Recommended for Teens

Review of Love in Disguise by Carol Cox

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended.

Love in Disguise is an excellent book for a lazy day of reading. It’s lighthearted with elements of mystery and romance, and is set in the charming time period of the late 1800s in a small Arizona mining community.

Unlikely heroine, Ellie Moore, becomes desperate after unexpectedly losing her job and pretends to be an older wealthier woman in order to be hired as a private detective. Although she has no undercover experience and little confidence, she creatively uses her skills in order to impress her new employer and solve the mystery of the silver thieves. But while working to undercover the mystery at hand, she also uncovers many facets of her own identity and learns to embrace her God-given identity.

This is a sweet book, with fun characters, a good amount of mystery, creative plot twists, and just enough depth. Readers who enjoy Christian fiction will find it delightful and refreshing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House.

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Review of The Jesus Scandals by David Instone-Brewer

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Genre: History/Apologetics

Recommended.

The Jesus Scandals focuses on the scandals surrounding Jesus as a way to validate and better understand Jesus and the gospel accounts. Since the Bible was written by Jesus’ loyal followers, any negative or shocking events, teachings, or actions in scripture involving Jesus should reveal and confirm Jesus’ true opinions and actions that were widely known and, therefore, not something the disciples could easily cover up. About 30 scandalous topics are discussed varying from Jesus’ associations with particular uncouth people, to rumors that He was an alcoholic, to His teachings about Hell, and everything in between.

The book is split into three sections: scandals in Jesus’ life, scandals among Jesus’ friends, and scandals in Jesus’ teaching. Each chapter (scandal) is just a few pages long and can be read independently from the others making this an ideal book for a personal devotional study or a group Bible study.

While the author does have clear opinions throughout the book, I enjoyed that the text included room for personal thought and research. I was able to stay engaged and interested in each topic even in the few cases where my own perspectives did not quite match the bias of the author. In fact, it’s written in a way that even a mixed-faith discussion group could easily use each chapter to delve into friendly discussions or debates.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kregel Publications.

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Review of Healing Unplugged by Bill Johnson and Randy Clark

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Genre: Spiritual Growth/Christian Living/Inspirational

Highly Recommended!

This may be the most helpful book I’ve read on healing. Pastors Bill Johnson and Randy Clark–two of the most influential leaders in healing ministry–interview each other on their personal experiences with healing and miracles.

There is no fluff in this book–they get right down to the good stuff, especially concentrating on:

  1. their backgrounds and calling into healing ministry,
  2. what they’ve learned in the area of healing and miracles,
  3. the breakthroughs they’ve experienced which have led to an increase in healing,
  4. how they’ve developed their gifts and sensitivities to the Holy Spirit, and
  5. the greatest healing and deliverance miracles they’ve experienced.

I found it so encouraging to hear the progression of growth both these men have faced. They are so humble and candid in describing their experiences–I laughed out loud many times and was constantly sharing their stories with my husband as I read. This is definitely a must read for those wanting to go deeper in healing ministry or to step into it for the first time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Chosen Books.

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Review of Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams by Shawn Johnson

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Genre: Autobiography/Sports/Inspirational

Recommended.

Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson shares a piece of her life and experience in a very personable and encouraging way. She talks in detail about gymnastics, but also her crushes on boys, her self image and weight pressures, her time on Dancing with the Stars, her scary stalker, and the injury that nearly cost her her career. She shares many personal stories, thoughts, and poetry. This is really an inside scoop into her life, and I have to say: she has a winning personality. I love Shawn’s honesty, vulnerability, and the cheerfulness of her writing. It’s hard to read this and not become a fan.

Since I haven’t closely followed gymnastics, I searched Google and YouTube for Shawn as soon as I had started the book to see what the media was saying. Most of her press is overwhelmingly positive–and I can see why!–but Shawn’s behind-the-scenes commentary completes and responds to her image in the media confidently and gracefully. I especially appreciated Shawn’s vulnerability in discussing her struggle with weight gain after the Olympics. Regardless of where God takes her in the future, Shawn is an amazing young woman with an excellent story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Tyndale Blog Network.

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Review of Spirit Wars: Winning the Invisible Battle against Sin and the Enemy by Kris Vallotton

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Genre: Spiritual Growth/Spiritual Warfare

Highly Recommended.

Spirit Wars is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. It is short and simple, but I was deeply impacted by Kris Vallotton’s encouragement, personal stories, the way he presents the truth of the gospel, and his insight into the supernatural realm.

Early on in the book, he uses the metaphor of a haunted house to show how many Christians are deceived into believing they are in a war with their flesh. As Christians, we know that ghosts of past residents do not haunt houses–rather, ghosts are demons that sometimes pose as real or deceased people, and those demons are the ones doing the haunting. Likewise, when we believe we are struggling against our sinful flesh, it cannot actually be our flesh if we’ve repented and become a born-again believer in Jesus. Our sinful nature died on the cross with Jesus and we were resurrected with Him, so any current struggle is no longer with the dead self, but with demons who try to impersonate our former state. Our flesh is weak, but it is no longer corrupt. I found this metaphor so powerful that it’s been easier than ever for me to take every thought captive and live in uninterrupted freedom.

I also loved the way Kris describes our triune being (soul, spirit, body). A few years ago I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, and have spent so much energy on my body (eating, sleeping, exercising) that I hadn’t considered that focusing my attention away from my body might be just what I need. For the last couple weeks, I’ve made it my priority to laugh more, find fun things to do, and to be a bit looser with dealing with my body (still being mindful of good health, of course). It’s been going great! Kris’s situation and stories are completely different from my experience, and yet his stories and teaching triggered me to think outside the box so that I could better hear what the Holy Spirit was guiding me to do. I appreciate how his writing is so conversational and easy to relate to–despite the differences in our circumstances.

There are other books that deal more thoroughly with deliverance/sozo ministry (I particularly recommend the author Neil T. Anderson, as many of his books encouraged me after my own deliverance experience), but Spirit Wars is special in that it’s clear, concise, and accessible, without lacking in depth or impact. I think every Christian could benefit from reading this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House.

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Review of Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer

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Genre: Autobiography/Inspirational

Recommended.

Kristen Anderson attempted suicide by lying on the tracks in front of a moving train. She was run over by 33 freight train cars going 55 miles per hour, yet survived–losing only her legs (and eight pints of blood). She shouldn’t be alive, but God protected her, then wooed her into a life with Him.

This is a really remarkable story! Kristen shares the deep pain she felt leading to her decision to take her life, the details of the accident and aftermath, and the process she went through to discover God and her calling. She had been told by most of her family and friends that had she succeeded in killing herself she would be in heaven. But one women told her otherwise–maybe not as tactfully as she could have–which caused Kristen to consider deeply her salvation and what it means to be saved. She realized that, in fact, she was not a Christian and that going to church was not enough. I love the way she walks readers through her discovery and personal decision to follow Jesus, and her honesty in sharing her struggles and sanctification process shortly after making that important decision.

Kristen now heads a non-profit, Reaching You Ministries, which focuses on touching those who are going through similar hurts that she experienced (especially depression and suicide). I recommend Life, In Spite of Me to teens or adults who struggle with depression and suicidal tendencies or who want to help a loved one through these struggles to freedom in Christ.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from WaterBrook Multnomah.

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