Sophie’s Irish Showdown

“Right,” Sophie said slowly. “We’ll make everybody understand about how it’s stupid to fight over being different.” She inserted a nod. “That’s our mission.”

Book: Sophie’s Irish Showdown (Sophie Steps Up (Faithgirlz!))by Nancy Rue, Zondervan Publishers, 2005

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Discrimination, Prejudice, Friendship, Love for others, Tragedy

Summary: How can you help someone who doesn’t want to be helped? When a new girl joins Sophie’s class, she and the flakes set out to befriend her. But Darbie doesn’t seem to want their friendship – or the pops’ friendship. She just seems angry at the whole world. When Sophie learns about the difficulties of Darbie’s life back in Northern Ireland, she aches to comfort the hurting young girl. But every attempt Sophie makes, just gets her pushed farther away. With a school group assignment forcing them together, the Corn Flakes have to find a way to help Darbie before they all flunk their project!

Notes: Sophie’s Irish Showdown is fourth in the FaithGirlz series, a twelve book series about a young girl in late elementary/early middle school who uses her big imagination to make movies and figure out how Jesus wants her to love those around her. In this book the focus shifts from Sophie and the bullying the popular kids have been doing, to Sophie and her friends reaching out to a hurting girl. Darbie has experienced the loss of both of her parents and plenty of war in her twelve years and lashes out at anyone in her hurt. Sophie has to learn what it means to truly love, even while Fiona gets jealous again. It’s more than just a story of Sophie reaching out to Darbie though. It’s about wanting to show everyone in school the importance of genuinely loving others instead of fighting over differences. I highly recommend this story. Also the Sophie books have been republished. #6 is republished under the title Sophie Steps Up.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 12:15-16 – Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Sophie’s Stormy Summer

It was getting harder to talk. Sophie closed her eyes and gather up the picture of her Jesus with the kind eyes. “Is it wrong that I have questions about what you’re doing?” she asked out loud. “I only have two: Why did you let leukemia happen to Kitty? And is it true that you won’t take care of her if she doesn’t get ‘saved’? And Jesus, I’m not exactly sure what that means, so would you please explain that? I guess that’s three questions. And I don’t care what Lacie says, even though she went on that missions trip, I’m going to ask you: Would you please make Kitty well?”

Book: Sophie's Stormy Summer (Faithgirlz!) by Nancy Rue, Zondervan Publishers, 2005

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Cancer, Friendship, Salvation, Healing

Summary: Kitty can’t have cancer! She just can’t! It’s too awful to be true! Fiona says her mom, the doctor, always states things in the worst terms possible, but she’s not exaggerating this. Kitty herself admits that she’s been told by her doctor, counselor and nurse that she could die from this disease. Sophie and the other Corn Flakes don’t know what to do with this knowledge. Sophie makes a promise to Kitty that she’ll do whatever it takes to help. When Kitty writes back with a list of four things, Sophie gets very afraid. Two of them are way too hard, they require sacrifice and risking hurting someone else’s feelings. But how can Sophie turn down her friend who may be dying?

Notes: Sophie’s Stormy Summer is sixth in the FaithGirlz series, a twelve book series about a young girl in late elementary/early middle school who uses her big imagination to make movies and figure out how Jesus wants her to love those around her. In this life get scary for Sophie and the other Corn Flakes. A vacation at the beach should be a dream come true for all the Corn Flakes and it is – until Kitty gets very sick and is diagnosed with Leukemia. There are a few big issues in the book. First there is the issue of dealing with a friend getting cancer and possibly dying. Then there’s the conversation Sophie has with Lacie. Faith has always been a natural thing for Sophie, a matter of having a friendship with Jesus. She’s never known the common phrases Christians use to describe that. But she knows Kitty doesn’t have that friendship and when Lacie tells her Kitty needs to accept Jesus as her Savior, Sophie is confused. Will God really not help Kitty unless she is “saved”? What does that even mean? Lacie gets some help from her youth pastor and Sophie’s Bible Study Leader to explain to Sophie that she simply means Kitty needs to have that same friendship with Jesus that Sophie does and Sophie’s job is to pray for Kitty and trust in God no matter what happens to Kitty. Later in the book, Kitty herself figures out that she needs that relationship and asks Sophie to explain it to her, giving Kitty the chance to become a Christian as well. It gets a little confusing between Sophie and Lacie’s discussions, at times to tell what the author wants the reader to understand about salvation – but when Kitty does “accept Jesus” is boils down to belief, which is the Biblical definition of salvation (Acts 16:31).  I highly recommend this story. Also the Sophie books have been republished. #6 is republished under the same title.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

