’Catholic and Christian’ by Alan Schreck.
Since the OP mentioned Catholic history, Mr. Schreck also wrote a very good introduction to the history of the Church:
The Compact History of the Catholic Church. It’s solid overview of Church history but short and inexpensive.
I also really recommend
Why Do Catholics Do That?. It really does explain all sorts of things that many Catholics take for granted and might not know how to explain to you, or even realize they an explanation. It’s also a book that’s not too long or expensive.
If you’re curious about the Rosary, this book has a chapter on it which should give you all the information you need right now. However if someday you’d like to learn a lot, lot more about it, the same author wrote
Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations, and the Telling of the Beads which is a very thorough history and explanation of the Rosary. However, it’s much longer and more expensive than his other book.
I also really, really recommend
The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need To Know But No One Ever Taught You by the late Michael Dubruiel. I’m a lifelong Catholic and I still learned things from that book and I recommend it to everybody. From the Amazon page:
In this complete guide to the celebration of the Eucharist you get:
- Step-by-step guidelines to walk you through the Mass
- Biblical background of the prayers of the Mass
- Insights from the Tradition and teaching of the Church
- Practical aid to overcoming distractions
- Concrete ways to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ at every Mass
- A handy study guide for individual or group use
Again, it’s inexpensive and not too long. If even **that **is too long or expensive, the author also wrote
The Pocket Guide to the Mass, a more brief explanation.
There are other useful books in the How-To series of books from Our Sunday Visitor:
The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions
The How-To Book of the Bible
The How-To Book of Sacramentals
Finally, once you’re done with RCIA pick up a copy of
Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians. It’s a book inspired by the instructions that new Christians received in entering the Church in ancient times, and is basically a devotional for the days between Easter and Pentecost using the writings of several Church Fathers like St. Augustine and St. Cyril of Jerusalem.
Designed as a devotional – and more – for the fifty days between Easter and Pentecost, Living the Mysteries is a rich spiritual resource valuable any time of the year. Each day features:
• A passage from the Church’s great teachers that focuses on a relevant point of the mystical or moral life
• A plan with practical applications for letting that reading inspire your prayer and actions throughout the day You will treasure these timeless lessons on gaining eternal life.
It’s appropriate for the 50 days of Easter but really it can be read any time of year by anyone. The authors are Scott Hahn and Mike Aquilina so you know the book is solid.
Next year, if you need a devotional for Advent, I recommend
Behold He Comes: Meditations on the Incarnation by Father Benedict Groeschel.
