroline:

The Aeneid by Virgil

Demons by Fyodr Dostoevsky

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Everyday Saints by Archimandrite Tikhon

Cecilia:

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Letters to Saint Olympia by St. John Chrysostom

What books are you and your family planning to read in 2025?

Hiding in the Library: Orthodox Books for Children and Teens

by Sevastiane, Summer ‘24 Intern

There are so many books out in the world, and not all of them are edifying.  What we put into our brains matters.  If we put junk into our brains it will affect our souls and our thoughts, but if we put edifying knowledge and pure thoughts into our brains, it will be beneficial for us. Our faith calls us to keep a pure mind and heart, for what goes in comes out. Sometimes it is hard to find good books and it is even harder to find good Christian and Orthodox books for teens and children to read.  So here are some I have enjoyed!

Letters to Saint Lydia by Melinda Johnson: I would recommend this book for somewhat older teens. It follows a non-Orthodox girl and her journey to finding the faith through her letters to her patron, Saint Lydia. Lydia’s family converts to Orthodoxy without her and she doesn’t know what she wants to do, so she writes to Saint Lydia.  This book is very relatable since it is set in modern times and covers a lot of difficult topics teens face today.  I loved this book very much and I recommend it to everyone I know.  Ten out of ten for sure!

Voyage to the Rock By Father Matthew Penney:  For those of you who like mystery books, this one is great.  It is like any other mystery book you would find in the bookstore, but the main characters are Orthodox! This one is great as a read-aloud or for tweens who want to read it themselves.  It follows Martin, a priest’s kid, who has to move to Newfoundland, Canada to help his family build a parish. There he finds an old cross. Is it the cross from the voyage of Saint Brendan the Navigator? With his sister and his new friend Ashley, Martin tries to figure out the mystery of the cross,  all while the evil Sullivan O’Connell hunts them down. This one is an enjoyable read. 

Saint Spyridon’s Shoes by Christine Rogers: This book is good for any age. This book takes place in Corfu, where Spyros fishes on the beach and longs to attend school like his friend, Nico. He then meets an old man on the beach and befriends him. This is a story about their friendship.  The friendship turns out to be a lot more important than Spyros realizes. This book is short and sweet and a great one for everyone to read!

Who is God? Who am I? Who Are You? by Dee Pennock: This is one of my favorite books to read. This book also covers a lot of difficult topics for teens about living in the world. It has tons of good quotes and talks about free will and how to love our neighbor. This book covers all the hard topics but formats them in a fun and interesting way to read. The illustrations might look funny, but this book is truly one of the best for teens! 

Icon by Georgia Briggs: I cannot stress enough the importance of this book for teens.  I love this book with all my heart.  Sometimes living in the world as an Orthodox Christian can be hard.  Christ says to live in this world but not of this world, and sometimes we can get mixed up and start to morph to the expectations and pressure from our friends and non-Christian family and the secular world.  We can start to think that it is more important for us to have money and lots of clothing and to keep up to date with the latest trends. This book is a great example for remembering our faith in the modern world. .  Icon is about a young Euphrosyne, whose family is killed, so she has to move in with her grandparents. It is set in a future where being Christian is illegal, and people have to change their names and their whole identity.  This book is about one girl fighting for what she believes in and putting her trust in Christ in times of struggle. Euphrosyne is a character you can both relate to and try to imitate. This book is a good reminder of what our time on earth is really for. 

My Elder, Joseph the Heschycast by Elder Ephraim of Arizona:  Saint Joseph is one of my favorite saints and this book is his thorough life story. It is thicker than the books mentioned above, and it is not fiction, but his life story is amazing. At the start of the story, he struggles with the same problems we all have, like anger, but he overcomes them and achieves a state of complete grace and prayer from the heart. Elder Joseph also had a very close relationship with the Theotokos, and he would pray to her all the time, for any need. Saint Joseph was able to see demons and physically had to fight them for them to disappear. I really love this book and think it is a great book for early teens. 

Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit by Protecting Veil Press: The contemporary elders of Greece are all newer saints or people believed to be saints but awaiting canonization. This book covers many of their lives. It has a short biography about each of them, as well as the counsel or advice that they gave. I love this book because it has so many saints, many of which are newer saints. Their advice is priceless and you can learn a lot from reading this book. This book is more for teens, and adults can read it too!

While these are just some of the many Orthodox books out there, all of these books are fantastic reads, and there is something for everyone, from mystery to biography. I loved reading these books, and I hope you will too. I hope you can learn from reading these books!

Hiding in the Library: A Year in Books

by Mindi Popovich-Schneider, Saint Emmelia Ministries Assistant

When I was growing up, I really, really wanted to be a detective. I spent a lot of time (when I wasn’t reading mysteries) inventing mysteries for myself to solve in our backyard (I always cracked the case!). Now as an adult, I feel like I really am a gumshoe, at least in one respect: I am constantly on the case, hunting for books worth sharing with others! Here, I am going to share the results of my sleuthing over the course of the past year, as well as the books that I’m most looking forward to investigating in 2024! 

