A Young Man After God's Own Heart: Turn Your Life into an Extreme Adventure

"On many occasions (and I know this won't sound very spiritual), I pray while I'm running. I take my prayer list in hand, or in my heart, and start running. As I begin pounding the pavement and praying, I seem to lose myself in prayer (and, as an added benefit the pain of the jog is forgotten!)" (p.60).

This is just one of the words of wisdom Jim George offers in A Young Man After God's Own Heart. George understands boys and young men, and provides a distinctly "male" version of what faith looks like. George's book for junior high and high school guys explains what it means to be a Christian, how to develop your faith and how to handle family, friends and temptation.  He also covers setting goals and gives practical tips on studying the Bible.

George draws heavily on his own life experiences in high school, and in his careers in pharmacy and the military. He challenges young men to "Go for the Gold," by making Christ their focus, choosing to learn from family and reaching out to friends and non-Christians. He also challenges young men to enjoy group activities instead of dating one-on-one while in high school, and to read the Bible in a year. George includes an "Extreme Spiritual Workout Schedule" in the back of the book, with a day-by-day plan to read the Bible in one year.

Each chapter includes personal questions in a section called "Tough Decisions for Today," and Bible study questions in "The Cutting Edge." These questions would be helpful for personal use, but would work even better with an older mentor or in a group setting.

What I Like:  I like how well George captures the heart of boys. He shows them what it looks like to love God, but still be manly. He recognizes boys' need for adventure, challenge and risk, and inspires them to develop their faith while being the best they can be at school, home and with their friends. The book was helpful for me, as a mom, to see what faith may look like for my son, and understand differences in our natures. Sitting on the couch with tea and a Bible is no more spiritual than running with prayer list in hand!

I like the way George reminds young men throughout the book to think about their future. Although he recognizes not all people have to go on to higher education, he does ask them to work hard in order to leave their options open. He also recommends young men cultivate a love of reading, and explains ways reading can help their education and faith.

George makes excellent use of personal examples. He makes the book interesting and relevant by sharing stories from his life. Also, it is rare to find devotional books not written by pastors. Although George is a pastor now, he references experiences in pharmacy and the military. This makes it easier to relate to George, especially for guys who aren't thinking about going into ministry right now.

Finally, at last, a book cover with great action shots (football, skating, running, snowboarding) that doesn't show faces! Although photos are used, they use bright colors or black and white, and they use midsection shots, which make them appealing to guys of any ethnic background.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 12 and up, but would work equally well for junior high or high school students

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2005; ISBN: 978-0-7369-1478-9; Paperback, 206 pages, $10.99

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Check out CCBR reviews of other books by Jim and his wife Elizabeth here.

Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK

I love when I find a book I can’t put down. Addison Blakely: Confessions of a P.K. was one such book. In it, author Betsy St. Amant captured the struggles, temptations, doubts, and drama of the teenage years quite well.

The story opens with hormones. Addison is attracted to newcomer Wes Keegan, even though he is, for all appearances, exactly the type of boy her father (a preacher) would never approve of. He has tattoos. He rides a motorcycle. He’s older than her by two years. And he is not a believer.

As the story continues, Addison fights several emotional battles. It’s a spiritual journey and as well as one of self-discovery. She wants to meet the expectations of her father, but their relationship is strained. She has taken a vow of purity, but faces sexual temptations. She questions why she makes certain choices and not others.

Meanwhile, spunky sixteen-year-old Addison deals with regular teenage drama: a bulimic friend, unwanted attention from a boy, her widowed father dating again, and meeting the pressures of school responsibilities.

Amant created realistic, relatable, and likable characters. While Addison was the main focus—and one worth rooting for—she was surrounded by a great cast. Each character played an important role in the story, and Amant wove their lives together with skill.

Addison’s friend Claire quickly exited from center stage, but her struggle with bulimia and self-worth will still resonate with some readers. Marta, an exchange student from Germany, provided balance and wisdom. Luke demonstrated kindness and chivalry. He was the reliable boy we all know and love… as a friend. And irresistible bad boy Wes simply permeated the story with his complexity.

The story moved at a fast pace, making it extremely hard to set down. It held a mixture of humor and thought-provoking situations. Its authenticity may cause readers to search their own hearts, examine their own motives, and, like Addison, ultimately claim their faith as their own.

What I Like: I like how Addison considered the consequences of her decisions. Although Addison’s faith comes through in a strong way at the end, the story wasn’t preachy. The refreshing dose of honesty, painful predicaments, and nail-biting choices just seemed to FIT together. Also, although Addison is a preacher’s kid, her life very well reflects that of a typical teenage girl, especially one who was brought up in a Christian home. The dilemmas and pressures are the same, as well as the crucial element of faith… believing not because of what your parents taught you, but because of what you yourself believe.

What I Dislike: Okay, I’m a mom, but Addison’s eating habits bothered me. How could she eat so much ice cream, cupcakes, and sweets, and drink so much sugared coffee, and still maintain her weight?!

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: ages 15 and up
Publisher Info: Barbour Books, 2012; ISBN: 978-1616265557; Paperback, 368 pgs., $9.99
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Special Info: The story touches on the following teen topics: bulimia, abuse, gossip, peer pressure, and premarital sex.

Your Special Gift

Like most parents, Carol McCormick struggled to know how to talk to her preteen girls about sex. She wanted to inform them, but also avoid being explicit. Her girls were nine and eleven at the time. What she presented to them is now available to you in book form.

Your Special Gift: A Preteen Primer to the Facts of Life is "an analogy of sex, comparing their bodies to precious gifts and opening these treasures to having sex." The author begins by talking about Christmas, how wonderful it is to open presents that morning, and how awful would it be if they had already been opened, played with and enjoyed too soon.

Each chapter begins with a short Scripture quotation, frequently from 1 Corinthians 13, then approaches the topic in a conversational style. The author defines sex as a man and woman "joining their bodies." She goes on to say: "A man's body part works like a key and a woman's body part works like a lock, and as they fit together they open this wonderful gift." While always sticking with the predominant analogy, the text includes brief discussions of:

• various names and terms for sex
• God's intention for sex (between a husband and wife only)
• The importance of waiting to "open your gift" until after marriage
• The dangers of "opening your gift" too soon or to the wrong person
• Wrong motives for "opening a gift" and common forms of peer pressure
• Pornography, rape, prostitution and AIDS (mostly just definitions and why they are unhealthy)
• Bad touches and how to respond (child molestation)

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version. A "Note to Parents" offers both an introduction to the book and a short explanation of why it was written.

