Grandpa’s Box

“Do you have war stories for the whole Bible?”

“Oh yes,” Grandpa replied. “In fact, in one sense, you could say that’s just what the Bible is: the story of this war between God and Satan. It’s the story of whether Satan would win and there wouldn’t be.”

Book:Grandpa's Box: Retelling the Biblical Story of Redemption by Starr Meade, P and R Publishing, 2005

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 10-14

Subjects: Bible Stories

Summary: Grandpa’s secondhand shop was always a fun place to be. Marc and Amy were thrilled to be able to explore all the treasures and hear Grandpa’s stories. The day he got out his wooden box though, the stories he began to tell were important stories. Real stories. Stories of things that had happened thousands of years ago and yet still impacted their lives today. Each item in that wooden box represented some part of the story. Read along as Grandpa tells Marc and Amy each of the stories that go with the items in his wooden box.

Notes: Written in the form of a dialogue between a grandpa and his two grandchildren, Grandpa’s box retells Bible stories, showing how they fit together. He describes it in terms of a huge war between God and satan. Each chapter is another story, another battle in the war. Each chapter begins with a reference to show where in the Bible the story is taken from and each chapter ends with another passage that’s actually written out, often taken from another place in the Bible showing God’s character or a summary of the issue at the heart of the story. Therefore this book can be used as merely an enjoyable book to read or as an actual devotional.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Psalm 35:1-3 – Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."

More Answers For Peggy

“If only there was just one other person to talk to about things, someone who feels the same way I do,” she said aloud as she reached her room and closed the door behind her. “It’s so hard to be all alone.” If I were only home, she thought again longingly.

Book: More Answers For Peggy by Dorothy Martin, Moody Press, 1959

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 12-16

Subjects: Sharing your faith, Obedience

Summary: Being away from home for a year is a very lonely thing to experience, especially when the people you are living with don’t like you all that much. Peggy is spending a year with her aunt and uncle and the sister that is more like a cousin since she’s been raised by her aunt and uncle rather than their parents. They may be family but they are from two different worlds – one rich and one poor, one Christian, one not. Peggy knows she needs to share her faith with her family, but it’s so hard! They do and say such rude things sometimes! How is she supposed to love them when they act so mean?

Notes: The third in The Peggy Books series, this book has Peggy learning about sharing her faith. She lets her own doubts and insecurities prevent her from telling others about Christ or even making friends with anyone. Interestingly, the story actually doesn’t ever have

Peggy succeed at leading someone to Christ. It seems as though her sister gets close and her uncle does become a Christian, but because of a friend, not Peggy. It’s a very realistic fiction book – showing a girl who knows what the right thing to do is, doesn’t do it and winds up with regrets because of it. The book ends with hope that more will change, but Peggy is going back home so it won’t be because of her. It is the whole focus of the book though. The author does a good job showing how our whole focus needs to be on the right things. I can definitely recommend this book!

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."