The Ancients

Book: The Ancients by Bill Myers

Genre: Supernatural fiction

Target Audience: Same as others

Subjects: Occult, friendships, spiritual warfare

Summary: Sometimes the lie has bits of truth woven into it. Sometimes it has just enough to make it look ok. Rebecca, Scotty, Ryan and Mom are sent to a Native American reservation where the tribe is clinging to the ancient ways, particularly the religion their forefathers practiced. Rebecca and Scotty can easily see the evil one’s fingerprints on much of it, but Ryan is so fascinated with the culture he is willing to explore any and all aspects of it that he can. After all, if you just change the wording a bit, their religion could line up with the Bible… couldn’t it?

Notes: This book presents a situation in which the lie looks so much like the truth, a believer is drawn completely into the spirit worship, endangering himself and the others. It’s a focus on how important it is to pay attention to warning signs when it seems something isn’t quite right and carefully hold it up against the Bible, that which you know to be true.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Timothy 4:7 - Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather train yourself to be godly. 

Angry

Does he realize what’s going? I want to shake him until his tie flaps like a birds wings! “Wake up!” I scream. Does he see how not normal this is? Does he see Becca’s tiny heart breaking? Does he see me standing here surrounded by everyone and their questions without any answers? But his windows are up, drowning out our pleas.

Book: Angry by Laura L. Smith, Nav Press 2010

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 14-18

Subjects: Divorce, anger, family relationships

Summary: Her life is being torn apart and no one has solutions. She tries to lose herself in the music, the drama she is performing in at school, but even that can not completely distract from the reality of her parents’ decision to destroy her life. Her anger is growing and consuming her with no end in sight.

Notes: This book takes a hard look at the hard consequences of divorce. It’s also a look at the only One powerful enough to heal a broken heart. Distractions aren’t enough. The character’s anger just grows and gets worse until she lets it go and surrenders it to Christ.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Psalm 13:2,5 - How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Double Shot

I’m almost blinded by tears as I drive. God, this couldn’t possibly be Your will. I sniffle as I drive, swiping away my tears. I feel guilty that Jack is so excited and I am so not. I am shocked that he would even get excited over something that would involve this.

Book: Double Shot by Erynn Mangum, Nav Press, 2010

Genre: Romance

Target Audience: Girls 19-30

Subjects: God’s will, engagement, friendships

Summary: Life is going great. Dreams are coming true and hope is alive and well. Then tragedy strikes a family member and Jack’s dreams come true in the form of an offer that could rock Maya’s whole world. She has no doubt it is not God’s will though. God would not ask something like that of her… would He?

Notes: First, a note about the target audience. As far as I can tell, this book is supposedly for teens, but the character is an adult woman. There are not teens in the story. It’s more a book for young adults – twenties or early thirties. However, as it is marketed to teens and placed with teen books in the bookstore, I’ll review it. Next, this book starts out as just fun to read, but has a tough twist later in the book. Maya is asked to make a very difficult decision and it leads into some interesting looks at how to find God’s will and the sacrifice one sometimes has to make for someone you love.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

The Deceived

If she had been someone great in a previous life, if she did hold some kind of secret powers, wasn’t it her responsibility to find out?

Book: The Deceived by Bill Myers, Tyndale House Publishers, 1994

Genre: Supernatural/Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 13-19

Subjects: Reincarnation, Hypnotism, dating relationships

Summary: Rebecca is excited – very excited! She has been attracted to Ryan since the first day she met him and now he has finally asked her out on a date! Her excitement quickly turns to uncertainty when Ryan takes her to hear a speaker on reincarnation. She shoves aside her doubts however, when this impressive man, reveals that she, Rebecca, was someone very important in her “past life” and has a great future ahead of her. The trouble is that the more convinced she becomes that this is great, the more convinced her family becomes that it is dangerous and wrong.

Notes: Sometimes a lie looks like the truth. And sometimes evil appears as something good.  What Rebecca hears sounds right and certainly seems harmless at first. Later on, it sounds even better than harmless, it sounds wonderful! It takes someone on the outside, someone who has studied the beliefs of Reincarnation carefully and knows how it contradicts the Bible to help Rebecca’s family see the truth. This is the 2^nd book in the Forbidden Doors series, a series about the occult. The characters face many unique forms of the occult and learn about spiritual warfare.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Hebrews 9:27 – Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

On Hope’s Wings

“Home.” She thought in frustration. “I have no home!”

Book: On Hope’s Wings by Melody Carlson

Genre: Realistic Fiction (Historical too – setting is in the past anyway)

Target Audience: Girls 12-15

Subjects: Family Relationships

Summary: Allison has had enough! Her movie star mom has “abandoned” her once again – not boarding school this time, but to a summer camp – a stupid summer camp that she hates going to. So she comes up with a plan to stay alone in her mother’s New York apartment. When she finds a letter from an unknown grandfather she dresses in her mom’s clothes, takes her money and sets off to visit this grandfather.