What I Like: The author covers a broad scope of topics directly and with brevity. I like that she encourages parents to use this as a starting point for discussions with their children. I also like that she consistently reminds readers that they are valuable and that their bodies are special. While discussing predators and inappropriate touches, the author suggests to child readers that, if they have been violated and find it too hard to tell an adult, they can simply take the book and show them "this page." I think that's an excellent suggestion! Victims are usually embarrassed and scared. This provides a less intimidating way to get help.

What I Dislike: I struggle with analogies for important topics, especially sex. They seem to always fall short in one way or another, either being too descriptive or not enough. This book fluctuates in that area. For example, the author spends a whole page talking about AIDS, but never mentions the existence of other sexually transmitted diseases. The text uses words like hooker, intercourse, rape and pornography, but never once gives the accurate names for a man's "key" or the woman's "lock."

Also, in the section on predators, the author provides readers with things they can say if someone touches them inappropriately. One reads: "I'm going to tell someone if you don't stop." I find this very dangerous. Victims need to know that they ALWAYS tell, even if the violator stops.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Celestial Press, 2009 (print version), 2012 (e-version); ISBN: 0967536804; Paperback or Electronic; 32 pages; $5.98

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Or get the Kindle edition for $0.99.

Special Info: Visit the author's website for more information on her, this book and her other titles.

Choices

Premarital sex is about more than hormones. Choices, a novel by Katrina L. Burchett, skillfully entwines the lives of five teen girls as they face this issue in York, Pennsylvania.

Shauntice, the central character of the book, feels trapped in many ways. Her father is an alcoholic and a mean drunk. His frustration explodes through fists against his wife and children. Shauntice trusts God implicitly, but, because of her father's abuse, cannot trust men. When Terry enters her life, her scarred emotions battle her attraction. Soon her relationship with Terry serves as an escape from her painful homelife. Is her faith in God stronger than her need for relief?

Angel may be rich in material things, but the void in her life is tangible. Raised by her grandmother, Angel never knew her father and barely knows her workaholic mother. Even though her best friend, Shauntice, is a committed believer, Angel wants nothing to do with God or church. She's been with the same guy for two years, but the signs (and her friends) suggest Randy's bad news. When another girl enters the picture and Randy becomes more physical, Angel has some choices to make. Is she worth saving or is Randy the best she deserves? To what lengths will she go to keep him?

LaKeeta is a Christian, but now pregnant. Once committed to abstinence, great grades and being a stellar basketball player, she's now not speaking to the baby's father and neither her father nor her best friend, Bridgette, are speaking to her. All she wanted was someone to love her unconditionally, but maybe that Someone was there all along. Now that her life is changed forever, what can she do?

Bridgette is a virgin committed to abstinence and has no problems preaching about it. When her best friend gets pregnant, she feels betrayed and comes off more than a little judgmental -- not just to Lakeeta, but also to Angel and just about everyone else that doesn't exhibit the same passion for God's ways. The path of judgment can prove a lonely road.

Hope leads a very different life from these other girls. Her mother is ultra-controlling and far too over-protective. Hope is faithful to her church and Christian beliefs, but she also feels like a freak, no thanks to her peers who treat her like one. When her father dies in a sudden car accident, Hope blames her mother and finds the strength to rebel against her strict rules. This earns Hope some street cred and a bit of self-esteem, but she may be getting in too deep too fast.

What I Like: This book is very well written. The author has a gift for creating three-dimensional characters and true-to-life dialog. The plot moves at a good pace. I especially like the multi-faceted approach to the topic.

Burchett clearly promotes abstinence, but also acknowledges the pressure teens receive from all sides -- social, physical, emotional, etc. -- and she provides grace in the knowledge that no one is perfect. Readers will walk away knowing that everything comes down to choices. Living right is not just about saying "yes" or "no" to sex. The issue is much bigger than that and encompasses how you treat others based on their choices and how you respond when your choices seem to be stripped from you.

I like that the book boldly relays the consequences of choices and encourages the characters and the readers to consistently seek God's direction when making choices. His definition of right and wrong is the only definition that matters. Scripture is quoted and referenced throughout the text. The Gospel message is fully presented and explained.

What I Dislike: The characters use the word "fornicate" frequently; I struggled to see this as realistic. It seems too adult and sterile for the characters. Perhaps this a cultural or generational distinction, but no one used that word when I attended high school in urban Philadelphia twenty years ago.

Also, curse words are employed a handful of times. I recognize that this effectively builds authenticity in the dialog, but it causes me (a parent) to hesitate in recommending to everyone.

Finally, the ending felt abrupt. Not all of the threads were tied up nicely, which I like, but a few of the threads definitely felt unfinished. I want to know what happened and, as such, hope for a second book.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: Young Adult

Publisher Info: Kapri Books, 2007; ISBN: 0979390508; Paperback; 328 pages; $9.99

Buy it Now at Amazon.com for $9.99!

Special Info: Parents should gauge age-appropriateness on an individual basis. This book tackles several difficult topics, some of which may be too intense for some teens. Readers encounter the real-life issues of promiscuity, teen pregnancy and motherhood, under-age drinking (and adult drunkenness), verbal abuse, domestic violence and rape. All of this is handled from a profoundly Christian foundation and perspective, but some of the scenes are quite graphic in nature. Parents should also be aware that curse words are employed within the dialog a handful of times.

This book is intended to be the first in a trilogy. At the time of this review, however, no release date has been set for the second book. Learn more or read an excerpt of this title on the author's website.

Purity Reigns

“Brittany had always told me that Branson needed more than I was willing to offer, and if I didn’t give it to him, someone else would. I just didn’t know that someone else would be her.”

That short paragraph sums up most of the conflict in Purity Reigns, the first book in the Laurel Shadrach series, written by Stephanie Perry Moore. High school senior Laurel Shadrach is beautiful, athletic, popular, and comes from a strong Christian family. Plus she is dating the hottest boy in school, Branson. However, Branson is pressuring her to be more intimate than Laurel knows she should be. The reader sees this tension right from the beginning of the book. “He tilted my head toward his and kissed me passionately. I melted in his arms. Then his hand went back to my leg and started moving to an area that was definitely off limits. Without interrupting the kiss, I grabbed his wrist and kept him from going any farther.”

Added to the struggle to stay pure is Laurel’s desire to compete in the National Gymnastics Championship and win a gymnastic scholarship for college.

With a realistic taste of the challenges faced by today’s high school teenagers, the story follows Laurel’s life. Yet while Laurel grapples with betrayal, an injured ankle, strained friendships, conflicting emotions, and the pressure to succeed, the main focus of the book remains on one of the biggest tests of all: staying sexually pure.

