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.

Friends To The End

Book: Friends To The End by Matt Tullos, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Boy and Girls 15-18

Subjects: Crime, Teen pregnancy, Dating relationships, friendships

Summary: It seems everyone is under a cloud of suspicion. The bomb threat was real. A.C. claims he disarmed it, but the police aren’t buying it. Anyone associated with him is also under suspicion – including Clipper. Now that Kandi has broken up with Zach she and Justin are trying to piece their relationship back together, but Zach may not be ok. Autumn especially is getting really worried about him, but no one will admit he has any problems.

Notes: This book tackles some of the biggest issues that teens can face – teen pregnancy, dating relationships, drugs, and persecution of their faith. It tries to show how to deal with these issues with a Biblical or godly response. It is part of the Summit High series, a six book series about a group of friends in high school.

Recommendation Scale: 4

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Timothy 4:12 – Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Processing The Computer Conspiracy

“Wait!” Justin’s voice was urgent. “What’s he doing? He’s got five of those boxes in this truck. Something smells weird about this whole thing,” Justin continued. “I don’t think it’s a science project.”

Book: Processing The Computer Conspiracy by Matt Tullos, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Boy and Girls 15-18

Subjects: Crime, Dating relationships, Friendships, Bullying, Evangelism

Summary: Clipper is ecstatic. He took the janitor from school to a Christian concert and the man got saved! Everyone else is excited too. How awesome it is to see this man who some consider dumb or retarded, so passionate about his new faith and so thankful for the kids he gets to serve by cleaning up after every day. But all of a sudden he stops talking to everyone, avoiding people, and sitting in corners crying. Something strange is going on and Kandi thinks it’s connected to the break-in at school and the stolen computers.

Notes: This book has an aspect of great beauty as it talks about the humble service of the janitor and how much his new faith means to him. He is portrayed as being slightly mentally handicapped, but his heart is huge. He has always enjoyed serving the kids as a school janitor and now as a believer, his love for them is even bigger. It also contains a neat picture of characters turning to God when times get tough. When it looks like the bullies will win, the faithful turn to God and plead for His help and strength. The other books in this series are typical realistic fiction, but this one, book 2of the Summit High Series goes beyond the ordinary to really show role model characters who are making right choices or at least coming around by the end.

Recommendation Scale: 4.5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Unhappy Appy

When I swung down from Towaco, my legs felt heavy. Usually I can ride all day and not be ready to quit, but now I felt worn down. I’d tried so hard.

Book: Unhappy Appy (Winnie the Horse Gentler) by Dandi Daley Mackall, Tyndale House Publishers, 2003

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 12-17

Subjects: Friendships, family relationships, divorce, prayer

Summary: Hawk is as unhappy as her horse. And that’s not good ‘cause her horse is quite grumpy these days. If Towaco isn’t biting someone, he’s moping as if he doesn’t care about anything in life. Winnie thought that Hawk was getting to be her friend, but lately Hawk doesn’t seem to want to be her friend. It’s back to the ignoring at school and the always choosing to hang out with the popular kids instead of Winnie. Meanwhile Winnie’s dad is starting to spend a considerable amount of time with another woman. Winnie’s mom has only been dead for a couple of years. How can he even think about this? Winnie wants to turn to God, but still just has some doubts about Him and His goodness after her mom’s death.

Notes: Winnie has to learn an important lesson about friendship in this book. Hawk is truly avoiding Winnie, but the reason for it means she needs Winnie’s friendship more than ever. It’s a time for Winnie to fight for it, just like she does with the horses, not give up. She also continues to learn more about prayer as she struggles to talk to God and believe that He cares about the little details in our lives.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Psalm 37:23 – The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Solitary

Book: Solitary by Travis Thrasher, David C. Cook Publishing, 2010

Genre: Suspense/Horror

Target Audience: Boys 17+

Subjects: Occult, Dating Relationships, Family Relationship

Summary: Solitary is not a safe place to be. After his parents’ divorce, Chris and his mom move there. There’s a bright spot – a beautiful, amazing girl that Chris falls completely in love with. But there’s a lot of scary things going on as well. Someone is watching… and doesn’t like Chris hanging out with Jocelyn. And there is a deep evil in this town. Kids have disappeared and from all indications, Jocelyn is next.

Notes: This book is for those who like horror and suspense. The spiritual element is that Jocelyn is searching for the God that Chris wants nothing to do with. God is always watching too and He does have the answers. This book doesn’t really come to any resolutions, at least not any positive one, so only read this if you enjoy horror. For a book containing aspects of the occult, it doesn’t do a good job providing real answers, answers that God is in control and is more powerful than the evil. It is just a tale of suspense.

Recommendation Scale: 1

 Reviewer: J:-)mi

Ephesians 6:1 - 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.

Taking Tuscany

“Oh AJ, everybody has a bad day now and then.” “A bad… day? I don’t just have a day, I have weeks…no make that months… make that, I have years, Mama. I have years ahead of me before I have something to look forward to again!”

