The Mystery of History

The Mystery of History is a four-volume chronological world history series. The World History page of Bright Ideas Press describes it as a Christ-centered approach to world history for all ages and names Linda Lacour Hobar as its author. The series also has its own site, themysteryofhistory.com.

Last updated: 2026-10-09 · Every Homeschool Editorial Team

At a glance

Method	Subject-specialist world history (Every Homeschool classification); the publisher says the series supports all methods of education
Worldview	Christian; the publisher says the series is distinctively written from a Christian worldview, and its Volume I and Volume II pages state a young earth perspective. The publisher also says it does not write from a particular denominational standpoint. Every Homeschool classifies the series as Christian · Ecumenical, a term the publisher does not use
Grades	The publisher says its Student Readers can stand alone for all ages to enjoy and that Volume IV is best suited for children in 6th grade and up. Its Volume I samples define the student levels differently: the Companion Guide sample gives 1st to 4th, 5th to 8th, and 9th to 12th grade, and the Student Reader sample gives kindergarten to 3rd, 4th to 8th, and 9th to 12th
Formats	A hardback Student Reader with a download code for a digital Companion Guide; a Volume I digital Student Reader; a printed Volume I Companion Guide
Cost tier	Budget (Every Homeschool classification, based on the price of $99.95 listed on the publisher's product pages for a Student Reader with its digital Companion Guide download code, retrieved October 2026)
Parent intensity	3 (Every Homeschool rating)
ESA-common	Not stated on the publisher's pages
Accredited	Not stated on the publisher's pages
Website	themysteryofhistory.com; the volumes are also listed on the Bright Ideas Press World History page

Our scoreboard (1-5)

The scores and reasons below are Every Homeschool's own judgment, based on what the publisher describes on its public pages.

Criterion	Score	One-line reason
Academic rigor	3	The Companion Guide sample calculates a high school world history credit at 4 to 5 hours per week over a 36-week year, and the publisher says Volume IV is best suited for children in 6th grade and up
Ease of teaching	4	Each Student Reader comes with a download code for a Companion Guide that includes pretests, bi-weekly quizzes and exercises, and maps (Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, Volume IV), and the Companion Guide sample describes a weekly routine
Content quality	4	The series is four volumes in chronological order, and the Volume I page describes each week as three lessons, a pretest, review activities, and an exercise or quiz
Flexibility	4	The publisher says the Student Readers can stand alone for all ages and describes the Companion Guide as containing hands-on activities and research projects for younger, middle, and older students
Value for money	4	$99.95 per volume with a download code for the digital Companion Guide included, retrieved October 2026
Worldview scope	2	Written from a Christian worldview, with a young earth perspective stated for Volume I and Volume II
Visual/design	3	The publisher describes the Student Reader as a colorful, easy-to-hold hardback
Support resources	3	The series' own site lists a Support section with a consultation request, an FAQ, and a downloads troubleshooting guide

Who the publisher is

The World History page names Linda Lacour Hobar as the author of the series, and the Volume I product page says she also wrote its Companion Guide. Bright Ideas Press, which lists the series on its site, is covered in our Bright Ideas Press review. The series' own site describes the curriculum as written from a biblical worldview and says it integrates sacred and secular history on one continuous timeline.

The publisher describes the series in terms of its worldview. Its World History page says the series is distinctively written from a Christian worldview, and its Volume III product page says that volume presents the years 1455 to 1707 through a Christ-centered lens alongside events in the history of Christianity.

The core pedagogy

The publisher lists four volumes: Volume I, Creation to the Resurrection; Volume II, The Early Church and the Middle Ages; Volume III, The Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of Nations; and Volume IV, Wars of Independence to Modern Times (World History page). The Volume I page says the curriculum is arranged by quarters and weeks, that each quarter begins with an Around the World summary, and that each week has three lessons, a pretest, review activities including Memory Cards, and an exercise or quiz.

The Volume I product page says the Student Reader contains 108 lessons in a hardback and is divided into 36 weeks. The Companion Guide, also written by Hobar, is listed as containing pretests; hands-on activities and research projects for younger, middle, and older students; memory card ideas; bi-weekly quizzes and exercises; timeline helps; maps; and supplemental book lists. The Volume IV product page says that volume contains 84 lessons and is not on the same reading level as Volume I.

