Category Archives: Book Review and Content

Review: Seekers of the Lost Boy by Taryn Hayes

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , ,

Seekers of the Lost Boy by Taryn HaynesSeekers of the Lost Boy
Taryn Hayes
Maledi
Published May 3, 2013

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A light at the water’s edge prompts twelve year-old Simon to leave his family and return to the shore one last time. There he finds a bottle containing a message that will send his family on an incredible quest. The author of the message, a young boy, simply asks: Who is God and does he care about me?

As Simon’s family discusses their own answers, he can’t help wanting to communicate with this boy who asked the question so many years ago. With their father’s permission, Simon’s mother helps Simon locate the man who wrote the message. His story forces them to face dark moments from the past in a new way and to look on the future with greater hope and peace.

In a charming story set in South Africa, author Taryn Hayes reveals snippets of history along with explorations of one of life’ biggest questions. The result is a sweet story of Believers across lines of races and generations and a message that knowing God and finding hope in Him is the only foundation for inner peace.

Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Simon’s dad believes in God, but his mother does not. The family meets a man who tells them about his own spiritual journey and how he became a Christian.

Violence
A man very briefly tells of a time he and his grandfather were beaten by a policeman.

Drug Content
None.

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Review: Shades of Mercy by Anita Lustrea and Caryn Rivadeneira

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Historical, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

Shades of Mercy (Maine Chronicle #1)
Anita Lustrea and Caryn Rivadeneira
River North Fiction/Moody Publishers
Published September 1, 2013

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Goodreads

Mercy Millar just wants her father to see her for who she is, instead of the son he wishes he had. She does enjoy the freedom to come and go the way her father’s son would, though. She is even allowed to drive to the edge of town and pick up the Maliseet workers unescorted. She looks forward to that drive each morning because it’s the only place she and Mick, a Maliseet boy, can be together. They steal a few minutes dreaming of a future far from Watsonville and its prejudices, where a white girl and a Maliseet boy can make a life together.

But when a local man’s daughter and another Maliseet boy run away together, racial tensions run high in the tiny Maine town, and Mick and Mercy find themselves right smack in the middle of it all. In an effort to keep Mick from harm, Mercy tries desperately to keep her feelings a secret from the rest of the town. When Mick is falsely charged with a violent crime, Mercy fears the worst. She must find a way to turn the tide of hate to mercy before an innocent man is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit.

Shades of Mercy is a simple love story wrapped in the tumult of the Civil Rights Movement in the northeast. While other parts of the country begin to embrace the bold words and dreams of leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr, the people of Watsonville, Maine restrict their Maliseet Indian population to a life in shanties built on the town dump. The story follows those first moments of powerful change as townspeople begin to demand equality for all citizens. The unique and important historical view of this novel makes it an unforgettable, valuable achievement and a worthy read for today’s youth.

Cultural Elements
Shades of Mercy deals with racism in a small Maine town. Mercy is a young white woman. Mick is a young Maliseet (Native American) man.

Language Content
No profanity or crude language.

Sexual Content
Mercy and her boyfriend share a few kisses.

Spiritual Content
Though Mercy and her family live among a strong Christian community, some community members do not believe that the Maliseet people should have the same rights as others. Mercy learns by the example of her parents when to be silent and pray versus when to speak out against wrongdoing.

Violence
A brief altercation occurs when a young Maliseet man is accused of attacking a white man. A terrible storm destroys and floods the town of Watsonville, Maine, leaving many citizens injured.

Drug Content
Alcoholism and apathy run rampant through the Maliseet camp.

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Review: A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

A Cast of Stones (The Staff and the Sword #1)
Patrick W. Carr
Bethany House
Published February 1, 2013

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Desperate for coins enough to drown his painful past in drink, Errol agrees to deliver an urgent message to a nearby priest. Then an assassin destroys the message and nearly kills Errol, forcing him to flee with the priest and his companions.

