Fiction
by Rev. William R. Kelly
Instructions in Story Form for Use in the Primary Grades
Follow Tom and Ann as they learn about the Sacraments from their Uncle John. What is grace, and how do we get it? And how do the Sacraments help us? What are the outward signs of each Sacrament? Find the answers to these questions and more in Our Sacraments.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 130 pages
by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J.
Five boys. Five weeks camping in the pine forests of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. What could go wrong?
Walter Stanley’s eccentric bachelor uncle has offered to take him and a chosen friend on the adventure of a lifetime. Only it’s too hard to choose just one friend! So along come Ferdinand Eggert with his wireless radio, a persistent John Newell (who insists on paying his own way) and the perennially cheerful Carroll Cage…plus a newcomer to tag along as cook. But before they’ve even arrived at their destination, it becomes clear that one of the boys is a thief…how will they discover the culprit?
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 154 pages
by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J.
When the doctor declares that Florian Bell’s health is in serious danger, he is sent from his home in Milwaukee to stay with his cousins Hunter and Leo on the banks of Withrose Creek in Kentucky. There he learns how to fish, hunt, and lay snares…but the boys’ favorite pastime is trying to unravel the mystery of the old mill...what will its secrets unfold? What is Bob Lindon hiding there? And will the mysterious night riders manage to make good their threats against the Bell farm? Only time will tell...
Suggested Age Range:9-15
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 200 pages
by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J.
The year is 1669. In French colonial Quebec, Paul Guibeau has won fame for his bravery in fighting the Iroquois, and now he hopes to turn this success into a military career. When he overhears Count Frontenac commissioning Louis Joliet to chart the location of a fabled island in Lake Superior containing a rich supply of copper, Paul is determined to achieve glory by being the first to return with news of this mineral wealth. He sets off in a race across the wilderness with his friend and ally, a Huron Indian named Red Bear, in search of this island…but he does not count on the incursions of the Miami Indians into the lands now vacated by the fierce Iroquois. An unexpected struggle for freedom and for life itself now stands between him and his dreamed-of glory...
This book is the first of a pair that follow the discoveries of Marquette and Joliet in the 17th century. In The Race for Copper Island, we find Joliet and his companions setting off westward into the upper Great Lakes, in search of rich copper deposits that had been reported by missionaries in that region. At a Jesuit Mission near Sault Sainte Marie, Joliet meets with Father Marquette, whose observations and detailed maps of the shores of Lake Superior prove invaluable to his quest. At the same time, Father Marquette tells Joliet of his great desire to explore the Great River the natives have told him of—a river they call the Mississippi—the fulfillment of which will follow in the next volume, The Marks of the Bear Claws.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 150 pages
by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J.
Young Raymond Bolt accidentally ends up in Kentucky after hiding in a freight car, and finds himself among the Bell family near Withrose Creek during Maple Sugaring season. He, Leo and Hunter spend a season together learning many new and unexpected ways to help the Bell family farm.
Suggested Age Range:9-15
Paperback, size 8" x 5", 188 pages
The Voyage of the Pax
An Allegory
by Dom Bede Camm, O.S.B.
In writing this allegory to help explain the religious life to the boy oblates in his charge, Dom Bede drew upon the struggles he experienced during his conversion, as well as an experience from his Oxford years, when shipwrecked off the coast of Spain. Left clinging to the wreckage along with his fellow passengers for 17 hours, upon being rescued, he decided to consecrate his life to the service of God in thanksgiving.
The Voyage of the PAX, then, is a thrilling seafaring allegory portraying the journey of life, with its many threats to our souls, as a voyage of several young men, crossing the high seas to reach their home in the Golden City. They must work hard and make difficult decisions in order to pass the straits of Mors and enter into the haven of Æternitas.
This story is a perfect follow-up for those who loved Mother Mary Loyola's The King of the Golden City.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 72 pages
by Nancy Carpentier Brown
Summer vacation turns into an adventure for the three Nicholl sisters when Mr. Gilbert Chesterton and his wife come to town.
Eleven-year-old Clare hopes to write a detective story. Eight-year-old Cece wants to be a champion roller-skater. And ten-year-old Joan just wants to learn how to play the locked piano in the family living room.
But as they befriend the Chestertons, skating accidents, surprising friendships, puppet shows, and mystery solving ensue!
Paperback, size 8.25" x 5.75, 134 pages
by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J.
During his months in the Everglades, Phil Reed's imagination was captured by tales of a Spaniard's lost chest of gold. Back home, he and his friends can think of nothing else but returning to search for this treasure. When Mark Green, a friend of the Reed family, plans a trip to the 'Glades to stake out territory for a future plantation, he decides to take the boys with him as his helpers, and give them the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of finding the lost gold. But there's nothing like a search for gold to bring out the best and worst in people...and the boys find themselves in greater danger than they had expected. Will they find the gold, and if so, will the dark side of human nature ruin their best intentions?
Suggested Age Range:9-15
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 214 pages
by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J.