As the story draws to a close, Laurel makes a hard choice. She ends up losing her boyfriend, who hooks up with her best friend. However, Laurel soon recognizes that another boy from her youth group is a much more godly (and healthy) love interest for her.

What I Like: I appreciate how Laurel turns to prayer when she struggles. I also like that the book shows how easy it is for ANYONE to get carried away in the sexual arena. In addition, it shows some of the consequences of poor decisions. It portrays the emotional and moral dilemmas teens face when it comes to setting boundaries… and then keeping them. The overall message of the book is valuable. Stay pure. It’s worth it.

What I Dislike: The gymnastics practice schedule seems unrealistic to me. Gymnasts I know train for at least four hours a day. Serious contenders have a more rigorous schedule. Plus it’s a bit of a stretch (no pun intended) to think a high school senior could make the Olympic team (as Laurel desires to do), without a more intense and elite training program. Moreover, such focus usually dictates the athlete does not attend a public school, but must instead hire a private tutor.

Overall Rating: Very good. I told my daughter she should read it when she was fourteen. (Right now, I believe the scenes give details she’s not mature enough to read just yet.)

Age Appeal: Young adult (but better suited for ages fourteen plus)

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2002; ISBN: 978-0-8024-4035-8; Paperback, 239 pages, $7.99

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Special Info: Read other CCBR reviews of books by this author. Also, parents should note that this book contains under-age drinking and premarital sex (resulting in HIV and unwanted pregnancy). Sex is not described in the book, but is discussed by the characters.

A Girl Named Mister

A Girl Named Mister is brand new from award-winning author Nikki Grimes. Formatted like a poetic diary, this book follows two Marys in very different times, but with one very similar situation.

Mary Rudine, nicknamed Mister, is a sophomore in high school hoping to earn a volleyball scholarship to college. She's active in her church choir and youth group; she can't remember a time without church! Then Trey comes into the picture. His smooth words and long lashes soon make her question what she knows is right. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, she inches toward one big mistake that leaves her with lasting consequences.

It is about that time that her mother gives her a book of poetry. Feeling abandoned and alone, Mister gets lost in the story of another Mary.

This Mary has done everything according to Jewish law and eagerly awaits her coming wedding to Joseph, but an angel's visit leaves her confused and struggling with the consequences of the angel's prophecy. She, a virgin, will give birth?

Together both Marys discover the depth of God's love while facing the mysteries of His plans.

What I Like: Because it is written in first person, this book feels very intimate, like as a reader you've jumped into Mister's skin. The author did a tremendous job of character development, which is crucial when dealing with a hot topic like teen pregnancy. Raw and realistic, the book shows how easily people can be drawn away from their convictions. Even Christians can slip into dangerous patterns that lead to sin and enormous consequences that upset her entire world. Even without the pregnancy, Mister's choices alienated her from her friends, her church and her family. The book shows the true struggle that comes with teen pregnancy, the difficulty in making life-altering decisions at such a young age.

I really like the parallel between Mary (Jesus' mother) and Mister. The link there was quite beautiful. A great emphasis is on the character of God and the abundance of His love and grace.

I've never before read a novel written entirely in poetry. At first, I didn't think I would like it; I was sure the format would drive me crazy. But it didn't! Once I got started, I couldn't put it down.

What I Dislike: There are two instances of cursing. While I agree these words add grit and authenticity to the characters, I would have preferred their absence. Also, some parts of the text are extremely sensual in nature. As an adult, I didn't have a problem with them, but I did question at what age I would allow my daughter to read this. Portions may be too explicit for immature readers.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: Teen, though parents should evaluate age-appropriateness on an individual basis.

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2010; ISBN: 0310720788; Hardcover; 240 pages; $15.99

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This book is also available in eBook format for $8.99 at both Christianbook.com and Amazon.com.

Special Info: Parents should take specific note of this book's content and evaluate their child's readiness for it. Obviously, the book specifically tackles sex before marriage and teen pregnancy. Some of the text is sensual in nature, perhaps more than some parents will appreciate. The book also talks about adoption, abortion, stoning, and includes two instances of cursing.

See our reviews of other books by this author.

The Garden Wall

Jennie Bishop wrote The Garden Wall as "a story of love based on 1 Corinthians 13." It tells the story of two people: Seth, the son of a stonecutter, and Petra, the daughter of a farmer. Both enjoyed helping their fathers, thereby learning the respective trades. Soon a friendship developed between the two children.

One day as the two relaxed in the grass Petra confessed that she had been talking to God. She believed He wanted her to make a garden, a flower garden as a gift for her husband. At first Seth thought it silly. Afterall, she didn't have a husband and he wasn't sure a husband would even want a flower garden. But being her friend, he decided to help her. Petra would plant and tend the garden while Seth would build a wall to protect it. Each received help from their parents. Petra received seeds from her mother and Seth received tools from his father. The both worked very hard and, as they did, their friendship grew through patience, kindness, humility and encouragement. They learned selflessness, self-control and contentment.

Their relationship and their garden faced trials, too. At one point Seth became very sick. At another the garden was trampled by strangers. The friends argued over fault, but learned to trust, care and forgive. When winter came they wondered if the garden would survive, but hope kept them waiting. When spring arrived, the flowers bloomed and the two friends decided to get married. They added a gate to the wall that protected the garden. At the end, the two walk into the garden to "make [their] own home" there. Seth says "God made us to be together, in this place, for always."

The watercolor illustrations by Jeff Stoddard reveal great artistic technique. They're soft and gentle, seemingly taking the story into another time.

What I Like: I really like the letter to parents in the front matter. It clarifies the purpose of the story and encourages proactive training of healthy relationships and sexual purity. I am a huge supporter of those motives.

I also like the positive emphasis on work ethic. Whether readers view this story at surface level or look deeper into the meaning, they cannot escape the truth that building something of value takes work, and that hard work always pays off. This applies to both projects and meaningful relationships.

What I Dislike: The text is cryptic and a bit frustrating to me. The author obviously intends for the story to be multi-faceted, one that works on different levels (friendship, romance and purity until marriage), but, even with the note to parents, the allegory falls flat with incomplete, even inconsistent details. If the garden symbolizes Petra's purity and the Seth's wall protects it, then what does it mean when two strange boys trample her flowers?

Also, the timeline seems rushed. Petra goes from pigtails to marriageability in the course of one year. There is no mention of courtship or even romantic interest; the characters just build a gate and then hold a ceremony.

