It's been busy for a while, but I'm back with some new books for you. First up is a NASCAR book, about two young men who get a chance to be a part of a race car driver's team. Next is an intense life or death battle over ultimate truth. Then comes a book that seems to defy genre limitations. It's realistic, but fantasy, but not... read and see what you think it is!
#1 - Slowdown at Sears Point
by Ken Stuckey, Baker Books, 1999 
Genre: Sports
Target Audience: Boys 12-18
Subject: Trusting God, helping others, wittnessing
Summary: Two young boys have a chance to be a part of NASCAR racing: Doug and Paolo. Orly Mann, a famous racecar driver has given them a chance to be a part of his team for this race. Both boys are struggling with some things. Doug is trying to figure out why his dad abandoned his family – although his mom claims he didn’t. Paolo is trying to solve a mystery that someone told him could be dangerous. Orly and his crew have to figure out how to fix what’s wrong with
Notes: You have to like racing to enjoy this book. It's that simple. You don't have to know about it- alot is explained as the book progresses, but you have to want to understand that world. It's the main focus. The story is secondary. The story is fine, it's just not the focus of the book.
Recommendation Scale: For sports fans: 5, for non-sport fans: 1
Reviewer: J:-)mi
#2 - The Mind Siege Project
by Tim LaHaye and Bob DeMoss, Thomas Nelson, 2001 
Genre: Realistic
Target Audience: Boys and Girls 14+
Subject: Truth - ultimate truth, tolerance
Summary: 8 students on a houseboat for 1 week. They have agreed to be a part of a school project for extra credit. Little did they know the project was a battle for life and soul. Teacher teaches and preaches tolerance at all costs. There is no ultimate truth. Right and wrong are up to the individual to decide. Except... when she and her husband give instructions they're supposed to be followed. However, her students have learned well. Right and wrong are up to them. Pretty soon one is in life threatening condition, one wants to commit suicide, two risk their lives trying to save another, no way to get help... but tolerance must prevail!
Notes: This is one of those everyone should read. It's so typical! The teacher says everyone must be tolerant of everyone else, but threatens to take away a Bible when a student reads it in private in a corner during meditation time. The students go with the "no ultimate truth" theory and get hurt because of it. It's just so logical! It's a great picture of what life is like when someone really does try out this worldview. The ending is pretty awesome too! It's just about the best ending the book could possibly have!
Recommendation Scale: 5
Reviewer: J:-)mi
#3
by Lena Wood, Standard Publishing, 2006
Genre: Realistic + Spiritual sort of fantasy/allegory - kind of hard to define
Target Audience: Boys 15-19
Subject: Spiritual Warfare - Armor of God
Summary: Elijah and his clan have found so much of the Armor of God, but clues to finding the last pieces seem to be non-existent. That's not all Elijah is struggling with though. The reality of high school and a mom who isn't a believer is wearing him down. When one thing after another seems to go wrong with life, Elijah retreats to the woods where he gets in a major accident and begins an intense spiritual battle.
Notes: This book was fascinating. It compels you, draws you in. You can't understand it all without the context of the earlier books in the series, but the story that takes place in The Angel Of Fire is well done. You feel the characters' struggles. The spiritual realm isn't something normally dealt with in teenager books, but Lena Woods writes it well. Primarily because of this aspect of the story, I highly recommend it.
Recommendation Scale: 4.5
Reviewer: J:-)mi
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