Faith in the Home: Summer Reading

In this summer edition of Faith in the Home, Dr Antonia Braithwaite recommends a selection of books for children, teenagers, and adults – perfect for whiling away those long summer days!

Catholic Stories for Kids by Kathryn Griffin Swegart is a four-book series ideal for young readers. The first volume, Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles, presents engaging and accessible stories of Eucharistic miracles throughout history. These well-researched accounts are designed to deepen faith in the Real Presence of Christ, not only for children but for their parents too.

Two further titles, Miraculous!: Catholic Mysteries for Kids and Miraculous II, offer fascinating tales of incorrupt saints, Marian apparitions, angels, flying priests, and other extraordinary events. Each short and captivating chapter is spiritually enriching and perfect for bedtime reading or quiet moments of reflection. The final book in the series, Rescued! True Stories for Catholic Kids, recounts miraculous escapes and divine interventions from Scripture and the lives of the saints. This inspiring collection makes an excellent gift for First Holy Communion or a delightful summer read for young Catholics.

For older teenagers and adults, we recommend the historical novel The Guest of Night by Lucy Underwood-Healy. Set during the turbulent era of the English Reformation – when attending Mass was illegal and sheltering a priest was punishable by death – the story follows three teenagers: two Catholic cousins and their Protestant friend. Together, they become involved in a daring mission to hide and distribute Catholic books across the country.

As a historian of English Catholicism during the Reformation, Dr Underwood-Healy brings historical accuracy and depth to her narrative. Readers are immersed in the language and atmosphere of Tudor England, and share in the anxieties and dangers faced by its people. This gripping coming-of-age story blends suspense and strong character development with a powerful testament to the quiet heroism of those who risked everything to remain faithful.

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