The Mystery of History
A four-volume, chronological world history curriculum by Linda Lacour Hobar, written from a biblical worldview. One Student Reader per family plus a 500+ page Companion Guide gives a year of history with activities for younger, middle and older students.
What is The Mystery of History?
The Mystery of History is a world history curriculum for the whole family, written by Linda Lacour Hobar from a biblical worldview. Four volumes move chronologically from Creation to modern times. Its signature idea is putting sacred and secular history on one continuous timeline, so kids see Bible events alongside the rest of the ancient world.
Hobar began writing it in 2000 for her own children. It's now an award-winning program used by homeschool families, co-ops and small schools.
How it works
A typical week has about three short, story-like lessons. A parent reads aloud to younger kids, or older students read on their own. After each lesson, families pick activities from the Companion Guide, which has three tiers:
- Younger students: coloring pages and simple hands-on projects
- Middle students: mapping exercises and short writing
- Older students: research projects, essays and quizzes
Weeks often end with timeline work and reviews. Each session takes about 30 to 60 minutes. One Student Reader serves the whole family.
What it covers
| Volume | Title | Era |
|---|---|---|
| I | Creation to Resurrection | Ancient history |
| II | The Early Church and the Middle Ages | Medieval history |
| III | The Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of Nations | Renaissance and early modern |
| IV | Wars of Independence to Modern Times | Modern history |
Each volume gives 28 to 36 weeks of lessons. Volume I is now in its third edition. The reading level grows from about grades 4 to 5 in Volume I to grades 10 to 11 in Volume IV.
Who it's best for
It fits Christian families who want one history program for all their kids, and co-ops that teach mixed ages. High schoolers can earn a world history credit, especially with Volumes III and IV. Families wanting a non-religious approach should try The Story of the World. Browse more Christian history curriculum.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, each Student Reader lists at $99.95 with the digital Companion Guide included; Volume I was $79.95 on sale. The Four-Volume Set was $306 on sale. Plan on three atlases, and add audiobooks or timeline figures if you like.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often. Curriculum books are common eligible categories; Florida's PEP handbook, for example, lists curriculum and instructional materials. Some programs restrict religious materials, and each program decides. Check your state, such as Florida or Arizona, or start at our scholarships hub. Save The Mystery of History to your wishlist and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
- The Story of the World is also chronological and family-friendly, but not written from a biblical worldview.
- Notgrass offers Christian history by grade band with full-color texts.
- Tapestry of Grace is a deeper, multi-subject classical unit study.
- Veritas Press is a classical Christian publisher with its own history sequence.
See our best homeschool history curriculum picks or all history curriculum.
Who The Mystery of History is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Christian families teaching several ages together
- Families wanting Bible history integrated with world history
- Co-ops and small Christian schools
- High schoolers needing a world history credit (Volumes III and IV)
Look elsewhere if
- Secular homeschoolers
- Families wanting a neutral, non-providential perspective
- Young children in the later, denser volumes
The Mystery of History pros and cons
Pros
- One reader serves the whole family
- Tiered activities for younger, middle and older students
- Chronological timeline ties events together
- Conversational, story-like reading
- Author-narrated audiobooks and online classes available
Cons
- Strong providential bias by design
- Big jump in reading level from Volume I to Volume IV
- Needs specific atlases for mapping answers
- Lots of optional add-ons can be overwhelming
What’s included
- Four volumes from Creation to modern times
- Sacred and secular history on one continuous timeline
- Companion Guide with activities, quizzes and maps for younger, middle and older students
- 28 to 36 weeks of lessons per volume
- Audiobooks narrated by the author
- Self-paced online classes and lectures for Volumes III and IV
How much does The Mystery of History cost?
As of October 2026, each Student Reader lists at $99.95 and includes a download code for the 500+ page digital Companion Guide; Volume I was on sale for $79.95. The Volume I Best Seller Bundle was $157 (list $198.89), and the Four-Volume Set was $306 (list $399.80). Printed Companion Guides, audiobooks, timeline figures and planning pages are sold separately.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume I Student Reader + digital Companion Guide (list) | $99.95 | One-time | — |
| Best Seller Bundle: Volume I (sale) | $157 | One-time | — |
| Four-Volume Set (sale) | $306 | One-time | — |
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Reviewers summarized by HomeschoolTools call The Mystery of History a premier chronological history curriculum for Christian homeschoolers, praising its living-book style, open-and-go structure and multi-level activities. Common concerns: the providential perspective is off-putting to secular families, and the reading level and density climb sharply from Volume I to Volume IV.
Common praise
- Conversational, living-book writing
- Integrates biblical and world history seamlessly
- Multi-level activities make family teaching easy
Common complaints
- Providential bias secular families dislike
- Big jump in difficulty in later volumes
- Later volumes less suitable for young kids without changes
The Mystery of History family reviews
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The Mystery of History FAQs
What ages is The Mystery of History for?
It's written for the whole family, with activities for younger, middle and older students. The reading level starts around grades 4 to 5 in Volume I and reaches grades 10 to 11 by Volume IV, so parents usually read aloud to younger kids.
What do I need to buy for The Mystery of History?
The publisher says one Student Reader per family is enough, because it includes a download code for the 500+ page Companion Guide. The only other essentials are the three recommended atlases for mapping.
Which volume should I start with?
Most families start with Volume I, ancient history, but each volume stands alone as a full year. The publisher suggests Volume IV if a high schooler can only do one.
Can The Mystery of History count for high school credit?
Yes. The publisher says any volume can meet high school credit criteria when properly used, and Volumes III and IV are the best choices for high school.
How long does a volume take?
Each volume provides 28 to 36 weeks of study, about a school year. Families with young children often go slower, which the publisher says is fine.
Is The Mystery of History secular?
No. It's written from a biblical worldview and integrates sacred and secular history on one timeline. Secular families usually prefer The Story of the World or another neutral program.
Can I use ESA funds for The Mystery of History?
Often, since curriculum is a common eligible category, but some programs restrict religious materials. Check your program's rules and save The Mystery of History to your Edulist wishlist.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- themysteryofhistory.com
- themysteryofhistory.com · faq
- themysteryofhistory.com · about
- themysteryofhistory.com · four volume set
- themysteryofhistory.com · best seller bundle volume 1 ancient history
- themysteryofhistory.com · ancient history
- homeschooltools.net · the mystery of history
- stepupforstudents.org · pep family handbook