While I was growing up, I was raised Catholic. After branching out on my own and finding a church that allows me to think for myself, for the most part…as long as it follows the bible, I have come to learn more. One of the things I have learned more about is Reformation Day. Because of this, I was super excited to review Letters from Katie Luther by Shirley Casemier from Reformed Free Publishing Association.
What Is It
Katie Luther, Katherine von Bora Luther, the wife of Martin Luther, is the main character of this book. We follow her through letters that she wrote to her friend Ave (ah-vay). While this is not an actual biography, the story itself had a lot of thought and research put into it to make it as accurate as it could be.
The book itself is a paperback book ($14.95) with just under 100 pages. There are a few random black and white photos spread throughout the book to show you some of the places that are being talked about.
Through the letters, we learn much about the life of Katie and Martin Luther. As a new (ish) learner of Reformation Day, Katie’s letters really helped me to understand more about the background of Martin Luther himself through his wife writing to her friend.
How We Used It
While I had all the intentions of reading this to my children to teach them about Reformation Day, and I still do plan to do this, I have claimed this book as mine for the time being. I can relate to Katie. I was Catholic, I “escaped” from that and had my eyes opened. Not only that, but I could relate to Katie dealing with her husband’s “sickness” or mental health issues. I have been dealing with this on a daily basis.
So, for this review, I have been reading the book myself. I have been laughing and crying with Katie and Ave. While I have been enjoying this book, I can tell that it is also written for older children. That is why I have no issue with reading this aloud to my children.
What We Thought
Oh my! That was my initial thought. This was a book I could not put down once I started reading it. The writing made me feel everything that was being described. I could feel the feelings Katie was going through, even without previous experience. I laughed, I cried, I yearned to know more. Even though I know the ending, I still yearned to know more about the daily life of this family.
This is a book great for any family that wants to learn more about Martin Luther and his family. The struggles they faced and the way they relied on God through it all. Breaking away from the “normal” is not easy, but having faith in the real God to guide you through will give you the strength to go on your path.
If you are looking for a good read this month, one that will lead up to Reformation Day, you will want to grab your own copy of Letters from Katie Luther.
