Valkyries tells the story of a teenage girl in the '70s who commits herself to Jesus at a tent meeting and is then immediately plunged into her family's traumatic breakup, which results in violent abuse from her father and neglect from her mother. Finally sent away to a Catholic boarding school for girls, Tracey recognizes some hard truths about her own anger and her inability to possess inner goodness - in spite of being a Christian. She also discovers, in the course of things, an unexpected talent for basketball.Some Through the Fire follows Tracey's story from her commitment to Christ to her exile at a Catholic boarding school. About the title: The Valkyrie, a female warrior from Norse mythology, is the basketball team's mascot - but this mythological figure takes on much deeper significance for Tracey as she struggles for spiritual victory.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
“What’s that?” Tracey asked. “The Valkyrie.” Mrs. Murdoch said. “It’s the school’s mascot.” “What’s a Valkyrie ?“ It comes from Norse mythology.
The Valkyries were the shield maidens who kept the halls of heaven. Odin could glorify himself through women warriors because He was the source of their strength and power.” The idea sent a thrill of hope into Tracey. She wondered if God—the real God, the Father of Jesus—did things like that.
Abused by her father. Ignored by her mother. Exiled to a school for girls who are discipline problems. Forgotten by friends in the church where she had hastily converted from Catholicism to what she believed to be the true faith. Hazed by fellow students. Harassed by acting principal Sister Mary Mercy. Streetwise freshman Tracey Jacamuzzi knows that if anyone discovers the whole truth about her, they’ll give up on her entirely. She isn’t so sure they’d be wrong.
This is where Tracey’s story begins—but certainly not where it ends. Because God has set His sights on this young woman. And His plan is to use all of her experiences to draw her to Himself. Along the way, He enlists the help of some unlikely friends.
In Some Through the Fire and its sequel, All Through the Blood, readers will recognize God’s determination to turn a rough-and-tumble survivor of a sordid past into a good Valkyrie through and through.
JERI MASSI came to Christ as a teenager. She has been writing fiction for most of her life, seeking to develop a style of straightforward honesty that creates powerful narratives.
About the Author
Jeri Massi came to Christ as a teenager and was captivated by C.S. Lewis and other great Christian writers. She has been writing fiction for most of her life, seeking to develop a style of straightforward honesty that creates powerful narratives. Her choice of the Valkyrie as the symbol of the victorious Christian is taken from the ancient belief that God chooses weak and frail creatures and fills them with the strength of heaven to glorify Himself.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Glowing comments from readers,
By A Customer
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This review is from: Some Through the Fire (Valkyries Series) (Paperback)
"I am blessed and encouraged after reading this story. I feel - I remember why I believed in Jesus when I first did. Thank you for reminding me of what is good and true in the Lord." "I'm speechless. I just finished it, and I know I have to write to you, but I truly have no idea what to say. What an amazing story! The way you wrote it made me feel as if I was there watching it. "I have just finished reading your Valkyrie series. It was a work of the very highest standard. Rarely have I read at story that has engendered such a range of emotions in me or moved me in such a spiritual way." "I VERY much enjoyed reading that book. I think it's Christian fiction at its finest." "I just wanted to thank you for your work in writing it and making it available.... The message of God's grace in light of our own failures was not lost on this reader, and I hope it reaches many more people in the years to come." "I genuinely feel...that apart from the undisputed classics like NARNIA and the CURDIE books, VALKYRIES is the best Christian novel for young people that I have *ever* read."
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down,
By A Customer
This review is from: Some Through the Fire (Valkyries Series) (Paperback)
This story rings with honesty. It's a transparent account of coming to Christ from outside an Evangelical background. In the unlikely but believable environment of the Sanctuary of Mary and Joseph, Tracey Jacamuzzi comes to grips with the precious cornerstone of Protestant doctrine: the Grace of God is all that we have. Fast paced with the pounding rhythm of a basketball game, filled with grief, tragedy, hilarity, and an amazing, quick-fire dialogue that one seldom sees in Christian fiction, this book is a keeper. You won't be able to put it down! Be sure to get both VALKYRIES: Some Through the Fire, and volume 2, VALKYRIES, All Through the Blood. You need to read both to get the complete story!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An outstanding achievement in Christian fiction,
By "synaesthete7" (Stratford, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Some Through the Fire (Valkyries Series) (Paperback)
The two-volume story VALKYRIES has been billed as "a hard-hitting novel about the grace of God". The description is indeed apt, because this story pulls no punches. It is by far the most honest, compelling, non-stereotypical, and thought-provoking Christian novel for young adults that I have ever read. The heroine, Tracey, is not some paper saint -- she is a fully believable character whose struggles and doubts are very real. Nor are the challenges that she faces as a young believer downplayed or oversimplified. As Tracey seeks to grow in her newfound faith and take a stand for Christ in a hostile environment, the errors she makes and the failures and disappointments she experiences teach important truths about God's mercy, grace, and love. Yet the story is far from preachy, and the lessons are never glib. One of the most remarkable things about this story is the richness and depth of the characterization. Although Tracey's conversion from Catholicism and her subsequent opposition to Catholic doctrines and practices are central to the book, the Catholic characters are not demonized, nor the evangelicals glorified. Neither can any one of the characters be reduced to a mere stereotype -- not even the apparent villains of the piece, like Tracey's abusive father or the harshly dictatorial principal of her Catholic school. Each person Tracey meets, regardless of their beliefs, is portrayed as a real human being, with virtues as well as faults. As such, the story rings true to life. The dialogue in the book flows easily and naturally from the characters, without any of the golly-gee hokiness or wooden diction that infects many Christian novels. It also shows real wit -- some of the quips made by Tracey's schoolmates are laugh-out-loud funny -- yet the humour is never forced or contrived. The narrative style of the novel is highly readable, clear and straightforward, providing just enough detail to create a picture in the reader's mind while spare enough to keep the action moving right along. Although Tracey's story unfolds slowly, each scene advances the plot, adds interest and depth to the characters, and none of it feels superfluous or wasted. I am a non-athlete and have no interest in team sports as a rule, but Tracey's high school basketball career -- an element which is crucial to the book, and not presented merely to add excitement or to glorify sport for its own sake -- is so skilfully described that I was captivated by it. Reading VALKYRIES, I was moved to both laughter and tears -- a rare experience for me. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading a forthright, uncompromising, and deeply moving portrayal of what it really means to be a Christian and a child of God.
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