Seth's closing statement obviously refers to faithfulness within marriage, but I don't see how that fits into the other intended levels. It completely fails the surface level of the story because there is no house, no way they could actually live there. It just seems silly and over-the-top fairy tale-ish.

The story has great potential, but I find the overall delivery very confusing.

Overall Rating: Even with my distaste, I rate this book "Good." It's not a title I personally would choose for my children, but I do believe many parents would find it worth while.

Age Appeal: 8 and up

Publisher Info: Warner Press Kids, 2006; ISBN: 1593171684; Hardback; $12.99

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Special Info: See our reviews of other books by this author. You can also visit her website at www.purityworks.org.

Polished Cornerstones: Projects for Daughters on the Path to Womanhood

Pam Forster has written an comprehensive manual full of projects designed to help daughters grow in their faith and prepare for Christian marriage. At nearly 500 pages, Polished Cornerstones: Projects for Daughters on the Path to Womanhood, is an exhaustive guide to projects and activities fostering positive character attributes such as patience, humility, purity, and devotion. Chapters also cover topics such as finances, gardening, cooking, and childcare.

Forster begins with a four-page purpose statement which states the two main purposes of the book are to "lead girls to maturity" and "prepare girls to be godly young ladies." However, Forster sees girls' primary role as a wife and mother. She states, "For most women, God's will includes marriage." For this reason, she writes, "Rather than encouraging a daughter to seek employment outside the home, would it not be more preparatory for her future role to have her remain in the home provided for by her father?" She continues, "This is an area we need to consider more diligently before we just accept the cultural norm of sending a daughter out of the home for higher education and/or employment. The spirit of independence that inevitably develops in these circumstances seems contradictory to the helper's role for which we are preparing our daughters." Many of the projects focus on a girl's development in relation to her future husband.

Forster includes a fifteen-page section titled, "How to Use 'Polished Cornerstones.'" She specifically recommends the book be used over a period of several years. Projects are divided into "Beginner" (ages four-nine), "Intermediate" (ages ten-fourteen), and "Advanced" (ages fifteen and up), so sisters can work simultaneously on the same chapter, even if they are different ages.

Each chapter includes memory work, with easy and more difficult verses listed. Forster also includes reproducible graphic organizers for many of her projects. (For example, a chart detailing "Examples of Christ's Love" has girls list a biblical reference, the situation, what Jesus did, and what she learned.) A checklist is included to determine whether girls are maturing in each attribute.

What I Like: Forster is very organized, and should be commended for her thoroughness and attention to detail. She has many interesting projects, and the section explaining how to use the book could be quite helpful if you were setting up a homeschool or church curriculum.

The chapters on evangelism (telling people about Jesus), devotion (to grandparents, specifically), and reverence (keeping the Sabbath), are quite well done.

I also like the graphic organizers, and her focus on the Bible. She teaches girls to use a topical Bible as well as a concordance. These are valuable skills to learn at a young age.

What I Dislike: The book is very long, which could be overwhelming to some readers, and it is expensive. Also, many of the projects rely heavily on reading other books. Although the reading list seems interesting, it would be necessary to locate these books before starting nearly half of the projects in the book.

My main concern is Forster's assumption most girls will get married. I have known many lovely, committed, Christian women who have been unmarried, or gotten married much later in life. If they followed Forster's protocol, they would have missed out on rewarding careers and opportunities God had for them (e.g. journalism, microbial engineering, pastoral ministry). I don't believe women should be kept out of higher education or careers simply because they may develop "a spirit of independence." Also, Forster advocates training girls differently in the area of finances, (focusing on budgeting mostly) as they will not be the primary breadwinners. Even if this is true, not all men are wonderful accountants or best suited to managing money. Again, if women are not married, they need to know how to buy a house or car and how to invest for retirement.

I would prefer my daughters to submit to a husband or stay home with their children out of choice--not just because they weren't given the opportunity to do anything else.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum, with some good chapters.

Age Appeal: Parents, but with projects designed for 4-adult

Publisher Info: Doorposts, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-891206-27-6; Paperback, Spiral-bound, 495 pgs., $48.00

Buy it at Amazon.com for $48.00.

Mother Teresa: A Life of Love

Perhaps the best-loved saint of our times, Mother Teresa's amazing story is sure to encourage and inspire people from all walks of life. Elaine Murray Stone's readable, interesting biography, Mother Teresa: A Life of Love follows the story of the child Agnes, who became Sister Teresa, high school teacher and principal, and later, Mother Teresa, helper of the poor, until her death in 1997.

As with Stone's other biographies, Mother Teresa is organized chronologically, and includes many anecdotes about Teresa (then called Agnes) as a young child, and teen. While most of us can remember images of Mother Teresa as an old woman, caring for babies or lepers, I was surprised she began her religious life as a teacher with the Sisters of Loreto. Although she enjoyed teaching wealthy girls in the convent boarding school in India, she felt compassion for the desperately poor and homeless who lined the streets. She and some of her students brought medicine and food to these people, but it wasn't enough. After 20 years, Sister Teresa was given permission to begin a new order, the Missionaries of Charity.

Mother Teresa's goal in developing the Missionaries of Charity was to show Jesus' love to the poor, and to join with the poor in their simple lives. She did not allow beds or chairs in her convents, and each nun had only three habits. . . "one to wear, one to wash, and one to dry." Her missions were blessed all around the world, and by the time she died, there were 169 missions in India, and more than 500 in the rest of the world.

Stone continually reminds us of Mother Teresa's words, to "live one day at a time" and "to do small things with great love."

There are black and white pictures included throughout the text.

What I Like: I was fascinated by the interesting details about Mother Teresa's life. I remember reading Time magazine articles about her, but Stone's book gives a comprehensive view of how she began her life, and how she ended up as Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa impacted people around the world, and Stone shares many of her traveling adventures, and encounters with people of various faiths.

I especially like the way Stone shows us how principles from Mother Teresa's life can apply to our own. At the end of each chapter, she subtly weaves in an application point. For example, in the chapter where Mother Teresa sets up her first hospice, Stone challenges readers, "Although Christians in America aren't expected to take care of lepers, anyone of any age can donate money. But there are many other unfortunates to help right here. Young people can express the love of Christ in their neighborhoods. They can visit lonely older people, or take cookies and flowers to a nursing home. Mother Teresa often said, "It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into it that counts." Stone addresses these points to young people, and they always relate to the chapter.

What I Dislike: Nothing. However, there are a couple of frank discussions about abortion (which Mother Teresa adamantly opposed), so if your children haven't learned about this practice yet, you will have to explain it to them.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-16

Publisher Info: Paulist Press, 1999; ISBN: 978-0-8091-6651-0; Paperback, $7.95

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Special Note: The Catholic process for canonizing a Saint is discussed in the last chapter.

