My Amish Boyfriend

I know what it feels like to be the only person who’s acting responsible when everyone else is acting like immature juveniles. Yet at the same time, I think maybe it’s my turn – maybe it’s time for me to enjoy being a teenager. I suppose it’s ironic I would experience this sort of thing in Amishland.

Book: My Amish Boyfriend by Melody Carlson, Revell Publishers, 2014

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 13-18

Subjects: Amish Culture, Family Relationships, Dating Relationships, Faith in God

Summary: What happens when a teenage girl is suddenly forced to start being the adult in the family? In the case of Shannon, it develops an extreme responsibility but also a desire to throw off responsibility and real life and lose herself in romance. So when her mom’s illness finally gets so out of control that they are forced to go to the Amish family that shunned her mom for leaving the Amish culture at age fifteen, Shannon opens herself up to playing and dreaming. When a cute boy gets her attention she begins to think maybe there is something to this Amish culture after all. No matter what happens, it’s going to be one interesting summer!

Notes: Never having even known her mom’s family was still living, Shannon is quite shocked when they pack their bags and head off to live with them for the summer. As with many Amish books, there is a strong focus on comparison of cultures. Shannon decides to see what it would take to be Amish and makes an effort to wear the clothes, learn the language and do the chores like an Amish girl. She fantasizes about marrying the boy she just met and staying here and joining the Amish church. She even shuts down the nagging voice telling her to go slow and cautious. One night she finds herself lying in a wagon alone in the dark with the boy she likes kissing her and starting to move his hands all over her body. She reasons that she will have to eventually draw the line, but has no problem going right up to that line. That’s the big moral issue going on in the story – a young girl is fleeing all the responsibility she has been living in and chooses to live in a fantasy world of her own making. The spiritual issue is her struggle to keep growing in her faith. She speaks of having a close relationship with God until a year ago, when “her mom got sick and instead of going to God for help, continued pulling away from Him.” Eventually she faces enough trials and is surrounded by enough people that deal with trials by praying and trusting God, that she recommits herself to following her faith. Overall, there are some spiritual elements in the story. There’s a lot of the Amish relatives implying that she can’t be a follower of Christ due to not being Amish and some questioning of that by her. There’s her recognition that she needs to pray and return to her faith more. And there’s a miracle that can only be explained by God. It just isn’t necessarily the main point of the book. The main point is her being torn between the dream world and the real world.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Destination Unknown

Was I developing a crush on Taylor Martinez? How could I possibly even consider dating him? Since he was convinced cheerleaders and athletes were elitists he’d never consider me. Suddenly an idea popped into my head like a humungous light bulb: dating Taylor Martinez would drive my mother to the brink of distraction. She’d never stand for the idea of her perfect daughter dating a boy from the other side of town. Pursuing Taylor Martinez was the perfect way to rebel against my mother and show her that she couldn’t run my life.

Book: Destination Unknown by Amy Clipston, Zondervan Publishers, 2013

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 13-19

Subjects: Family relationships, dating relationships, prayer, God’s Will, Prejudice

Summary: Whitney is so tired of her mom’s attempts to rule her life she wants to scream! Her clothes, her friends, her use of time, her future college decision, her future career decision – anything is up for criticism is she doesn’t do it exactly her mom’s way! So when Whitney begins to make friends with a family her mom does not approve of, she gets an idea. Maybe she can use Taylor to stand up to her mom and show her that she can not control everything in her life. The problem is that sneaking around behind her mother’s back only causes more problems than it solves.

Notes: A powerful story of a teen girl struggling to find her identity, Destination Unknown is a sequel to Roadside Assistance. This one tells the story of the cousin of the main character from Roadside Assistance. In this book the struggle is Whitney’s attempts to find out who she is supposed to be versus who her mom wants her to be. She is a Christian but she’s letting her struggles with her mom affect her relationship with Christ and her relationship with the boy she cares about. She has to come to a breaking point and realize that her stubbornness is hurting her more than anyone else. Overall the story does a good job illustrating the spiritual lessons taught and weaves a powerful story through the midst of it.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Corinthians 1:30 – It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Ephesians 4:13 – Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

No Place Like Holmes

The more he thought about it, the more it didn’t really matter to him if his uncle thought his ideas were ridiculous. Somehow, deep inside, the conviction that he had been sent here for a purpose was growing. And, believing that, Griffin felt like he could face anything.

