I love sharing great authors with you – authors that you can almost always assume will provide a wonderful living literature experience for you and your children. Patricia St. John is one of these authors.
Ms. St. John (1919-1993) was first an English missionary in Morocco where she worked in a medical mission trying to win the hearts of Muslim people for Christ. Second, she was the author of many books for children and young adults. Each book is not only a wonderful story, often filled with adventure, but interweaves Christian truths seamlessly as well.
No matter the book, each main character has at least one character issue to work through, whether that be selfishness, hatred, or loneliness, among others. The point of finding our Savior, the only One who can help us defeat our character flaws and lead us to a life everlasting is always the main point of the story, but is never the pounding point. In other words, the message is gentle and beautiful. And the characters always come out having learned that their lives are all about choices and how to choose the better part.
One of the books stands out as slightly different than the others because it’s a piece of Biblical historical fiction. Twice Freed is the story of Onesimus, the slave of Philemon, who learns throughout the story what real freedom means – freedom in Christ rather than freedom from slavery. Since it’s historical fiction, there are liberties taken in the storyline, but this is a very interesting viewpoint about a section of the Bible that we might otherwise not consider.
Her picture books (of which we’ve only read A Home for Virginia) are appropriate for children from 5-10, while the chapter books seem to be most appropriate for ages 8-14.
Patricia St. John’s books are currently in print through Kingsley Press. By clicking on the link, you will be able to see two pages full of Ms. St. John’s books available. All the books I have personally read and recommend are included as linked graphics in this post.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS OF LIVING LITERATURE?
-Written by Cindy, an eclectically Charlotte Mason mom of three in Central KY. You can find her blogging at Our Journey Westward and find her nature study curricula at Shining Dawn Books.
we LOVE Patricia St. John! we discovered her books through some British friends of ours and have collected many of them now. they are ALL good!
I love how she presents the children and how they work through their dilemma, but doesn’t ever seem to force the moral…
🙂
amy in peru
@ fisher academy international