Just Call me Kate

Caitlin Harding is ready to grow up, but how can she attract her brother's best friend if everyone still calls her "Katie?" Even though she is only 12 and in sixth grade, she has a huge crush on Zachary Donaldson, who is 17 and plays football with her brother. Dannah Gresh's book, Just Call Me Kate is a funny, realistic story about growing up too fast, and what to do about it.

Gresh is author of Secret Keeper: The Delicate Power of Modesty and Just Call Me Kate is one of the Secret Keeper Girl fiction series, aimed at promoting purity for tweens. Kate is a typical twelve-year-old: she's boy-crazy, but not wild about buying her first bra; sweet, but doesn't make the best choices. When Kate writes Zachary's name in huge letters on the bathroom wall (in pencil, so it won't cause too much damage), she hopes his cheerleader friends will let him know. Instead, the principal notices the writing on the wall matches the writing on Kate's notebook, and gives her detention for three days.

Kate's parents don't overreact, but let detention be her consequence. In detention, she meets some other nice girls, and the art teacher gives her a series of assignments to determine just how real her love for Zachary is. Kate and the other girls form a Secret Keeper Girl Club and decide to help each other think before they do stupid things. Kate reports back on her findings. . . she explores everything from "How do you know you are in love?" to "How similar are you and Zachary?" to "What are the best things about being twelve?" Through these questions, Kate realizes maybe it is okay to enjoy her friends, and not focus on boys so much.

What I Like: I love the humor Gresh uses as she deals with real feelings about love and growing up. It is easy to dismiss first crushes, but Gresh does a great job of validating Kate's feelings, but showing why she is too young to spend her time pining over an older boy. There is a hilarious scene where Kate dives under a table so Zachary won't notice her shopping with her mom for her first bra.

I also like the gentle way Gresh shows what true love looks like. Kate's parents and art teacher are wise and understanding, without being preachy, and she learns a lot from them without minding.

There is a great discussion section at the back, and Gresh suggests girls discuss the book with their moms. The questions are relevant, and all relate back to Romans 1:25: "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised."

What I Dislike: Gresh uses a lot of slang, which makes the dialogue sound a little forced and out-dated. But, some of the slang adds to the humor of the book.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2008; ISBN: 978-0-8024-8703-2 ; Paperback, $7.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $2.76.

Many Waters

Madeleine L'Engle's book Many Waters is the fanciful tale of two brothers who go back in time and experience life shortly before the Flood. Many Waters is the fourth book in L'Engle's well-known Time Quintet, which begins with A Wrinkle in Time. Sandy and Dennys Murry are the stable, "ordinary," and athletic members of their family. When they accidentally interrupt one of their dad's experiments and find themselves in a desert oasis, they are shocked. Sandy and Dennys quickly become sunburned, and must rely on small mammoths, "virtual" unicorns, and the goodwill of strangers to survive.

When Sandy and Dennys first arrive in the desert, they meet Japheth, a tiny, but full-grown young man. He befriends them, and calls unicorns to transport them to his father's tent. However, the unicorns must be believed in to exist, so when the severity of Dennys' sunburn causes him to lose consciousness, he and his unicorn disappear. He awakens in the tent of Tiglah, a seductive, but ill-intentioned young girl. Tiglah's family throws Dennys into a garbage heap, but Japheth rescues him and brings him to his father, Noah. As Dennys recovers from his sunburn in Noah's tent, Sandy is recovering in Grandfather Lamech's tent. The boys quickly realize they are living in the last days before the Flood. Both Lamech and Noah speak with El (God), and receive strange warnings and instructions about building an ark.

To complicate matters, the Seraphim and Nephilim still walk among humans and are interested in Sandy and Dennys. The Seraphim are angels who have chosen to remain on Earth and act as guardians to those who love El, but the Nephilim are fallen angels who take daughters of men as their wives. Both Seraphim and Nephilim appear at times in animal or angelic form. The Nephilim and Tiglah's family try to use the boys for their own gain. Meanwhile, Sandy and Dennys are trying to figure out a way to save Noah's beautiful and kind youngest daughter, Yalith, who is not married and does not have a place on the ark. They also would like to return home. Eventually, the Seraphim agree to help, and they take Yalith to "the Presence" in the same way Enoch "walked with God and was not." Then, the Seraphim use unicorns to deliver Sandy and Dennys to their home in modern-day New England.

What I Like: I love the theme of the book. L'Engle uses the biblical passage "Many Waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." Yalith and her father, Noah, and her grandfather, Lamech, all have an unshakable belief in the love and goodness of El (God). They know His love is forever, no matter what happens.

I also like the characters of Sandy and Dennys. They are written authentically, and are innocent, kind and helpful boys. They are confused by their attraction to Yalith and Tiglah--until now, they have been more interested in sports than girls. They choose to refuse Tiglah's advances. They also convince Lamech and Noah to set aside a long-standing feud and become reconciled. They have very real reactions to Lamech's death, and they question the point of the Flood, in light of the evils they face in today's world. Nevertheless, they choose to act for the good of others, and they realize if the Flood hadn't happened, Jesus would not have been born.

L"Engle's depiction of the Nephilim and Seraphim is fascinating, and will make readers want to learn more about biblical references to them.

What I Dislike: Although I love this book, I have two cautions. First, there is some sexuality. L'Engle subtly shows healthy, beautiful relationships within marriage. For example, she writes,"And they were one. And it was good." She also shows sexuality in the context of power and exploitation. On one occasion she uses the term "slut" and on another, she refers to Tiglah being "an easy lay." (These are the only two instances of bad language in the book). Also, the men and women only wear loin clothes, and there are some references to the girls having "rosy breasts." Although the book would provide a great framework for talking about sexuality, especially with teen boys, I wish L'Engle would have used different words.

My second caution is the book is definitely in the realm of fantasy and is not meant to be biblical, or historical fiction. L'Engle takes an imaginative view of the Nehilim and Seraphim, as well as relationships between Noah and his family. At times, the boys critique the patriarchal nature of the Old Testament, and question how the Bible was written.

Overall Rating: Very Good due to qualifications above, but it is one of my favorites

Age Appeal: Young Adult (14-up)

Publisher Info: Square Fish (Farrar, Strauss, Grioux), 2007; ISBN: 9780312368579; Paperback, $6.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.49

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.99.

Special Info: Read my comments about A Wrinkle in Time in my Top Ten List here.

