Coming Home [Hardcover]

Max Lucado (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Twin brothers Arion and Argo are scared. They have spent most oftheir lives shipwrecked on the lonely, gray island of Terrene withtheir ship's captain, and now he is leaving and they cannot imaginelife on Terrene without him. He is going to Bluestone, a placewhere the birds always sing and the grass is ever green. He tellsthem he is going to prepare a place for them in Bluestone. Then hewill come back for them, and they will all go to Bluestonetogether.

Though Bluestone sounds like a wonderful place, the boys find itdifficult to wait for the captain on Terrene. The island is so graythat it is hard for them to imagine the vibrant colors ofBluestone. Soon they grow tired of watching and waiting for theircaptain, and it is hard for them to remember his voice. Can theyreally believe that he will come back for them? To do so they musthave faith-they must see with their hearts, not their eyes.

Will the captain really come back for Arion and Argo like hepromised? And will the boys be ready for his return?

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (January 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581347561
• ISBN-13: 978-1581347562
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In just under two decades of writing, Max Lucado has accomplished more than most writers hope for in a lifetime. Most of his books have appeared on one or more best seller lists, including those published by the "New York Times," "USA Today," "Publishers Weekly," and the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). Aside from hardcover books, Lucado's writings have also been published as children's books, videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, music CDs, mass paperback booklets, apparel, giftware, bookmarks, calendars, study Bibles, workbooks, curricula, and plush products. In spring 2003, Hallmark/Dayspring Cards launched a new gift card line featuring excerpts from Lucado's writings--and has already sold more than one million cards.

All this success has drawn more than a little attention to a previously low-profile Texas author and minister. Lucado has been featured in a wide range of media, including "USA Today," "Larry King Live," and "NBC Nightly News." He has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast before the President of the United States. He has traveled with internationally renowned musicians as a special speaker on their music tours, such as the highly successful "Come Together & Worship Tour" (sponsored by Chevrolet) with Grammy Award-winning artists Michael W. Smith and Third Day.

Journey to the Top
Lucado was born in 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, Texas, the youngest of four children. His father was an Exxon oil field mechanic who, Lucado remembers, always smelled of grease cleaner. "It makes it easy for me to see a God who is loving and kind--because my dad was," he says. His mother was a nurse who grew up working in the cotton fields.

Lucado went through a period of rebellion against his parents' values and their God during his teens and into college. But it wasn't long before he found himself drawn back to his roots, back to God. He married, spent time serving as a missionary in Brazil, and returned to the States, where he began working as a church minister and writing on the side.

Secret to Success
From all accounts, Max Lucado is not a man consumed by sales, awards, and achievements. He often turns down media interviews since they impede on family and ministry commitments. He spends the bulk of his week serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And he is truly surprised by his own success--more impressed by his one-in-a-million wife and three amazing daughters than by his successful writing career.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good story that leaves the reader with a couple of questions, April 7, 2009

By 

Christine M. Irvin (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coming Home (Hardcover)

Coming Home, written Max Lucado and illustrated by Justin Gerard, is an allegory, based on Jesus' promise to his disciples that he would return and take them to Heaven to be with him always.

In Max Lucado's story, three people, a ship's captain and two young boys, Argo and Arion, are shipwrecked on a gray and desolate island. Several years after the shipwreck, the captain sails away from the island, leaving the boys behind. Before he leaves, he tells them, "I am going away for just a short time. I'm going to Bluestone to prepare your place. But I will come back and take you to be there with me." He also tells them to remember what he has taught them and to be ready for his return. He gives them brief instructions, one of them being to stay out of the island's forest. The captain is gone for some time, and of course, one of the boys, Argo, wanders into the forest while the captain is gone. When the captain returns, Argo is hesitant to greet the captain, as he knows he disobeyed the captain's commands. But, the captain welcomes both boys onto the boat so they can set sail for their new home in Bluestone.

The painted illustrations are dark and gray, which mirrors the text, and they are extremely life-life and painted in great detail.

What I Like: Although it is a bit gloomy, the artwork is beautiful in its detail.

What I Dislike: I generally enjoy Max Lucado's books. This story parallels the story of our lives on earth while we wait for Jesus to return and take us home to Heaven. The writing, itself, is flawless, and the artwork extraordinary, but I think the story falls short of his usual style and clarity. I like the idea of a story that is an allegory for the promise of Jesus' return, but the setup for this story was a bit vague. There is very little background given at the beginning of the story as to how the three were shipwrecked or how long they've been on the island. When reading the story, I kept wondering why the captain was able to leave the island by himself and was not able to take the boys with him. That was never explained and it seemed odd that the boys would be left there by themselves.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: The publisher suggests 4-8 as the age group for this book, but I think it would be more like 6-12.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review - 4 stars

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible., July 18, 2011

By 

Dogs Galore - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coming Home (Hardcover)

As one other reviewer stated, it was confusing why the captain was able to leave the island only by himself, and was unable to take the boys. Also, how did they survive on an island for 14 years that was gray? They had never seen color supposedly (forget trees, food, sunsets, etc) I guess they ate gray sand. I was willing to overlook these silly oversights, if the story had a good message. BUT, it didn't. The one boy followed the captains advice and obeyed him. The other disobeyed, took pleasure in it, tried to drag the other boy down with him, and he never repented or apologized at all. But at the end when the captain returned, each boy was rewarded with open arms and taken to Bluestone (the picture of heaven). This teaches children that we don't need to obey God or do his will, yet we will reap the same rewards as those who do. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that also shall he reap." Also, not everyone who saith Lord Lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of my father which is in heaven (matthew 7:21-23).

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, March 27, 2008

By 

Jason A. Thompson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coming Home (Hardcover)

This is a great teaching book. I love to read these books to my students. shipment was quick.