Dragon Seed (A Litfuse Young Adult review)

A couple of years ago I reviewed The Ology by Marty Machowski, so I was pleased to be added to a Litfuse blog tour for Marty Machowski's new book, Dragon Seed. I'm always on the lookout for good young adult fiction, and I appreciate even more when it comes from a Christian Worldview. Teens of all ages tend to read a fair amount of dystopian/fantasy literature these days. Well, you can't get much more dystopian than a plot that includes spiritual warfare, but what a lot of folks may not understand it that it *isn't* fantasy! I suspect that many of them don't have a handle on the reality of the "shadows" in the background of their lives.

Dragon Seed offers a glimpse of what spiritual warfare might look like in both Biblical and Modern times with a story that moves between both eras, touching on the life of a semi-rebellious teen in today's world, and offering a "could-have-happened-this-way" fictional account of the demon-possessed men of the Gadarenes.

I have found myself talking about this story with teens in the past week or two, even though I read it a few weeks ago. It's a story that sticks with you, while creating a memorable "picture" of the principalities and powers with whom we wrestle.

The Bible Study at the back of the book offers the opportunity for some good conversations about pride and desire, how they seldom reap anything but trouble, and that humility and servanthood are the mark of true greatness. Not a message most teens want to hear, but the sooner they realize it is truth, the sooner they have the opportunity to become competent leaders in a world that is seriously lacking, and learn to be on the winning side of good vs. evil.

 From the publisher~

An angry teen, a desperate mother, a missing father, and a shadow lurking in the background.

Things were going from bad to worse for Nick and his family. Tempted to run away after yet another argument with his mom, Nick receives a handwritten, leather-bound copy of an old book-a family legend passed down to him from his great grandfather. The book, called Dragon Seed, leads Nick deep into his family's history and introduces him to another angry young man who lived in the shadows (the shadows of the tombs). Like Nick, you'll be shocked to discover where he fits in this story of epic proportions!

This page-turning, young adult fiction story invites older children and teens into the real-life struggles of Nick. But it also ushers them into an imaginative exploration of the life of the young man Jesus saved as he wandered through the tombs. Best-selling author Marty Machowski uses both stories to introduce the reality of spiritual warfare and how its shadows affect and change us.

Machowski, a trusted teacher for children of all ages, presents a thoroughly biblical view of spiritual warfare that emphasizes the importance of humility and dangers of pride. Teens will be drawn to the story of Nick and his struggles and will learn, as they read, to also identify the shadows in their own life and turn from them. While the biblical teaching is evident throughout the narrative of Dragon Seed, Machowski also includes a twelve-lesson Bible study at the end of the book to help teens ground their understanding of spiritual warfare on biblical principles.

Youth pastors, leaders, and parents will also want to explore with teens the small group study at the end of the book with its unique take on spiritual warfare that emphasizes the biblical theme of humility. This is a perfect book to read with a group and discuss together the implications of Nick's struggles for their lives.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Marty Machowski is the Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over 25 years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the children's ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is the author of a systematic theology for children entitled "The Ology," "Long Story Short," "Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God," "The Gospel Story Sunday School Curriculum" and the companion "Gospel Story Children's Bible." He and his wife, Lois, and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania area.

Find out more about Marty at martymachowski.com and connect with him on Twitter, as well as visit his page on Litfuse Publicity's site to learn more and read other reviews. 

If you're looking for a gripping read for your teen this summer, or you are looking for an interesting book/Bible study for your teen group or book club, take a look at Dragon Seed.

Blessings~

Reader's Gift List #1 (Juvenile/Young Adult/Series)

I like to give books for Christmas~ some years I have had more success than others in finding GOOD books to give. :) I thought there might be some others out there who would like a little inspiration in their literary gift-giving for the 10-16-ish year old who appreciates a good story. These are all books that I have read and enjoyed as an adult as well, because good literature is good literature is good literature! :)

I'll start with our most recent reads

Eisley Jacobs is a great Indy Author who writes sci-fi/fantasy books
Her most recent series  Dragons Forever is currently a trilogy (Hoping there might be additional stories to be told???)
In Born to be a Dragon we are introduced to Meia (the orphan girl) and Deglan (the dragon). The worlds of human and dragon collide, and it is high adventure as Meia and Deglan begin to unravel the tangled web that has woven the two of them together...

Blink of a Dragon is my daughter's favorite in the triology as well as mine. This is the book that we both read and thought "THIS book needs to be made into a movie!" Wow~ so descriptive and action-packed. Super themes of great character and personal development as Meia and Deglan search for the only way that their world(s) can be saved, and send the rising dark dragons away.

Dragons of the Deep  brings the story to Scotland and the ever-enchanting (?) setting of Loch Ness, as Meia hopes to unlock more of the mystery of her past, and Deglan continues to fight back the forces of evil that would like to destroy both humans and dragons forever.

If you like reading books on an electronic device, 

Dragons Forever Series, Books 1-3

are available as a set on Amazon...

Eisley has also written a young adult sci-fi/fantasy/thriller novel,
Pieces of Me, which delves into the life of Braidan, a seventeen year old girl who has developed amnesia, and must rely on yellow post-it notes to navigate her way through life, as EVERY day is a totally new day to her... as in, her identity and everything she is and does is totally new to her. Eldest can hardly wait for the sequel to come out! :)

The Next Fine Day is one of those stories/classics by Elizabeth Yates that hasn't received a lot of press, but is one of my favorites~ I enjoyed the gentle and lovely unfolding of this beautiful story as a young boy, struggling with his worth learns that he *is* important.


