Faith Church

 

 

NEW BOOK REVIEWS

Most new books are in the display case in the library.

 

Title:  Halfway Herbert (E/CHA)

Author:  Francis Chan

Reviewer:  Brendan Jennings (as narrated to his mom)

Halfway Herbert is a book about a boy named Herbert and he does everything halfway

because his heart is filled up halfway.  He only brushes his top teeth and doesn't finish

the bottom.  He only combs one side of his hair.  Then he rides his bike and bumps

into his dad's car and it gets a dent on the front.  His dad comes out and sees it and

Herbert only tells half the truth.  Him and his dad go inside and then the phone rang

and his dad picked it up.  His neighbor tells his dad and that he saw Herbert bump

into his dad's car.  Dad said only telling half the truth is telling a whole lie.  And then

he talks to him about saying stuff and doing stuff halfway.  He told his dad the whole

truth and then God filled his heart full and he did everything not halfway anymore.

He combed his hair and brushed his teeth all the way.  My favorite part is when

Herbert tells his dad the truth about his car.  I would tell my firends that they should

read this book because it is a good book and how you should figure out your sins.

 

Title: Her Mother's Hope  (FIC/RIV)

Author: Francine Rivers

Reviewer: Nancy G.

Her  Mother's Hope is the first of a two-book series that highlights the relationships

of mothers and daughters and how generation to generation we raise our children 

the way we wish we had been raised, believing that our ways are best for our

daughters.  The relationships don't turn out as expected, obviously, as daughters

are different than their mothers.  I enjoyed the intertwining of cause and effect

and changes in relationships when open honesty comes through.  I was quite

upset to get to the open-ended conclusion of this book and couldn't wait to pick up 

the second book, Her Daughter's Dream (also available from Faith's Library).  I enjoy

a book when you can't guess the ending, and this book holds true for that.

 

Title:  Dancing With Max  (248.8/COL)

Author:  Emily Colson

Reviewer:  Dawn T.

 Emily Colson, the daughter of Chuck Colson, shares her story of everyday life with her

son Max, who is autistic.  Emily shares the joys and frustrations involved in raising a

special needs son from baby to teenage years.  As a single mom, she encounters a lonely,

weary, frustrating journey at times.  Emily perseveres, and is a strong advocate for her

son's welfare and best interests.  Her love for her son pours out in the entire book.  The

book is not only about Max's journey, but his mother's (the author) personal journey to

Dancing With Max.  Emily's father Chuck Colson (notorious from Watergate and of the

"Breakpoint" radio program on WMBI) writes the Preface and the Epilogue from a father's

and grandfather's point of view.  I am really glad that I read this book.  It  helped me

understand a little more about autism and encouarged me to love others just as they are.

 

Title:  Unlocked (FIC/KIN)

Author:  Karen Kingsbury

Reviewer:  Joe S.

This novel takes you on a journey in the life of an autistic boy from his early youth to his

teen years.  With tender love and treatment from family and friends, he is able to attend

school.  Life in school was not easy, but with the help of caring peers and faculty, he is

introduced to music of a production being rehearsed.  This story gives you a real view of

what is taking place in our schools and what can be done to be more loving to the

unloved.

 

FYI:  Some people wonder about the value of reading novels or fiction.  On

www.breakpoint.org you  will find Chuck Colson's reasons in the feature "Why Should Christ-

Followers Read Fiction?", written by one of my favorite authors, Mary DeMuth.  Here are 10 reasons:

• Our view of the world beyond our door widens.
• We learn empathy as you walk in a character's different-sized shoes.
• God uses stories to heal.
• Fiction unmasks us.
• God's redemptive story permeates.
• Novels allow for paradox, causing us to ask the kinds of questions that help us search for God.
• Reading novels critically helps us navigate the Scriptures better.
• Reading a novel connects us to the Creator.
• Reading a novel builds community.
• Reading stories brings us face to face with Jesus, the grand storyteller.

If you would like to read more elaboration on these reasons, go to the site and type in the name

of the feature in the Search box.