Susan Thogerson Maas

If you are looking for books for your young adult, check out Abbie’s Woods. This book addresses parents fighting, praying for parents, appreciating the world around you. Abbie escapes to woods to get away from her parents fighting.

She also learns appearances and actions of someone fail to tell you their whole story. I loved getting to know Abbie, her brother and parents, as well as other in this story.

So check out this book for yourself. I definitely recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own… (mehr)

If you are looking for a good story for middle aged children this is the perfect book for them. It has great characters who many kids can relate too. I like how the author tackles a tough issue about a family that is going through problems. Abbie is a kind young girl who is having a hard time dealing with her parents fighting every night. She tries to help her little brother but he doesn’t understand why his parents can’t get along.

The time that Abbie spends in the woods is her sanctuary. There she can listen to the birds and enjoy nature. She finds peace among the trees and talks to God. It was so sweet to hear her ask God to help her family. The author does a great job of showing how prayer and forgiveness are important. I loved spending time with Abbie in the woods and seeing through her eyes the beauty God created.

It was interesting how Abbie and her brother Patrick come up with ideas to raise money to send their parents on a getaway. It was definitely a God moment that they met a very wise man as they go on their endeavor to raise money. Walking dogs can be fun, but Abbie finds that the owner of the dog is kind and shares thoughts with her that help her grow in her faith. I really liked Mr. Jackson and how big his heart was for others.

The story also deals with making friends with someone that is not nice. We never know what is going on in someone’s life and this part of the story illustrates that we need to always show grace to others and allow God to help us forgive. As Abbie struggles with what is going on at home, she finds someone who is hurting as well. It is a wonderful story that teaches all of us about forgiveness, trust and hope.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (mehr)

JJ is twelve and loves photography. Her grandmother gave her a camera for her birthday, but already she aspires to something far more expensive and hopes to win the perfect SLR through a photography contest. Meanwhile her aunt has come to stay, and JJ has to share her bedroom. When the aunt fails to close the kitchen door, JJ’s cat escapes. And soon JJ’s just wishing she could escape from it all. Winning the contest – that would solve all her problems, or so she believes.

JJ’s grandmother believes JJ’s photography is a God-given gift. Gram likes to talk about God, and JJ likes to humor her. But photos are far more likely than God to win her prize she dreams of.

Family relationships are nicely draw in this middle-grade novel, and even the evil, room-invading aunt has her good points, though she could always be a criminal hiding from the law. God turns out to have his good points too in a tale where half-heard truths of family or faith can mislead, and real truth can mend. Picture Imperfect paints a picture of genuinely imperfect characters facing trials and temptations, then leads them along a genuine Christian path to God-given hope. In the end, it’s not what we think we believe that matters, but rather the truth that God loves us.

Disclosure: I won a free copy at a writers’ conference – lucky me!… (mehr)