The Alliance

My whole new chance at life was not turning out as I had hoped. It’s kind of easy to think that you’ll be ale to reinvent yourself, to change the course of your life with a single decision. But then you turn around and you are facing the same people, who look at you the same way they always have.

Book: The Alliance by Sarah Anne Sumpolec, Moody Publishers, 2004

 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 15-18

Subjects: Loss, New Age religion, friendship, popularity, dating relationships, family relationships

Summary: Beka really had hoped things would be different now that she’s a Christian. But just because she has changed doesn’t mean those around her have – particularly Gretchen, a girl at school who rules the popular crowd. Gretchen has decided Beka should rejoin the popular crowd, but popularity comes with a very high price. Gretchen has gotten into some New Age stuff, attempting to cast spells and such. Even worse is the fact that Gretchen has it in for Beka’s friend Lori. She puts a plan in motion to ruin Lori, but the results may just ruin Beka as well. Meanwhile, Mark, the boy she likes, tells her some things that make her uncomfortable. When Beka sees him showing interest in another girl but professing interest in her, she gets quite confused. She knows she should talk to her dad about all that’s going on, but keeps trying to control it all herself. It takes a dangerous situation to make her finally break the truth to her dad.

Notes: This book is an interesting look at one girl’s attempts to grow in her walk with Christ while still facing the realities of highschool. It does a good job painting a realistic view of things, showing the struggles a teen would face as they seek to live for Christ. There are people in Beka’s life who are challenging her to mature and grow spiritually. It’s a lot of highschool drama with all the “she likes him but he doesn’t like her, but instead likes this one so she hates this one”, etc. It is pretty good in it’s spiritual content though – even at one point Beka realizes that one boyfriend hasn’t mentioned God at all, while one boyfriend talks about Him every time she sees him.

Recommendation Scale: 4.5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.