Beyond the Summerland

Beyond the Summerland is the compelling, complicated and fast-moving first installment of a five-book fantasy series by L.B. Graham. The Christian element is obvious, as Malek parallels Satan, Allfather is God, and all other created beings must choose whom they will serve. When Malek, one of Allfather's Council of Twelve, oversteps his authority and tries to wrest control of Kirthanin from Allfather, he sets in motion a series of far-reaching, tragic events.

Our story centers on Joraiem, one of the ruling class of Novanna, and the first prophet to be discovered in hundreds of years. The time has come for Joraiem, as well as Novanna from other towns, to set out for Summerland, where they will be trained in matters of war and statesmanship. Although Joraiem is unsure of himself, his skill as an archer and his newly awakened prophetic gifts set him apart from the other men and women in training. Joraiem makes good friends, especially with Aljeron, who travels with a fierce tiger, and the beautiful Wylla, but he makes enemies as well.

However, personal relationships must be set aside as Joraiem and the others are called to the fearsome Forbidden Isle, to see what new evil Malek is intending to unleash on their world. Their investigation results in ambush and the women are kidnapped. The Novanna mount a rescue, which leads them to battle, with skilled Caan, their trainer, and the prophet Valzaan, their mentor, to guide them. With help from the Great Bear, a race of good-willed but reclusive bears, and a reluctant dragon, they defeat the giant Vulsutyrim and the evil Malekim (servants of Malek).

Joraiem's adventures draw him closer to Allfather and he grows in maturity and experience with his gifts of prophecy and foresight. Valzaan is always there to show Joraiem the hand of Allfather on his life. At one point, Joraiem asks if he can choose not to be a prophet, and Valzaan answers,

"You have a choice, but it is not what you think it is. You can never go back to what you would call normal life. . . Your choice is to be faithful to Allfather and answer His call, or to refuse to serve in the way you have been called to serve. There is no third option. You must serve Allfather on His terms, not yours. But, lest you think you are an exception, know that this is true for all. Allfather calls us to serve, and it is His right to choose the manner of our service. To serve Allfather in any capacity is an honor."

The book is full of wisdom based on biblical principles, but it has enough adventure and suspense most readers will be unable to put it down until the end.

What I Like: I always like a good fantasy, and this is one of the best I have read in a while. Graham builds a believable world, filled with characters we can all relate to. His characters are complex and face choices for good or evil, in an often-confusing, ambiguous world. My favorite part of the book is the clear picture Graham gives us of various people's relationships with God (Allfather). From Valzaan, the prophet, to Andunin, the first human to embrace killing, we see the way choices affect the future for good or evil.

I also like the adventure. Graham paints vibrant word pictures to describe dessert, forest and city settings, and there are many unexpected twists and turns along the way. Suspense and danger are never far away, even when you least expect it.

What I Dislike: Plot Spoiler Ahead! I generally like happy endings, and this book does not have one. My sister (a child and family counselor) says books portraying realistic and even tragic events can be therapeutic for children dealing with trauma. Also, life isn't perfect, and tragic things sometimes happen to committed Christians. However, I was shocked when Joraiem was killed by another Novanna, who was jealous of his recent marriage to Wylla. I was so sad--Joraiem had survived all sorts of terrible battles, only to be senselessly murdered. I quickly scanned book two (I will review it soon) in the hopes there had been a mistake, or Joraiem would be resurrected, but it doesn't appear to be the case. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see how Graham's strong faith will redeem the tragic end.

It takes the first few chapters to get used to the way Graham transitions between locations, times, and dreams versus reality. It would be easier to follow if he used a series of asterisks, but it didn't take long to figure out.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Young Adult (14-21)

Publisher Info: P & R Publishing, 2004; ISBN: 978-0-87552-720-8; Paperback, $16.99

Special Note: The book is nearly 600 pages, and would be ideal for teens who need an involved book to keep them busy during the summer.

