Shipwreck On The Lights

“Should we make a run for it?” whispered April. “They’d see us,” Billy whispered back. Brush and stumps crowded against the side wall right up to their hiding place. No way to creep back and spy from that direction. “They were doing drugs, weren’t they?” April’s eyes were very round. “I think so.”

Book: Shipwreck On The Lights by Joan Rawlins Biggar, Concordia Publishing House, 1992

Genre: Adventure

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 11-14

Subjects: Friendship, Missions, Drugs

Summary: How much adventure can 3 kids find on one small island? Apparently a lot! Before they even take off, Billy witnesses a strange situation in the store with an individual being accused of negatively influencing a young boy. When that individual shows up on the island looking for work, Billy is a bit concerned. He and others notice that he’s not the only one. It seems that one of the two families on the island is familiar with this man as well and seems nervous around him. Billy and Jodi overhear a conversation that leads them to believe he is dealing drugs, but when he is fired he seeks revenge and Billy, Jodi, Mike, April and their families are a part of that revenge plan.

Notes: This story focuses on four Jr. High age kids as they seek to uncover the suspicious details of someone with a drug dealing reputation and his actions on the island. In the process, there is a bit of witnessing as one of the children is not a believer. There is some interaction with a missionary couple who run a mission ship in the area. The drug dealer is primarily out to get them as they are taking away his customers by getting people saved. There isn’t any outright blatant Gospel message, but a few statements along those lines. The main message is focused on finding something that can change your life and free you from a drug addiction. There is a short discussion about religion not being able to change people, but Jesus having the power to do so.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.