The Encore

He wrote, “I trust that God within you will lead you.” Would He? And would I know where that was? I had been all ready to tell Mark I wanted to slow things down, to be friends, and all he had to do was walk in the door and I second-guessed myself. I didn’t feel sure of anything.

Book: The Encore by Sarah Anne Sumpolec, Moody Publishers, 2006

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 14-18

Subjects: Dating Relationships, Pornography, Remarriage, Relationships with family, Religious rights

Summary: Decisions and doubts and more decisions with more doubts. That pretty much describes Beka’s life right now. Where should she go to college? Which boy should she pursue – Mark who is here and interested in very physical relationships or Josh who is away at college and interested in very godly relationships? How should she respond to the one she decides not to pursue? How can she help her little sister stay out of the trouble Mai is determined to get her in when Lucy won’t even talk to her? Should she accept the recording contract offered to her? What should she do about the principal trying to tell her she can’t sing her song because it is a Christian song and attempting to fire her teacher for it? How can she face the idea of moving out of her home an into Gabby’s when her dad marries her? And how in the world is she going to know what God thinks of any of these decisions?

Notes: In this book, Beka continues to face the issues of dating relationships and family relationships as she seeks to figure out how God wants her to deal with all the problems she is facing. This book, as with the others in the series, covers quite a few intense issues, but as they are real issues, facing real teens today, it is also very realistic. It also takes a look at what God has to say about some of these things. This is the 5^th book in the Becoming Beka series, a story about a young teen who’s mother died, who felt so lost she considered suicide and who became a Christian and is now seeking to live her life in highschool as a follower of Christ even while many typical high school challenges come her way.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.