Here are my recommended books of 2023:

Picture Books

In the Quiet, Noisy Woods by Michael J. Rosen

Through the rompings of two wolf cubs, the reader explores a day in the woods. The beautiful vocabulary and digital art made me fall in love with this sweet tale.

The Littlest Matryoshka by Corinne Demas Bliss

In this story, a little family of matryoshka dolls go on a long journey. This book reminds me of Jan Brett’s work.

The Night is Deep and Wide by Gillian Sze

This board book is excellent for little eyes, due to its high-contrast illustrations in black, white, and red. The writing makes it a wonderful bedtime selection.

Colors of the National Parks by Jenny Miriam

Another board book, this choice is very simple with minimal text. However, the illustrations are beautiful, and it would be a nice choice for a Nature Study unit on the flora and fauna of North America.

Non-Fiction

The Life and Teachings of St. Seraphim of Sarov by N. Puretzki 

St. Seraphim has always been special to me because of his love for wild animals. Reading about his relationships with others has inspired me to work on my patience and love for everyone I meet (not just bears!). 

Strange New World by Carl Trueman

Although Trueman is Presbyterian–and his reformed theology certainly comes through in the text!–I believe this book is a very important read. Trueman outlines the rise of the phenomenon of “expressive individualism,” our tendency to locate our understanding of the world within ourselves, not within the context of community. This book has helped me identify my own expressive individualist tendencies, which has helped me work on turning my focus outward, towards God and, by extension, those around me. 

Classics

My Ántonia by Willa Cather

This book was on my “to be read” list for a long time, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. The narrator, Jim Burden, recounts his childhood on the plains of Nebraska and particularly his relationship with the oldest daughter of a family of immigrants from Bohemia. American Literature has never been my wheelhouse, but I enjoyed the vivid depictions of frontier life.  

Peril at End House by Agatha Christie

While not the only Agatha Christie I read this year,  I chose to include Peril at End House on this list because the ending really caught me by surprise! In this mystery, Hercule Poirot (with the help of his trusty sidekick Hastings) races the clock to prevent the death of a young heiress.

Christmas with Anne by L.M. Montgomery (Re-read)

This collection of short stories was the perfect lead-in to Christmas week. Each story focuses on charity, generosity, and forgiveness at Christmastime, but I am certainly inspired to carry those virtues with me through the whole year.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Re-read)

My family reread this book series religiously when I was growing up, but it was delightful to reread the first entry as an adult (and accidental Ingalls apologist–but that’s a story for another time). What excited me most about rereading it was imagining how it could be used in homeschooling, not only for Literature, but for Nature Studies as well!

Adult Fiction

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

After Alice’s boyfriend throws her over for being too obsessed with her books, she travels to Appalachia to deliver books to a rural library there. But, of course, she gets a lot more than she bargained for! Alice is a really delightful character, and it was fun to watch her grow up while maintaining her deep (and relatable) love for books. This book (published by a Protestant company) is suitable for teens.

Young Adult Fiction

East by Edith Patou

I will (almost) always pick up any retelling of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” (or any of its folkloric descendants), and this one is a modern classic. It follows the original storyline closely, but with a few new motifs and plot twists to keep the reader interested.

The Silent Unseen by Amanda McCrina 

At the end of WWII in Eastern Europe, Maria–a Polish teen escaping forced labor in Germany–has to team up with Tomek–a Ukrainian Nationalist–to find her missing brother. This book is a recommendation, but with a caveat: it involves a fair (but realistic) amount of violence and unsavory language. I still recommend it for older teens because the gripping plotline uncovers a little-discussed piece of Orthodox-adjacent history. 

Since having a baby, my book selection process is quickly checking out whatever I find most easily on Hoopla, Libby, or CloudLibrary so that I can read while nursing! In 2024, I hope to be more intentional about my selections and finally check off some classics and nonfiction that I’ve been wanting to read for a long time. Here are the books I’m most excited to read:

Non-Fiction

The Joy to Serve by Mat. Juliana Schmemann

The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins

Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear

Adult Fiction/Classics

Christy by Catherine Marshall (Re-read)

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (Already started)

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy (Already started)

Young Adult & Children’s Fiction

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson (NOTE: I am not sure how “clean” this book is, but Brandon Sanderson, a Mormon, is known for his fairly safe writing.)

The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit

There you have it: my 2023 in books! I hope you pick up some of these titles, and if you do, I hope you’ll let me know what you think. 

What were your best books of 2023? What books do you have on your list for 2024?
For personalized book recommendations, email Mindi at office@saintemmelia.com