Crazy In Love

Crazy In Love, written by Dandi Daley Mackall, is a fabulous read for teen girls and parents of teen girls. This novel is about a seventeen-year-old girl’s first real boyfriend and her decision to not have sex with him. If you are a very conservative parent and you’re uncomfortable with this subject matter, you might want to read it first. The author is typically a Christian writer, but has crossed into mainstream teen fiction with Crazy In Love.

Mary Jane Ettermeyer thinks of herself in two ways: Plain Jane when she wants to do the right thing, and M.J. when she wants to make selfish, carefree choices. Mary Jane somehow manages a good compromise.

Mary Jane and her two best friends, Red and Alicia, made a pledge of abstinence during freshman year, becoming charter members of AIA (Abstinence In Action.) So far, Mary Jane’s pledge hasn’t been challenged. Then, she and gorgeous Jackson House make a four-minute trip to replenish pop at a group study date. Jackson dates the most popular and beautiful girl at Attila High, Star Simons, and suddenly the girls in Mary Jane’s social group take sides. When jealous Star spreads accusing rumors, boys begin calling Mary Jane in droves hoping for a hot date. As Mary Jane puts it, “How could seventeen years of my reputation get tossed out for a mythical missing four minutes?”

Ironically, Star’s controlling actions push Mary Jane and Jackson together. Mary Jane is strong-minded and lets Jackson know that she won’t date him on the side; he better have feelings for her and he must break up with Star. He’s a decent guy and really cares for Mary Jane, so they begin dating. He doesn’t pressure her to get into a physical relationship at first. Star’s friends warn her that if she doesn’t give Jackson what he wants, he’ll run back to Star, who will be waiting with open arms.

Jackson eventually plans a date night at his house where there will be no parents home, and Mary Jane is torn, although she does make a shopping trip to Victoria’s Secret. She could use advice from Red and Alicia, but they’ve gone off to college and are both busy with new boyfriends. When she sees them during Thanksgiving break, Alicia has broken her AIA vow and is heartbroken. Red is keeping her pledge, and when she discusses this with Mary Jane, she says, “You know how much (my) boy believes in God.” Red explains that God created sex and knows the situation where we’ll get the most out of it. She also tells Mary Jane that aside from the risks of STDs and pregnancy, sex is emotionally intense and changes a relationship.

When Jackson picks Mary Jane up for the date, she honestly explains her feelings. He’s a little angry at first. She stays strong and says, “What- so sex is a thank you? I owe it to you because you’ve been good to me?” She explains how much she wants to have sex with him, but nurturing the relationship is more important to her. She wants to consider her future. As she talks, she can see Jackson struggling with being disappointed, being relieved, and finally understanding the way she feels. They don’t break up and Mary Jane hopes he’ll still want to date her, but if he doesn’t, she knows she’ll be fine.

The sexuality in the book consists of kissing and one scene where Jackson rolls on top of Mary Jane.

The Christian elements of this book are the church-going Ettermeyers and Mary Jane’s friend, Red. Mary Jane also has a mentally handicapped sister. Mary Jane is supportive of her, never ashamed of her, and involves her sister with her own friends.

What I Like: This is a great conversation-starting book. It’s a page-turner and the story is a realistic interpretation of how students treat each other in high school. Ms. Mackall really nails the drama and rivalry among girls, or as some call it, The Queen Bee Syndrome. Despite the devious things the girls do, the author doesn’t use a bit of foul language. Her writing is funny, upbeat, and hopeful. It’s fun to see the two sides of Mary Jane. Don’t we all waver on our choices like she does?

What I Don't Like: I’d like to see more overt Christianity displayed by Mary Jane’s parents, particularly when they have “the talk.” That being said, keeping this book more mainstream has the advantage of reaching a teen who normally does not read Christian fiction. Although the reader knows the Ettermeyer family is Christian, Mary Jane never specifically states faith as being the reason for her abstinence.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Young Adult

Publisher Info: Speak 2007; ISBN: 978-0-14-241157-5 ; Paperback $7.50.

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.49.

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.99.


Special Info: See reviews of other Dandi Daley Mackall books here.

Breaking Dawn

This is the fourth in a series of posts Christian Children's Book Review is offering, examining the wildly popular and controversial Twilight series of books.

Breaking Dawn, the last book of the Twilight series, begins with Edward and Bella's wedding. After a few weeks of marriage, they realize Bella is pregnant. The conception and birth of this baby sets in motion several dramatic confrontations. First, Bella will not give in to anyone's arguments to terminate the pregnancy, despite the enormous risk to her life. The baby grows at an accelerated speed, and is much stronger than Bella. Bella suffers many physical symptoms, and only "survives" childbirth when Edward changes her into a vampire.

The other confrontations occur when Sam (the leader of the werewolves), and then the Volturi, learn the baby is on the way. Legends say vampire toddlers are extremely dangerous and can have a temper tantrum and kill an entire town in an afternoon. When Sam decides Bella and the baby must be destroyed to protect human life, Jacob and Seth refuse to help. Since Jacob is the rightful heir, he is the only werewolf who can challenge Sam. Rather than fight Sam, he and Seth start a new wolf pack and warn Edward of Sam's plan. After the baby is born, Jacob imprints on her, and the wolves realize she is not like children who are changed into vampires. Rather, as half human and half vampire, she does not have any trouble resisting human blood. Sam's wolves also agree to protect the Cullens, and an uneasy peace is created.

Peace doesn't last long, however. The Volturi learn of the child's existence and also decide to attack the Cullens and destroy the baby. Their ulterior motive in seeking a confrontation is to force Edward, Alice and Bella to abandon their family and join the Volturi. The Cullens convince witnesses to testify the baby is growing much faster than normal, and will soon become a "normal" vampire. The presence of the witnesses and Bella's unique ability to "shield" the minds of her family and friends from the Volturi's evil attacks make the Volturi reconsider their actions and depart in peace.

Issue: After graduation, but before Bella's 19th birthday, Edward and Bella get married.

Pro: They love each other and take their relationship seriously, so they get married in order to express their commitment to be with each other forever.

Con: Bella chooses to get married instead of attend college at Dartmouth. Because she ends up pregnant on her honeymoon, she is unable to attend.


Issue: Edward and Bella have sex on their wedding night (and throughout the book, as newlyweds).

Pro: Meyer places sex in its proper context - within marriage. Edward remains true to his determination to marry Bella before sleeping with her. He takes great care to plan their wedding night to be a beautiful celebration, and not an afterthought. Meyer also shows the reality of a sexual encounter when Bella remarks, "This felt exactly like having to walk out in front of a theater full of thousands with no idea what my lines were. How did people do this - swallow all their fears and trust someone else so implicitly with every imperfection and fear they had - with less than the absolute commitment Edward had given me?" This provides a vivid contrast to Hollywood movies and typical romance novels, where people often meet, flirt, and fall into bed together.

