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Two homeschool history programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: faith content, teaching style, what they cover, and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
These two are close: the differences are small, so price, grade range and what parents say below may decide it.
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| Notgrass History (Our Star-Spangled Story) | Master Books History (America's Story / The World's Story / One Nation Under God) | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | 1st–12th | 3rd–12th |
| Faith | Christian, Bible-integrated: Bible events on the timeline | Christian, Bible-integrated: Bible events on the timeline |
| Covers | American history | World history, American history |
| Approach | Christian narrative history: read-aloud textbook plus literature, songs, timeline and workbook | Charlotte Mason-style narrative history: living-book textbook plus teacher guide with narration, sketching and timeline work |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches from a scripted guide | The parent teaches from a scripted guide |
| Parent prep | Low to moderate (10-15 min daily reading; occasional craft/project supplies) | Moderate (open-and-go daily schedule, but narration and research need parent guidance) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Mostly offline (books and paper) |
| Video lessons | None: print, read-aloud and audio-only program; no video lessons | None: print textbook and teacher guide; no video lessons |
| Cost | $95: Our Star-Spangled Story Curriculum Package (Parts 1 & 2, rhythms/rhymes audio, timeline, workbook, answer key) | $60.78: America's Story Volume 1 Set (student textbook + teacher guide), grades 3-6 |
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| Common complaints |
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Parents describe Our Star-Spangled Story as beautifully made and genuinely engaging, with songs, a ready-made timeline, and companion literature that make American history memorable rather than a list of dates. The Christian, patriotic framing is a selling point for the families who want it, though a few reviewers found some units (like the Revolutionary War) too brief without extra supplementing, and the workbook leans toward coloring rather than writing practice.
Parents consistently say Angela O'Dell's conversational writing style makes this feel like a storybook rather than a textbook, and like that the open-and-go daily schedule needs little advance planning. The main criticisms are that historical coverage isn't comprehensive (both America's Story and The World's Story skip a fair amount), the craft activities can feel juvenile for middle schoolers, and some reviewers note the church-history sections lean strongly Protestant with occasional inaccuracies about other traditions.
Neither is better for every child. Notgrass History (Our Star-Spangled Story) is the stronger fit for story spine + activities. Master Books History (America's Story / The World's Story / One Nation Under God) is the stronger fit for living books and read-alouds; world history, in order; no, separate levels.
Notgrass History (Our Star-Spangled Story): christian, Bible-integrated: Bible events on the timeline. Master Books History (America's Story / The World's Story / One Nation Under God): christian, Bible-integrated: Bible events on the timeline.
Notgrass History (Our Star-Spangled Story): $95: Our Star-Spangled Story Curriculum Package (Parts 1 & 2, rhythms/rhymes audio, timeline, workbook, answer key). Master Books History (America's Story / The World's Story / One Nation Under God): $60.78: America's Story Volume 1 Set (student textbook + teacher guide), grades 3-6.
Summaries are in our own words.