Customer Reviews

The Alliance (Becoming Beka Series, Book 2)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
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I loved this book! It had a great plot and was easy to read. Beka, the main character, is a new Christian who is facing issues that a lot of teens struggle with. Even though her circumstances are different, I found that I could relate to some of the things Beka thought about. I think The Alliance, along with its prequel, The Masquerade, are excellent literature for Christian teens.

Sumpolec once again brings to life realistic characters faced with true-to-life decisions. Beka struggles to make the right decisions and oftentimes fails miserably, choosing popularity over her faith. Yet in spite of Beka's frailties, she grows to learn more about who she is and what she believes.

Genuine dialogue, believable characters, and a well-developed plot using realistic conflicts hallmark The Alliance. Beka is a flawed character with more wrong answers than right, endearing her to young people. This is a book teens will not only enjoy but one they can relate to as well.

This coming of age fiction series is awesome. Beka is real and deals with issues that teens face every day -- making spiritual decisions, choosing friends, dating the right guy. It was a fun read from the first page to the last and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Teens, wait no longer! Sarah Sumpolec hands her readers another in-your-face book about the travails and mysteries of surviving as a teen in a far from perfect world. The Alliance is the second time we meet Beka. She faces seen and unseen obstacles with a fledgling Christian faith. Which relationships trap and which ones free her? I recommend this book as a conversation starter with teens...if you can get it away from them long enough!

Now Beka is a Christian for real. But she is stressed, stressed, and more stressed. Her life is going crazy. Which friend will she pick: Laurie, the friend who will most likely stick by her side, or Gretchen, the hot shot? She has to choose because Gretchen's boyfriend asks Laurie out. Laurie says no, but it kicks off a series of awful pay-backs and lies from Gretchen. Beka is caught in the middle, something many girls can relate to.

My daughter inhales these books. I think it's because she can relate to the characters, even if she hasn't been confronted by the exact situations Beka finds herself facing. Yet, having said that, even at her age there are still friendships complicated by boys. Reading books like this helps girls process how they would respond in similar situations.

A great read for tweens and young teens.

This book is an interesting look at one girl's attempts to grow in her walk with Christ while still facing the realities of highschool. It does a good job painting a realistic view of things, showing the struggles a teen would face as they seek to live for Christ. There are people in Beka's life who are challenging her to mature and grow spiritually. It's a lot of highschool drama with all the "she likes him but he doesn't like her, but instead likes this one so she hates this one", etc. It is pretty good in it's spiritual content though - even at one point Beka realizes that one boyfriend hasn't mentioned God at all, while one boyfriend talks about Him every time she sees him.

Author Sarah Anne Sumpolec offers her readers a brief refresher on lively high school protagonist Beka Madison's recent conversion to Christianity, and how facing familiar faces and situations might be more challenging than she had hoped. While life at home has settled considerably since Beka "came clean" about her years of masquerading as a Christian when she wasn't, life at school continues to have its run-ins and wrinkles with certain classmates.

Former friend Gretchen, now the popular "it" girl, suddenly decides to offer Beka the warm hand of friendship again. But Beka is wary. She knows firsthand how dangerous Gretchen can be once Gretchen turns on a person. The problem is that Beka isn't courageous enough to nix the whole "we're friends again" scene as she secretly enjoys being "popular." As Beka begins to develop her relationship with Christ, her eyes are opened to a variety of formerly unrecognized issues. She starts asking herself the difficult questions: Is she ready to do what is right even though it means committing social suicide? Is she prepared to give up "sure things" and trust that God will provide for her needs? Does she have the courage to stand up for principles and people that are being compromised and attacked?

No simple answers arrive in neatly wrapped packages via special delivery for Beka. Still, she makes huge leaps of faith through small but significant daily choices. When Gretchen invites Beka into a Wicca group, Beka senses the inner warning that she shouldn't participate. When boy "friend" Mark attempts to meet with Beka against his parents' wishes, she confronts him on his dishonesty. Even after her budding friendship with fellow believer Lori is threatened, Beka finds enough gumption to make amends and start over.

Beka's re-entry into her high school after Christmas break is most definitely a tumultuous one. And yet, Beka's sure and steady growth is heartwarming and encouraging. Though her dad remains the ever-concerned father and insists that Beka get counseling to help her through the ongoing grief of her mother's death, Sumpolec does a neat job of letting readers see how simply sharing hurts and struggles is healing in itself. One of the author's most telling life lessons from Beka's vantage point is that everyone needs "backup" in the form of supportive, loving, character-rich individuals. Readers will appreciate Beka's voice of honest conflict and applaud her every faltering move toward maturity.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe.