The Encore (Becoming Beka Series, Book 5) [Paperback]

Sarah Anne Sumpolec (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2006

Beka returns for the final semester of her senior year and quickly finds herself in trouble. The song she wrote and performed offended a fellow student and the principal blames Beka and her teacher Mr. Thompson. Meanwhile, she's torn between two different guys, Mark and Josh. And as she prepares for her father's upcoming wedding, Beka is devastated to learn the family will be moving out of their house and into her dad's fiancee's house. Soon Beka is overwhelmed with decisions, including the option to sign a record contract and move to LA after graduation.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Life is never easy.

Or simple.

 

Beka’s senior year is in full swing when she finds herself at the center of a controversy that threatens to get a popular teacher fired. Of course, Mai is probably behind it all. She’s still determined to make Beka’s life miserable.

 

But Beka has bigger problems than Mai. Her sister is acting aloof. Her dad seems really worried about something at work. Gabby is going to be her stepmom. And Beka is still thinking about Josh. He’s away at college, but says he wants to get to know her better. What does that really mean?

 

Thank goodness for Mark. He always seems to be around with a shoulder to cry on. Then again, he’s also always leaning in for a kiss. Could she really have a future with him? And what does the future hold anyway? College seems likely until a whirlwind trip to LA opens the door to a whole new world of opportunity in the music industry.

 

Nothing is easy or simple in Beka’s world. But one thing’s for sure. As she tries to pick out melodies—on her guitar and in her life—she also wants to keep her ears open to what He has to say.

About the Author

SARAH ANNE SUMPOLEC was a family counselor and elementary public school teacher before transitioning into full-time motherhood. Sarah lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with her husband, Jeff, and their three young daughters. Visit www.becomingbeka.com for more information about the series.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802464580
• ISBN-13: 978-0802464583
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,628,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

If you've enjoyed the Becoming Beka series, you can find out more about the Madison family in the spin-off novel Totally Unfamous!

Totally Unfamous is a blog book and is available online for free at www.totallyunfamous.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars CTF Devourer gives it a 4, November 7, 2011

By 

J:-)mi "~ Eph. 3:20" (CTF Devourer) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encore (Becoming Beka Series, Book 5) (Paperback)

In this book, Beka continues to face the issues of dating relationships and family relationships as she seeks to figure out how God wants her to deal with all the problems she is facing. This book, as with the others in the series, covers quite a few intense issues, but as they are real issues, facing real teens today, it is also very realistic. It also takes a look at what God has to say about some of these things. This is the 5th book in the Becoming Beka series, a story about a young teen who's mother died, who felt so lost she considered suicide and who became a Christian and is now seeking to live her life in highschool as a follower of Christ even while many typical high school challenges come her way.
~ CTF Devourer.com
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

5.0 out of 5 stars Life is seldom without some sort of difficulty, June 1, 2007

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encore (Becoming Beka Series, Book 5) (Paperback)

Sarah Anne Sumpolec wraps up the Becoming Beka series on a hopeful and satisfactory note. Beka, now within a handbreadth of graduating, spends the remainder of her senior year in high school debating and making decisions. Whether she should take a risk to pursue a career in music and move to Los Angeles where her soon-to-be new family lives is always just a thought away from Beka's consciousness. Should she continue "seeing" Mark, whose very presence causes her mind to go into neutral and her standards to suddenly become debatable? Can a long-distance friendship (or possible romantic relationship) with Josh ever work? And which college should she choose?

With all these decisions preying on Beka's mind, she is also forced to take action --- responsible action --- on behalf of herself and those close to her. Her sister Lucy is becoming more distant and angry by the day. Beka pushes as far as she's able to reach back into Lucy's world, but every time she makes another attempt, Lucy backlashes her with bitter words of resentment. Beka's dad --- the strong, stable, committed man that he is --- tries to protect his family from erupting work problems that threaten his financial stability and reputation. But Beka sees through her father's calm façade and tries to shoulder some of his burden as well. Meanwhile, Beka's best friend Lori continues to wrestle with her own family troubles as her adopted parents attempt to work through an ongoing marriage crisis.

Add school with the revenge-seeking Mai and a controversy involving Beka's music teacher and her song of choice, and Beka is reeling under the pressure. From every angle, Beka has something or someone needing her help, support or advice. So where does Beka go for recharging? Surprisingly, she finds a friendly and understanding voice in Gabby, her dad's fiancée. Beka's counselor offers additional wise counsel, as do a few Christian friends from church.

When all is said and done, Beka realizes that everyone needs "backup," God provides exactly what is needed, and life is seldom without some sort of difficulty --- although there's still something worthwhile even amidst the hardships.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

5.0 out of 5 stars Beka just gets better!, July 23, 2006

By 

Marie DisBrow "wildernesswriter" (Southeastern Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encore (Becoming Beka Series, Book 5) (Paperback)

The fifth and final book in the Becoming Beka Series covers Beka Madison's senior year and the life-changing decisions she must make. What will she do after graduation? Should she pursue a music career in L.A. or attend college closer to home? And most importantly, is Mark or Josh the one for her?

Beka is concerned about her family, too. Her younger sister, Lucy, is running with the wrong crowd and Beka is worried about her. She has become withdrawn and refuses to listen to Beka's advice. Mai continues to be Beka's enemy in spite of Beka's determination to pray for her. And Beka has to get used to the idea of her widowed father getting married again. But in every area of her life, Beka seeks God's wisdom and guidance.

Sumpolec knows teenagers, and her characterizations are true-to-life. I quickly became involved with Beka's aspirations and emotions. Evocative descriptions and realistic dialogue combine to make the reader feel "there" in the story. I'm looking forward to seeing what Sarah Anne Sumpolec has in mind as an encore for her readers after her successful Beka series.