The final series that I'll mention in this post is the Viking Quest Seriesby Lynda Archer Buckley. These books tell the story of Bree and her brother Devin, Irish siblings who are captured by Vikings. The stories are filled with adventure, and even a bit of history, as we get a glimpse into life during the time of Leif Erikson. This series has been enjoyed by my kids from 8-14 years old and beyond, up to and including mom! :) (BTW, I linked to the Kindle version of these books, but personally, I prefer to have the real book in hand)

Blessings~

Please note that I used Amazon Associate links, and if you purchase through them I will receive a few cents. Those cents do add up eventually, so I thank you for using them. 

Pieces of Me by Eisley Jacobs (YA Book Review/Giveaway)

I am fond of independent authors who write quality stories. I like it even better when I am given the opportunity to read their newest work before it's officially released! When Eisley Jacobs offered to send me an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) pdf of her novel "Pieces of Me," I was delighted! However, I'm not sure that my husband and boys were quite as thrilled, because as soon as I was able to download it to my computer and to my daughter's iPod touch, it was difficult to gain either my eldest's or my attention.


Eisley has written an incredibly fast paced, can't-put-it-down story that grabbed me from the first page... and had this "no electronics at the dinner table" momma violating her own rule, and giving her eldest a "pass" as well!


Imagine having amnesia. . . imagine having recurring amnesia. . .  you have no recollection at all of your name, your family, the day before. . . imagine pieces of your life written on sticky notes in various locations ~ sticky notes to guide you through your day. . . because tomorrow you'll forget.

Notes on the mirror remind me who I am, why I'm here,
and who this person is staring back at me, the red hair
flowing in wisps over my shoulder with a chunky blonde
streak in the front. And those piercing blue eyes.

Have I always had blue eyes?

I feel like I've just woken from a nightmare I can't shake
no matter how hard I pinch myself.

More sticky notes on the wall say I live a normal life,
despite the amnesia hang-up. I'm seventeen, a junior at
Clement High School. My best friend's name is Sam, short
for Samantha. My name is Braidan.

"Braidan." The name rolls off my tongue, but it feels
wrong. All wrong.

Determination to find answers builds in my chest and
beats stronger than the heart beneath my pink nightshirt. A
familiar anger rolls over my body, one I've certainly felt
before.

How could I know this? I can't even remember my name.

We get to know Braidan as she gets to know herself, and those around her. Who is telling the truth? Who can Braidan trust? What is really going on?  "Pieces of Me" is well written, with character development and plot twists galore, so that I really had no idea what was going to happen next.

It has been quite some time since I have read a novel and picked it up for a second read-through right away, because there were details and scenes that I wanted to revisit, to make sure I hadn't missed anything in the non-stop action of the book. The plot occasionally elicited the same sort of reaction that I had watching a Twilight Zone episode or two... perhaps an element of horror (Not of the likes of Stephen King, but more in the dystopian sense of something being dreadfully wrong), that kept me thinking about the story long after I put it down (for the second time).

Eldest was also caught up in the story, and as I mentioned, was not eager to take a break from reading. I did ask her to stop a couple of times so that I could catch up  with her, but only received looks that said "Seriously?" in true teen form. ;)  While she and I both prefer to read this sort of thriller/action story (shall we say I don't do well with graphic tension), I could easily see this being turned into a screenplay~ all the elements are there. Eldest says "Don't pick this up unless you have a few uninterrupted hours at hand."

Eisley Jacobs' newest novel, a Young Adult SciFi Thriller "Pieces of Me" is now available in both printed and e-book format. If they don't already have it in stock, I'm sure you can have your local mom and pop bookstore order you a copy, if you are fortunate enough to have such a gem nearby. Otherwise, it is certainly available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Now if you'd like to have a SIGNED copy of Pieces of Me, please enter the giveaway that I am offering here on my blog (although she has the e-version, my daughter would love a signed hard copy, but she can't enter.;)) (Sometimes Rafflecopter takes a while to load, so please be patient... ;) )

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Connect with Eisley on her blog, facebook and/or twitter.

Blessings~

Disclaimer: I received an ARC pdf  of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. There may be affiliate links in this post, which help add a few pennies to our home-school supplies fund. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Charlatan's Boy (Book Review)

Looking for an adventurous summer-time read? Enter The Charlatan's Boy. This is one of those books that is perfect to enjoy curling up with on a lazy summer day, under the shade tree. As I read The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers I was given a lovely nostalgic sort of feeling. It is placed in an un-named time and fictional location, but there is a sense of the mid 17th to late 19th century about the book(Sort of Dorothy and Kansas, but NOT!... much earlier and wilder from a "Civilized" point of view).

In a world of relative morality, I appreciate books that approach some of the tougher questions of life,  couched in entertaining stories. One of the most memorable and pointed quotes from the book~ Grady the main character asks “So here’s what I’d like to know: if a feller feels honest, if he wants to be honest, but he don’t get much chance to talk honest or act honest, is he a honest feller or not?” Good question for discussion, hey?

Even the word "Charlatan" from the title of the book may create an opportunity for discussion~ What IS a "Charlatan" and are we all charlatans to some degree or not?

Of course, you may simply wish to read (And have your children read) and enjoy this book for the story that it is. Even if you don't bring up questions to discuss, you may be surprised to find that it provokes your children to start those discussions. It's that kind of book.

Click on the book cover to purchase, read an excerpt, view the reader's guide that poses some thought-provoking questions, and more. You can also take a Sneak peek! Download and read the first two chapters of The Charlatan's Boy.

This book has a thumbs up rating from not only myself, but my eldest, who has put it on middlest's "Reading list" for this summer. (Have to love big sister bookworms! :D )

(If you enjoyed this review, please consider giving me a good ranking~ I appreciate it! :)

Blessings~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."