Sophie Loses The Lead

Sophie stared. “You started planning the film?” Sophie wriggled uneasily, and not just because she was crammed between Kitty and Willoughby. It felt was if someone were sitting in her place. As the bus lurched, so did everything in Sophie’s head. Nothing was the way it was supposed to be.

Johanna Van Raggs picked up the broom and attacked the hearth with it. Dust and ashes felt, but she didn’t care. Let Leona Artalini clean it up. Johanna wasn’t HER servant anyway. Johanna swung the broom hard across the stones. The Master Jesus, said whoever wants to become great among them must be a servant. If that was true, she must be the greatest by now.

Book: Sophie Loses the Lead (Faithgirlz!) by Nancy Rue, Zondervan Publishers, 2006

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Friendship, Jealousy, Serving, Showing Love

Summary: Sophie always directs the film. Always. Once Darbie helped and once Jimmy helped, but it was always with Sophie. Sophie also always played the main character. Now, thanks to her friends, she’s reduced to nothing more than the role of a mute servant in the story. Vince has taken over directing and Fioana is the main character. And Sophie is jealous. And a bit lost. How can she gets back her roles without breaking the Corn Flake code?

Notes: Sophie Loses The Lead is eleventh in the FaithGirlz series, a twelve book series about a young girl in late elementary/early middle school who uses her big imagination to make movies and figure out how Jesus wants her to love those around her. In book eleven, Sophie’s friends are asserting their independence from Sophie, taking the roles she plans, and finding herself almost on the outside looking in. She has to learn what it means to truly be a servant, not just play one in a film. Darbie needs Sophie’s help now that she’s been chosen by the teachers to be on the honor council – and the first project is a former Pop. Fiona needs her help with acting. It’s not until she sees a video of herself playing her role in the film, that Sophie sees her own jealousy for what it is and makes It a point change her ways and seek to truly help her friends. I highly recommend this story.
Also the Sophie books have been republished under new titles. #11 is titled Sophie's Drama.
  Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 20:6 – Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant

Sophie Tracks A Thief

As Liberty Lawhead followed her Civil Rights for All team toward their building, with the terrified senoritas at her side, she tried to raise her chin and straighten her shoulders and draw up to her statuesque height. But there was a deep feeling. Something she had never felt tugging at her insides before. If she hadn’t known herself so well, she would have thought it was doubt.

Book: Sophie Tracks A Thief by Nancy Rue, Zondervan Publishers, 2005

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Discrimination, bullying, friendship, sibling relationships, showing love to others

Summary: How did this girl get into their group? Everywhere they turn, it seems Phoebe is there! They can’t get away from her. And get away is exactly what they have to do, at least get her away from Maggie. Phoebe has been raised by a father who is openly prejudice against people different than himself. And Phoebe shows that same hostility towards their friend from Cuba. As the parents try to be involved and supervise, things get even worse. Sophie just wants someone to free her from the code and let her tell Phoebe off – once and for all!

Notes: Sophie Tracks A Thief is eighth in the FaithGirlz series, a twelve book series about a young girl in late elementary/early middle school who uses her big imagination to make movies and figure out how Jesus wants her to love those around her. In book eight, Sophie finds herself wanting permission to break the code. She can’t stand how Phoebe acts and especially how she treats Maggie. When she meets with Dr. Peter, she openly admits that she doesn’t want to do the right thing. The other Corn Flakes agree. But that still small voice whispering truth to her heart won’t let up until she does, and drags her friends along with her. It shows a young girl with very normal, ordinary desires who chooses to do what’s right in spite of them. I highly recommend this story.  Also the Sophie books have been republished. #8 is republished under the title Sophie And The New Girl.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Sophie Flakes Out

“How else are we ever goint o have a private conversation?” Fiona said. She stopped at the door, a wad of Boppa’s money rolled up in her hand. “Nobody on the Parent Patrol is going to let us grow up. We just have to do it.” Sophie held back as Fiona went inside, and she imagined the king eyes. We aren’t doing something wrong, are we? she said silently. Don’t the rules have to change so we can grow up?

