Review: Life in Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer

Review by Jill Williamson

Kristen Anderson thought that this world would be a better place without her. In this book, she tells her story of how she tried to end her life by lying in front of an oncoming train. She should have died. But she didn’t. And as her broken body slowly healed, God healed her heart as well, showing her the purpose he had planned for her life.

This story amazed me. But at the same time, it didn’t surprise me. God uses what he must to bring us into his arms. I’m thrilled at what he has done with Kristen’s life so far. I praise him for the way her story is changing lives of broken people. Kristen’s story is a wonderful testimony of God’s love. This book is a quick read; I read it in an afternoon.  And the story will encourage you to think about what matters most.

Age Range: 16 and up
Genre: memoir/inspirational
Part of a Series: no
Pages: 209
Publisher: Multnomah
Released: 2010

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Jill Williamson is the author of the medieval fantasy novel By Darkness Hid. An avid reader, she started Novel Teen Book Reviews to help teens find clean and entertaining books to read and is excited with the new direction the site has taken. Jill also runs an online website for teen writers at www.teenageauthor.comwhere she enjoys helping new writers develop their skill. She and her husband have worked with teens in the youth pastor role for the past eleven years. You can learn more about Jill on her website at www.jillwilliamson.com.

What Story Would You Love to Write?

Hi Novelteeners. Heather here.

Do you dream of castles and dragons and heroic characters? Or maybe a Sci-Fi where the only answer to a vicious plague is the tears from friendly creatures on a far away planet who dwell just beyond the impenetrable dark ring. Is there a tale you’d love to write?

I think everyone has one. That story idea that rambles around in the back of the mind occasionally slipping to the front when least expected. I have one. It’s about a girl who grows up to overthrow her father who is an evil king. After much war and turmoil, she takes over the land and becomes the ruler the kingdom had always dreamed of having. It may not sound that exciting to you, but the character is vividly alive to me. I can see her. I can hear her. I can even feel her pain. But sadly, the story just hasn’t become alive enough for me to sit down and write it. It’s missing major elements that I seem to need before I start. I have to be able to drop myself into their world, and I juuuuust can’t quite do it yet.

I want to write it. I do. And some day, I will. At least I hope. Right now, I have Halfling teenagers that consume all of my creative time. And lemme tell ya, they won’t take a back seat to anyone. Not even a kingdom in turmoil with an evil king and a daughter with a plan.

Right now, the Halflings get all my time. And that’s good because after all, the world is on the line. Not to mention their hearts. It’s a lot for a teenager to deal with. And I LOVE telling their story!

It’s alive. It breathes. It beckons to me when I’m at Disney World or the grocery store. From the edge of my vision, something moves. Quickly. Too quickly to be human. I glance over, but nothing’s there. Was it a Halfling? Is someone in danger? Or are they just here to enjoy the Rockin’ Rollercoaster?

See how reality blurs for me? And if that wasn’t bad enough, sometimes members of my family will look at a tall muscular teenager and say, “Hey, he looks like a Halfling.”  I know, I’ve pulled them all into my fantasy world. But it’s a lovely world to live in. If you don’t mind the hell-hounds, the fighting, the clock ticking away precious time until the end of…

Sorry. Got carried away. So, what is it you’d love to write? Thriller, high fantasy, urban fantasy, suspense, a memoir, a romance? How about a comedy? Are you naturally funny and have a room full of people laughing whenever you tell a story? Why not jump in and give it a shot.

My older son Jake just finished writing his first novel this morning. I’m so proud of him. He’s twenty-three. He had a story to tell, so he sat down and told it. Huh. I guess that’s the best advice that can be given to an aspiring author. Find your story and sit down and tell it.

So, what’s your story? What’s keeping you from the page? Do it. Jump in! What do you have to lose?

I’ve been asked to speak at a college in my area to the creative writing students. Know what advice I’m going to give them?

That’s it. Find your story and sit down and tell it.

So, if this has encouraged you to dust off that idea, let me know. Start today and keep me posted about your progress. After all, every book has a beginning. And every author made a decision to write it. It doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentional. So go. Jump in head first. You might just discover a world no one else has been to. Leave a comment if you’re starting today!

Grace: a memoir by Melinda Marchiano

In Grace: a memoir, then thirteen-year-old Melinda Marchiano tells her story. First she was sick and weak. So she went to doctor after doctor trying to find out what was wrong. And after several appointments, she received the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. Melinda takes the reader through her entire journey. Her surgeries, chemo, transfusions, loss of hair, her high moments, and her darkest hours. Through it all, she fought to hold tight to God, her family, and ballet.

The subtitle of this novel is: “A child’s intimate journey through cancer and recovery.” That’s exactly what it was. I felt like I knew Melinda by the time I closed the book. Her story of courage and faith is honest and inspiring. The book is filled with pictures, showing us the fun moments Melinda had while trying to live each day to its fullest. The pictures of her doing ballet are stunning. She amazes me. I’m wiser to have shared this journey with her by reading her story. We could all learn a lot about life from Melinda. We all have a story. I’m so thankful that Melinda shared hers with us all. I highly recommend you check this book out.