Book: No Place Like Holmes by Jason Lethcoe, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2011

Genre: Mystery

Target Audience: Boys 10-14

Subjects: Family Relationships, Love for others

Summary: The great Sherlock Holmes is his uncle! He has been sent to England to live with his uncle, not knowing who is uncle is… until he sees the address of the great Sherlock Holmes and realizes it is the same address as his uncle! But to his dismay, his uncle lives in 221A, not 221B and while his uncle is also a detective, he is a crabby man who has a strong dislike for children and has no desire whatsoever to have Griffin around, let alone to teach him anything about being a detective. Griffin isn’t going to let that get him too down though. His uncle is clearly a genius and Griffin can learn a lot from him. When they stumble across a mystery Griffin has his chance to learn what it takes to be a great detective… if he escapes the bad guys and lives long enough to learn it anyway!

Notes: The first in the series, No Place Like Holmes introduces a young boy going to spend a vacation with his uncle he hasn’t met before. Griffin has a strong interest in being a detective, which his uncle claims to be. His uncle is not a believer and pursues nothing spiritual. Griffin is a believer and regularly prays and seeks God’s help and will. The spiritual emphasis is in no way the focus of the book, but the main character recognizes God as ultimate authority and prayer as the solution to problems.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Ephesians 1:19 – And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

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."

Merlin’s Shadow

And so Merlin wrestled with his desire to free all of the slaves, and not just his own little band – but decided it was too risky. His oath and been to Arthur, and to that he would be true – even if he was a fool to try even that. Could Arthur really come to the throne of his father? Could the island be ruled by justice, and every slave set free? Deep down, Merlin doubted, for the months of suffering and the sickening stupidity of his decisions had grown a callus so thick that he could barely feel his soul breathe anymore. The only dim hope he had was to escape.

Book: Merlin’s Shadow by Robert Treskillard, Blink Publishers, 2013

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: Boys 14+

Subjects: Truth, Trust in God, Power

Summary: The stone has been destroyed, the king has been killed, the land has fallen apart. And Merlin is on the run. Who is friend and who is foe? No one even knows any longer. While Merlin runs, a young girl finds objects of power and holds her hate closer to her heart, letting it grow in power and depth. Captured and turned into slaves, Merlin and those following him seek a way, not only out of slavery, but a way to guarantee the safety of the young child who is to be the next king.

Notes: A story based on the legends of King Arthur, Merlin’s Blade is the second book in The Merlin Spiral series. This story contains many of the traditional elements of the legend – the names, the fantasy elements, the objects. It is a well written adventure story, packing in so many events that a few days in the story seem like a few weeks. The spiritual elements are there but not as strong as in the first book.

The focus in this one is the despair and hopelessness that is growing in each of the main characters. Merlin starts to recognize how unworthy of love he is, his sister feels that all those she cares about are gone, Natalenya feels rejected by the one she loves, all those on the side of good feel there is little to no hope. All have to put their hope in something that is beyond the world they see. Merlin especially has to learn to start putting his trust in Christ rather than in himself or others.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Psalm 43:5 – Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

1 Corinthians 15:19 – If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Thank you to Booksneeze for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Air We Breathe

She spun the bolt and, staying behind the door, pulled it open so she was trapped against the corner of the wall, the glass between her and Tobias. “Go,” she said again. It hurt to say it, the word barbed wire in her mouth, because she wanted him to stay, too. She wanted someone to strip off her skin and look beneath, to the issue and vessel and bone, and see everything that she kept hidden away – to prove she wasn’t wax but flesh. She wanted normal.

