The Search for Significance

  Billy Graham says this book, The Search for Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God's Eyes "should be read by every Christian."  I totally agree.  Robert S. McGee's bestselling book helps readers see and untie the knots they didn't even know had become embedded in their hearts.

This book was so eye-opening for me.  I have gone through it twice and both times realized new things about myself.  I think this book is incredible for helping you apply in your heart what you know in your head about God's love for us and the role God wants to play in our lives.

This particular version includes a workbook with thought-provoking questions and verses to look up with plenty of space to answer, as well as quizzes to learn more about yourself.

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian living

My rating: 5 cupcakes!

One Month to Live

"One Month to Live: 30 Days To A No Regrets Life By Chris and Kerry Shook asks an unusual question: if you found out you only had a month left to live, what would you do?  This book delves into the things that should matter most to us: our families and friends, our dreams, our relationship with God, etc."  Summary taken from Amazon.com

I thought this book was very interesting to read.  It did help change my perspective in the fact that though I haven't been told I only have a month left to live, who knows how many God has destined for me?  And whether I have only one more month or hundreds, I should be living my life to its full potential and fulfilling all that God has for me.

This book is a beautiful reminder of Ephesians 5:15-16 "So be careful how you live.  Don't live like fools, but like the wise, who make the most of every opportunity." :)

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian living

My rating: 4 1/2 cupcakes

Same Life, New Story

This book uses the lives of Naomi, Leah, Rahab, Deborah, Hannah, Anna, Jehosheba, Abigail, Naaman's servant girl, and Elizabeth to illustrate the potential of letting go of something holding you back to move forward.  Each Biblical woman demonstrates another one of Jan Silvious' points: change is possible if you can focus your mind and heart on what God wants.

I honestly was disappointed with this book, simply for the fact that it claims to be a Bible study.  It's not.  Silvious includes lots of stories of real women and connects them to the Biblical woman being addressed.  Then at the end of the chapter are discussion questions (with no room to write the answers) and a journaling prompt.  When I think Bible study, I think "let me get my Bible and a pen!"  Neither are necessary, unless I decide to do the journaling prompt and even then, the Bible isn't necessary.

I'll admit, I did learn some things.  I was able to make some interesting Biblical connections I'd never made before.  I did learn a few things about myself and for that, I am really glad I read the book.

Genre: Non-fiction, Bible study

My Rating: 3 cupcakes

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Words

Words

By Ginny Yttrup

Genre: fiction

My Rating: 5 cupcakes

Summary from Goodreads: "Ten-year old Kaylee Wren doesn't speak. Not since her drug-addled mother walked away, leaving her in a remote cabin nestled in the towering redwoods-in the care of a man who is as dangerous as he is evil. With silence her only refuge, Kaylee collects words she might never speak from the only memento her mother left behind: a dictionary.Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury her pain by trying to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, Sierra's control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself.
Brought together by Divine design, Kaylee and Sierra will discover together the healing mercy of the Word-Jesus Christ."

Wow.  This book was as beautiful and unique as the cover.  In fact, I was drawn to the book because of the cover and wanted to know what it was about.  Then once I started reading it, I was drawn into the story and the character's lives.

The characters seem to have a lot to deal with.  And it seems as if they come to healing in Jesus Christ a little too quickly.  But that's the only flaw I found in this captivating story.

Check out the book trailer, which I think is the best book trailer I have yet to see...

*This book was nominated for the 2012 Christy Awards in the First Novel category.

Embrace Me

Embrace Me

By Lisa Samson

Genre: Christian Fiction

My rating: 5 cupcakes!

Summary on Amazon.com: "When a "lizard woman," a self-mutilating preacher, a tattoed monk, and a sleazy lobbyist find themselves in the same North Carolina town one winter, their lives are edging precariously close to disaster . . . and improbably close to grace."


Oh.  My.  Goodness.  I've read this book twice now and both times have been enthralled by it.  I think this is my absolute favorite Christian fiction book.  


