Tag Archives: Christian Fiction

When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley

American Literature January 8, 2012 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A homeschooling widow with six kids finds her life thrown into chaos when her pastor announces the whole church is moving to another town–and she doesn’t want to go. Review: I just loved When Sparrows Fall. It’s the rare book about Christians that manages to portray a life of faith while still remembering that the characters are people, too. It was critical of things that are wrong in certain sectors of Christianity without condemning the faith as a whole. And the details brought to…

Arena by Karen Hancock

American Literature October 15, 2011 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: After signing up for a psychology experiment, a young woman finds herself in a dangerous “arena” where she may lose her life trying to find her way out. Review: Arena is an allegory for the Christian walk of faith, something I knew when I bought the book but then forgot until about halfway through. I think that’s a pretty good sign that the book mostly escapes being on-the-nose and heavy handed in its plot execution and character development. Callie is an ordinary girl who…

The Grace of Guilt by Gareth Young

American Literature September 22, 2011 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: In a town dominated by an oppressive, judgmental church, a girl pregnant by rape, a homosexual boy, and an out-of-touch family man become united by a violent act. Review: I think The Grace of Guilt is aiming to be The Shack only with enough plot for at least three books. At first, I thought, “This person really hates Christianity.” The so-called Christian characters were so, so, so awful–prejudiced, hateful, and hypocritical. And then the savior-figure, an enigmatic hermit named Sam, just went around spewing…

Love Will Keep Us Together by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt (Miracle Girls)

On Reading April 30, 2010 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: It’s senior year for the Miracle Girls, and thank to Ivy League pressure, the return of an ex-boyfriend, and a pregnant girl in youth group, golden girl Riley McGee is having a serious crisis of identity–and faith. Review: I’ve been following the Miracle Girls from the beginning, thanks to my friendship with co-writer Anne Dayton. Love Will Keep Us Together is a worthy conclusion to a fun series that really speaks to the tough issues facing Christian girls in today’s culture. I highly recommend…

A Little Help From My Friends by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt (Miracle Girls)

American Literature October 23, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Shy girl Zoe can’t handle her parents’ separation and looming divorce, and she doesn’t know what to do about the attention she’s getting from hot new guy Dean. Review: A Little Help From My Friends was more plot-lite than the previous installments, which I kind of liked. Nothing super dramatic happened, and instead the drama focused on Zoe’s burgeoning independence. The writing is breezy and accessible, as usual, though God played a much smaller role than in previous books. At one point, Ana tells…

Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina (All About Us)

On Reading September 9, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Lady Lindsay MacPhail tries to blend her new friends from fancy Spencer Academy into her old life in Scotland, over a Christmas holiday that spirals out of control. Review: Tidings of Great Boys is another breezy addition to Shelley Adina’s young adult series about a group of Christian teens in a tony boarding school. It’s a cute story, and I enjoyed Mac’s energy and spunk. The plot was a bit far-fetched, but I’m okay with that. YA doesn’t always have to be realistic.

A Morning Like This by Deborah Bedford

American Literature June 25, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When David learns that he has a daughter from an affair, and that she needs a bone marrow transplant from his son, he confesses all to his wife and tries to put his marriage back together. Review: I really did not care for A Morning Like This. I felt like David expected cheap grace just because the child from his affair had cancer, and didn’t think he needed to do any real work of repentance. He was just awful to Abby, not allowing her…

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Allison Bottke

American Literature June 16, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Dancing hairdresser Susan loves disco and dreams of opening a Disco Hall of Fame, but secrets from her Studio 54 past may ruin everything. Review: I’m totally the wrong demographic for “boomer lit,” and I never really connected with the characters in You Make Me Feel Like Dancing. I felt like the Christian aspect didn’t go very deep, with much of the God-talk feeling like Oprah-theology, not orthodox Christianity. It just was not for me.

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

On Reading April 16, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: As her father’s wedding approaches, Christine needs help more than ever to process her grief over her mother’s death, but her friends are all fighting with each other. Review: The second book in the Miracle Girls series, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do has a darker tone than Miracle Girls, and as a result goes a lot deeper. Angsty Christine is angrier and sadder than any of Anne & May’s protagonists to date, and in her pain she’s eminently relatable. They also do a…

Before the Dawn by Carolyne Aarson

American Literature March 9, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: After the sudden death of her daughter, a farmer’s wife finds herself raising her teenage grandchildren, who are used to urban life. Review: I don’t ordinarily read books like Before the Dawn, but a good friend of mine recommended it, and I always check out recommendations. The setup of the book is quite simple, nothing very innovative, but I did find Charlotte’s dilemma affecting. Perhaps it’s because I’m a mom, and anticipating the kinds of struggles Charlotte is facing, that I was intrigued by…

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