Con: Although the sex scenes are not graphic, and leave much to the imagination, it still is probably not a good idea for teenage girls to imagine sex scenes at all. Again, since most girls won't get married until well after high school, or even after college, reading romance novels in high school may awaken desires before girls are ready to handle them.


Issue: Due to Edward's superhuman strength, Bella wakes up the morning after their first sexual encounter with bruises all over her body.

Pro: Unlike an abusive relationship where violence is excused and escalates, Edward is horrified, and makes sure he never harms Bella during sex again. Initially, he refuses to sleep with her, but then he learns to be more careful. (He destroys some pillows and a couple bed frames instead.)

Con: Some critics still feel Edward has abusive qualities and do not think his relationship with Bella is a healthy model for teens.


Issue: Bella becomes pregnant on her honeymoon.

Pro: First, Bella's unexpected pregnancy is a good wake-up call for readers. Sex, in or out of marriage, can lead to babies. Second, Bella absolutely refuses to consider aborting the baby, even though Carlisle (Edward's father, who is a doctor) is almost sure she will die trying to deliver the baby. Bella is willing to endure broken ribs, malnourishment, IV feeding tubes, and drinking blood (bought from hospital supplies) in order to keep the baby alive.

Con: When Bella delivers the baby, she nearly dies, but Edward changes her into a vampire in order to save her life. Her death doesn't seem like a true sacrifice, as she has always wanted to be a vampire, anyhow.


Issue: For most of the book, Jacob is still madly in love with Bella, and decides to break apart his wolf pack in order to defend her and the vampires.

Pro: We see Jacob set aside his own feelings and stand up to his pack in order to protect Bella, even though she is married and will never return his love in a romantic way.

Con: Many critics feel Jacob, Edward and Bella have unhealthy obsessions with each other, to the exclusion of "normal" relationships with friends and family.


Issue: Bella, as a vampire, is agile, beautiful, smart, and ends up saving the Cullens and their friends from being wiped out by the Volturi.

Pro: It is nice to see Bella finally realize she has amazing qualities and deserves Edward's love and admiration.

Con: I wish she would have learned to see herself as Edward saw her when she was still human. Becoming a vampire is a magical solution not available to readers, most of whom will only identify with the human Bella.


Issue: As a "newborn" vampire, Bella shows unprecedented self-control and is able to be around humans without drinking their blood.

Pro: Bella's self-control mirrors Edward's when he first fell in love with her. It also allows her to see Charlie (her dad) and remain an important part of his life. Again, readers see self-control is possible if you love someone enough. This goes against society's "if it feels good, do it," mentality.

Con: Being a vampire in the first place.


Issue: Bella and Edward live happily ever after, with their daughter, Renesmee, who has imprinted on Jacob. Jacob is no longer tortured by the thought of Bella being married, but has settled into a pleasant part of their family.

Pro: Who doesn't like a happy ending?

Con: Bella's wish to live with Edward forever is granted, but it could make readers feel living a mere lifetime is too short. Our hope should be in heaven, not in immortality.



Age Appeal: Publisher lists young adult (14-21), but I would say 18 and up. Again, however, I would rather talk to younger teens about the books than have them read the book without telling me.

Publisher Info: Little, Brown and Company, 2008; ISBN: 978-0-316-06792-8; Hardcover, $22.99

Eclipse

This is the third in a series of posts Christian Children's Book Review is offering, examining the wildly popular and controversial Twilight series of books.

In Eclipse, the third book in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, Bella must choose between Jacob and Edward, as a three-way battle between Edward's peaceful family, a pack of revenge-seeking vampires and werewolves becomes increasingly likely. Only the love Jacob and Edward share for Bella makes it possible for them to set aside their differences and work together to defeat the army of evil "newborn" vampires who are ravaging Seattle and ultimately hunting Bella.

As graduation and her 19th birthday loom closer, Bella spends her time trying to convince Edward to change her into a vampire. Edward, on the other hand, keeps sending in college applications for Bella, knowing college won't be an option for her once she is a vampire. ("Newborn" vampires' thirst for blood is so strong, Bella would have to isolate herself from humans upon becoming a vampire.) To make things more complicated, Jacob becomes increasingly desperate and manipulative, hoping to wrest Bella's affections away from Edward before he changes her. In the end, Bella acknowledges her love for Jacob but decides she loves Edward more. She honors Edward's wishes by agreeing to marry him before they consummate their relationship and before she changes into a vampire.


Issue: As Edward and Bella become closer, their physical relationship progresses.

Pro: Edward is insistent upon remaining a virgin until he is married, and has several candid conversations with Bella about limiting their sexuality. In the one instance at the end of the book where he wavers, Bella steps up and becomes the responsible one, because she knows how important a pure marriage is to Edward.

Con: The sexual undercurrent of the previous books has given way to more overt sexuality. There is a bedroom scene where Meyer describes Edward pulling Bella's hip towards him and rolling her on top of him, as they kiss. Although he repeatedly stops Bella from going as far as she would like, several scenes are described in enough detail to create vivid visual images in readers' minds.


Issue: Edward initially forbids Bella to see Jacob. He follows her, checks up on her, and employs his sister to "babysit" her when he suspects she might attempt to see Jacob.

Pro: Edward realizes he is acting more out of jealousy than out of true concern for Bella's safety, and decides to trust Bella and allow her to see Jacob.

Con: At first, Edward goes to extreme lengths and models unhealthy, controlling behavior.


Issue: Meyer alludes to and quotes Wuthering Heights throughout the book.

Pro: Readers are more likely to be interested in reading classics when they have something to connect them to. Wuthering Heights would be an obvious companion piece to Eclipse.

Con: Edward states, and some of us at Christian Children's Book Review agree, Heathcliff and Catherine (the main characters in Wuthering Heights) have no redeeming qualities, so why read an entire novel about them?


Issue: We finally learn the reason for Edward's sister, Rosalie's, ambivalence towards Bella.

Pro: Rosalie does not want Bella to become a vampire, because she still grieves over the opportunities she missed as a human, especially the chance to have children. Her realistic view of vampire life stands in contrast to Bella's idealized vision of living "happily ever after."

Con: Rosalie's story is quite graphic. She was raped by her fiance and several of his friends shortly before her wedding, and left for dead in an alley. After Carlisle changed her to a vampire, she sought revenge by hunting down and killing her attackers, even wearing a wedding dress as she killed her former fiance.


