Sweetest Gift (Payton Skky Series) [Paperback]

Stephanie Perry Perry Moore (Author)

Book Description

Series: Payton Skky Series | Publication Date: August 1, 2001

Payton Skky has finally arrived at college. In no time she's facing the same pressures and stresses most college students face. She's still conflicted about boyfriends, and studies are difficult. But when she is faced with her suitemate's suicide attempt, Payton is jolted back to the basics of her faith. No matter what the pressures of life, she has great worth and value in the eyes of the Lord.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

STEPHANIE PERRY MOORE is the author of many Young Adult Christian fiction titles, including the Payton Skky series, the Laurel Shadrach series, the Perry Skky Jr. series, the Faith Thomas Novelzine series, the Carmen Browne series, and the Beta Gamma Pi series. She is also the co-editor for the impactful BibleZine, REAL. Mrs. Moore speaks with young people across the country, showing them how they can live life fully and do it God's way. Stephanie currently lives in the greater Atlanta area with her husband, Derrick, a former NFL player and author, and their three children. Visit her website at www.stephanieperrymoore.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Lift Every Voice; New Edition edition (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802442390
• ISBN-13: 978-0802442390
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,006,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephanie Perry Moore is truly a woman from the South. She was born in South Carolina, raised in Virginia, and educated in Alabama. She is the author of the successful Payton Skky series for teenagers. She lives in the greater Atlanta area with her husband, Derrick, and their two young daughters, Sydni and Sheldyn.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a satisfying, thought-provoking read, May 31, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Sweetest Gift (Payton Skky Series) (Paperback)

Payton Skky's college life is off to a rocky start in SWEETEST GIFT, the fourth book in Stephanie Perry Moore's series. As Payton begins her first semester at the University of Georgia, she often feels lonely and isolated. She's not alone for long, though, as her two ever-present ex-boyfriends, Dakari Graham and Tad Taylor, are also attending college with her. They're unable to avoid one another, with both Dakari and Tad being members of the enormously popular football team. Once again, Payton finds herself conflicted by feelings for the two.

At the same time, she struggles to fit in, feeling as though she isn't accepted by either whites or blacks. The white community doesn't want to associate with her because she's black, while the black community is small and seemingly preoccupied with the superficial. This tension, along with the ongoing conflict with her exes, sends Payton into a state of depression. She finds herself failing classes, unable to keep up with fast-paced collegiate academics.

Her life is further complicated thanks to her roommate. Laurel Shadrach, a strong Christian like Payton, had the potential to be a great friend, but the two find they are not as compatible as they had once thought. Laurel likes to listen to (gasp!) country music and spends much of her time pledging for a predominately white sorority that makes Payton feel uncomfortable.

While Payton sulks alone, embittered with loneliness, jealously and resentment, an unexpected event sends her life spiraling out of control. However, it finally allows Payton to reassess her life and goals, and realize that she had been going to all the wrong places to seek comfort. In the midst of her struggles, she had forgotten the most important thing in her life --- her relationship with God.

SWEETEST GIFT is the longest, and perhaps most complex, book in the Payton Skky series. It is refreshing to finally see Payton in a new setting. Moore presents a very real portrait of a girl who once had it all and is now struggling to fit in a new place. Still, certain elements of the novel seem to be recycled from previous titles in the series. Most notably, Payton's conflict involving her ex-boyfriends has gone on far too long. She's made the important realization that Dakari is definitely the wrong guy for her at least four times thus far, yet she still continues to mess up other relationships because of her feelings for him. At this point, it would be nice to see her finally move on.

The devotion to one ever-present problem in previous books often led them to be slightly over the top and unbelievable. In this installment, though, Moore deals with a wide variety of issues --- including loneliness, depression, drinking, sex, relationships, school and racism --- on smaller levels. SWEETEST GIFT is a satisfying, thought-provoking read.

--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good series, October 18, 2007

By 

T L Grif "worshiper" (Fort Wayne, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweetest Gift (Payton Skky Series) (Paperback)

Stephanie Perry Moore has done a great job with the Payton Skky series. I am an adult and even though the focus is a teenager's life, I enjoyed reading this series. I would highly recommend it for teenage girls whom I'm sure can relate to Payton's life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars i love all of the payton skky books, July 26, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Sweetest Gift (Payton Skky Series) (Paperback)

i love all the payton skky books they are so good i think ms.stephanie perry-moore should make more payton books they are so good especially book 5 when payton and tad got together and dakari got save. SO please ms. stephanie can u please make more payton skky books