Notes: This is the 1^st in a series about a young girl from a broken family as she seeks a loving adult to parent her rather than her mostly absent mom. In this book Allison meets some Christians and starts to learn a little bit about forgiveness but these themes are developed a lot more throughout the series.

Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Ephesians 6:2-3 - "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

The Masquerade

I felt like an alien. I didn’t speak their language and it seemed like when I wasn’t fighting with them I was in isolation zone. I couldn’t stop it. I Told myself I didn’t care, but my heart ached. I felt so alone.

Book: The Masquerade by Sarah Anne Sumpoke, Moody Publishers, 2003

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 13-19

Subjects: Death of a loved one, family relationships, dating relationships, peer pressure

Summary: Beka’s mom died less than a year ago and things aren’t getting better, but worse. She’s got a secret she’s carried for years that was tearing her apart anyway, but now with her mom’s death she just can’t handle it anymore – anything. She’s angry, crying and screaming at the ones she loves the most, but can not find any way to stop it. Things she never even considered doing before, she suddenly can’t find any reason to say no to. She’s on a course for disaster unless God intervenes and gets a hold of her heart.

Notes: This is a very sad story. Beka’s pain is so strong, so real, that it almost hurts to read the book. Beka is not a Christian, but rather is fighting against it. At the end of the story a very strong Gospel message is presented. I recommend this book for those struggling with doubts about their faith because of the ending. The majority of the book is almost hard to read as you watch Beka suffer and sink deeper and deeper into depression, but the ending is full of hope.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Leslie

She would pack everything up, grab Penny, and go. But where? With no job, no home, where could she and the baby be safe? Would she have to keep running forever? And then, almost through a mist, she heard the voice of Steven Sawyer. “There are few neighbors… the house is in an isolated setting…” A vision of a rustic sanctuary rose before her eyes. But it was insane! She couldn’t do it! And yet, what choice did she have?

Book: Leslie by Jeanne Anders. Bethany House Publishers, 1987

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 18-25

Subjects: Showing love to others, compassion, honesty

Summary: Leslie will do anything to protect the baby of her dead twin sister. When she got word that her sister was gone and the father was in jail but planning to seek out the baby, she knew she had to hide. The problem comes when the doctor who sees Penny right after Leslie rescues her assumes Leslie to the one who neglected her and forces her to end her job – the only hope of providing for Penny. He also offers another option for her though – go and care for his aunt – with the condition that she not reach out to those around her. He wants his aunt to agree to move to the city with him – not find life again in the country. Leslie and his aunt both have too much compassion for the hurting to let it go that easily, but Leslie’s secret and Penny’s safety are at stake if she doesn’t.

Notes: This book is primarily a romance story. The series – SpringSong books is geared at teens supposedly, but the character is an adult – a young adult, but definitely not a teenager. The message running through it is compassion and God’s will. Steven and Leslie both have compassion on the hurting, but Leslie is eager to do something about it and Steven can’t quite get there. It’s kind of complicated, attempting to tie in forgiveness as well, in order to explain why Steven won’t go back and serve the community he was raised in that desperately needs his skills. Overall though it is good, the characters are praying and seeking God throughout the story, making for good role models. The mistakes they make are turned over to God for forgiveness and help in righting them.

Recommendation Scale: 4

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 25:40 - The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me".

Homeward Heart

He looked her up and down, taking in her short white top, her long gauzy Indian print skirt, her ankle-high lace-up boots. He especially stopped to study the dainty silver chain that hung around her waist, and draped through a tiny navel ring. “You can’t possibly be a Christian.”

Book: Homeward Heart by Lissa Halls Johnson, Paladises/Questar Publishing Company, 1996

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 17-19

Subjects: Dating Relationships, Family Relationships, Drugs

Summary: Always somewhere new, never staying in one place for very long – that’s how Maddie has grown up. Now Maddie is grown and is attending college and she has to make some choices. She has become a Christian and wants to live right so she says no to the opportunity to do drugs or anything like that. However she has two people, two guys to be exact telling her conflicting messages. Her boyfriend says she’s saying no to too much. Her coworker at the library says she’s not saying no to enough. How is this girl supposed to figure out what is right and what is wrong?

Notes: This book does a great job discussing the topic of personal convictions. One character harshly judges Maddie, assuming she can’t even be a Christian because of the way she dresses or hangs out with. He doesn’t even want to be associated with her. He can’t see her heart for the homeless or her caring towards those around her because he is too busy being judgmental of her. Maddie however has to learn that sometimes the small things you do send messages you don’t want sent to those around you.

