First of all, Happy Halloween to all the saints, both those on earth and those who have preceded us into heaven. I believe that Christians can celebrate Halloween in good conscience and while giving glory to God in all we do. Here are some resources to read about this perspective on the celebration of Halloween:
Debunking Halloween Myths at The Flying Inn.
On Halloween by James Jordan.

I’m fascinated by young people who do hard things, like this 23 year old who has started an orphanage in Nepal.

Shakespeare really sounded like . . . a Scotsman?

Donate old cellphones to Hopeline to help women in crisis.

John Grisham’s latest thriller (yes, I admit to taking a guilty pleasure in reading the novels of Grisham) features a Lutheran pastor. I usually eschew popular, best-selling literature, unless I can say I discovered it before it became popular, in a sort of reverse, inside-out snobbery. But I make an exception for Grisham. I am tired of Grisham’s anti-death penalty agenda getting in the way of his story-telling, and from what I can tell by reading the review this latest book harps on that topic. I’ll probably read it anyway.

Jamie Langston Turner, who writes generally wonderful but quiet little stories, has another book or two that I haven’t read: No Dark Valley (reviewed at Hope Is the Word) and maybe a couple of older books: Suncatchers and By the Light of a Thousand Stars. I have read her latest book, Sometimes a Light Surprises, and I reviewed it here, although it wasn’t my favorite of her books.

Finally, the books I’ve read this month (October) have been mostly Cybils nominees and INSPY nominees, with a few exceptions thrown in for variety:

CYBILS MIddle Grade Fiction nominees:
Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai. Semicolon review here.
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Semicolon review here.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. Semicolon review here.
The Fences Between Us by Kirby Larson. Semicolon review here.
I, Emma Freke by Elizabeth Atkinson. Semicolon review here.
Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes. Semicolon review here.
The Private Thoughts of Amelia E. Rye by Bonnie Shimko. Semicolon review here.
Wishing for Tomorrow by Hilary McKay. Semicolon review here.
A Million Shades of Gray by Cynthia Kadohata. Semicolon review here.
This Means War! by Ellen Wittlinger. Semicolon review here.
The Death-Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean. Semicolon review here.
The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne. Semicolon review here.
My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian. Semicolon review here.
Grease Town by Ann Towell. Semicolon review here.
Max Cassidy: Escape from Shadow Island by Paul Adam. Semicolon review here.
Rocky Road by Rose Kent.
Crunch by Leslie Connor.
Leaving Gee’s Bend by Irene Latham.
Betti on the High Wire by Lisa Railsback.
Mamba Point by Kurtis Scaletta.

INSPYs Young Adult Fiction nominees:
This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas.
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr.
(I’m not allowed to post a review of these until the judging is over in December.)

Others:
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar. Semicolon review here.
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan. Semicolon review here.
Keep Sweet by Michele Dominguez Greene.
Carney’s House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace. Semicolon thoughts (and music) here.
My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay. Semicolon review here.
8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich. Semicolon review here.