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: memoir
Part of a Series: no
Pages: 289
Publisher: Happy Quail
Released: 2010

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Jill Williamson is the author of the medieval fantasy novel By Darkness Hid. She and her husband have worked with teens in the youth pastor role for the past eleven years. You can learn more about Jill on her website at www.jillwilliamson.com.

Review: The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life beyond This World by Kevin & Alex Malarkey

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com.

Review by Jill Williamson

In 2004, Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son, Alex, were in a horrible accident. No one thought Alex would live. But two months later he woke up with an amazing story to share. He talks about events that took place at the scene of the accident and at the hospital—he was unconscious in both places. He says Jesus was with him, or one if his angels, telling him that everything would be okay.

This is an amazing story. I wanted to read it because it was real. I read a lot of fiction, but stories like these excite me. They validate my faith, which is always the coolest thing. My favorite parts of the book were Alex’s parts. The book is mostly written from Dad’s point of view. He explains what happened. The accident, going to the hospital, waiting, talking with his wife, the doctors, pastors, and friends. But Alex’s words are interspersed, telling us where he was and what he was doing while everyone else was waiting. It’s fascinating. I also enjoyed seeing the stories of other people—people who felt called to pray for Alex and later shared their story with his parents. God works in amazing ways. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in life, we think we know how God works. I don’t think we have a clue just how much God is at work in ways we’ll never see until Heaven.

Ever since I read Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness, I was changed. I believe he’s on to something the way he depicts angles and demons in his novel. But that’s just a story. Frank made it up. But Alex’s life is real. He talked with these angels, and he didn’t like it when the bad ones came around. Looking to be inspired? Read this story. It will really get you thinking. Highly recommended.

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: true story
Part of a Series: No
Pages: 224
Publisher: Tyndale
Released: 2010

Rachel’s Tears by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott

 

Click on the cover to view more reviews on Amazon.com.

Review by Gretchen Hoffman

This book was life changing for me. Rachel’s Tears is about Rachel Scott, a Christian girl who was killed in the school shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. It was written by her parents not too long after her death and tells the story of her faith in God from writings in her journals and her family’s remembrance of her.

I read this book a year or so after it came out, and it completely changed my ideas of what my Christian faith meant. There are only a couple books I could say truly changed me, and this is one of them. If you’ve never read this book, I cannot recommend it highly enough. I’ve read and reread it, and it’s moving every time. Make sure to have some tissues on hand when you go through it though—it will almost definitely bring tears to your eyes.

Age Range: all
Genre: Non-fiction
Part of a Series: No
Pages: 181
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: 2000

Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza

Review by Jill Williamson

 

I was in college during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. It’s beyond my comprehension to think about the bloodshed that was happening on the other side of the world. Immaculée Ilibagiza tells the true story of her life growing up in Rwanda with her loving family. She learned early on that she was in a different tribe than the majority of her neighbors, but never did she consider that they might turn on her and her family. That her friends might someday pick up machetes and guns and murder anyone from her tribe. But that’s exactly what happened.

 

Immaculée’s father and brothers encourages her to hide out at a pastor’s house nearby. He hid her and seven other women in a tiny half bathroom for three months. She could hear the killers roaming the streets on the other side of the wall. She prayed that God would protect her family and the women in the bathroom. But when she finally got out, she was one of the few survivors left to tell what had happened.

 

This is a powerful and shocking story of what evil can do in the hearts of people. The killers were murdering innocents in the streets, women, children, and infants alike. I was amazed at Immaculée’s story of how she grew close to God in the three months she hid in the bathroom, but I was even more amazed at how she learned to forgive those who killed her family and friends. This is hard to read and shares some graphic details of how Immaculée’s loved ones were killed. I strongly recommend it to anyone who harbors hatred against another. To see what this young woman went through and that she rose above the hatred and evil that she had the opportunity to embrace in revenge was inspiring. I am so proud of her.

 

Age Range: 16 and up

Genre: memoir

Part of a Series: no

Pages: 210

Publisher: Hay House

Released: 2006

 

Review: The Road to Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam

Review by Jill Williamson

 

I can’t stop thinking about this book. First let me caution you, this book is graphic due to the subject matter, but I believe all older girls would benefit from reading it. The Road to Lost Innocence is not a fiction novel. It’s a memoir, which is a true story of an author’s life. The Road to Lost Innocence is the story of Somaly Mam, a Cambodian woman who was sold into slavery as a girl and later sold to a brothel. The village world she paints is fascinating. She didn’t know what a fork was or that running water existed until she grew up. She shares how she managed to get away from her prison and how she went back to try and rescue girls from the life she once lived.

 

This is a heartbreaking story. I cried more than once. Human trafficking is beyond horrifying to read about, and this book will open your eyes to a bigger world. Girls are stolen or sold everyday, and not only in places like Cambodia or the Philippines. This happens everywhere including Canada and the US. If you are brave enough, this book will hopefully spur you toward action. It does get a bit graphic in parts, and I caution younger girls to ask their parents before reading it. I also urge you all to pray for Somaly Mam, her family, her ministry, and that she might find her creator, the one who loves her more than anything.

 

Age Range: 16 and up

Genre: memoir

Part of a Series: no

Pages: 190

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

Released: 2008