Book: The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish, Bethany House Publishers, 2012

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 17+

Subjects: Fear, Loss, Faith

Summary: She may be seventeen but it doesn’t seem like it. She’s still a ten year old terrified of the bad men who kidnapped her after killing her father. She’s still hiding inside the house, refusing to go out. She’s tired of it though. She longs for the freedom the outside world promises, but she has no idea how to embrace it. She can’t get over the fear that holds her captive. Once there was a woman who tried to help her. She would take the terrified ten year old out for ice-cream and get her to talk when she was refusing to speak to anyone. The woman told her about Jesus, the One who could offer her hope and peace from her fears. A second terror-filled moment changed all that and sent she and her mom on the run. Now her world is shifting again and she wants it to. The question is can she stand to breathe in the air of the outside world or will the very freedom she longs for become her destruction?

Notes: A stand-alone novel, The Air We Breathe tells the story of Hanna, a seventeen year old still suffering from a kidnapping she experienced as a child, as well as witnessing the murder of her father. It also tells the story of Claire, a woman who lost her children in a car accident and can’t seem to move on with her life after that tragedy. When the two hurting souls find one another healing begins. The little girl heard a tv preacher talking of someone who could save her while she was in captivity. All she heard before the channel was changed was that she needed to ask for help from Je… and so she prays and asks Gee for help and He provides it. When Claire enters her life and tells her more of Jesus, Hanna puts her trust in Him and studies His Word as she grows, deepening her faith. When she and Claire meet again years later and Claire attempts to coax Hanna from her self-imposed captivity, Hanna must put her faith to work in her life to conquer her fears.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4.5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Daniel 2:22 – He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.

The Wind, The Road And The Way

“You will be privileged to watch the apostles as they boldly carry to the rest of the world the good news of what Jesus has done,” Gillamon explained, lifting his arm, “to the north, the south, the east and the west. Then it will be up to you to make sure their story is told for future generations. You will see many unexpected acts of the apostles. Perhaps the greatest act will be one new apostle turning from a murderous tyrant into the model of what a Christ follower should be.

Book: The Wind, the Road and the Way (The Epic Order of the Seven) by Jenny L. Cote, Living Ink Books, 2014

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 10-15

Subjects: Biblical History, Trials, Trust in God

Summary: Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead! And He has promised a helper, the Holy Spirit to come and fill the terrified apostles. As usual Max, Kate, Al, Liz, Nigel, Gillamon, and Claire are right in the middle of everything going on. Comforting the hurting, sending important messages, and bringing people together, the animals are doing all they can to serve their risen Savior. It’s a hard time as persecution breaks out against the apostles, but an exciting time as the Gospel starts to spread around the world.

Notes: Delightful, playful, entertaining, educational, enlightening – all of these words describe this book well. It covers Biblical history during the time of Acts. It does a great job sticking to the truth of the story as recorded in the Bible while adding entertaining commentary from the animals. This particular book shows how God uses even persecution to spread the news of His salvation around the world. It shows how God can change any heart, even that of a murderer. It shows the importance of understanding and memorizing Scripture when sharing the Gospel. And it shows the importance of waiting on God’s timing. Overall, this story does a great job teaching kids how to follow God when bad things happen in a fun, enjoyable way.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Acts 17:26 - From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a free review copy of the book! I enjoyed it and now my husband is too!

Truth Runner

Why can’t I just go back in time, to life before this all happened? Why can’t I just forget about things, pretend none of this is real?

Book: Truth Runner (Son of Angels, Jonah Stone) by Jerel Law, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2013

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 12-16

Subjects: Spiritual warfare, Prayer, God’s will, Loss

Summary: Jonah is still reeling from his loss. He can’t seem to find his footing again. He’s become a star back in Peacefield on the basketball team by taking advantage of his nephilim characteristics. But he can’t stop seeing the fallen. He can’t stop his memories. He can’t forget who he is. Meanwhile Eliza and Jeremiah and his friends back at school are in need of him but he’s too busy trying to forget who he is and ignore the reality of the world around him to be much help. It seems the fallen have won after all. And they are thrilled! There is plenty of damage they can do if Jonah is unwilling to fight them!

