Ants In The Sugar Bowl

Angry and crushed all at the same time, Trish slouched back in her seat and pouted. She thought about crying, but changed her mind. That was it! She would never cry again! It won’t be any fun for God to make me miserable if I don’t cry, she thought smugly.

Book: Ants In The Sugar Bowl by Karren Boehr, Concordia Publishing House, 1986

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 10-14

Subjects: Missions, Friendship

Summary: Goodbye home. Goodbye pet. Goodbye favorite stuffed animal. Goodbye best friend. Trish is leaving everything behind. Her parents have decided to become missionaries and move to a tropical island. And Trish is NOT happy about it! At first she confidently trusts that God will make her parents change their minds. But when they do move, Trish decides God can not be trusted and decides to hate everything about their new home. Even when a girl her age tries to make friends with her, Trish refuses to enjoy her friendship. Can anything ever make her happy or trusting of God again?

Notes: This is a missionary story about a young girl who has to learn what it means to serve God when things don’t go our way. She has no desire to be a missionary and doesn’t even think she can. It takes actually getting in danger to teach her that God can be trusted and that life is a lot more enjoyable when you aren’t resisting the blessings God wants to give you.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.