That is So Me: Flip-flops, Faith and Friends

Nancy Rue has done it again. The author of the popular Sophie books beautifully enters the world of pre-teen girls in her new devotional, That Is So Me: Flip-flops, Faith and Friends. Rue addresses young girls' concerns, nurtures their faith and speaks to their heart. This 365-day devotional can be started any time, but it would be perfect to give at Christmas, so girls could start it January 1st.

At a time when girls may be pulling away from their families and seeking independence, Rue's daily devotions can offer a godly perspective on life's issues. Her year-long devotional will also give girls an excellent overview of the Bible. She begins in Genesis, and spends the first thirteen weeks discovering who God is. Then, she moves on to explore, "Who does God say I am?" Next, she teaches girls "How to be a holy child of God," and last, she addresses "How can I be the 'God-Made-Me' in a world that's so mixed up?" The book moves mostly chronologically, from Genesis to major Old Testament characters, and on to the Gospels, Acts, and several of the New Testament letters. Each devotion relates a Bible story to girls' present-day lives.

The "Do That Little Thing" section at the end of every day asks readers to take a quiz on Sundays, "Find Out" something by asking grown-up Christians on Mondays, "Just Think" on Tuesdays, talk to God on Wednesdays, listen to God on Thursdays, take action on Fridays, and share what God had done in your life on Saturdays. This progression is logical and consistent from week to week.

What I Like: First of all, I love Rue's voice. She is a cross between a cool, encouraging friend and a wise and compassionate big sister. I couldn't wait to read what she had to say, and I am not even a pre-teen! Second, I love the way she's placed Bible stories chronologically. This is a great overview of the Bible as a whole, and she makes a point to mention Jesus' connection to Old Testament events. Third, I love the "Do That Little Thing" section. I am not a fan of busy work, and there isn't one boring or meaningless activity in all 365 days.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really, but I should point out sometimes biblical stories are abbreviated to fit into the space of a week. For example, when Rue tells about Esther, she doesn't mention it took Esther two dinner invitations to gain enough courage to tell the king she was Jewish. This isn't a big deal, but sometimes you may have to go back to the Bible to get all the details.

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: 9-12

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-310-71475-0; Paperback, 463 pages, $12.99

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Special Info: Check out our reviews of other books by Nancy Rue here.