The priest and other members of clergy gather to select a new king, but a deadly enemy opposes them at every step. Still battling lust for ale and past demons, Errol finds himself caught deeper within the church’s web of danger and intrigue. If the enemy wins, the king’s line will end and the border that protects the kingdom will fail. To survive and protect his friends, Errol must conquer his past and uncover the identity of the ruthless ones who pursue him before it’s too late.

Like many Christian fantasy novels, this story contains a monotheistic religion that closely resembles Christianity. What keeps this from being entirely predictable or mundane is Carr’s clever addition of a second spiritual leadership group who balance the power of the priests and reveal the will of Deas (God) through casting lots.

Carr’s deft and thoughtful storytelling can’t help but leave readers eager for the next chapter in the fascinating world he’s created. Errol’s unexpected and expertly crafted transformation from cowardice to heroism makes this novel both moving and memorable.

Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
A woman obliquely propositions a young man. Nothing explicit or overt.

Spiritual Content
Characters follow a monotheistic religion that includes worship of a god called Deas. In addition to priests, Deas also gifts certain followers to become readers, men who cast lots and determine the will of Deas through the results. A woman possessed by an evil spirit tries to attack Errol and Liam.

Violence
Assassins pursue Errol and his companions, at times succeeding in wounding him and his friends.

Drug Content
Errol begins the story as an alcoholic, but devoted friends and companions help him see the self-destruction in that lifestyle.

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Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

WE WERE LIARS
E. Lockhart
Delacorte Press
Published May 13, 2014

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About We Were Liars

Since she was a little girl, Cadence has been spending summers with her Sinclaire cousins and family friend on a private island. In the infamous, wealthy Sinclaire family, emotions must be kept in check. Addictions and criminal behavior are not allowed.

But the summer after Cadence’s grandmother passes away, her perfect family falls into turmoil, and Cadence leaves the island with a mysterious head injury she can’t remember receiving.

When Cadence begs to return to the island to be with her family again, her mother relents. Still no one will discuss Cadence’s injury with her, and she is forced to uncover the truth on her own.

My Review

Okay, so… full disclosure. I started reading this book one morning while I was waiting for my then-boyfriend to wake up and be ready to meet up for lunch. The chapters are short, and the story is so intense that I may have left him waiting for me for over an hour while I scrambled to read one more chapter after just one more chapter.

I couldn’t get enough. I had to know what would happen. The writing is beautiful and sort of haunting, and it’s the kind of story that gets inside you and won’t let go.

WE WERE LIARS is packed full of stark, beautiful prose and gut-wrenching emotion. Cadence experiences the fullness of love and loss, and through Lockhart’s phenomenal storytelling, readers can’t help but share in those moments. The relationships between family members feel so real and sometimes so toxic. Every chapter uncovers new questions. And the ending left me completely breathless.

Needless to say, I read this book in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down at all. It’s been one of the books I talk about over and over, and certainly one that stayed with me since I’ve read it.

Content Notes

Language Content
Extreme word choice, moderate frequency.

Sexual Content
Cadence’s cousin claims to have had lots of “sexual intercourse” with a boyfriend back home. She promises details, but shares nothing graphic or specific.

Spiritual Content
Cadence and Gat briefly discuss whether or not they believe in God.

Violence
None.

Drug Content
The cousins sneak wine from their parents and drink it.

Disclaimer
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

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Review: Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Torn Away
Jennifer Brown
Little, Brown and Company
Published May 6, 2014

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Fifteen year-old Jersey lives an annoyingly ordinary life, starting dinners for her working mother and dodging invitations to dance with her five year-old sister. All that changes when a fearsome storm spawns a deadly tornado that rips through Jersey’s life, leaving only wreckage in its wake.

Jersey survives the storm, but its aftermath sends her reeling. She’s lost everything. As she bounces from relative to relative, still shell-shocked by the memories of her home literally crumbling around her and swallowed by a powerful grief. Only a connection with another grieving family member will allow Jersey’s grief to begin releasing her.

