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Why We Need Christian YA

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Why is Christian YA Important?

Some of the answers to this question seem obvious. Evangelism (introducing Christian beliefs to those unfamiliar or searching.) Reinforced values. “Safe” stories without graphic sex, profanity or violence. Those are all important reasons.

I spent a considerable portion of my early teen years figuring out what I believed, why I believed it and what I wanted to do about it. I think this is the case for a lot of people. As a public school kid, I wasn’t surrounded by Christian faculty and curriculum. (For me, I think this was ultimately a good thing, though that’s another story.) I found friends who shared the same moral ideas that I did, though not always the same faith base. (I think this was also ultimately good, but also another story.)

When I read Christian YA featuring characters facing that struggle – the wrestling with faith to craft our own beliefs, or perhaps more accurately, make our beliefs our own – it reminds me of my own battles. Reminds me that I’m not the only person to ask those questions.

Because I’m involved (or at least a fly on the wall near) some pretty mainstream YA discussions, I hear a lot about how teens need freedom to experiment, need access to stories in which characters have the same kinds of experiences that their readers have. Sometimes this is an argument in favor of including explicit language or sex. I have lots of thoughts about why I think this very often is a flawed argument, but one of the bloggers I love says it really well on her blog Reading Teen.

Perhaps ironically, I think that same argument can be made about more books including authentic spiritual experiences in faith shared by readers. For me, those are experiences in Christian faith. We need those stories. We all need to be reminded that life throws us curve balls we didn’t expect, and sometimes it’s easy to fall back on faith, but sometimes it’s hard. Stories that explore those trials can be very validating.

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Why Aren’t There More Christian YA Novels On Bookstore Shelves?

The single reason I hear most is that it’s difficult to get Christian YA books actually onto those shelves. Think about your local bookstore. Is there a section for Christian YA? (At my local Barnes & Noble, there’s possibly one half of a shelf, I mean maybe 6 books or so last I looked.) If there is a section, is it with the other YA books? (Not at my B&N.) Is it easily accessible? (Or is it buried back near bathrooms or kids’ Bibles or something like that?)

If you have a great Christian YA section in your bookstore, that’s super awesome, and I might move to your town. For most people, I’m betting that’s simply not the case.

I find it fascinating that we segregate books and separate out the Christian fiction. Wouldn’t it be easier to shelve them all together? If you want to buy Christian fiction, learn the publishers or authors you love and shop by them. (Isn’t that pretty much how everyone else buys books?)

Some Christian publishers have seemed to give up on YA altogether. Others seem to have focused on stories with milder Christian content. Sometimes there’s talk about God but maybe not Jesus. Maybe prayer, but not really any specifics. In some stories, that’s really where the protagonist’s journey takes him. I’m glad to read those stories, but it’s also important to hear the bold ones, ones in which characters share deeper parts of a Christian life.

The Good News: There Are Some GREAT Authors Out There

Through my own journey as a writer and blogger, I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible Christian authors. I’m humbled by their excellent stories and challenged by the messages within them. If you’ve been a long-time follower at The Story Sanctuary, you’ve heard their names.

Here are some of the great books by Christian authors that I’ve reviewed:

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

Glass Girl by Laura Anderson Kurk

It’s Complicated by Laura L. Smith

 

Upcoming Summer Reviews

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Seems like this time of year more than any other, my To Be Read list just explodes. It’s summer time! The perfect time to kick back and read a book or two. Or seven. Maybe thirteen…

Here are just a few of the books I’m most looking forward to this summer:

Storm Siren and Siren’s Fury by Mary Weber

Originally I’d requested to review Siren’s Fury via NetGalley, but as I started reading, I realized book two wasn’t going to be enough. While I could follow the story, I was too interested in the things that happened in book one: in Nym’s dark past, in her romance with Eogan, and in her part in a terrible war. I ordered the first book with a gift card and caught up. Totally worth it. I’m excited about reviewing these.

Feuds and Torn by Avery Hastings

I read Torn without knowing it was a sequel (though I probably wouldn’t have minded if I had known.) I had no problems following the story, but some parts, while not confusing, clearly referenced events that had happened in book one. I liked the story world and characters well enough to immediately order the first book.

Turning Point by Various Inspirational Authors

I’ve read and really enjoyed several of the ebooks included in this set. I’m excited to explore the other stories. It’s an incredible deal – seven books for $0.99. (Sadly it seems to be no longer available.)

Draven’s Light by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

If you’ve followed The Story Sanctuary long, you’ll know I’m totally in love with Stengl’s Goldstone Wood series. I love that the stories all take place in the same story world, but often at drastically different times or in very different places. Good stuff.

