Belonging to Heaven

by Gale Sears
Rated PG

I love Christmas, I always get new books, Yay!!!

Belonging to Heaven is historical fiction, based on the life of one of the first Mormon missionaries to preach in the Hawaiian islands, George Q. Cannon, and the man who became one of the first native leaders of the church there, as well as Elder Cannon's lifelong friend, Jonathan Napela.

The story is rich in historical detail and faith promoting experiences, but at its heart, it is really a love story between Jonathan and his wife Kitty. Their life together is full of blessings and trials, but the real test comes about two-thirds of the way into the book, when Kitty is stricken with leprosy - "the disease that deprives one of family and friends". Government regulations require that Kitty be relocated to a leper colony on the island of Moloka'i, and Jonathan must decide whether or not to accompany her, when staying with Kitty means leaving his precious daughter and grandchild, his work as a church leader in the Mormon settlement at Laie, and running the great risk of catching the dread disease himself.

This book is so well-researched, you will quickly find yourself drawn into the lives of these families, marveling that these astounding events ever really happened.  

The Boy Who Dared

by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Rated PG-13

A friendly blog reader emailed me to recommend that I read this book. Thank you, we always love a good recommendation!

The Boy Who Dared is a short historical novel about Helmuth, a young Mormon boy growing up in Nazi Germany. As Hitler rises to power and Helmuth begins to witness more and more atrocities against his own neighbors, he must decide whether to protect himself by keeping silent, or to speak out against evil. With the help of an illegal shortwave radio, a typewriter, and three courageous friends, Helmuth chooses to take a stand. How long can he keep it up without getting caught? And can he really trust the boys he's confided in?

Because this book is based on a true story, there are no magical happy endings here. But there is a wonderful message of doing what's right even when it's hard, and of being cared for by God when men are working to destroy your body and spirit.

If your teens pick up this book, they will quickly get involved in the intense story and probably finish it in one day.

This book does not contain any bad language or sexuality. I rated it PG-13 because man's inhumanity to man (including beatings and interrogations) can be really hard for younger readers, so I do think this book is for ages 13 and up.

The theme of speaking out when the cost may be great and when everyone around you is silent makes this a good choice for book club.


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Yearning for the Living God

Reflections from the Life of F. Enzio Busche

by Tracie A. Lamb

Rated G

How does a boy who came of age in Germany as part of the Hitler Youth organization end up as a respected Christian leader?

Drafted into the German army at the age of 14, during the frenzy of WWII, it's no wonder that Busche's mind was filled with questions about a higher power. Having witnessed and experienced for himself hunger, suffering and deprivation of all sorts, he vowed to go to the ends of the earth in search of the Living God.

His reflections and recollections are humble and inspiring.

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The Secret Journal of Brett Colton

by Kay Lynn Mangum

Rated PG

Kathy has lived her whole life in the shadow of her brother, Brett - a brother who died when she was two and that she barely remembers. That all changes when she receives a special gift on her 16th birthday - a secret journal that Brett wrote just for her. As she discovers the brother she thought she never had, she's also working on handling the whole high school thing, from tutoring the popular quarterback to learning the meaning of faith.

This young adult novel is both inviting and moving. After about 50 pages I found that I was thinking about the characters during the day and hoping to get back to my reading soon so I could find out how everything was going to work out for them.

This book is perfectly clean, and rated PG for some mild kissing and the mature theme of death. Certainly fine for pre-teens on up.

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The Undaunted

by Gerald Lund

Rated PG

I was thrilled to receive this book for my birthday, since I am a big fan of Gerald Lund's historical fiction. This one was as good as I expected. Telling a tale of unbelievable courage and perserverance in the face of incredible odds, The Undaunted is the story of a little band of pioneers called to settle and create order in the lawless land near the Four Corners area. To get there, they had to take their wagons and cattle where not even the most rudimentary trails existed. This meant carving roads through rock, up and down cliffs, and over rolling stone topography, sometimes with nothing but picks and shovels. 

Spicing up this bit of history are Lund's fictional characters, who bring the pioneer story to life by giving us a glimpse of how love, friendship and family all mean a little something different when you're living out of wagons together for several months. But for me, the best parts were the real-life stories and miracles woven into the story from the journals and biographies the author studied as part of his research.

Highly recommended and completely clean. I only rated it PG because there are a couple close encounters with hostile native Indians along the way, but certainly nothing graphic.

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My Name is John

by Thomas Eno

Rated G

If you're going on vacation this summer, take this book! It's an easy but fulfilling read - a fictional account of what the Apostle John might be up to these days. This compelling story will make you think about the influence one person can have on the lives of others.

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One Tattered Angel

By Blaine Yorgason
Rated G
Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE this book! I hate to be cliche, but this really is a "touching true story" about a family who adopts an amazing little girl, Charity. Charity was born without a brain stem, and was not expected to live. Not only did she live, but she lived to demonstrate the startling power of spirit over body, finding ways to communicate with the people she loved even with most of her brain missing.
If you're like me and completely neglect your house and family when you're in the middle of a good book, then this book is for you. It's a quick read, and, although a bit of a tear-jerker, it will leave you feeling totally uplifted.
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