From Publishers Weekly
In their bestselling Taste Berries books, the Youngs utilized the power of stories to connect with teenagers. Their latest offering gathers such stories together in the last section, a change that will greatly reduce the readability of the book, which is otherwise a rather didactic series of questions and answers about Christianity. If the stories had been interwoven with the "answer" content, the result would have been much more effective. The first section of the book, Who is God (and Why Does It Matter)?, offers background material about the Bible and the Christian faith. It is hard to imagine that teenagers with burning questions will find much to engage them in these heavy, historically and theologically driven chapters. Other sections of the book (How is God a Part of My Everyday Life?) are more interesting and relevant to adolescents. While some social issues, like pornography, are given a thorough discussion, other topics, such as "cussing," are addressed too simplistically or dodged altogether. Personal reflection questions at the end of each chapter attempt to bring lessons home to young readers. Although the book contains some material teens would find helpful, the lack of a topical index means that such nuggets may be difficult to find. Nor is it likely that most teens will wade through the book's almost 400 pages.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Back Cover
A Teen's Guide to Christian Living takes a refreshing look at real faith in a real God and how it sustains the younger believer through the ups and downs of life. Whether you are a teenager dealing with the pain and fear of divorced parents, broken or abusive relationships, serious illness, life-changing choices or simply with the pressures of everyday living (family life, friends, school, job and career choices), you will find in these pages comfort, encouragement, direction and an anchor to keep you on solid ground. All teens, from those who have never set foot inside a church to those who cut their teeth on Bible stories, will gain a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and learn answers these questions:
Who is God and why should I believe in Him?
What does God of expect me and how will I discover this?
How well does God know me, and does He love me, no matter what is in my past or in spite of the things I've said and done?
Does God have a plan for me? Specifically, does He care who my friends are or what kind of work I do? Does He have someone in mind for me to love?
Is there a "best" way to pray, and how does prayer make a difference?
Does God watch over my family-even if one or more family member doesn't believe in God?
Does loving God mean I can't go to parties, kiss or flirt?
Does loving God mean I can only associate with those of my own religious beliefs?
How can I "serve" and follow God and still be a "regular" teen with "regular" friends and a "regular" life?
How can I have the courage to live my faith every day, in every way?
A particular strength of this book lies in the stories by real teens that demonstrate how they have learned to rely on God during a moment of truth in their lives. These stories of real-life courage and overcoming will inspire you and give you hope to face life's challenges. Each chapter teaches a particular "Christian" topic and closes with thought-provoking questions to help teen readers examine their own lives and put Christian principles into practice.