More to Come

I’ll also be reviewing Those Girls by Laura Saft and Every Last Word by Tamera Ireland Stone this month. Look for Tattooed by Jesus, a memoir review coming later this week.

What tops your summer reading list?

Review and Reminiscence: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

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The Hiding Place
Corrie Ten Boom with John Sherrill and Elizabeth Sherrill
Chosen Books

Amazon | Goodreads

Nazi occupation during World War II changes watchmaker Corrie Ten Boom’s life. Her deep empathy and faith lead her to become a central participant in the underground movement to protect Jews and others on the run from the Nazi government. Corrie and her family know that at any time, they may be captured and sent to the very camps they work to save others from. Still, with every new challenge, Corrie and her sister Betsie cling to their faith in God and look to Him for the path they should follow. What results is a moving, often miraculous story of a woman who not only survived terrible conditions, but who continued to minister healing to the hearts and souls of those around her – be they Jew, Gentile or Nazi.

I had wanted to post my review of this story on Mother’s Day or on Monday, May 11, to honor my mom’s birthday. The Hiding Place is her favorite book. I remember her reading this tale to my sister and me when we were young – probably only a little older than my daughter is now. I remember even then being overwhelmed by Corrie’s commitment to serve others. She’s so real about the struggles within her own heart, too – fear of prison, the struggle between taking action to protect herself and her sister versus selflessly giving to others in all circumstances. Her life story reminds us that each of us can make a difference in the lives of those around us. That courage and selfless love are available to anyone – provided they learn to live by faith.

This may have been the first account I’d ever read growing up that was about World War II, so it’s been a special story to me, too, in that my other reading and learning about that time period always bears echoes of Corrie’s story. When my daughter gets just a little bit older, I am excited to share the story of the Ten Boom family, their faith and courage, with her, as my mom did with me.

Language Content
No profanity.

Sexual Content
Corrie and her sister are forced to walk naked before soldiers upon their entrance to a concentration camp.

Spiritual Content
Corrie’s Christian faith sustains her and her sister through Nazi occupation of Holland and imprisonment in a concentration camp. She and her family frequently pray with one another and share the Bible, which they count as their most precious possession.

Violence
Corrie is beaten by a Nazi soldier – description is brief, not very detailed. She hears her sister also beaten and witnesses others who’ve been brutalized by soldiers. There’s not a lot of violent description.

Drug Content
None.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Ten Boom Museum
In looking for cover images, I stumbled onto a web site that offers a virtual tour of the Ten Boom Museum and shows some pictures of the family and shop where she lived. (It looks like possibly there are some clips from the 1975 movie too?) Click here to take the tour and find out more.

Review: The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

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The Goblin Emperor
Katherine Addison
Macmillan
Available April 1, 2014

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

The goblin emperor and three of his sons die unexpectedly in an airship accident. Maia, the emperor’s youngest son and a recluse shut away from court, suddenly finds that he is the new emperor. Thrust into the murky depths of politics, the new emperor struggles to grow into his new role and to take leadership of an empire reeling from loss and caught in oppressive traditions.

This novel reads like a coming-of-age goblin history, if such a thing could exist. The story pacing is steady and intricate. Maia’s journey from frightened boy to confident leader happens so believably that his triumphs are easy to celebrate. Addison even weaves in some equal rights for women in her story world, which has to be a first in the land of goblins. The story development is strong but subtle. Readers used to the loud plotlines of high-action stories might miss the gentle unfolding of story and the well-organized message waiting to be realized.

One thing that I did find confusing was the fact that lots of characters seemed to have different names depending on who was referring to them. This took some getting used to, and was more confusing for me because I listened to the audiobook. It’s probably a story that would be easier to enjoy the old-fashioned way.

Once I realized there weren’t any human characters, and even any really important characters besides Maia himself, I wasn’t sure I’d like the story. I found Maia to be so likeable that it was ultimately easy to get past those things. It’s really Maia’s journey. There are certainly other interesting characters, but none so critical to the story as the emperor himself.

Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Sexual Content
A few vague references to sex. An actress offers herself to the emperor, but he refuses.

Spiritual Content
Maia was raised with his mother’s beliefs, which are not the most popular in the empire. The previous emperor did not really practice any faith. There are several rituals overseen by priests and Maia often wishes he could meditate privately. When Maia decides to investigate his father’s and brothers’ deaths, he hires someone who can speak to the dead to hopefully contact other victims and learn what happened. Maia is not present for these rituals but hears an account of the results.

Violence
Someone attempts to assassinate the goblin emperor. A guard dies by ritual suicide for failing to protect the emperor. Description is brief. References to a child being beaten.

Drug Content
Occasionally Maia has too much wine and says/does things he later regrets.

