Paige Torn

I hang up, walk into the kitchen, and pull out a cheese stick. And look at it. How often has this been my dinner over the past month? I shake my head as I walk to my bedroom. I change into my pajamas, pull back the covers, and see my Bible sitting on my bedside table. I pick it up, but the words all run together. I am too tired to read. I can’t even remember the last time I read anything. But I am serving. Surely that counts for something. Then I fall asleep.

Book: Paige Torn: A Paige Alder Novel (Paige Alder Series) by Erynn Mangum, Think, Nav Press Publishers, 2013

 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 18+

Subjects: Serving, Stress, Dating Relationships

Summary: Cheese sticks do not make the best dinner. But they’re quick. And more often than not these days, quick is essential to Paige’s meals. She has no major responsibilities, right? Work and paying the rent on her apartment. But there’s church – she teaches the 2 year olds class twice a month, she leads the teen girls Sunday School during the other service, she helps on the other Sundays with the teen worship service. Oh and there’s friends. She is helping her best friend plan her wedding as well as her parents’ anniversary party – down to making the decorations and invitations and…. Then there’s those small things that pop up – people needing favors – babysitting, bulletin folding, moving, meals made and delivered. So when a cute, godly guy starts showing interest in her and asks her out she tells him no. Again and again. She has no time to get groceries! How on earth is she supposed to make time for dating? But she’s doing what God wants her to, right?

Notes: Written with the main character being 23, this book seems sort of like it’s an adult book, but it is marketed towards youth. It’s the story of a young woman learning the difference between serving God and truly having a relationship with Him. Paige feels obligated to say “yes” to every single thing any one asks of her and so people ask her for a lot. She’s so weighed down with tasks that she has no time to even do a personal devotion before bed. It takes multiple people speaking truth into her life before she realizes she should and could change things. Even though this book is written from the perspective of an adult, it is a concept teens can very much relate to. It is very focused on the spiritual elements, recognizing that the biggest negative factor to her over commitment is the toll it is taking on her relationship with God. I can definitely recommend this book.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Luke 10:41-42 – "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."