Goodsy narrowed her eyes are the both of them. There were kids who needed help, see, and then there were lyin’ little flapper girls who didn’t care about nothin’ or nobody. They used people up and then tossed ‘em aside like – like yesterday’s garbage see –-

Book: Sophie Flakes Out (Faithgirlz!) by Nancy Rue, Zondervan Publishers, 2006

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Independence, Growing Up, Parent Relationships, Friendship, Abuse, Trust, Loyalty

Summary: Sophie is just sure she’s the only kid in seventh grade with a ridiculously restrictive parent. That is, until all her friends, the Corn Flakes, Wheaties and Lucky Charms share their stories too. Pretty soon, Dr. Peter is getting an earful at Bible Study as the girls all complain about “parents and brothers and sisters and the total lack of privacy in the seventh grade world.” There is one of them who doesn’t appear to have any problems with it – Willoughby. She’s got all the independence she wants. Or so it seems, until Sophie attends a sleepover at her house and catches a glimpse of what Willoughby‘s home life is really like. Can Sophie put aside her own problems long enough to find out what’s going on?

Notes: Sophie Flakes Out is ninth in the FaithGirlz series, a twelve book series about a young girl in late elementary/early middle school who uses her big imagination to make movies and figure out how Jesus wants her to love those around her. In book nine, Sophie is ready to grow up. There’s just one thing standing in her way: parents. She views herself as grown up and responsible while her parents, especially her dad, are keeping the restrictions tight. When she finds out Willoughby is being abused though, her focus changes and she realizes how much she just wants to be a little kid, safe and loved by her dad. As usual, the book is written very realistically with Sophie struggling with her attitude towards her parents, and her friends struggling with theirs, as well as some friendship difficulties. I highly recommend this story. Also the Sophie books have been republished. #9 is republished under the same title.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 4:1-7 – Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Sophie's Encore

“I don’t see why God didn’t stop that one evil chromosome from getting into my sister,” she blurted out. “Since he didn’t stop it, maybe it’s not involved at all. Not even in the what now?”

Fame was not the reason the good Christian doctor was so devoted to this work. If she could just see one Down Syndrome child’s eyes and ears and tongue become normal, if she could hear one say “heinous” and know that one was enjoying breakfast at Pop’s Drive-In on Saturday morning, it would all be worthwhile. Dr. Devon Downing picked up her notebook of findings.

Book: Sophie's Encore by Nancy Rue, Zondervan Publishers, 2006

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Fear, Love for others, mental disorders – Downs Syndrome, bullying

Summary: Sophie and her friends are eagerly anticipating welcoming to the world, the newest Corn Flake. But when Sophie’s baby sister is born, she has Downs Syndrome. And Sophie is terrified. She knows what “not normal” looks like thanks to a new girl in her classes. As Sophie drifts into her dreamworld, her next character is going to discover the cure for ADHD – which is what she’s pretty sure this new girl has. After that, curing Down Syndrome is just an easy next step, right? The Corn Flakes go all out trying to help Brooke, the new girl, find ways to adjust to life in the regular classes and control her behavior a bit more. When the Corn Pops learn of the plan though, everything is at risk of getting ruined!

Notes: Sophie's Encore is the final book in the FaithGirlz series, a twelve book series about a young girl in late elementary/early middle school who uses her big imagination to make movies and figure out how Jesus wants her to love those around her. In book twelve, Sophie has to fight a fear greater than any she has had yet. She thought Kitty getting Luekiemia was the worst, but now it’s her own baby sister with the illness. And there’s no “remission” for this one! Sophie distances herself from her sister and pours all of her energies into the project of fixing Brooke at school. But the Corn Pops help Brooke see how Sophie and her friends view Brooke as just a project and get her to betray Sophie in a pretty extreme manner. At the end, Sophie has to figure out how to trust God’s love and care for her sister even though she’s not what Sophie expected. I highly recommend this story.
Also the Sophie books have been republished under new titles. #12 is titled Sophie Gets Real.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Whisper And A Wish

“Try to write in this diary every day, okay?” he prompted her. “Write what you’re feeling, what you’re thinking, write down what happens to you. Write your dreams, write your sorrows. Don’t neglect it. During these next few weeks, this little book might become a real friend to you.”

