The Trick

0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]-->

Rudy couldn’t hold his eyes any more. He looked casually out the window and watched Chicago slip off into its summer twilight. He needed to find his passion so he wouldn’t have to show off or hide things. The way Jesus did.

Book: The Trick (Christian Heritage Series: The Chicago Years #1) by Nancy Rue, Focus On The Family Publishing/Bethany House Publishers, 1999

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 10-14

Subjects: Friendship, Identity, Crime, Relationship with parents and siblings

Summary: Chicago is going to be absolutely awesome! Well, at first, when Rudy sees all the crowded buildings and streets he is a bit worried, but in no time at all he is finding plenty of excitement and mischief to get into. A large part of that is due to his new friend Little Al, a wanta-be mobster. He is working his way up the crime scales in hopes of working with Al Capone. When Rudy isn’t hanging out with Little Al, he is, to his horror, being educated in proper social skills by his aunt. When his new friend’s connections lead him to trouble, Rudy longs to help him somehow, but can not find any way to do so. But if someone doesn’t intervene, Little Al will be locked away in jail.

Notes: This is the fourth set of books in the Christian Heritage Series. Each set focuses on a particular time period and tells the story of a young boy growing up in that time. This set is about a young boy and his twin sister who have been raised by their busy father since the death of their mother when they were babies. They and their father move in with their aunt in Chicago where they become personally acquainted with members of the mob and learn about passions and the outpouring of them. In this book, Rudy learns for the first time, that he has a passion for people and it’s output takes it’s form in artwork. He has to make a choice about whether to follow Little Al deeper into his criminal lifestyle or reject that in order to do what he believes is right.There isn't a ton of spiritual content in this one, but you can tell it's setting the stage for more. Rudy is just learning that he actually wants to follow Jesus.

Recommendation Scale: 5//5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Peter 1:22 – Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.