Signature mechanics, in our judgment: (1) A Student Reader that stands alone. The publisher says its Student Readers can stand alone for all ages to enjoy. (2) A Companion Guide with three student levels. The publisher's Companion Guide sample says it includes activities for Younger, Middle, and Older Students, and that one activity per week is quite acceptable. (3) A weekly rhythm. The same sample describes a short pretest that ideally starts the week, three lessons per week in chronological order, and an activity chosen for the student's level.

A week with The Mystery of History

The Companion Guide sample describes the week in its own steps. A short pretest ideally starts the week, followed by three lessons per week in chronological order and an activity chosen for the student's level. After three lessons it suggests a day for review and geography, and it alternates a What Did You Miss? exercise with a What Did You Learn? quiz from week to week.

For a family whose oldest child is in 1st to 4th grade, the guide suggests reading two to three lessons a week and completing one to three corresponding activities. For Older Students, whom it defines as 9th grade and up counting the course as a high school credit, it says a student should spend 4 to 5 hours per week in a 36-week school year to earn a full credit in world history, and that one volume can take 2 to 5 hours per week depending on the choices made.

What they do exceptionally well

Weekly and credit guidance in the Companion Guide. The Companion Guide sample gives a weekly routine, sample weeks for two age bands, and a credit calculation for older students. In our assessment, written guidance of this kind helps a parent plan a week for more than one child.

A stand-alone reader with optional depth. The publisher says the Student Readers can stand alone and describes the Companion Guide as containing activities for younger, middle, and older students. In our assessment, this lets a family choose how much of the Companion Guide to use.

What they do poorly

The publisher's pages disagree with each other in places. The Volume II and Volume III product pages say "Divided into 36 weeks," while the publisher's tables of contents for Volume II, Volume III, and Volume IV list 84 lessons in 28 weeks. Families should read the sample and table of contents for each volume before buying.

A younger child may need adjustments in Volume IV. The publisher says Volume IV is best suited for children in 6th grade and up, that younger siblings can tag along, and that families should expect to make modifications for children younger than sixth grade.

A stated Christian framework. The publisher says the series is distinctively written from a Christian worldview, and its Volume I and Volume II pages state a young earth perspective. Families who want a world history without a Christian framework should look elsewhere.

Who it fits / who it doesn't

• Pick Mystery of History if (our judgment): you want a Christian world history in four chronological volumes; you have children at several grade levels and want one Student Reader with a Companion Guide that offers activities for younger, middle, and older students; you want a written weekly routine.

• Skip Mystery of History if (our judgment): you want a world history written without a Christian framework; you want a course whose young earth perspective in Volumes I and II does not match your family's; you want a single printed volume with the Companion Guide printed in the box, since the publisher lists the Companion Guide as a download code with the Student Reader and lists a printed Volume I Companion Guide separately.

Cost honest assessment

The publisher lists each Student Reader with Companion Guide at $99.95 (Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, Volume IV), retrieved October 2026. The publisher also lists a Volume I digital Student Reader at $49.95 with the digital Companion Guide sold separately, and a printed Volume I Companion Guide at $49.95. By our arithmetic, the four Student Readers with Companion Guides total $399.80 at the listed prices. The Bright Ideas Press home page says it passed retail sales to its retail partners in early 2020, and its product pages pair each price with a Where to Buy button. This review quotes only the prices on the publisher's own pages and no retailer prices, so families should confirm the current price with the seller before ordering.

ESA eligibility notes

The publisher's pages that we read do not mention ESA programs or state marketplaces. Whether a title or vendor is approved is decided by each state program, so families should confirm the specific title and vendor with their program administrator before ordering.

Alternatives

• Story of the World, a family comparing history programs can compare it on its Every Homeschool page.
• Tapestry of Grace, a family comparing history programs can compare it on its Every Homeschool page.
• Notgrass History, a family comparing history programs can compare it on its Every Homeschool page.