In Peculiar Treasures by Robin Jones Gunn and published by Zondervan (2008), quirky, red-headed Katie Weldon is finishing up her junior year of college at Rancho Corona. Her best friend, Christy Miller, is recently married. Katie is in a dating relationship with Rick Doyle, the boy she has had a crush on since high school. As she…
Working in youth ministries, my heart squeezes with sorrow and fills with compassion as I see all of the things our youth face today. They are surrounded by the world’s standards and expectations, and put into highly stressful situations. I try to encourage the young ladies in our youth group, but there is only so…
Nick Newton Is Not A Genius is a steampunk (science fiction set in Victorian times which emphasizes historical or imagined steam-powered technology) chapter book for middle grade readers. It is written by S.E.M. Ishida with illustrations by Dana Thompson. Published by JourneyForth (2016), it is 160 pages. Boys will especially enjoy its exploration into the world…
Hudson Taylor: Deep in the Heart of China is a biography by Janet & Geoff Benge and published by YWAM Publishing (1998). Hudson Taylor grew up in a Christian home in the 19th century, but he was not a believer. Through the prayers of his mother and sisters, Hudson became a devoted follower of Christ and…
In The Prince Warriors, Xavier and Evan and their friends, Brianna and Levi, are transported to the world of Ahoratos. A cloaked figure named Ruwach leads them to a cave where he gives them armor and a task. He instructs them to follow the armor. (The armor they are wearing shines a light in the direction…
OXYGEN by John B. Olson and Randall Ingermanson is a science fiction novel about a mission to Mars. The story immerses the reader in the world of NASA, the lives of its astronauts, and space travel. Portraying scientific detail realistically, but understandably for those who aren’t science geeks, it is an informative yet highly entertaining read.…
Lightbearer: The Lorica Prophecies was written by Marcy Weydemuller and published through Helping Hands Press (2014). It is a fantasy novel for YA. Jonne, who is on his way to his choosing ceremony, meets a mysterious stranger. The stranger advises the young man to search his heart for what he might want to do in the…
In Finding Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn and published by FaithWords (2009), Miranda Carson journeys to England in hopes of finding her father. A photo in her mother’s belongings takes her to the town of Carlton Heath on Christmas Eve. Through the kindness of the residents, Miranda is led on a path of forgiveness and discovery.…
Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide is a storybook for Advent. It begins with an explanation of Advent, its history and Advent customs. The author shares how his family practices Advent and how your family can too. Advent begins on December 1st this year, 2013. This Advent story revolves around Jotham, a 10-year-old boy, living in biblical…
In With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin, Lt. Mellie Blake, a shy Filipino nurse, is forced to participate in an anonymous letter writing campaign to boost the morale of the troops during World War II. Mellie’s letters come into the hands of Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an engineer who is eager to find someone who doesn’t know about…