Recommendation Scale: 5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Corinthians 10:23 – Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Through The Night

“Your task will far surpass being a mere temptation to the weak this time. There is family who is a pillar in this community. They are constantly helping others and spreading the gospel. Their faith appears untouchable. Fortunately for us they have a young daughter. You must find her, for she holds the key to our mission. Strip away her innocence and break her unwavering righteousness! Once she has fallen, the rest will be putty in our hands.”

Book: Through The Night by Lynette Theisen, The P3 Press, 2010

Genre: Realistic/Supernatural Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 14-18

Subjects: Spiritual Warfare, Dating Relationships, Relationships with Parents

Summary: A child is born and with it’s birth begins another battle between the angels and demons. When this child reaches her 16^th birthday the battle begins in earnest. A demon hiding in the form of an attractive young man is willing to go to great lengths to pursue her and woo her in hopes of getting her to abandon her faith. Her guardian angel is doing all he can to protect her and remind her of what her beliefs and values are. Who will win the battle for this girl’s soul?

Notes: This book starts off extremely good – it introduces the supernatural battle through discussions on both sides. Then the young girl begins to face the temptations and has to make choices. Then while in a coma, her soul is taken to a “resting place” where people from Heaven can visit her. Then comes a climatic scene in which the demons supposedly have the power to physically drag the girl into hell despite her having placed her faith in Christ for her salvation – at least we get that impression all throughout the book – that she is a Christian already. Then at the end the angel becomes more human-like and the girl has a physical sexual attraction to him and he to her and they kiss. So the book starts off great, but starts going some directions that seem a bit off to me. It’s still a good story about trying to stay strong in the face of extreme temptation. The boy does some impressive things to win the girl but she still had multiple points in which she could have backed out and made a right choice – even had her mom and guardian angel discouraging her. So that part of it gets a 5. The part that seems to contradict the Biblical picture of angels gets a 2.

Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Premiere

“Helen Hudson asked to see both of the Forrester sisters!”

Maybe Paige is right. Maybe this will be her big break. For her sake, I hope that’s how it goes down. I just don’t see any good reason for me to be involved.

Book: Premiere by Melody Carlson, Zondervan Publishers, 2010

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 17-25

Subjects: Fashion, Sibling Relationships, Dating Relationships, Drinking, Acting

Summary: A stupid mistake Paige made on TV while doing a news story for her mom should have cost her mom the job. Instead it gave Paige and much to her dismay, Erin too, a boost into the world of fame. They have just been given their own TV show in which Erin will film Paige discussing latest fashions. Erin finds it hard to think of anything more shallow or pointless, but the filming experience will be valuable so she goes along with it. Trouble starts piling up when those releasing the show decide to give the girls their introduction by putting them on a reality tv show for teenagers. When the lead male actor takes an interest in Paige things start heading downhill fast. This new career could end before the first show even airs.

Notes: This is a typical teen/young adult book covering about all of the standard issues. Fashion and dating relationships are the biggest, as well as the sibling relationships. Erin is a Christian and Paige is not. Erin finds Paige shallow and Paige finds Erin boring. Yet Erin has to be a light to her sister as much as she can. She’s thrust into the role of trying to keep her sister out of trouble – not an easy task when your sister is willing to embrace about anything or more specially – anyone. The spiritual element really isn’t strong but it is there in Erin’s witness to her sister.

Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Corinthians 9:22 – I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

Going Crazy Till Wednesday

“This was no time for play. This was no time for fun. This was no time for games. There was work to be done.” “Yeah, that’s me”, Becca admitted. “But I’ve got to do all this stuff!”

Book: Going Crazy Till Wednesday by Jane Vogel, Focus On The Family Publishing, 2003

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 13-18

Subjects: Time management, homelessness, friendships,

Summary: Becca wants to do it all. In fact, she’s convinced she HAS to do it all. And she’s convinced she CAN do it all! After all, doesn’t the Bible promise that we can do all things through Him who gives us strength? Becca is a Christian. She can claim that promise. The question becomes how much does He want us to do though? She has responsibilities to her family – including her adopted little brother who wants to spend time with her. She has responsibilities to her friends – including her sort-of boyfriend. She has responsibilities to the community center – including working the night shift once a week. She has responsibilities to school – including keeping up with her homework. And she has taken on another commitment on top of it all – the responsibility of creating an outdoor adventure program for the kids at the homeless shelter. This involves hours of grant writing, safety checking, administrative details, and program planning.

Notes: This book challenges Becca’s interpretation of Scripture. She wants to believe that it can be God’s will for her to do everything that comes to her mind, but quickly gets overwhelmed and starts abandoning family and friends and schoolwork in an effort to do the extra things. It is attempting to teach that while God does want us to be serving Him, He also wants us to be wise about our time. Rather than doing a ton of things, He wants us to spend time with Him and others.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Luke 10:38-42 – As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “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.”