During his months in the Everglades, Phil Reed's imagination was captured by tales of a Spaniard's lost chest of gold. Back home, he and his friends can think of nothing else but returning to search for this treasure. When Mark Green, a friend of the Reed family, plans a trip to the 'Glades to stake out territory for a future plantation, he decides to take the boys with him as his helpers, and give them the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of finding the lost gold. But there's nothing like a search for gold to bring out the best and worst in people...and the boys find themselves in greater danger than they had expected. Will they find the gold, and if so, will the dark side of human nature ruin their best intentions?
Suggested Age Range: 9 - 15 years
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 184 pages
by Fr Raymond J O'Brien
Speed Austin never meant to get in trouble, but it seems to follow him wherever he goes. Yet, even though he’s part of the playground gang of toughs, the boys from St. Leo’s are desperate for a shortstop to take the place of Bud Philips—and Speed is the best candidate they can find. Speed jumps at the chance to get away from the fast life, but the gang wants him back, and they’re out to show him what happens to members that try to “quit.” Will Jack and the other Catholic school boys manage to help save him, or is it too late?
Written in 1930 by a Chicago Priest who served as chaplain at the County Jail and knew the difficulties faced by boys growing up in the big city, this thrilling story is newly illustrated by Erin Bartholomew.
Suggested Age Range:9-15
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 188 pages
by Fr Raymond J O'Brien
Midget is used to being on his own: after an accident took the lives of his mother and two sisters, neither his father nor his aunt has had much time for him. Left to his own devices, he has managed to develop quite a talent for petty theft. But when his father is killed by a rival gang while secretly delivering beer to speakeasies, his thoughts are filled only with getting revenge at all costs. Will Speed and the boys from St. Leo's be able to save him from himself.
The second book in an action-packed series written by a Chicago priest who was chaplain at the County Jail in the 1930s, boys will love the story of Midget and his friends at the Catholic school who are not willing to turn their backs on him.
Suggested Age Range:9-15
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 194 pages
by Fr Raymond J O'Brien
Frank "Red" Devlin is the best fighter in town--trouble is, he's always getting into scraps over something or other. He just can't stand being teased. He even bristles when his friend, Lieutenant Carroll, spots him smoking and playing craps with Clyde White and Bert Stone, and takes him to task for it. Red wants to be good, honest, but events just always seem to conspire against him. Will he learn to hold his own in the face of peer pressure, or will he give in and go along, even when he knows it's wrong?
From the author of Brass Knuckles and Midget comes this third novel, Nice Going, Red, a coming-of-age drama about a boy who has what it takes to make a great young man...but when it comes to his fear of looking foolish, he always seems to give in and take the easy road.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 290 pages
by Fr Francis J. Finn, S.J.
On Canal Street in New Orleans "Professor Thomas" finds a young boy in need of help...and embarks on an unexpected adventure in South America in the course of lending him that help. Will the forces of evil prevail against young Jose Maria? And who is this young hero who spares nothing to get him safely home?
Paperback, size 5.5" x 8.5", 196 pages
by Fr Francis J. Finn, S.J.
Bob Ryan has a way with animals. For that matter, he has a way with everyone! It’s hard to believe that his own father could have cruelly abandoned this boy to shift for himself. But Bob has no trouble making friends with everyone he meets, and with their help, he is able to make his way in the world quite well. Is he lucky, or have all his sufferings simply perfected love through adversity?
Paperback, size 5.5" x 8.5", 212 pages
The Harwood Mysteries Book 5
by Antony Barone Kolenc
Xan and Christina embark on a journey to Harwood Abbey, where they reunite with their old friends, Lucy and Joshua. When a brutal murder occurs at nearby Penwood Manor, all evidence points to Laurence, a Crusader recently returned from the Holy Land. Unconvinced of the man’s guilt, Xan and his friends must act swiftly to solve the crime.
Who could have committed such a horrible killing, and is anyone safe? Is Laurence tormented by demons, or is he haunted by some other secret? And will Xan be forever changed by the choice Lucy and Christina present to him?
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 208 pages
The Devil's Ransom
The Harwood Mysteries Book 6
by Antony Barone Kolenc
In this captivating climax to the award-winning Harwood Mysteries series, Xan must unravel his most perilous mystery yet. Xan, Christina, and Lucy undertake a dangerous voyage across treacherous seas so that Xan can confront Moorish pirates who are holding Uncle William for ransom. When the friends encounter a sinister evil force, their faith and friendship is put to the ultimate test. Set at the dawn of the Third Crusade, their adventure is brimming with peril and intrigue.
Will a malevolent figure from their past thwart their mission?
Are demonic forces at work outside the city walls?
Will Xan and his friends fall prey to the dark forces that threaten to consume them?
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 240 pages
by Paul Horgan
The Castillo brothers are artists in the craft of saintmaking—curing, carving, plastering, and painting dead wood into lifelike statues of God’s blessed ones. As boys, the brothers received this talent from a Franciscan friar, who saw in them the capacities to wield it well.