It is so unique from traditional Christian fiction, in that it has characters you normally wouldn't see in a Christian book.  But their heart cries are deep and you can't help but fall in love with them and long for them to come out of hiding and find the Lord.


Lisa Samson wrote an incredible and poignant story full of twists and turns and God's grace.  And she has the unique gift of not using many speech tags (he said, she said) in the dialogue.  


It's such an amazing, compelling story, and every time I finish it, I'm haunted by its message.  A good kind of haunted.  It's a masterpiece that I'd gladly read again and again.


Do yourself a favor and read it!

Christy stats: This book was an honorable mention in the Contemporary Standalone catagory, 2009.

Warriors Don't Cry

Warriors Don't Cry

By Melba Patillo Beals

Genre: Non-fiction; memoir

My rating: 5 cupcakes

Goodreads Summary: "The landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, brought the promise of integration to Little Rock, Arkansas, but it was hard-won for the nine black teenagers chosen to integrate Central High School in 1957.   Melba Patillo Beals (one of the chosen nine) tells an incredible story of faith, family love, friendships, and strong personal commitment. Drawing from the diaries she kept, the author easily puts readers in her saddle oxfords as she struggles against those people in both the white and black communities who would have segregation continue. Her prose does not play on the sympathy of readers; it simply tells it like it happened. She shares the physical, mental, and emotional torture and abuse she suffered at the hands of teenagers and adults. She also shares the support, the encouragement, and the help she received from both whites and blacks."

I thought this book was absolutely incredible.  I had heard the story about the Little Rock Nine, but didn't really know the whole story.  If you did, you would know it was much more than just integrating an all white school in the south and the mob you see pictured above.  I found it so compelling I devoured the book in just two sittings.

I loved how it was written from one of the nine students' perspectives.  You really got to experience what the entire school year was like for them.  Not only did they have to face that mob, but one of them had acid thrown in their eyes, another had soup poured on her head, plus other prejudices that the nine experienced daily.  Melba tells the story not only from her recollections, but also includes journal entries she wrote during that historical year.

Melba was a Christian and her faith was truly tested during this year.  You see the ups and downs of her faith as she pours out her heart to God through her journal.  The title itself comes from something her grandmother tells Melba; "You make this your last cry.  You're a warrior on the battlefield for your Lord.  God's warriors don't cry because they trust that He's always by their side.  The women of this family act with courage and with God's help." (pg. 44)

This is a book I taught my 8th grade students.  The students were appalled and enthralled by the story.  They were assigned to read two chapters a week, but most read the entire book in about a week or two.  We had incredible discussions and it was wonderful to see their eyes (and mine too!) opened to a world that has changed considerably.  

*Two things to be careful while reading it (especially for kiddos.)  One, there is an attempted rape scene in the book.  It does go into some detail.

And two, Melba tells everything like it is, so the "N" word is used numerous times throughout.  

The book is intended for grade 7 and up, and fits into the 8th grade curriculum where I taught.

Healer's Apprentice

The Healer's Apprentice

by Melanie Dickerson

Genre: YA historical fiction

My rating: 5 cupcakes!

Goodreads Summary: "Two Hearts. One Hope. Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her---a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny."

This was a beautiful retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a few new twists and an interesting Christian flare.  Beautiful.  Stunning.  I was so sure it was following the story of Sleeping Beauty and up would pop another subplot or a twist that kept me glued to the pages, determined to see what would happen next to Rose.  Rose was a character that was easy to relate to, and Lord Hamlin a handsome, chivalrous gentleman.  A true love story. 

I loved the plot, the Christian ideals sprinkled throughout, the setting (Medieval Germany), the characters (so lovable!  And the villains, so easy to despise!), the writing style (gorgeous!).  Sigh.  My heart is happy having read this. :)

Christy stats: honorable mention for the Young Adult category, 2011.

Oh, and check out the book trailer. :)