Notes: The fourth in the Sons of Angels series, Truth Runner explores the “what if there were humans that were part angel” question. Unlike many books exploring this concept however, this series is based very strongly on the truths of Scripture without as much speculation beyond the idea that nephilim could still be around in today’s world. This book focuses on Jonah’s struggle after the death of a loved one. He has completely abandoned his faith, his family, his very identity in his anger and hurt. The question is what will it take for Jonah to accept his trial and turn back to God. Due to these issues it makes the book seem as though it’s for a bit more mature audience than the first two. However, this book is centered truly around the truths of Scripture and because of that, I highly recommend it.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Job 2:10 – Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

Shadow Chaser

M’chala, the one in charge of sickness, was the one afflicting Jonah. He was sure of it. No wonder there was no picture there. All he remembered from his dream was a dark shadow. But his affliction how had a cause, and somehow, as awful as this creature must be, Jonah began to feel more focused. If M’chala was responsible, Jonah had to find him. Before the Fallen harmed him again. And before the Fallen hurt anyone else around him. Or worse.

Book: Shadow Chaser (Son of Angels, Jonah Stone) by Jerel Law, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2013

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 12-16

Subjects: Spiritual warfare, Prayer, God’s will, Suffering

Summary: What would you do if the Fallen Angel of sickness and disease singled you out as his target? Boils appear on your skin, you feel sick and weak and pass out, you fail important tests due to lack of strength, and worst of all, it doesn’t seem to be just you that is targeted. Jonah is finding out! M’chala is sending affliction his way and it’s not going to let up until Jonah either breaks apart completely or finds a way to conquer this evil one.

Notes: The third in the Sons of Angels series, Shadow Chaser explores the “what if there were humans that were part angel” question. Unlike many books exploring this concept however, this series is based very strongly on the truths of Scripture without as much speculation beyond the idea that nephilim could still be around in today’s world. This book focuses on Jonah being tested in his faith and his focus. He has proved to be a powerful force against the evil ones and because of that has been targeted. Not only does he face the physical afflictions, but when he makes foolish choices his friends seem to abandon him, leaving him feeling alone. Then as he and the other quarterlings take final exams to show what they have learned in their training, Jonah’s struggles leave him falling behind in all of the competitions. Then at the end, the final attack comes – someone else, someone close to Jonah is targeted and dies, leaving Jonah in an even greater struggle than he has ever faced in his life. This does leave the story feeling a bit unfinished, the issues not resolving until the next book. Due to these issues it makes the book seem as though it’s for a bit more mature audience than the first two. However, this book is centered truly around the truths of Scripture and because of that, I highly recommend it.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Psalm 26:2 – Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

Home By Another Way

“What I don’t get is how you can be so into Christ when it comes to your own life and then totally forget about Him when it comes to everybody else.” She was by now inches from my nose. “How can you be such a good Christian about diving for Pete’s sake and then be such a jerk about people?”

Book: Home by Another Way by Nancy Rue, Crossway Books, 1991

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 13+

Subjects: Friendship, Family Relationships, Divorce, Prejudice, Love For Others

Summary: Diving is much more than a sport for Josh. It’s the last hope he has of earning his father’s love. Since his parents divorced Josh has been working on finding some way to gain the attention of his father. Diving seems to have done it – his father is at least forking over all the cash to get private lessons from a professional. But he’s still absent, only his money is making an appearance. If Josh gets far enough though, that is sure to change. So while the other boys his age chase after girls or fancy cars to parties, Josh pursues diving. He never imagined anything could change let, especially not a young boy looking up to him. Yet when Phong enters his life, rather, forces himself into Josh’s life, things begin to change. An emergency right before the most crucial moment of his career could change his entire world.

Notes: The author famous for her stories for teen girls has written a beautiful story for boys. Like all her other books, the spiritual elements run deep in this story. Josh finds his very identity in diving. He sees it as what God wants him to do. Then when God starts bringing people into his life that force Josh to love them more than his sport, he gains a much greater understanding of God and what He wants of Josh. This book deals a lot with identity and how to find an identity solely in Christ rather than what a broken family has shaped. Both Josh and his sister struggle with relationships due to the example set by their dad. It also gets a little bit into prejudice as the little boy Josh befriends is a poor boy from another culture and Josh realizes he has a lot of misconceptions about the culture and the people from it.

I highly recommend this book to all young boys!