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God's Light, Shining Bright

Finding a way to share with your child that God is all around can be difficult. Having God's Light, Shining Bright, written by Allia Zobel Nolan and illustrated by Laura J. Bryant, in your library can be a major tool to help your child see God in everything.

"God turned on the switch a long time ago
and created a special, spectacular show.
If you look all around on warm summer nights,
you can see Him in all of the dazzling lights."

As the story moves from an amusement park to a fireworks show and finally to home, your child sees some of the places to look for God's light: lightning bugs, sparklers, fireworks, the stars, and moon.

What I Like: The natural progression of this story makes it a great bedtime story. The LED lights made my active toddler engage in the story and book more than other books. They're used to illustrate various kinds of light on the pages, such as the sparklers and stars as mentioned above.

What I Dislike: I stumbled over some of the wording and rhymes when reading this book aloud.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 3 - 5, though my one-year-old was fascinated by the lights.

Publishing Info: Kregel Kidzone, 2006; ISBN: 0-8254-5527-8; board book $12.99

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The Case for Christ for Kids

Many of you are familiar with former atheist, Lee Strobel, investigative reporter and legal editor for the Chicago Tribune. In his book, The Case for Christ, he details his own investigation of Jesus, the claims of the Bible, and his conversion to Christianity. The Case for Christ for Kids is a pared-down, readable version of his popular book for adults, aimed at eight- to twelve-year-olds.

The Case for Christ for Kids is written in three sections. The first section, "Who Was in the Manger?" explores Jesus' claims to be the Son of God. In Part Two, "Did His Friends Tell the Truth?" Strobel discusses various conspiracy theories skeptics have used to try to disprove the disciples' stories. The third section, "Can a Dead Man Come Back?" gives historical evidence for the resurrection.

Strobel begins the book with a story to engage readers, and at the end of the book he revisits the same story. It is a compelling tale of a poor family who were determined to love and follow Jesus despite their circumstances. At the end of the book, Strobel presents Jesus as a friend asking the reader to trust Him for Heaven and walk with Him in the meantime. Strobel imagines Jesus saying, "Come on--walk with me," and leaves readers to ponder the question, "Which step will you take today?"

Strobel addresses the book directly to the reader in a pleasant, conversational tone, and he has included lots of cartoon-style, black and white images to support the text. The book also includes scripture references, word definitions, and bulleted information boxes to summarize important concepts. There are questions for readers to think about, and space to write down "Case Notes" throughout each chapter.

What I Like: Like his adult book, The Case for Christ for Kids is well-written and does an excellent job facing tough questions and providing logical, thorough answers. I appreciate Strobel's tone, and the fact he treats his young audience as intelligent, thinking readers. He is not afraid of questions, and his journey shows us we don't need to fear questions our children may ask either.

I also like the way Strobel directly invites his readers to say "yes" to a journey with Christ. This book would be perfect for children who are interested in learning more about Jesus, but it is also a great resource for children who have grown up in church but are just reaching an age of questioning. Also, Strobel's respectful tone makes this book ideal to give to non-Christian friends and relatives. Christians, adults and children alike, will be better able to answer questions non-Christians may ask them after reading The Case for Christ for Kids.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Zonderkids, 2006; ISBN: 978-0-310-71147-6 ; Paperback, $7.99

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Special Note: Parents may want to have The Case for Christ on hand, in case the kid version leads to more in-depth questions. The adult version is much more thorough, and includes relevant reading lists.

A Man of His Word

Sit back, relax and take a journey to a simpler place. Life moves a little slower in Amish country, but as readers will find out, it still has its own share of troubles.

A Man of His Word, by Kathleen Fuller, is the perfect combination of serenity and conflict, full of colorful descriptions that bring the peacefulness of the Amish world to life, all the while revealing characters full of dignity and courage.

Moriah Byler is a God-fearing, gentle-hearted woman who is committed in every way to her husband and the Order.

