The New Recruit

I was speechless and streamed that this loafer-wearing, braces sucking, four-eyed mama’s boy had the nerve to get all up in my business. What had I done that was so bad? It was going to be a looooooooong eight weeks.

Book: The New Recruit: Mission 1: Moscow (The Mission League)by Jill Williamson, Marcher Lord Press, 2012

 

Genre: Adventure

Target Audience: Boys 13-18

Subjects: Missions, Salvation, Crime, Friendship, Spiritual Gifts

Summary:  Spencer is one of the kids least likely to be chosen for a mission trip. He’s not even a Christian for goodness sakes! But when God sends a message to one of His followers in the Mission League Organization Spencer finds himself in Russia hanging out with Christians. Hey, it was a better option than military school at least – his grandma’s other choice for him. Now it’s time to see just what this club of Bible geeks is all about. A couple of near-death experiences later he’s ready to take it a bit more seriously! A discovery of prophetic gifts and a few pretty girls also help change his impression of course. What Spencer discover though, could change his whole life, not just his summer.

Notes: The first in a new series, New Recruit tells of an unsaved boy living with a grandmother who is tired of his fighting and getting into trouble. He goes on the missions trip just to keep out of military school. While on the trip, one girl tries multiple times to witness to him with words, some just show kindness, one of the kids tries to bully him, etc. It is their words that keep coming back to him when he’s in danger and finally ready to talk to God. He learns about spiritual gifts when he discovers that some of his dreams are warnings of specific events. This book is an interesting mix. There are good and bad examples set by all of the characters, it’s just that it’s pointed out clearly which are which most of the time so the teenage reader isn’t left confused. The strongest theme running through it is how to deal with unbelievers as we see the main character’s response to the things the other characters say and do. The book is clearly just the beginning of a series though. Spencer’s spiritual journey is far from over. The spiritual elements are certainly present in this book, but it’s building up to something.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Colossians 3:4-6 – Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the free book in exchange for my review.