Customer Reviews

The Truth Chronicles: The Contest

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I had fun with this one. Four smart teenagers go on the adventure of their lives, traveling back in time, discovering what the Bible really says about creation, dinosaurs, and other pertinent elements to the foundation of Christianity. Faced with danger, international intrigue, relationships challenged and deepened, and spiritual devotion--solidified as well as strengthened--this series not only entertains, but is an excellent tool for answering, with a clear and simplistic approach, those questions that have perplexed many. Ideal for the young reader, enjoyable for the old, The Truth Chronicles delivers something wonderful to us all.

If you had a time machine, to what time and place would you want to go? Jax Thompson and his friends, Izzy Weber, JT Bankers, and Micky Simmons are back. Having invented a time machine using research done by Jax's father, who was involved in an explosion at his laboratory and has been presumed dead, they had set the machine to go back 4,500 years but encountered dinosaurs. When they returned home, JT and Micky won the science fair with their hover technology, but their model was destroyed so they can't really prove it, especially with most of their work incorporated into the top secret time machine, and the reporters are skeptical.
Meanwhile, new evidence has arisen that leads the government to believe that maybe Jax's father had something to do with what had happened at the lab, so Jax and Izzy go back to the time of the accident to see if they can learning anything that will help clear Mr. Thompson's name. JT is a firm believer in creation, while the others have accepted the concept of evolution, so after going to hear the minister of the church where JT attends discuss evolution and creation, the four students propose a contest, making a list of hypotheses as to what they would see if either evolution or creation were true, and decide that when school is out they'll go back to see which hypothesis fits with the evidence. Also, Jax really likes JT, but she won't date him as long as he's an unbeliever. Will Jax find the answers to his questions about God, suffering, and evolution? And will he learn any information about his father?
Tim Chaffey is a minister, cancer survivor, author, and apologist, with a passion for reaching young people with the gospel. He's the founder of Midwest Apologetics and a popular speaker at camps, schools, and churches. Joe Westbrook is a clinical lab technician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. His hobbies include photography, fishing, hiking, and writing. Here is science fiction from a Biblical worldview. The Truth Chronicles are exciting reading that does not compromise the message of Christianity but actually helps provide some answers to such issues as to why God allows suffering, why creation is a viable alternative explanation to evolution, the question of believers dating unbelievers, and how young Christians can have a good influence on their non-Christian friends. We have really enjoyed the two books of the series that we have read so far and look forward to the conclusion.

Each of my three kids--ages 8, 10, & 14 -- read all three of the Truth Chronicles and loved them! They enjoyed them so much, they literally could not put them down. What I truly appreciate about this series is that it gives kids (and adults) an awesome tool for discussing and sharing Christianity. The characters are very believable as they tackle real-life faith/science/relationship issues while seamlessly affirming and/or discovering a Biblical worldview. Readers are learning--while being thoroughly entertained with a high-action adventure--very practical ways to defend, discuss and live out the Christian faith. My kids and I highly recommend this series and are hopeful that Tim Chaffey and Joe Westbrook team up again to continue the adventure!

Let me introduce you to Jax, Isaiah (Izzy), JT, and Micky. All four of these teens attend one of the top science schools in the nation. These technology geeks are creating some pretty interesting experiments for their school's science fair. Jax, whose dad was a top scientist, is angry at God after his father's death. Izzy is Jax's best friend and lab partner who doesn't really buy into the whole God thing. JT is Jax's former girlfriend who is a Christian. Micky is JT's friend and lab partner; she doesn't believe in God. Little do they know what God has in store for all of them....

When Jax, Izzy, JT, and Micky find out that the time machine really works, they decide to combine the girl's hovercraft technology with the boy's time machine. They agree that they will only travel back in time if they all agree on it. The teens decide to head back in time to see if they can prove or disprove the whole creation/evolution debate. What danger waits for the teens as they travel back in time? Can Christianity and science really mix? Who will win the creation vs evolution debate?

For me, this was very much a don't judge a book by it's cover type of experience. I'm not a big fan of the manga style of art, so I didn't really look too much at the Truth Chronicles series when I first saw it. Once I read what the series was actually about, I thought it was something that my daughter would really enjoy.

This is the second book in the series and picks up right where the last book left off. The hard questions of the Bible, Creation, evolution, and science are woven seamlessly throughout the story. The apologetics in the books are not forced or unnatural.

I appreciate how the books handled the friendship/relationship aspects between Jax and JT. (JT would not date Jax since he was not a Christian. Instead, she prayed for him. The youth pastor gave solid counsel on dating and relationships.) While my daughter (age 11) didn't care for the whole relationship thing, it is something that today's tweens and teens deal with on a regular basis. It was nice to see the issue handled according to the Bible.

The Back to the Future and Jurassic Park moments in the book made me chuckle. The books are packed with action, adventure, and suspense which make readers want to read through the whole book in one sitting. While the story was nicely wrapped up in the third book, I was pleased to hear that there may be more books coming out in this series in the future. I highly recommend these books.

From my daughter (age 11): I thought The Truth Chronicles were really good. I enjoyed the action and adventure, but I could have done without the romantic aspects. I also didn't really care for the style of pictures. The stories were very interesting, and there was a good message. I like how it pointed out the truth about creation, evolution, and science. I would recommend all three books.

Tim Chaffey and Joe Westbrook have done a masterful job of creating a series of books that not only presents answers to real questions that young people have about the Christian faith, but also contains a story that they will WANT to read. The characters are realistic, the dialogue is fun, and the pictures are fantastic.

The concept of this series has been long overdue. Now parents can give their kids something that will spark their imagination AND support their faith at the same time.