Darien's Rise

As they rode through the forest, Kyle wondered, "Where is this place? Have I stumbled onto some strange section of Odyssey?" They splashed through a small brook and emerged into an open field. Something in the sky caught Kyle's attention: a brightness more luminous than any full mood he had ever seen. He looked a second time, not believing what he was seeing. The sky held two moons. One was large and white, the other nearly half the size and slightly more orange. "I'm not in Odyssey anymore." he thought.

Book: Darien's Rise, by Paul McCusker, Tommy Nelson Publishing 1999
  (Kindle version)
(Book) (Audio episodes)  
Genre: Allegory
Target Audience: Boys and Girls 12+
Subject: Response to God's Call
Summary: Kyle and Anna crash through the boards in an old house and find themselves in a new land called Marus. Here they discover they have special gifts and have been called by the Unseen One for a purpose. They arrive in the midst of a power struggle between the current king and the one called by the Unseen One to be the next king. They align themselves with the future king and use their gifts to help him. But all is not easy, temptations and danger abound in this new land. And how will they ever get home again?
Notes: This is a series from Adventures in Odyssey. Kyle and Anna are residents of Odyssey. This story is also allegorical in that it is an allegorical telling of the story of King Saul and King David. The story begins after Saul has begun to feel threatened by David and continues until Saul's death. Some parts of it are very emotional or intense and so I recommend it for 12 and up. It is also a pretty thick book for young readers - 186 pages. Also, this has recently been turned into an audio drama by Focus on the Family and aired with other Adventures in Odyssey episodes. In conclusion, this is a very well done story. It is a fascinating way to look at stories of the Bible and challenges kids to see how God has chosen them and ask them to question whether or not they are willing to serve Him with their gifts.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Acts 13:22 – After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'