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Corinthians 1:27-30 – But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Doon

I had two whole weeks to explore this magical kingdom and convince the people of Doon we weren’t witches. Fourteen days to try to find out why Jamie MacCrae had been visiting me in the modern world, and why he now looked at me like I might pull out an AK-47 and go Call of Duty on his beloved people. Three hundred and thirty-six hours to prove to my handsome prince that I wasn’t evil incarnate. Suddenly, two weeks didn’t seem like nearly enough time.

Book: Doon (A Doon Novel) by Carey Corp and Lori Langdon, Blink (Zondervan Publishers), 2013

Genre: Fantasy/Supernatural

Target Audience: Girls 16+

Subjects: Magic, Witchcraft, Prayer, Dating Relationships, Friendship, Family Relationships

Summary: Vee knows it’s real. Somewhere deep inside she has no doubt that the legend of Doon is true. And so dragging her best friend Kenna with her, she crosses over the bridge wearing the rings left to Kenna by her aunt. Finding themselves in this magical land isn’t exactly all she had hoped for though. It turns out that the boy of her dreams is actually prince and very soon to be king of Doon, and worse still, wears a mantle of heavy responsibility for his entire kingdom, a mantle so heavy he will not let himself take a risk on love. Kenna on the other hand has no problem getting a guy. The prince’s brother happens to be quite in love with her and makes no secret of it. But she’s not convinced her future is in Doon – she has big dreams and has just achieved key steps towards those dreams back in America. And then there’s the whole issue of most of the kingdom thinking the girls are witches since they showed up right when other things started to go wrong. Two weeks is all the girls get before the bridge to the rest of the world opens back up and they must decide to stay or go forever.

Notes: Doon is a new spin-off on the legend of Brigadoon or Bridge ‘o Doon, the story that a village in Scotland, in an attempt to fight off the evil influence from the rest of the world, prayed and was blessed with the ability to disappear into the mist and only make contact with the world every hundred years. In this story, characters can come and go from Brigadoon during that time as well as any time if they are wearing one of two magical rings. This story is very focused on the romance aspects. Both girls have just graduated from high school, both come from broken or at least single-parent homes and are looking to control their own destinies. Doon is a world that encourages the exact opposite. They have a strong belief in magic and destiny and some form of ultimate-being. The spiritual elements are hinted at all throughout this book. The two girls wonder and doubt and consider the possibility of the power of prayer and how much God is or should be involved in their lives. One of the people in Doon explains their views that the civilization’s “Creator” or “Protector” is outside the laws of nature and does amazing things that for lack of a better understanding, people call “magic”. Everyone in Doon attends church and to the girls, the princes seem to hold a strong faith. Kenna assumes God would be willing to cry over the death of one person because he is such a good person. But the book is careful to not make anything too clear. They never outright say that God is the “Protector” of Doon or that putting one’s trust in Him for salvation is necessary. The “Protector” is a benevolent, powerful being, but not necessarily involved in their day to day lives at all, more just there for emergencies.
Also, the characters show very little conviction that sex should be reserved for marriage. The girls outright discuss if/who they have/should have sex with in the beginning. Then in Doon, Vee comes very close to having sex with the prince. What stops her isn’t a belief that it should be reserved for marriage, but a conviction that she isn’t the one he should love. Yet the very next morning she teases and tempts him to try again.

Overall, this is an entertaining story, but there isn’t much of spiritual value in it. Everything is just left in vague, unclear terms, leaving the reader to just form their own opinions rather than presenting the Scripture.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 1/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

James 4:13-17 – Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Aquifer

I scramble forward, wanting only to be the same, loathing the feeling of Other. I was pursued down. Now I am pursued on the ascent. I am Luca. I am special. And for that, I am cursed.

