MasterBooks: Too Gentle to Graduate? Is It Enough for College or Career?
If you’ve ever dared to type the word “MasterBooks” into a Christian homeschool Facebook group, you already know what happens next. Within seconds, the comments roll in:
“Not enough review for retention.”
“It’s a year behind in math.”
“My kid didn’t retain anything.”
“It stalled us in 5th grade.”
“I wouldn’t use their Language Arts for younger years.”
Ouch.
Those comments hit harder than a toddler with a plastic sword.
But here’s the twist: scroll down a little further and you’ll find moms gushing, “MasterBooks fits my family like a glove. My kids love it! We’ll never use anything else!”
So which is it?
Too gentle to graduate, or secretly enough to launch your child into college and career?
Let’s dive in.
Just a quick heads up: Some links are affiliate links. If you use them, I might earn a small commission — which helps fund the endless parade of snacks my kids demand during “school.”
Retention: Open-and-Go or Open-and-Oh-No?
One of the loudest critiques of MasterBooks is retention.
Parents say, “My child just didn’t remember what they learned.”
Here’s the thing: some kids have steel-trap memories.
Others… well, they’re more like colanders.
Everything leaks out unless you keep pouring it back in.
If you’ve got a colander brain in your homeschool, you’ll be inventing your own review work to make things stick.
Now, technically, MasterBooks does sell extra practice books.
Most people don’t know about them, but they exist.
They’re not in the main package, but they’re cheaper than buying an entirely new curriculum, and they help.
But let’s be real: the moment you’re printing or buying extras, it’s not quite “open-and-go” anymore. It’s more like “open-and-oh-no.”
Math: Gentle Start, Surprise Ending
Let’s talk numbers.
Parents often say MasterBooks Math starts out slow — especially in the early grades.
Really, though, that’s not always bad.
Some kids can’t sit still longer than it takes to lick the peanut butter off a celery stick and leave the celery behind.
For them, the shorter lessons can be a gift.
But here’s the catch: by the time you hit upper elementary, some families feel like the rug gets pulled out from under them.
Suddenly, they’re asking, “Wait, where’s my step-by-step teaching guide?”
Spoiler alert: it’s not there.
If you’re comfortable teaching math on your own, you’ll probably be fine.
But if you like curriculums that practically sit beside you, hold your hand, and whisper math formulas into your ear — MasterBooks might leave you hanging.
Charlotte Mason Vibes: Love It or Leave It
MasterBooks is steeped in Charlotte Mason philosophy — short lessons, narration, living books.
Fans absolutely love this (I really like it too!).
They say it keeps school short, sweet, and manageable.
It saves time and lets kids explore outdoors instead of being chained to a desk for seven hours.
But critics?
They call it “code” for skipping content.
If your personality leans toward color-coded binders, complete checklists, and the satisfaction of knowing you’ve ticked off every single box, MasterBooks’ style may feel too relaxed.
This isn’t a flaw in the program — it’s just a style thing.
Some people like sweet tea.
Others would rather drink straight espresso.
The Language Arts Cage Match
Now, let’s step into the homeschool mom boxing ring: MasterBooks Language Arts.
Commenter one: “The people who say that MB language arts is not enough are probably not utalizing everything the book has.”
Commenter two: “I was, and it wasn’t enough for my boy to retain the material.” 🤷♀️
Commenter one: “Sorry to hear! I hope you found something that works well for you.”
This sums it up.
For some kids, it sticks beautifully.
For others, it slides right off like butter on a hot pancake.
If your child is naturally language-oriented, they may thrive.
If your child needs more repetition, you might be frustrated.
When It Works, It Really Works
For every frustrated mom in the comments, there’s another posting heart emojis and singing MasterBooks’ praises:
The secret?
Placement tests.
A lot of families get tripped up because they assume Grade 3 means “Level 3.”
It doesn’t.
Placement tests can put your child at the right level — and suddenly, things click.
I’ve even seen kids working ahead in math because they started in the right spot.
When it works, MasterBooks really works.
It’s gentle, confidence-building, and saves parents time.
For families who value the Charlotte Mason approach and want a lighter day, it fits like a dream.
So… Is It Enough to Graduate?
Short answer: yes, but with nuance.
MasterBooks is definitely on the gentle side of the academic scale.
Let’s pretend we’re in a theatre now…*leans in, whispers “Easy.”
*sound of gasping and then… “Wait, did she just say easy?”
Yes. Easy.
But gentle doesn’t automatically mean “not enough.” If you:
Start with the placement tests,
Add extra practice when your child needs it,
And embrace the Charlotte Mason vibe…
…it can absolutely be enough for college or career prep.
But What If You Want More Rigor?
If you’re looking for something more intense, MasterBooks probably won’t scratch that itch.
You may want to explore Christian curriculums that are known for being more rigorous, like:
BJU Press (this is what I use),
Memoria Press, or
In fact, I’ve got a full breakdown of rigorous Christian homeschool curriculums right in this post— so if you’d rather see your kids sweat over Saxon Math than breeze through a short MasterBooks lesson, that’s your next stop.
Final Thoughts (and a Mom-to-Mom Nudge)
MasterBooks isn’t for everyone.
If you want long lessons, constant review, and detailed teacher instructions, you’ll probably be frustrated.
But if you want short lessons, a Charlotte Mason approach, and a lighter, family-friendly schedule — you might find yourself in the “fits like a glove” camp.
The most important thing?
Don’t just pick based on the grade level.
Take the placement test.
Fill the gaps where needed.
That’s what separates the families who love MasterBooks from the ones who toss it on the “curriculum graveyard” pile.
And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these choices, I’ve got your back. That’s why I created the Homeschool Parenting Program — a step-by-step course to help you homeschool confidently without the burnout. You can check it out [here].
