Books by Homeschool Graduates
Katy by Mary Evelyn Notgrass and Make It Your Ambition by John Notgrass are wonderful resources for new and veteran homeschoolers. Katy is a thoughtful gift for families who are considering homeschooling and a perfect addition to a new homeschooler packet from a local support group. Make It Your Ambition is a great high school graduation gift.
You can purchase either of these titles for $2.50 each when you purchase a pack of ten copies.
Katy
Content: A pure story of strong character, simple faith, and a loving family. Trade paperback. 192 pages. Author: Mary Evelyn Notgrass Age Level: 8 and up (or a read-aloud for all ages) Price: $25.00 for ten copies |
Make It Your Ambition
Content: Encouragement for young people to live for God's glory. Trade paperback. 144 pages. Author: John Notgrass Age Level: 14 and up Price: $25.00 for ten copies |
About Katy
Katy Porter likes to climb trees, play with her sister, and ride bikes with her brother. The Porters are a close family. They are brought even closer through a family vacation, a surprise in the middle of the night, and an important decision that will affect them all.
Katy is enjoying her summer break from school when her parents tell her that they are thinking about homeschooling in the fall. Katy likes being an average girl and is afraid that being homeschooled will make her too different from everyone else.
Katy's parents will have to decide soon. This summer could bring a big change for the Porter family. Whatever they decide, it has already brought a big change in Katy's heart, for she is learning that being different might be okay after all.
Katy is a pure story of strong character, simple faith, and a loving family.
About the Author
Mary Evelyn Notgrass is a homeschool graduate who lives and works with her family in Gainesboro, Tennessee. She is the director of a dramatic society for homeschooled children and has written several historical dramas.
What Readers Are Saying
"Dear Mary Evelyn, My mom and I have been reading your book, Katy. (My brother listened too!) It has been really fun. We just finished it. We want to know if you can continue to write books about Katy. We would like to hear more! I'm 8 years old, and we home school too! It was nice to read a story about a little girl who loves the Lord." -- Ohio
"[M]y nine year old daughter is busy reading [Katy] and seems to be very inspired that a fellow homeschooler wrote and illustrated it. [Mary Evelyn] is an amazing author and artist!" -- Texas
A Review of Katy
"Katy is a safe and happy story set in a world of wholesome, fun and warm family relationships. Written in the classic style of the much-loved Milly Molly Mandy and Little House on the Prairie stories, Mary Evelyn Notgrass' story is unencumbered by an author's need to pander to popular culture.
"Young readers will relate to Katy's childhood experiences, like playing make-believe with siblings and friends, the disappointment of not earning a swimming patch and the simple pleasures of a visit to grandparents. Good role modeling is abundant, yet natural and never delivered with a lecturing tone. For instance, Katy restrains her first impulses in speech and action, and she checks with Mom before doing something for which she does not have specific permission. Siblings love and encourage each other, Dad prays and plays ball, Mom comforts and teaches Katy to sew, and parents ask for and grant forgiveness following a minor argument.
"Wound through the story is a pending decision whether to homeschool. Katy's parents give ear to the children's feelings while reserving to themselves the final decision.
"Mary Evelyn Notgrass' simple black and white illustrations complement the storyline's unaffected innocence. Katy makes a great addition to a family's bookshelf."
--Derri Smith, Sweet Home Press
About Make It Your Ambition
Each year another class of high school graduates moves into a new phase of life. For those who come from faithful households, helping them remain faithful must be a top priority for their parents and churches. As these young people make decisions about education, career, finance, and marriage, they need to keep in mind the Biblical principles that should guide their adult lives.
In his book, Make It Your Ambition, John Notgrass expresses optimism about the role young adults can play in building strong families and strong communities of faith. Instead of following the example of those who leave the church and make unwise decisions after high school, they can set an example for others by their devotion to the way of the Lord.
Subtitled "Encouraging Young People to Live for God's Glory," John's book is a call to action. He believes that young people have much to offer and that they should take advantage of the opportunities before them. In addition to offering commentary on education and home life, John examines what the Bible says about setting goals, managing finances, participating in the political arena, and preparing for marriage. Drawing on his own experiences, John advises young people to think about where they want to go in life, plan how they can get there, and keep in mind the legacy they want to leave for future generations.
John argues that building families of faith is not automatic; it requires diligent effort that begins long before marriage. He asks, "Since we want our children and our children's children to be faithful to the Lord, what should we do now to work toward that goal?" He encourages the development of attitudes and habits--such as a desire to work diligently, a positive view of children, and respect for the needs of others--that will help to make successful marriages.
The book closes with this challenge to fellow believers to work together in unity as they share good news with the world: "As different members of the body of Christ, we have different gifts. Each of us has an important place to fill in the household of God. We have the opportunity to represent our Father well, to promote the welfare of his family, and to welcome others into it. Make it your ambition to do your part."
About the Author
John is the oldest of six children. He graduated from high school at home in 1997. John has continued studying on his own a variety of subjects, including his special interests of history and government. He has cultivated his musical ability and recorded some of his original songs. John speaks at homeschool events and portrays individuals from history as a solo actor. He lives in Middle Tennessee, where he works as a partner with his parents in the Notgrass Company, publishing homeschooling curriculum and other resources that help parents teach the heart, soul, and mind. John and his wife Audra were married in March of 2009.
Table of Contents
- Make It Your Ambition
- Dream Big
- Is God's Will Missing?
- Lessons From Joshua
- Honor Your Father and Mother
- Why I Plan to Train My Children at Home
- Home Education Past High School
- So You Want to Be a Millionaire?
- Being Different
- What God Joins Together
- Receiving Children for God's Glory
- Civic Duties
- The Household of God
Sample Chapter
(Left click on the link to open the file in your web browser, or save the file to your computer by right clicking on the link and selecting "Save Target As...")
What Readers Are Saying
- Review from Home School Enrichment magazine.
- Review from TEACH Magazine.
"This book will help Christian homeschool graduates to see the blessings that they have in their home, their family, and their faith, while challenging them to dream big for God, pursuing a life that honors their parents and their God, and to serve Him with their whole lives no matter where He puts them. A must-read for all teens!" -- Sandi Q., mother
"It is an extreme blessing to see a godly young man take on the task of moving forward in Christ and have the desire to honorably lead others, too . . . This would be a book I'd recommend to my sons and daughters . . ." -- Charlie S., father
"I just finished reading your book, Make It Your Ambition. It is excellent in my opinion. Your points are presented clearly, and in a way that is easy to read. I also think that it is very valuable material to encourage young people to walk in the way of the Lord." -- Jon G., homeschool graduate
"I've really enjoyed the luxury of being able to consider your thoughts here. As I have spent a lot of time on these same topics, I certainly recognize all the work and energy it required to think through these things and get them down on paper! . . . I love to see how many of our thoughts run so parallel - often even using the same language. I think that's a real affirmation of the need for this message to our generation." -- Camden S., homeschool graduate
"It definitely provides Godly wisdom and helpful scriptural references . . . [Y]ou do a good job of grounding the instructions in your own practical life stories." -- Duane D., father
"I was challenged and encouraged by reading your book, and I hope that whoever the Lord has in mind for me to marry will read your book as well." -- Kiley Q., homeschool student
"The topics are what young people need at this point in life." -- Jim A., father
"There are a number of areas in which you demonstrate insight that is unusual at your age. For this we commend you. Seriously challenging people to a Godly (and, often, therefore, "non-conforming") lifestyle is often (maybe usually) thankless work." -- Larry and Laura R., grandparents
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book . . . Thanks for sending it to me and I want to read it again when [my friend] returns it." -- Irene A., great-grandmother