The River of Grace: The Story of John Calvin [Paperback]

Joyce McPherson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

This is the only biography of Calvin available for young people. Joyce focuses on Calvin's childhood and youth, tracing his days at the university and the circumstances of his conversion. She traces his early and precocious leadership of the Protestants in France, and his flight to Basel, Strassburg, and Geneva when King Francis I began executing Protestants. The result is a warm and affectionate picture of the leader of the second generation of the Protestant Reformation. This is a book worth reading out loud to younger students; older students and adults will find it a valuable introduction and aid in understanding the author of the Institutes of the Christian Religion.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOYCE MCPHERSON is the author of several biographies for young people. She has a BS from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Virginia State University. She and her husband, Garth, homeschool their six children in Tennessee. Joyce has written about the vibrant faith of famous men in a variety of fields. Her lively biographies bring history to life and illustrate the impact of the Christian worldview in Western Civilization.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Greenleaf Press; 2nd edition (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882514548
• ISBN-13: 978-1882514540
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Children's Books > History > Renaissance
  • #79 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Religious

More About the Author

Joyce McPherson is the author of biographies for young people. She has written about the vibrant faith of famous men in a variety of fields. Her lively biographies illustrate the impact of the Christian worldview in Western Civilization. She is also the mother of nine children. In her spare time she enjoys reading history, working with young people, and directing Shakespeare plays. You can check out her blog at http://joyce-mcpherson.blogspot.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It may be a children's book, but I learned so much from it!, June 19, 2000

By 

Virginia Knowles - See all my reviews

This review is from: The River of Grace: The Story of John Calvin (Paperback)

After reading two of Joyce McPherson's other books, I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up River of Grace, the biography of John Calvin. While the language is easily understandable for a child, it holds the interest of the adult. I have even seen my husband, who rarely picks up a book, reading this one. John Calvin is famous as a theologian, but I found out lots of things that I didn't know about him. It made his life come alive for me.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to Calvin for young readers, December 23, 2007

By 

Staci Eastin (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The River of Grace: The Story of John Calvin (Paperback)

Like most protestants of my generation (at least the ones that I know), my knowledge of church history is...dismal. Anything that happened between the book of Acts and 1980 is a fuzzy area for me.

So although The River of Grace: The Story of John Calvin is written for young readers, I still learned a lot.

The River of Grace traces Calvin's life from his boyhood to his death in Geneva in 1564, from his early studies for the Catholic priesthood to his conversion and his eventual leadership in the Reformation.

Calvin's beliefs and his objections to Catholicism are incorporated into the story but not belabored. I'm sure this was to keep younger readers from getting bogged down. Readers will still walk away with a better understanding of the peril Calvin and his friends were under in their work to teach and make the Scriptures available to the people.

Learning about church history gives me a greater appreciation for the sacrifices that have been made by others to advance the Kingdom of God. My faith is strengthened as I am reminded to never take my freedom to worship for granted.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensitive Portrayal of a Sensitive Man, January 17, 2008

By 

Chatelaine "HiddenArtist" (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The River of Grace: The Story of John Calvin (Paperback)

I was delighted with this sensitive biography of John Calvin. McPherson writes simply to children, not down to children. She begins in John's childhood, and touches on the events and issues of his life. She shows his thoughts with frequent quotes him from his letters and other writings. This book is a great introduction to the life and heart of a great reformer, and an excellent work.