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Review: The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

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The Girl at Midnight
Melissa Grey
Delacorte Press

Amazon | Goodreads

For most of her childhood, Echo, a homeless human girl, has lived with the Avicen, a human-like people with feathers instead of hair. When she learns of an ancient prophecy that could stop the war between her adopted people and the dragon-like Drakharin, she sees an opportunity not only to help those she loves but to cement her place among them as a hero.

Caius, the Drakharin Dragon Prince, also knows of the prophecy and seeks its fruition. When his search entangles him with the strange human girl, there’s really only one choice: work together to solve the puzzle and find the firebird. Even if doing so destroys his place among his people.

I absolutely devoured this book. I loved the descriptions of the Avicen and their feathers, though I felt like the Drakharin deserved a little more in the way of interesting comparative descriptions. I liked the feel of these strong racial divides being crossed for the first time in the uneasy alliances between characters. There’s a lot of snarky dialogue that keeps the emotionally intense scenes from becoming melodramatic. I was a little disappointed in the climax – there’s a big scene change at kind of an awkward moment that left me wanting a recap that I never really got. Despite that, the ending was very satisfying.

Aside from that, though, the characters and plot made this well-worth the experience. Fans of Cassandra Clare and Laini Taylor will definitely want to read this novel.

Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Sexual Content
Echo offers herself to a would-be lover, but is gently refused. Caius remembers times shared with Rose. His memories often involve being in bed or wrapped in sheets, but nothing further is discussed. Dorian, the captain of the guard who serves the Dragon Prince, harbors deeper affection for Caius than is appropriate for his post. Caius remains unaware of his feelings, but another man notices and attempts to steal his heart. There’s a brief kiss from one to the other’s hand and some obvious desire.

Spiritual Content
An oracle reveals what Caius and Echo must do.

Violence
Tanith uses her fire gift to burn her enemies. She also assassinates other Drakharin who happen to stand between herself and her goals.

Drug Content
None.

Review: Zeroboxer by Fonda Lee

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Zeroboxer
Fonda Lee
Flux

Seventeen year-old Carr Luka is rocketing his way to the top of a hot new sport. Zeroboxing takes place in an enclosed arena, the Cube. Opponents face off in hand-to-hand combat in zero gravity. Winning fights is the only thing that will save Carr from being sent back to earth to work clubs as a low-rent fighter, scraping through the muck of poverty. When an opportunity to become an elite Zeroboxer, a poster child for the sport complete with endorsements and his own marketing team, Carr seizes the opportunity with both fists. His exotic Martian marketing manager steals his breath and then his heart. Just as his dreams of stardom and a glorious future seem to be within his grasp, a stranger corners Carr with a devastating secret, one that will shatter every one of his dreams and ban him from the only life he’s known. Carr must choose to bury his secret or forsake his dreams.

Honestly, I was a little nervous about reading this book. Its sci-fi elements intrigued me, but I’m not a big fan of boxing as a sport, so I wasn’t sure if the terminology would be confusing or the topic uninteresting. Plus, boxing in space? How does that work?

However – Lee totally delivers. It’s like Ender’s Game style training matches meets boxing. I loved it. Lee’s clear writing paints great visuals of the boxing matches and really drives up the intensity of those scenes.

In addition, there’s a complex story world in which Mars has been colonized and is now occupied by humans who are genetically altered for life on the red planet. Generations after the colonization, deep animosity exists between Martians and Terrans (people from Earth.) Which really seems so true to human fallibility: both groups came from the same people, but now their differences divide them. Really fascinating stuff.

Lee also explores the morality of gene therapy and genetic manipulation. We’ve seen this where it comes to clones and soldiers, but how cool to bring these issues to the sports arena. If someone is genetically enhanced, does that offer an unfair advantage in sports competition, the way that the use of steroids does? Great theme.

All-around, this was a deeply thought-out, well-executed story. Though Carr is seventeen at the start of the novel, to me it reads more like new adult than young adult literature because of the issues Carr faces. He’s a career man, not a student, living independently and making all adult choices. High school aged readers would probably still enjoy the story.

Language Content
Extreme profanity, infrequent use.

Sexual Content
Kissing and brief references to sex – commenting on past experiences and brief description of present sexual situations.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violence
Carr fights several other zeroboxers during the course of the story and KO’s one very rude civilian. Descriptions of the fights are not super gory – you definitely know what’s happening, but there’s not a lot of glorification of the injuries or pain or anything like that.

Drug Content
Carr attends some pretty wild after-parties following victorious fights. Usually he doesn’t drink alcohol and avoids a lot of the crazy stuff, so there’s not much description there. He does lose it and get drunk alone one night, but regrets it later.