Just Sayin': Write 'Em, Draw 'Em, Hide 'Em in Your Heart

For creative girls who love God and doodling, Carol McAdams Moore’s book Just Sayin': Write 'Em, Draw 'Em, Hide 'Em in Your Heart may be a perfect fit for a devotional tool. Consisting of 90 separate devotions, the book is not an in-depth study of the Bible; it’s more a series of exercises designed to lead a teen to explore her own thoughts and discover truths within Scripture in an engaging, imaginative manner. With that in mind, the book has a consistent set-up throughout: 
• Each devotion is a two-page spread 
• The spread is heavy on the visual and light on text 
• A short portion of Scripture is stated 
• The reader is invited to interact with that Scripture (make a list, doodle a picture, insert a picture, take a fun quiz, rate yourself, design something, respond to a prompt, etc.) 
• An occasional prayer is included or an encouragement to read more from a provided Scriptural reference 
 • Readers are encouraged to write directly in the book, making it almost like a journal or a collection of artistic expressions

Though this book is geared toward girls, the author provides a similarly artistic book for boys. It's called Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It.

What I Like:I am one of those people who love to doodle. Rarely does a piece of paper pass through my hands without some kind of embellishment added. So I was immediately drawn into (pardon the pun) the format of the book. So often, students are offered a left-brain approach to studying Scripture (or doing schoolwork for that matter). This right-brain approach is refreshing. I want to say, “Finally… a devotion geared for people like me… someone who colored the entire surface of her desk in second grade and turned in a cartoon strip for her final project in a college course (with the teacher’s consent).”

What I Dislike: The verses are presented raw, with little or no explanation or context provided. Therefore, I believe it may be best suited for those familiar with and well rooted in the stories of the Bible. Because of that, I think the book has a more limited audience than it might otherwise reach. (It can still work for anyone, but may leave some gaps for those new to the targeted Bible stories.)

Also, I am not one who likes slang, and the book uses a lot of it to make (I suppose) the writing “fun”. However, I think the ideas are creative enough that the slang isn’t necessary (and may go out of style, rendering the book outdated before its time). To me, the book would be just as enjoyable but have a longer shelf life if it used quality vocabulary!

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12 (although it may appeal to those older than designated age group).

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2014; ISBN: 9780310742982 ; Paperback, 192 pgs., $9.99.

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.19
OR Buy the version geared for boys, Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It, for $8.19
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.92.
OR Buy the version geared for boys, Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It for $8.82.