Book: Aquifer by Jonathan Friesen, Blink (Zondervan Publishers), 2013

Genre: Speculative, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 14+

Subjects: Family Relationships, Truth, Hope

Summary: Rats. Just what everyone dreams of meeting someday right? Luca is the deliverer of his people as was his father before him and so on. Once a year the deliverer must venture underground to continue the deal with the Rats – light in exchange for water. They are the only ones who know the route. But Luca isn’t supposed to be doing it yet. He’s only sixteen after all. His father will be the deliverer for many more years. Or that’s the idea at least. Except for this year something goes wrong and his father doesn’t return from his trip underground. That’s when Luca begins his own journey, a journey of discovery, a journey to the truth – the truth about the Rats, about the world leaders, about the land, and about himself.

Notes: Set way in the future, after severe world wars all emotion has been outlawed and attempted to be even bred out of them. But Luca is different, he is “Other”. And it is up to him to be the deliverer, but when he makes his first trip down, rather than going as the deliverer of his people or to negotiate with the Rats, he goes to try to find his missing father and learns that most everything he has believed all his life is a lie. Soon with the help of an uncle he didn’t know he had, an aunt he didn’t know he had, a rebel who wasn’t supposed to be alive, and a beautiful young girl he begins an attempt to save the whole world, not just the people on top, but the Rats as well. As for spiritual elements, there is something hinted to all throughout the story. A secretly discovered book (all books and reading have been banned) is hinted to maybe be “the” book. People called

“Wishers” pray and wait on fulfillment of a prophecy unknown to Luca. At the end, a character sings Amazing Grace and an entire mob of angry people are stopped at the sound. But nothing is made clear, just hinted at. In fact, the characters multiple times refer to “The Fates” watching out for them, rather than God. The ending does leave room for a sequel so there’s a chance that the next book will cover more. The book does get quite violent – many people die, characters see large quantities of dead bodies and the death of some characters is descriptive.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 2/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 1:25 – They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.

Thank you to Booksneeze for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Stone of Destiny

What could a boy like Morgan do against that kind of power? Nothing. Not for the time being, anyway. But one of these days, he would throw off the shackles of his bondage; one of these days he’d wield a power greater than anything they’d ever imagined. One of these days he’d show them all. He’d do it through alchemy. Mercury, sulfur, salt.

Book: The Stone of Destiny: A Novel by Jim Ware, David C. Cook, 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 14-18

Subjects: Cancer, Friendship, Loss, Power, Faith

Summary: Cancer. The most feared, most dreaded word is what Morgan’s mom has. Now it’s all the more important that he continue his experiments and get a hold of the Stone of Destiny! He has to heal his mom! But the price for the stone is high. And Morgan isn’t the only one involved. His best friend, Eny, is having some troubles of her own. Sitting in her favorite spot by the sea one day, she finds herself in a new world and soon realizes she is the girl referenced in a prophecy concerning the very stone Morgan wants so bad. Now Morgan faces a difficult decision – just how far will he go to get his hands on this power?

Notes: The first in the Stone of Destiny series, this book weaves together a legend starting back in the Bible times at Bethel where Jacob laid his head on a stone and saw the ladder to heaven. It presents the stone as almost a character, with a will of its own and a desire to “return” to its proper land from where it was stolen. The idea is presented that this stone does hold power, but that it will cause more pain than healing if it is not where it belongs. It can not be held on to for one’s own use – despite what Morgan believes. The story gets kind of complicated as it pieces together the different worlds and people groups and time periods telling of the history of the stone. The spiritual element is focused on faith. Morgan’s dad was into alchemy as well before he died and passed his research on to Morgan, believing it contained the ability to miraculously heal. Morgan’s mom insists that our faith should be in God not alchemy, not science, not magic, nothing but Christ. Morgan refuses to believe in it, wanting to take control for himself rather than trust God to take care of him. In the end, his mother is healed – miraculously by God – after Morgan has surrendered his battle. So Morgan finally learns to put his faith in God alone. He also learns that God does it because of His grace, not because Morgan did things right. Morgan can’t figure out why his mom got healed despite everything he did wrong. His mom tells him that it is because of God’s grace, not because of anything earned. Overall, the spiritual elements are there, it is the theme running through the story, it’s just that it gets lost in the midst of the legend/history of the stone sometimes – it just simply gets hard to follow. But it does have a strong message.  Also of note, the end of this book leaves a bit of the story unfinished, but a second book is scheduled for publication.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 13:15 – For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!