Heading Home

“Am I wrong for wanting to serve God?” 

He drops his hands in defeat. “No AJ. There’s nothing wrong with…that. If you want to be a sister, then you go be a sister.” 

He turns and walks out the front door, leaving me to myself – in his house.

Book: Heading Home by Renee Riva, David C. Cook Publishing, 2010

Genre: Heartwarming Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 18+

Subjects: God’s will, Family Relationships

Summary: AJ’s dreams are coming true, but she isn’t sure she should allow them all. She’s back on the Island with Sailor, enrolled in college to be a veterinarian, and Danny is definitely interested in a relationship with her. The trouble is that she promised God years ago she would give her life in service to Him and it sure seems like that means being a nun – which means no Danny. She can’t really discount either factor though. It’s up to God to work this one out.

Notes: AJ has to learn a bit about what the “will of God” is. Is promising to serve Him all your life mean you have to be in an official ministry position like living in a covenant or does it mean something less… or rather – something more? This is the conclusion to the heartwarming untitled series about AJ and her journey through life.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

Don't Kiss Him Goodbye

"That dog is as dumb as dirt", I thought. Then I looked up. Why had I thought that?

Book: Don’t Kiss Him Good-Bye by Sandra Byrd, Tyndale House Publishers, 2010

 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 14-18

Subjects: Dating Relationships, Friendships, Family Relationships, Influence of friends

Summary: Savvy’s social life seems to be improving a tiny bit. A guy at school is showing interest in her and a guy at youth group that she has liked for a while is showing interest in her. When she gets a chance to go to the May Day Ball she has a choice to make: go with the guy who asked her and improve her social standing or be an outcast once more and decide not to go. The problem is that the guy who asked her is starting to turn her into someone she doesn’t like. Meanwhile, her role on the newspaper staff has a chance to improve as well. A lot of choices are in her hands right now and she needs wisdom to make the right ones.

Notes: Savvy learns a bit about the influence friends can have in this book. She finds the verse about how bad company can corrupt good character and realizes that’s exactly what she has allowed to happen. When she finds herself wanting to be rude to others, she realizes her attitude has become corrupted by the company she has kept. There’s a reason God asks her to make wise choices about relationships. That’s the primary lesson of this book.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Cabs, Camera, and Catastrophes

Book: Cabs, Camera, and Catastrophes by Wendy Lee Nentwig, Bethany House Publishers, 2000
 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 14-17

Subjects: Dating relationships, divorce, friendships

Summary: Cooper just can’t find peace. First she dumps Josh because he’s expecting too much of her time and energy, and now she’s frustrated because he went the opposite direction and won’t spend any time with her. She just wanted a balance… or does she just need to be in control of everything? She has doubts about herself, about Josh, about a lot of things right now. Something weird is going on with Claire too. She’s not acting like herself these days but isn’t confiding in Cooper about it either.

Notes: Cooper tries to do what she thinks is right but it just never seems to work out the way she thought it would. As far as she can see, all her efforts to do what’s right just made more of a mess of things. But at the end, when she gets to see the results of one of her choices making a difference in someone’s life, she realizes that God can work everything out for His plans no matter how much of a mess she makes of things. The major focus of the book is on the dating relationships (or lack thereof), rather than on the spiritual, but the spiritual elements are definitely there. This is the 4^th and as far as I can tell, final book in the Unmistakably Cooper Ellis series.

Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

The Spell

“Hate your enemies with your whole heart and if a man smite you on the check, smash him on the other.”

Book: The Spell by Bill Myers, Tyndale House Publishers, 1995

Genre: Supernatural

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 13-18

Subjects: Satanism, Lust, Relationships with Parents, Salvation

Summary: Terrified. That’s the only word to describe how Rebecca feels. She has been assured by Z that the only power the Satanists have over her is the power she gives them through her fear. But the notes saying the spell has been cast, the dead rat hanging in her locker, the threatening phone calls, and the vandalism have left her literally shaking in fear. And perhaps she does have reason to fear…

Notes: Continuing the story from the first two books, Rebecca and Scott have another run-in with the members of the Society who are jealous of the attention Rebecca and Scott have been getting. The leaders are quite serious about their beliefs and are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. They are not afraid to use forces of evil to accomplish their goals. In this book, Rebecca is their target while Scott experiences a different kind of struggle – struggle against the flesh. An attractive girl at school has targeted him and isn’t afraid to use her body to get what she wants. Scott wants to avoid temptation but this temptation comes in a package so pleasing to the eye that he has to learn a hard lesson about it. Just as the others in the series do, this book does a good job looking at how serious the occult is and how seriously powerful God is. This is the 3^rd book in the Forbidden Doors series.  

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 John 4:4 - You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.