Escape From The Everglades - A Review

 

Escape From The Everglades

by

Tim Shoemaker

A Review

A nicely written thriller featuring three teens who live in the Everglades in Southern Florida. They are close friends, but each is at a different point in their journey of faith. They challenge each other - both for good and bad - as they search for the older sister of one of the teens, but each of them does grow in the process.

Focus On The Family suggests the book is aimed at a 9-15 year old audience. Given the amount of graphic violence and the issues discussed, this reviewer would suggest that the book is better aimed at a 15-year-old to adult audience. The reader will be drawn in and will not want to put the book down till the final chapter is finished.

With the exception of the violence, this reader was reminded of the Hardy Boys adventures from the 1950’s and early 60’s. I would like to see sequels written - maybe in Boston (where two of the friends are moving) and. later, in whatever college town they choose to attend. I give the book four-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

NIV Devotional Bibles for Teen Guys and Teen Girls - A Review

NIV, Revolution Bible The Bible for Teen Guys

NIV, True Images Bible The Bible for Teen Girls

by

Livingstone

A Review

Zondervan has created a pair of devotional Bibles for guys and girls. Though marketed together, they are aimed (?) at separate audience based on gender. They both contain helpful comments and inviting full-color pages designed to draw the reader into the text. The comments in each are generous throughout.

Though each contains an abundance of comments, the comments are not parallel or complements of each other. In fact, many of the comments in both are not as gender specific as the titles might suggest. A great majority of the comments could be included in a gender neutral Bible designed for a general teen readership. It is this reviewer’s opinion, that by not seeing the comments in both Bibles, significant and important teaching will be missed.

The most gender specific features of each edition are the colors chosen for the comments and sidebars. The guys’ Bible uses a light blue background for comments, the girls’ Bible uses a light (in some cases, too light) pink background for comments. Also, the full-color pages in the “True Images Bible” are also obviously aimed at a traditional feminine audience. The same is not true for the “Revolution Bible”; these full-color notes are truly gender neutral.

This reviewer would recommend that copies of both Bibles be made available to members of all genders - either through a library (one copy of each) or a classroom collection of Bibles (with multiple copies of each edition being available for the whole class) so that comments from both editions can be read by all. Of course, parents will need to choose the Bible most appropriate for their own child, assuming they will be purchasing a single copy for their child.

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This review is based on free copies provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

NKJV Teen Study Bible - A Review

NKJV Teen Study Bible

by

Features Written By

Larry and Sue Richards

A Review

It has been a few years since I have looked at a Study Bible designed for teens - but this version is one of the better once that I have stumbled upon. Clearly aimed at a teen audience, its helps, notes, and indexes, are designed to assist the teen in addressing the many issues that they may face in the 21st century.

The complete text of the NKJV Bible provides the Biblical standard. Originally completed in 1982, this version still remains one of the most valuable of the more recent translations.

Theologically, this volume is rooted in The Apostles’ Creed. This begins repeating the Apostles’ Creed twice on the first two pages: first to merely print it out, as it might be in a hymnal. The next page then prints it out phrase by phrase, highlighting key verses supporting each thought or concept. Following these verses will provide a brief devotional on that phrase or concept. The devotional thoughts are not overly deep - but deep enough and practical enough that a teen will be encouraged to ask why each concept might apply to life. Just prior to Easter I completed a sermon series on The Apostles’ Creed - having these devotional thoughts would have been handy during my sermon preparation.

A number of sidebars add additional value to the book - a series of “Dear Jordan” letters, similar to the 1970’s “Dear Abby” newspaper columns, ask questions that might be avoided by some teens. A series of Bible trivia questions (actually, questions are paired - a trivia question and a challenge question) run throughout the text. Practical advice is provided throughout in sections entitled “Instant Access”. As might be expected, Book Introductions and Bible Maps are provided. The introductions seem a bit weak for what most teens could use; the maps are comparable to the eight page Bible maps found in most Bibles.

My biggest complaint for any Study Bible is the lack of an index providing access to the included helps. This complaint does not apply to this Bible - two indexes make the material accessible. The first index focuses on the typical Biblical themes a teen might find of interest: e.g. creation, prayer, spiritual gifts, etc. The second index draws attention to issues that challenge the modern teen: e.g dating, doubts, gangs, etc.

Along with the two indexes, there is a cheat sheet provide that allows the Bible reader to mark exactly which chapters have read. Though no formal reading plan is provided, guidelines are given for reading the Bible through in one or two years. Also include is a simple table of weights and measures used by the authors of scripture.

I would not recommend this Bible as a graduation gift for the High School student - it is aimed a slightly younger audience. I would recommend it as a gift for the student starting sixth grade through the start of high school. It would also be a suitable birthday or Christmas gift for the pre-teen or teen entering these grades from parents, grandparents, or the church family. I will provide my copy to a Nepalese ministry that shares facilities and ministries with my home church.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.