For much of this story, Jersey’s life goes from bad to worse. Only the most callused human beings can endure her journey through the tornado without feeling moved to empathy. Brown’s storytelling shines in those scenes as she describes not only the devastation caused by the storm, but the sheer helplessness and overwhelmed feelings of survivors.

But the storm’s end is only the beginning of Jersey’s troubles when she’s cast on a family that has no desire nor capacity to care for her. Jersey seemed to keep readers at an emotional distance, though, as perhaps she’s done with everyone, even her besties from school. Even at the story’s end, as Jersey begins to fully grieve, we glimpse just a crack in her outer walls.

Language Content
Infrequent but extreme use of profanity and crude language.

Sexual Content
Brief, vague references to infidelity among adults.

Spiritual Content
Jersey’s neighbor prays for fellow storm victims and for herself. Later, Jersey’s grandmother invites her to church, telling her that prayer might help her grieve for her losses. Jersey does eventually pray, though mostly to communicate with a lost family member.

Violence
Jersey’s step-sisters bully her and a physical fight ensues.

Drug Content
Jersey’s dad and step-mom are often drunk.

Blogger’s Note
As we approach the storm season for the Midwest, I can’t help remembering the headlines of the last several years. As a native Floridian, it’s hard to get my head around the sheer mass of the tornadoes that devastated towns, families and lives in their paths.

My work for an incredible company assisting in the creation of 3D city models sometimes allows me to view places and experience events that I would not otherwise get to witness. One such example was when we created before and after models showing the destruction of the 2011 tornado in Joplin, MO. You can see a short video of the model footage on YouTube here.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: Tessa by Melissa Wiltrout

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Tessa
Melissa Wiltrout
Life Sentence Publishing
Published September 3, 2013

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Fifteen year-old runaway Tessa Minor is forced to return home after being caught shoplifting some food from a grocery store. She dreads the moment she has to face her father again, knowing he’ll make her pay for every hour she’s been on her own. She wakes in the back yard shed at home, battered and bruised from her father’s punishment. When she’s finally able to return to school, Tess dodges questions from her friends but can’t help feeling curious about the new girl, Heather, who speaks openly about her faith and is warm and kind to Tessa. In the midst of a violent altercation at home, Tess escapes through her bedroom window and runs to Heather’s home, where her grandparents take care of her. Gradually, their steadfast love and faith permeates Tess’s home life, and Tess begins to see changes even in her parents’ behavior. But after living in filth and terror for so long, Tess isn’t sure she can trust that the changes are for real or that they erase the horror of her past.

Tessa’s immaturity and tenaciousness made her a believable girl in her early teens, though her bad attitude was sometimes a little much to swallow. Wiltrout captures the chaos and uncertainty of life with an abuser, but it was difficult to understand why Tessa’s mother stayed with him, since she didn’t seem really dependent on him. The spiritual journeys each character takes were largely believable and authentic. Often the critical moment came not through conversation with another person but because of it, which feels more true to life. Forgiveness and consequences were also nicely balanced in a story which deals with redemption of someone with a serious criminal history.

While some of the story elements were a little underdeveloped, Wiltrout shows an overall good sense of story and character development as well as a nice grasp of how to authentically incorporate spiritual awakening into her scenes.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild and infrequent.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
When Tessa meets Heather and her grandparents, she also wins an introduction to their faith as Christians. Soon Tess begins to see God moving through her small family.

Violence
Tessa’s father mercilessly punishes her for running away and anytime she makes a mistake. Angry and brutal, he beats her severely enough for her to lose consciousness.

Drug Content
Tess’s dad also demands she help him concoct methamphetamine in an abandoned structure. While Tess never uses the drug, she suffers physical consequences from exposure to the chemicals used in the process. No ingredients are named, nor is the process described in any detail. Participants ultimately serve time in jail.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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