The brothers were fashioned by God to constitute, between them, that which it took to make a work of faith, which was the same thing as saying a work of art. Roberto had the eye, the swift and careful hand, to see what lay hidden in a stick of wood and to carve it free; while Carlos had the patient and musing joy to work by measure, like an apothecary, and never by the flash of certainty that comes from nowhere.
Christmas 1809: Roberto Castillo sets forth for the village of San Cristóbal, in New Mexico’s Rio Grande valley, with a statue of their patron to be installed and venerated at the Midnight Mass. It is the brothers’ masterpiece: St. Christopher bearing on his shoulder the holy Christ Child. Upon his return home, Roberto greets his brother, not with the payment for their labor, but with strange, miraculous tidings.
Told with tenderness and great suspense, and illustrated with eighteen fine drawings by the author, The Saintmaker’s Christmas Eve tells with imaginative fire and frank humility the miracle of Christmas: God’s mercy, made incarnate for all peoples.
Hardcover, size 9.25" x 6.25", 112 pages
by Frances Carpenter
Frances Aretta Carpenter (April 30, 1890 – November 2, 1972) was an American folklorist, author, and photographer. She traveled to, and published collections of folk stories from, nations on five continents.
This is one of a series of five ‘Grandmother tales’ published by Frances Carpenter in the 1930s and 40s. They were very popular in their time, and they have proved their enduring value to several generations of American children since then.
The author spent years researching and preparing these collections of some of the most culturally significant and typical tales from the oral traditions of several nations. Delightfully illustrated and typeset, these stories are perfect for reading to the children by the fireside or after the family’s evening meal or prayers.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 278 pages, Illustrated in Colour and Black & White
Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls II
by Catholic Nuns in America
Continue your family’s reading adventures with Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls, Volume II! In the second volume of this four-part series read:
- “Ottawanta”—The story of Chief Ottawanta and the hardships he endured to live the Faith
- “Elizabeth Bayley Seton”—The life story of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- “Anina”—The story of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s daughter, Anina
- “Silver Wings”—Mary Gertrude's airplane ride with her father—and God
- “John Philip”—John Philip’s adventure when he visits the circus
Written to be read aloud for the entire family’s entertainment, Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls offers four volumes each holding a handful of happy and courageous stories, compiled and written by Catholic nuns in the 1930's. Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls appeals to the whole family by using simple vocabulary to engage children but also providing well-developed plots to captivate adults’ interest.
Each story highlights a different virtue, and, to reinforce the virtue, every chapter closes with a two-line rhyming verse that provides both a chapter summary and a pithy message, all underlining the books’ main theme—the Church gives life to the soul through grace. Excellent when read by children, and even better when read to children by parents and older siblings, these timeless stories show the reward of virtue by the wondrous events that occur when one is generous with God.
As taken from the front cover of the book, the stories herein are republished in the hope that in a small way the Faith, Culture, and Tradition of the Holy Catholic Church may be preserved for our most prized possession, our children.
Our prayer for these books is the same as Baltimore’s first Archbishop, the Most Reverend Michael J. Curley, prayed when these books were first published:
“May our Divine Lord bless each boy and girl who reads these stories, as well as every one who helps to place them in their hands.”
Hardcover, size 7" x 4.75", 140 pages, Illustrated
Catholic Stories For Boys and Girls IV
by Catholic Nuns in America
Finish off Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls with the last book in this classic series! In the final volume of this four-part series read:
- "The Dawn of Spring"—Old Louis's reflections on eternity looking forward to spring
- "The Land of Erin"—The adventures of Saint Patrick, from his homeland to heaven and St Brigid
- "The Flowery Kingdom"—Blessed John Gabriel’s zeal for sanctity
- "The Lion Tamer"—The faith and strength of Saint Martina in the face of the wild beasts and the pagan Emperor Alexander
- "A Shepherd and His Sheep"—The life of Saint Vincent de Paul
Written to be read aloud for the entire family’s entertainment, Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls offers four volumes each holding a handful of happy and courageous stories, compiled and written by Catholic nuns in the 1930's. Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls appeals to the whole family by using simple vocabulary to engage children but also providing well-developed plots to captivate adults’ interest.
Each story highlights a different virtue, and, to reinforce the virtue, every chapter closes with a two-line rhyming verse that provides both a chapter summary and a pithy message, all underlining the books’ main theme—the Church gives life to the soul through grace. Excellent when read by children, and even better when read to children by parents and older siblings, these timeless stories show the reward of virtue by the wondrous events that occur when one is generous with God.
As taken from the front cover of the book, the stories herein are republished in the hope that in a small way the Faith, Culture, and Tradition of the Holy Catholic Church may be preserved for our most prized possession, our children.
Our prayer for these books is the same as Baltimore’s first Archbishop, the Most Reverend Michael J. Curley, prayed when these books were first published:
“May our Divine Lord bless each boy and girl who reads these stories, as well as every one who helps to place them in their hands.”
Hardcover, size 7"x4.75", 144 pages