Just months after marrying Levi Miller, Moriah's world falls apart when, while working among the "English" (the Order's name for non-Amish), Levi falls in love with another woman and abandons Moriah and his faith just as Moriah is about to tell him that she is pregnant with their first child.

Having never imagined raising a child alone, Moriah turns to her husband's family for comfort, including her brother-in-law, Gabriel. According to Amish practice, divorce would not be allowed and she would be married to Levi for life, whether he returned to the Order or not.

Despite the shock of this unexpected circumstance, Moriah stays strong in her faith. She moves back into her parent's home and focuses on nurturing her baby and caring for her brothers and sisters, all the while trying to figure out how she fits among the Miller family.

Gabriel, who has harbored a secret love for Moriah since childhood, takes on a behind the scenes role of providing and protecting Moriah. Ashamed and conflicted about the feelings he has for Moriah, Gabriel continually prays for forgiveness and submits his love for Moriah to the Lord. All the while Moriah is completely unaware of Gabriel's growing emotional connection to her and to her baby.

Shortly after he leaves Moriah, Levi is killed in a auto accident. Again, Moriah turns to Gabriel, this time finding a love she would have never expected - a truly divine love.

What I Like: Moriah is a wonderful character, full of qualities that a teen girl can look up to and learn from. Gabriel, too, is a man of God that embodies characteristics that every mother would hope her daughter to find in a husband.

At the end of the story, the reader is able to clearly identify the "red-flags" in Moriah and Levi's courtship. I believe this could provide wisdom for a young girl who is just beginning to think about romantic relationships.

What I Dislike: At the beginning of the story, before Levi abandons Moriah, I found myself a little bit concerned that I might be getting into a full-blown, worldly romance novel, which would be of concern for me when thinking about my teenage daughter reading it. The author seemed to be justifying the inappropriate feelings Gabriel had for Moriah, although as the story continued, a heart committed to God and full of integrity was revealed in Gabriel.

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: 15-18

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2009; ISBN: 978-1-59554-812-2 ; Paperback $10.99

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Get Me To The Ark On Time

A rare find in the Christian children's book market, Get Me To The Ark On Time, written and illustrated by Cuyler Black, is absolutely hilarious! Adults and children alike will find themselves grinning ear to ear as they read this goofy take on a Biblical favorite.

The story of Noah's Ark is told like never before. The narrating anteater and a pink flamingo constantly fight about how the story should be told.

Just as it begins to sprinkle, the giraffes, who are forced to hold their necks out the window due to an ridiculously undersized cabin, realize that the turtles aren't in the ark yet!

The anteater, dressed in a cheerleading outfit, "hoorays" the giraffes as they set out to get the turtles and themselves to the ark on time. The giraffes and turtles go through quite an ordeal, slipping off of tree branches, falling into deep holes in the ground, flying through the air and being rescued by Noah himself. Eventually they all make it safely to the ark - on time!

What I Like: This book is funny!! I actually laughed out loud while reading it!

What I Dislike: Due to its comedic nature, portions of this story are not actually in the Bible. To clarify, nothing directly contrary to the Bible's teachings is found. The story includes nothing sinful or inappropriate, just a few fictionalized details. Simply reading the story of Noah's Ark directly from the Bible at the appropriate time would provide clarification of facts.

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: The book suggests ages 4-7, but my 1 1/2 year old daughter loved it, so I would suggest ages 1-7.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-310-71633-4 ; Paperback $3.99

Additional Info: Read free comics, download free e-cards and learn more about the author/ illustrator, on his website.

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Julia's Words

Julia's Words, written by Judith L. Roth, uses a diary-like format to tell the story of one girl's budding friendship with a deaf child. The two meet at a coastal summer camp.

Julia uses her hands to speak, but Christina doesn't know sign language. As they spend more time together, they learn to communicate and their friendship grows. One night, though, Christina brushes off Julia's questions because she doesn't know how to explain what Julia can't hear.

