The Last Christmas

Barry had always secretly thought people didn’t like him, but he had always hoped that it really wasn’t true. As he woke up that next morning, he realized his secret hopes were pure daydreams. He knew no one liked him. His old friends, the other kids at school and even his parents seem disgusted with him. And as Barry thought about it, he realized that he didn’t really want to be with himself either. He secretly wished he were dead.

Book: The Last Christmas by John Bibee, Intervarsity Press, 1990

Genre: Fantasy/Allegory

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 12-16

Subjects: Fear, Loss, Family Relationships, Persecution, Betrayal

Summary: “Peace and Safety!” That’s the new motto of ORDER, the political group created by Goliath Industries designed to get the world back on track after the world war that occurred on Halloween night. And Barry wants nothing more than to be a leader in the new ORDER. The problem is Sloan Favor. He’s not only taken Barry’s spot of #1 on the Point System, he’s taken Barry’s clubhouse and all of his gang! Barry hasn’t gone through his trials for nothing though. All the challenges he’s faced in life have taught him well how to climb to the top by hurting others. So when he is asked to torment the riders of Spirit Flyers he does so gladly. When he’s asked to betray his own family though, doubts begin to arise. How far will he really go to be number one?

Notes: The Last Christmas is the fifth in the Spirit Flyer Series. The series uses a flying bicycle to represent faith in Christ. The bicycles are made by the “Three Kings”. When a person chooses to believe in them, the bicycle arrives and will fly when they are trusting. The series takes place in an end times setting, with it finally ending at the rapture. Throughout the series, the struggle between good and evil is shown in those choosing to ride Spirit Flyers battling Goliath Industries, an organization that desires to see death and destruction. This book picks up after the war that occurred over the period of a single night at the end of the last book. Everything is in shambles and no one seems to know how to get life going again. Even school has ceased. Then a new political party steps up and is viewed as the heroes but start their attack on their opposition – including Barry’s cousins who are living with Barry’s family and even Barry’s mom when she suspects ORDER of breaking the law. It truly sets up an end-times scenario, even having an allegorical mark of the beast – a card that identifies you and makes you unable to buy or sell or do anything without it. The issue dealt with the most is the issue of fear. Barry is living in fear and allowing that to dictate his actions. Fear that he won’t live up to the example of his dead older brother in the minds of his parents, fear that he won’t be number one in the point system, fear of being attacked by Sloan and the others, fear of being looked down upon by ORDER – this fear controls everything he does until he meets the Kingson who sets him free from his chains.

I highly recommend this book as well as the others in the series. It offers great spiritual value as well as a creative storyline and enough suspense and adventure to keep readers interested.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.