Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa Demi Margeret K. McElderry Books, 2005 For those of us who grew up in the closing years of the twentieth century, Mother Teresa is something of an icon. She stands for everything that is saintly, good, and – well, all too often, unattainable. “What do you expect,” I remember friends in high school [...]

Caedmon’s Song

Caedmon’s Song Ruth Ashby and Bill Slavin Eerdmans, 2006 For those of us who aren’t literature majors, a brief biographical note: Caedmon was a herdsman for the abbey at Whitby in mid- to late-seventh century England. He is also counted as the first recorded English poet. His transformation from ordinary, tongue-tied herdsman to one gifted [...]

Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold

Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold Janet & Geoff Benge YWAM Publishing, 1998 I’m not much of a sports fan, but I do know that humility is not one of the most common character traits among today’s star athletes.  The more typical proud swagger and I’m-so-awesome attitude has become so synonymous to me with sports [...]

Peril and Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient Church

Peril and Peace:Chronicles of the Ancient Church History Lives, Volume 1 Mindy & Brandon Withrow Christian Focus Publications, 2005 More than once, Haley and I have had the same experience. We see a book, we love the idea, and we think to ourselves somewhat fearfully, “I really hope this works.” Strangely enough, my own excitement [...]

Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels’ Den

Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels’ Den Janet & Geoff Benge YWAM Publishing, 1998 A few weeks ago Sarah and I visited her daughter’s school library and scoured the shelves for books that we might want to review here.  At one point we strayed from the theology section to the biography section because we’d [...]

Hero Tales

Hero Tales Dave & Neta Jackson Bethany House, 1996 When my husband and I were engaged, he was in graduate school and living with Haley’s in-laws. I was still in college nearby, and would drive up occasionally and stay with their family for the weekend. After dinner together, we would sit together around the table [...]

The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica

The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica Kathleen Norris and Tomie dePaola G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2001 When I was last browsing through the picture book stacks at my local library, I was delighted to chance upon The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica, a collaboration between Kathleen Norris and Tomie dePaola. Not because I had a prior [...]

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy Eric Metaxas Thomas Nelson, 2010 An admission: this new biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer is not, technically speaking, a children’s book. It is reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, sprinkled with German words, has an extensive bibliography and endnotes, and clocks in at 542 pages. However: Eric Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer is an absolutely [...]

Stories of the Saints

Stories of the Saints Joyce Denham and Judy Stevens Paraclete, 2007 I grew up in a church that didn’t talk much about the saints, nor did we mark All Saints’ Day in the church year. And to be honest, I still have some reservations about how saints are sometimes celebrated – especially when they are [...]

Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World

Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World Paul L. Maier and Greg Copeland Concordia, 2004 Reformation Day is coming up on October 31: it’s been 493 years since Luther posted his theses for debate on the door of the Castle Church and started a revolution in Western Christendom. Lutheran, Catholic, Reformed, Baptist – whatever [...]