Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry is a reflective novel about a small-town barber who looks back on his life, faith, and relationships. Through Jayber’s experiences, the story explores themes of love, loyalty, and the value of community. The novel is calm and thoughtful, encouraging readers to slow down and consider what gives life lasting meaning.

In this episode of Hoplite Radio, we sit down with parent volunteers, Wendy Rankin and Stevie Daigneault to learn more about our annual fundraiser, Numis Night, and the Numis Committee that pulls this event together each year.

Theo of Golden: A Novel by Allen Levi follows a mysterious stranger named Theo who arrives in the small southern city of Golden and begins buying pencil portraits of townspeople from a local coffeehouse to return them to their subjects. With each portrait bestowal, quiet friendships form and lives are gently changed, creating a narrative about generosity, connection, and the power of truly seeing others.

For Valentine’s Day! The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables) is a heartwarming historical romance about a young woman discovering courage, independence… and unexpected love. The novel is filled with quirky, vividly drawn, and relatable characters, all brought to life through Montgomery’s beautifully written prose. It is a timeless and captivating story of an endearing heroine breaking free from societal constraints, her family’s expectations, and the shadows of her own past.

We recently reached out to invite some of our alumni to be part of a special spotlight series to help us honor the legacy of the past 25 years and inspire the next generation of Ridgeview students. Daisy Yates (Class of 2020) shared that Ridgeview offers far more than academics. She said the school emphasizes “the good life,” and that she learned how to live her good life each day she attended — whether she realized it at the time or not.

The Magic Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton can be seen as the original precursor to modern adventure series The Magic Tree House, featuring children who climb a magical tree and visit ever-changing, fantastical lands. The books combine imaginative worlds, whimsical characters, and lighthearted adventures while exploring themes of friendship, bravery, and curiosity. Its inventive storytelling and sense of wonder laid the groundwork for later children’s fantasy series that mix learning with adventure.

My Brilliant Friend is the award-winning first book in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan series that follows two girls growing up in a poor, working-class neighborhood in 1950’s Milan. The novel examines how their competitive yet deeply connected friendship shapes their education, ambitions, and sense of self. Its sharp portrayal of class tension and intellectual rivalry makes the book compelling and engaging.

When orphaned noblewoman Marguerite is betrayed and cast away with her lover on a remote island, her life of privilege is stripped away—and she must fight for survival against bitter cold, hunger, and despair. As the world she once knew fades, she discovers hidden reserves of strength, faith, and purpose she never imagined she had. Isola is a fierce, haunting tale of endurance and rebirth—an unforgettable portrait of a woman remade by hardship and hope.

Piranesi lives in a vast, otherworldly House of endless halls, statues, and tides, recording its wonders with quiet devotion. When strange messages and forgotten memories begin to surface, he starts to question the world he’s always known. Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi is a haunting, beautiful puzzle about identity, solitude, and the thin line between truth and imagination.

We recently reached out to invite some of our alumni to be part of a special spotlight series to help us honor the legacy of the past 25 years and inspire the next generation of Ridgeview students. Gavin Steed, a lifer from the class of 2023, shared that he learned many things from his time at Ridgeview including what a good teacher is, what real friends are, and what it means to live a good life.

Follow Mrs. Harris, a London cleaning lady with a heart full of hope, as her dreams whisk her first to Paris in search of a Dior dress and then to New York on an unexpected whirlwind of adventure. Along the way, her kindness and stubborn optimism transform every life she touches. These delightful classics celebrate courage, compassion, and the quiet magic of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is a quietly powerful debut told entirely through letters, following seventy-three-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp as she navigates grief, aging, and the ties that bind. With her sharp wit and old-school correspondence, Sybil emerges as a prickly but deeply human character whose life slowly unfolds in surprising ways — charming, thoughtful, and at times achingly real. Some readers might find the purely epistolary format slow to start, but the payoff is a rich portrait of connection, regret, and renewal.

In this episode, we sit down with Mrs. Carvalho, our Outdoor Education Coordinator, and Mr. Lautenschlager, a Ridgeview parent, to discuss the growth and impact of Ridgeview’s Outdoor Program.

The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry is a clever, bookish adventure that blends literary fantasy with heartfelt family drama. It’s a love letter to classic literature, full of wit, imagination, and the chaos that ensues when fictional characters step into the real world. Both charming and thought-provoking, it’s perfect for readers who adore stories about the power—and danger—of books.

We recently reached out to invite some of our alumni to be part of a special spotlight series to help us honor the legacy of the past 25 years and inspire the next generation of Ridgeview students. Olivier Balló, a foreign exchange student in 2003-'04, wrote to us from his hometown in Germany. As a visiting student, he experienced Ridgeview from a unique perspective.⁠⁠

In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Ridgeview Classical Schools welcomes longtime college advisor Mrs. Dixon, who reflects on her 11 years guiding students through the ever-changing college admissions landscape.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell is a stunning, deeply felt novel that brings the past vividly to life. Centered on the death of Shakespeare’s young son, Hamnet, the story reimagines the lives of his family—especially his wife, Agnes—as they navigate unimaginable grief and the fragile beauty of love and family. O’Farrell’s writing is lyrical and intimate, capturing both the everyday rhythms of 16th-century life and the emotional depth of a family in mourning. It’s a quiet yet powerful meditation on loss, motherhood, and the enduring echoes of those we love. Tender, haunting, and unforgettable, Hamnet lingers long after the final page.

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak is a beautifully written, deeply emotional novel that crosses time and continents to explore memory, exile, and human connection. At the center are three unforgettable characters: Arthur, a Victorian-era boy with an extraordinary memory; Narin, a Yazidi girl shaped by silence and loss; and Zaleekhah, a contemporary scientist trying to make sense of her grief. Using the idea of water as “aquatic memory,” Shafak shows how the past flows through us all, shaping who we are and how we see the world. It’s a powerful, poetic story—rich in compassion, full of beauty, and grounded in a deep understanding of what it means to be human.

Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures is a heartfelt and quietly magical story about love, loss, and the surprising ways we rediscover ourselves. At its center is the touching connection between Tova, a widow still grieving her past, and Marcellus, an unusually clever octopus with a dry sense of humor and a surprisingly deep soul. As their lives cross paths with others searching for meaning, the novel gently unfolds into a story about second chances, unexpected friendships, and finding hope in unlikely places. It’s warm, moving, and leaves you with a full heart and a lasting sense of wonder.

We recently reached out to invite some of our alumni to be part of a special spotlight series to help us honor the legacy of the past 25 years and inspire the next generation of Ridgeview students. The first graduate to reply was Akshay Kumar, class of 2013. He joined us in first grade and stayed through graduation, soaking in all that Ridgeview has to offer.