Book: Taking Tuscany by Renee Riva, David C. Cook Publishing, 2009

Genre: Historical/Heartwarming Fiction

Subjects: Family relationships, friendship

Summary: AJ knows what it takes to make life perfect. And Tuscany isn’t it. No more summers at the island for her. No more Sailor. No more America. In fact, no more AJ. Her family has moved to Italy and will remain there, with no trips home, for the next six years. And in Italy, going by your initials doesn’t work, leaving her stuck with her full name: Angelina Juliana. She’s a “Yankee” with a weird family who, after being kicked out of the all girls’ school on false charges, finds herself at a school ruled by one “queen bee” as AJ describes it, who has decided to make AJ’s life miserable. All AJ wants is the one thing she can’t have: to go back home to the island.

Notes: AJ learns a bit about perspective in this book. She can’t change her situation, at least not for another six years. But she can change her perspective. She learns that God has joy waiting for her here, just as He did back on the island, if only she will open her eyes and allow herself to see it.

Recommendation Scale: 5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Hebrews – Be content with what you have because God Himself has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you”.

Saving Sailor

Book: Saving Sailor by Renee Riva, David C. Cook Publishing, 2007

Genre: Realistic/Heartwarming fiction

Target Audience: Girls 18+

Subjects: Family relationships, friendship

Summary: AJ knows life doesn’t get any better than this. Being nine years old, hanging out at the lake, drifting in an old boat with her dog sailor, hiding a hamster from her parents, arguing with siblings, watching her mom pretend to be a movie star in public, and making friends with the new boy on the island – what more could a girl want? This heartwarming story is about a young girl during one summer of her life. There is about a page of suspense towards the end, but the rest of it is just life through the eyes of a nine year old.

Notes: This story is just fun. It’s not out to make any particular point or accurately represent something. It’s just the author telling a story, a story that from the info in the author’s notes, is similar to her own. It makes you relive your childhood. It makes you smile at AJ and her siblings. I recommend it for light, entertaining reading, but not something that will greatly challenge you spiritually.

Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 18:1-3 – At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jake's Choice

Ten minutes into his first college party and he was already cornered. He hadn’t had even a sip of alcohol since about nine months ago. He’d realized then that the new church thing he was checking out didn’t mix with all his old activities, and so he’d bravely left and never looked back. Now here he was again, but this pressure was even worse!

Book: Jake's Choice (To Save a Life) by Jim and Rachel Britts, Outreach Publishing, 2010

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 16-25

Subjects: Sex, drinking, dating relationships, accountability, homosexuality, friendships, relationships with parents, abuse

Summary: It all comes down to support and accountability. Jake has changed. He’s not the same person he was before Roger’s death. He’s accepted Christ and turned his life around. But then he goes to college. Alone. All of his support system is gone and the pressure is on to be like he was before. The other guys on the basketball team expect him to drink like them. The hot girls won’t take “no” for an answer. And Church? All Jake can find are a bunch of old unfriendly people in the Churches he checks out. Nothing that makes it worth getting up for on Sunday mornings. Amy is great, but she’s far away and Jake just isn’t sure anymore. Then there’s Amy herself. She’s not sure about everything anymore. She’s changed too, made some choices and intends to stand strong to those choices – whether Jake likes it or not. Can their relationship survive the change? Can their faith?

Notes: This book picks up right exactly where To Save A Life left off. It’s a great follow up to the story – primarily because it’s so real. Jake finds that it’s not so easy to stand strong and stick to his convictions when he’s away from his support and accountability back at home. Jake and Amy both face very strong and very real temptations and struggles. The book provides characters that are right there encouraging them and challenging them to make choices that are in line with what the Bible teaches. It’s focused on the college scene – this book covers a couple of years after Jake leaves for college so the characters are older. It makes it valuable not just to teens, but to young adults as well.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart

Book: Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart by Chuck Black, Multnomah Publishers, 2009

Genre: Allegory

Target Audience: Boys 12-18

Subjects: Faith, Doubts

Summary: Is the Bible really all true? I mean, does it really still apply to us today or is it just some old book that contains some good and helpful suggestions for life but is mostly outdated? These are the questions that Dalton must wrestle with as he trains to be a knight for the Prince. Only when his very life depends on his answers to the questions does he realize and admit that he has been doubting and his doubt is holding him back from true passionate service to the Prince.

Notes: This allegory fits in the time of the Church, the time between Jesus ascension and His glorious return. It could take place anywhere, any time today. A young man seeks to learn how to be a follower of the Prince, but realizes he is not confident in his faith. Seeds of doubt have been planted well. This book contains a great challenge in the introduction – “Sir Dalton dared to look into the shadows of his heart…. Shall we?”. And as you read the book you can not help but think about your own faith and listen as Dalton’s doubts get answered. Do you dare to admit you don’t know it all, dare to grow in your faith and become a more effective servant of the Prince?

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.