The next day Christina can't find Julia. Instead of searching for her, she decides to spend time with other girls, girls who can hear and talk easily. Later when she finally finds Julia, Julia is angry. After Christina struggles to find an explanation, Julia writes in the sand: "You give up too easy." This challenges Christina and sparks a lifelong friendship. The two friends realize that some of the best things only come through work and perseverance.

The illustrations by Brooke Rothshank provide soft, watercolor depictions of the main characters. At the back of the book are illustrations of signs Julia teaches to her friend throughout the story.

What I Like: I like the honest emotion within the story. My daughter was instantly drawn in. Julia's condemnation of her friend was an unexpected twist, one that forces readers to evaluate their own levels of persistence within relationships. I also like that the back of the book offers illustrations teaching various words in American Sign Language. Very few books feature deaf characters, so this is fantastic. Also, few books feature Asian main characters. Having an interracial family, this is a big "plus" to me.

What I Dislike: The Christian content is minimal. This isn't really a "dislike" as much as it is a wish. This story offers a great illustration for several lessons in faith and Christian love, but none of those are made to completion. Rather, it's just a nice story about friendship. The only specific reference to Christianity is the quotation of Scripture on the dedication page (1 Peter 4:8, 10, quoted in the New Living Translation).

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 6-10

Publisher Info: Herald Press, 2009; ISBN: 0836194179; Paperback; $12.99

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Special Info: I don't want to say this book is "Just for Girls" because the lesson is gender neutral. However, you should be aware there are no boy characters within this book.

I Love You, God

I Love You, God, is one of the many books by author and illustrator P.K. Hallinan. The book begins:

"I love You, God,
and I'm happy to do
whatever brings honor
and glory to You!"

The book continues to show through text and illustrations how this little boy shows his love for God. He tries to be kind, patient and helpful. He praises the Lord in song when he goes to church. He offers his friendship, listens, is honest, and thanks God for the food he eats. Those things and more are all ways that little children can show love for God, and they will learn this as they hear the story.

The watercolor paintings are what we've all come to expect from P.K. Hallinan. They help tell the story, and are simply adorable.

What I Like: The illustrations are precious, and tell the story right along with the text. I love that this book shows many of the practical ways that children can show their love for God. It will open up many opportunities for discussion as you can ask your child what is happening in the picture, and how the boy is showing love for God.

What I Dislike: The only thing that I wish this book had included was a mention of the little boy failing to obey God's commands perfectly, and asking forgiveness. Children need to understand that although they cannot always obey perfectly, loving God includes a desire to please Him, and repentance for sins committed.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Baby through Preschool

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2010; ISBN:0736927174 ; Hardcover $12.99.

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Special Info: We've reviewed other books by this author and illustrator. The author also has a website for you to find out more information.

Who Am I?

Who Am I? was written by Mike Santiago and illustrated by Paul Hughes. In simple rhyming verse, this book attempts to answer the question of who God is, using a first-person point of view. It explains that God created the universe and cast Satan out of Heaven. God created Adam and Eve, gave Moses the Ten Commandments, parted the Red Sea and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. The book ends with this invitation:

"So if you are seeking for an answer
Or if you don't even have a clue
Take the time to read the Bible
I am the One who created you."

What I Like: I like that this book encourages those with questions to find the answers in the Bible.

What I Dislike: There are no Bible references, so if readers have questions, they wouldn't know where in the Bible to look. I don't like the illustrations. They vary greatly from page to page in both style and extent of detail. Also, the author never uses punctuation, which makes this book awkward for beginning readers who are just learning proper sentence structure (and their parents who are trying to teach them).

Overall Rating: Ho-Hum

Age Appeal: 3-8

Publisher Info: Truth Books Publishers, 2009; ISBN: 193529816X; Paperback; $9.95

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