 “Yeah”, Christy whispered, “it might be my only friend.”

Book: A Whisper and a Wish (The Christy Miller Series #2) by Robin Jones Gunn, Focus On The Family Publishing, 1990

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 15-20

Subjects: Dating Relationships, Friendship, Moving, Family Relationships, Drugs

Summary: Move to California? Christy couldn’t be more ecstatic! After all those wonderful relationships she developed over the summer, she’s excited to go back. Except, it turns out her family is not moving to Newport Beach where her aunt and uncle live and where Christy made all the friends. No, they are moving to Escondio, a town an hour and a half away! This is the end of her life. Moving to a new place where she knows absolutely no one and starting over in a new high school is pretty much the most awful thing Christy can imagine right now! When she does connect with some kids from school, it seems their idea of fun is a bit different than Christy’s and one girl in particular, has a different idea of fun than the authorities do! Christy finds herself caught in a situation she never dreamed of when the police have to call her parents. Will anything good ever come of this disaster?

Notes: A Whisper And A Wish is the second book in the original Christy Miller series. In this book Christy starts to grow in her newfound salvation as she faces the trials of moving and starting new friendships.

Teen girls can relate to Christy and her struggles throughout the series, but also see a character who learns, sometimes the hard way, what the Biblical perspective should be. This is the 2^nd book in the Christy Miller series. This series has been republished multiple times and is available in multiple forms. This book was supposed to end the story, but later continued with the Sierra Jensen series, the College Years Series, the Katie series and the Married Years series.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 13:30 – He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Season Of Fire

And perhaps that’s what I was.
Nothing more than a shell of what I once was.
A betrayer of all I held dear.
A fighter, vanquished.
Misery blanketed me, enfolded me in his arms.
And in his firm embrace, I slept.

Book: Remnants: Season of Fire (A Remnants Novel) by Lisa T. Bergren, Blink, 2015

Genre: Post-Apoctalyptic, Allegory

Target Audience: Girls 15+

Subjects: Love, Family Relationships, Good vs. Evil, Hope, Truth

Summary: The link between Ailith is so close; it binds them together even if one of the brothers has turned away from the truth. When Kellach captures Adriana as she tries to rescue Kapriel, their prince, imprisoned by his own brother, she is put to her greatest test yet. In a world of luxury and ease, with a captivating prince attempting to sway her as she attempts to sway him, she finds it hard to stand strong. The truth seems so far away. And the pain and misery of being surrounded by Sheolite and the powerful Sethos seems so near. In the meantime, Ronan wrestles with putting their mission, their calling, their obedience to the Maker above his love for Adriana.

Notes: Season of Fire is the second in the Remnants series. This series shows a world after a great war, a world where much knowledge and products have been destroyed. A prophecy came forth that some day the Ailith would come and free the people from the evil ones who enslave the world. On the day they were born, it was felt all over and these called were hidden away and trained for seventeen years. Then on the same day, all around a call came that it was time to venture into the world and unite with the others. They come in sets of two: a “Remnant” – one who has a special talent or skill and a “Knight” who lives to protect the Remnant. All knowledge is given on a need-to-know basis, to the characters and to the reader. The spiritual element is that all the good guys in the story believe in an all-powerful Maker. He gives strength and gifts to His followers. There is no discussion of who He is – the salvation He brings, but He is worshipped and believed to be capable of providing power. There is also words that represent the Bible. Actual physical books are lost due to the war but the words of Scripture are passed down and learned by those who follow the Maker.

