This week I read two great books about female journalists, The World is Bigger Now by Euna Lee and Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran by Roxana Saberi. One was a Korean-American who ended up in a North Korean jail while doing a story about North Koreans who escape to China. She was held for many weeks and put through a mock trial before finally being allowed to go home.

The other was also about a female journalist. An American girl born to an Iranian father and Japanese mother. She went to Iran to become familiar with her father’s homeland. She fell in love with the country and eventually decided to write a book about Iran interviewing people from all walks of life. Two months before her scheduled departure she was arrested, interrogated at length, put on trial and sentenced to eight years. Due to international outcry she was released after one hundred days.

These are my favourite kind of books to read. Books that show how the human nature can endure and even shine while going through trials.

16-year-old daughter – Wild Grows the Heather in Devon by Michael Philipps. This isn’t the first time she’s read this book, so I know it must be good.

14-year-old son – Aircraft of WWII in Combat edited by Robert Jackson. I know this is a favourite because I see it out a lot.

12-year-old son – Ripley’s Believe It or Not. This is another book that I see out a lot. They love all the weird and unique facts it contains.

10-year-old daughter – Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

9-year-old daughter – Peanuts by Charles Shulz. What can I say we love all of the Peanuts characters, but I do have to say that my favourite is Snoopy.

6-year-old son – One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey. This must be the week for favourites. This is another family favourite. We’ve read many times about Sal and her loose tooth and growing up when things don’t go as you planned.

3-year-old son – Alfie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes. Ethan loves Alfie. That’s probably because Alfie is a typical three-year-old with all the joys and trials that come with being three and having a younger sibling.