Issue: Bella learns werewolves sometimes "imprint" upon someone, meaning they meet someone and are compelled to be their mate for life. Imprinting can happen with someone of any age, and a werewolf will act as an older brother or cousin until the person is of marriageable age.

Pro: Werewolves exhibit devotion and unconditional love to the person they have imprinted on.

Con: The concept of imprinting directly opposes the idea love is a choice to be made daily. Also, the idea of a teen meeting a two-year-old and being committed to them until they are old enough to marry is a bit creepy.


Issue: Emily, Sam's girlfriend, becomes horribly scarred when he became angry and changed into a werewolf too close to her. He is still extremely remorseful, and they are engaged to be married.

Pro: Emily shows unconditional love by remaining in the relationship.

Con: This incident excuses physical violence and again resembles an abusive relationship, as mentioned in previous reviews.


Issue: On one occasion, Jacob forces Bella to kiss him, and on another, he leads her to believe he will sacrifice his life in battle unless she allows him to kiss her.

Pro: Bella punches Jacob after he makes her kiss him despite her protests. She models how to stand up for yourself, and her dad supports her actions. Jacob's actions give readers a clear picture of manipulative behavior.

Con: Jacob rationalizes poor decisions and acts contrary to his kind, caring nature. Also, Bella's true affection for Jacob causes her to lead him on and make poor decisions as well (such as offering to kiss him in order to convince him to return from battle).


Issue: Edward and Jacob are able to set aside their differences and convince their families to work together to defeat an outside enemy.

Pro: Working together helps both vampires and werewolves see each others' good qualities and begins to break down generations of enmity. There is an obvious parallel to racial reconciliation.

Con: Both vampires and werewolves seem to take pleasure in destroying the evil vampires. (However, Carlisle does attempt to offer asylum to one of the "newborn" vampires, but is thwarted by the evil Volturi.)


Age Appeal: Publisher lists young adult (14-21), but I would say 16 at the youngest, due to sensual images. It would probably be better to have teens wait until they are even older, but I would rather read the books together than have my teens read them without telling me.

Publisher Info: Little, Brown and Company, 2007; ISBN: 978-0-316-16020-9 ; Hardcover, $19.99

New Moon

This is the second in a series of posts Christian Children's Book Review is offering, examining the wildly popular and controversial Twilight series of books.

New Moon, the second book in Stephenie Meyer's controversial Twilight series, explores how Bella handles life without Edward. While Bella breathes a sigh of relief after her traumatic experiences last spring, Edward still believes his nature as a vampire poses a huge danger to Bella's survival. His feelings are confirmed when Bella accidentally cuts herself in the presence of his vampire family. The scent of Bella's blood is too much for Edward's foster brother, Jasper, to handle, and when he turns on Bella, it sets a whole chain of events in motion. Edward decides to leave Forks, WA and Bella, in an effort to give her a chance at life as a "normal" teenager. He doesn't realize the depth of her love for him will make a return to normal life impossible.

Bella spends months severely depressed, but comes out of her shell a bit when she befriends Jacob, a friend of the family. Not even Jacob's steady friendship can fill the hole in her heart, but it helps her heal, until Jacob abandons her in favor of his new werewolf friends.

Bella has found by engaging in dangerous behaviors she can "hear" Edward's voice, so she decides to go cliff jumping, hoping to hear him. She never imagines he will think she has committed suicide and try to do likewise. After a desperate race to save him from death at the hands of the sinister Volturi (the vampire's ruling entity), she realizes Edward still loves her, and he promises never to leave her again.


Issue: Early in the book, we witness a conversation between Bella and Carlisle, Edward's adoptive father (who is also a vampire) about eternity, heaven, and the state of their souls.

Pro: The way Carlisle describes his predicament as a vampire mirrors the predicament we all face as humans born with a sinful nature.

Con: Carlisle sees good works as his only hope of redemption. The books aren't Christian, so obviously they don't mention the redeeming power of Christ.


Issue: When Edward leaves, Bella succumbs to severe depression.

Pro: Meyer shows us a clear picture of acute depression. Readers will be better able to recognize signs and symptoms of depression in others and themselves.

Con: Bella does not have good coping skills and her dad doesn't know what to do with her either. Very few interventions are attempted.


Issue: Meyer uses allusions to Romeo and Juliet throughout the book.

Pro: This is a good way to interest readers in Shakespeare. You could easily read Romeo and Juliet as a companion piece.

Con: Edward and Bella both seriously consider suicide an alternative to living without each other. Fortunately, Bella refuses to hurt her dad in this way, and Edward is prevented from causing his own death by Bella and his sister at the last moment.


Issue: Bella develops a meaningful friendship with Jacob.

Pro: Jacob shows Bella true, unconditional friendship without demands.

Con: Bella realizes Jacob's feelings for her are romantic. While she values his friendship, she is still in love with Edward. Although she thinks it would be healthier for Jacob not to see her so much, she chooses to meet her needs, even at the risk of hurting Jacob. Also, Bella has no close friendships with girls (except for Edward's sister, Alice, who has also left town.)


Issue: Edward is absent for most of the book.

Pro: There is not nearly as much sexual tension/sensuality in this book as in books one and three.

Con: Readers may read a bit obsessively hoping for Edward to reappear in Bella's life.


Issue: After Bella, Edward and Alice are released from the Volturi, a group of unsuspecting tourists is ushered into their cavern to be killed for dinner.

Pro: The evil Volturi provide a marked contrast to Edward's family and their commitment to respect human life.

Con: Vampires kill unsuspecting tourists.


Issue: Bella has a great, if unconventional, relationship with her dad, Charlie.

Pro: Charlie is a safe, loving and constant father. He responds appropriately to Edward's return and Bella's unannounced, three-day absence to Italy. (Grounding, 9:30 curfew, supervised time with Edward. . .)

Con: Edward still sneaks into Bella's room at night to visit, cuddle and watch her sleep. (There is no sex, however.)


Issue: Edward refuses to change Bella into a vampire.

Pro: Edward loves Bella just the way she is and does not want her to change for him. He also doesn't want her to risk losing her soul to eternal damnation.

Con: Bella will keep pushing him to change her throughout the series. She wants to be with him forever and doesn't want to grow continually older as Edward stays perpetually 17.


Age Appeal: Publisher lists young adult (14-21)--I would say 16 and up, due to suicide theme.

Publisher Info: Little, Brown and Company, 2006, ISBN: 978-0-316-16019-3, Hardcover, $19.99