In book two, the characters wrestle a lot with trust in the Maker. He has called them to do certain tasks that seem not just impossible, but extremely distasteful. Adriana wrestles with doubt as she tries to figure out whether or not a lost brother can be brought back to the truth after years of being influenced by Sethos. She learns to stop relying on her strength and call out to the Maker for help instead. She and Ronan both are challenged when their romantic love is discovered. They ask how they can stop loving once they have begun and are told “you must reach farther, toward the Maker. For his mission, his call, above all others.”  Ronan has to trust the Maker to care for Adriana when she is captured and he wants to abandon the missions he is called to in order to attempt to rescue her. The entire group is challenged when told they are to go back to the horrific places they just escaped from in order to spread word of the Maker. This book also contains a section that gives a little more of a hint of the character of the Maker. When fighting the enemy, towards the end of the book, the characters begin to fight with words and the following phrases are tossed out: “We fight for the One who was, and is, and is to come.” “I fear the One who can destroy both body and soul and send his enemies to the pit.”

Overall, this book did a good job portraying the idea of someone called by God to save the world and attempting to follow His leading and rely on Him for strength to do the task.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4.5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

John 17:14-18 – I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

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

One Last Thing

“If you want to yell at somebody, yell at him.”

“I’m not yelling!”

“Yes, you are!”

In fact, we both were, in voices raw and shrill and dangerously close to rage. It was the first time ever. One more thread pulled out the tapestry. Pretty soon there wasn’t going to be anything left of our rich, perfect, former lives at all.

Book: One Last Thing by Nancy Rue and Rebecca St. James, Thomas Nelson, 2015

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 18+

Subjects: Pornography, Love, Family Relationships, Prostitution, Sexual Abuse

Summary: It’s a fairy tale. It has seemed that way all along, but now Tara knows just how much of a fairy tale her relationship with Seth is. It’s just as make-believe as fairy tales. Do they truly love each other? Yes, but there are some things going on with Seth that Tara knew nothing about until she walked in on him one night as he sat in front of his computer screen fully engaged in pornography. The crashing of her dreams begins there and doesn’t stop until Seth has tried to commit suicide, her friends have abandoned her, family traditions are ruined, and she feels utterly alone in the secret Seth asked her to keep. It’s not just the loss of a fiancée, it’s the loss of identity. Tara has loved Seth since she was little. She’s wrapped her identity in him and leaned on his faith instead of finding her own. Now she’s broken and alone and all her plans for the future are ruined. She has no where left to turn. At least she doesn’t until the most off assortment of people take her in, brokenness and all, and point her towards the One who’s love and loyalty can be trusted when everyone else walks away.

Notes: One Last Thing is the third in the set of books Rebecca St. James and Nancy Rue have been writing together; tackling serious issues that tend to destroy relationships. Each book shows a young woman in a committed relationship who has to find their identity in Christ after discovering something difficult about the man they were committed to. This book wrestles with the issue of pornography and its impact on a relationship, on the man viewing it, on the woman who loves the man viewing it, and on the culture as a whole. Tara feels dirty and like Seth will be thinking of the woman on the video, not her, when he touches her. One character in the story has had two different boyfriends try to act out scenes from a pornography video with her and has men at the hotel she works at try to proposition her to come watch pornography videos with her. By the time you get to the end of the story you learn that Seth is so into pornography due to being sexually abused by someone he trusted as a child. The book also shows how powerful of an addiction pornography can be. Seth tries multiple times to quit, to overcome his addiction, but the pain and anxiety always turn him back to it until he finally gets help.  The spiritual elements are woven all throughout the entire story. Parts of it are painful. Both characters come from strong Christian families but Seth’s pastor father just blindly places the blame on Tara, not willing to accept what is told him about his son, particularly when Seth’s sister makes accusations against Seth. Tara finally finds herself in a church very focused on liturgy and starts getting some counseling from the pastor who tells her that she needs to “find out what’s true and be true to it” instead of the fairy tale she lived in for so long, the fairy tale that didn’t require a personal relationship with Christ. She also makes friends with a group of women at her new job who take her under their wing, feeding her, encouraging her and trying to build her back up.

Overall, the book does an excellent job covering how serious the issue is and showing how it can tear apart relationships and destroy dreams. It’s a powerful book, not a happily ever after book. I highly recommend it.

Spiritual Content Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Colossians 3:5 – Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Thank you to Book Look for providing me with a free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.