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Rise of the Fallen

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Rise of the Fallen by Chuck Black

Title: Rise of the Fallen
Author: Chuck Black
Series: Wars of the Realm, book 2
Major Themes: Allegories, Science Fiction
Synopsis: When Validus, a commander of many angels, is seemingly demoted to focus on protecting one man, he struggles with his assignment and wonders why God cares about someone who doesn’t even believe in Him.

Years ago, I listened to the audiobook of Cloak of the Light, and although I enjoyed the story, I also found it more than a little disturbing. I wasn’t prepared for the subject matter of the book—I’m not sure I’d read any books that focused so much on the spiritual realm before that—and it took me a long time to feel like I was “okay” after reading that story. And though I knew that that story had some sequels, I wasn’t feeling ready to read them until recently, when I finally picked up Rise of the Fallen. I was more than a little apprehensive about this story, but I’m glad to say that this has given me some closure from the first book, and I’m now tentatively looking forward to finishing the series one day!

Publisher’s description:

A six thousand year war rages and now the demonic Fallen are coming for him—the one man shrouded in mystery. Only Validus stands in their way.

Validus is the last and least of God’s angels, but he’s seen much across the millennia since his creation. Empires have risen and fallen as angelic and demonic forces battle in a raging war that will determine humanity’s fate—and the fate of his defeated brothers.

Eventually called to be an earth-bound warrior, Validus rises to a position of power and respect, commanding legions of angels through impossible battles and overwhelming odds. But when orders arrive from the Creator’s most elite Messenger, he finds himself suddenly demoted to a task of apparent insignificance considering the fierce war they are waging against the demonic Fallen—the covert protection of one unbelieving man.

Validus soon finds himself on a mission that will push him beyond his abilities as he battles to protect Drew Carter, for the Fallen are coming for him. Legions of them.

As Validus races against time to discover why Drew is so important to humanity’s survival, can he stand between Drew and all who would destroy him?

My thoughts:

This book is quite a bit different in tone than Cloak of the Light. Not only is this story a rehashing of the events of the first book, but from the angel’s perspective instead of Drew’s perspective, it’s also an overview of world history from the point of view of the spiritual realm. I found that fascinating to consider: What did events like Noah’s flood or Jesus’ crucifixion look like to the angels? I found the perspective that was given interesting, especially the parts about relationships between the angels and what spiritual warfare on earth looked like to them.

I did struggle with this story to some extent, though. The amount of backstory, in my opinion, dragged the rest of the book down. And while I found the backstory interesting, it wasn’t interesting enough to make it necessary, in my opinion. There was also one random scene where the book switched to a human perspective—that never happened anywhere else, so I found that confusing.

I’ll be interested to see what I think of the last book in the series, because while I enjoyed Rise of the Fallen, this didn’t have a lot of new information compared to book one, except it gave perspective on how this story-world works. From that point of view, this book feels almost unnecessary to the series. Still, there are things in here that you couldn’t get from any other perspective—yet are necessary to hold the whole series up. Personally, I would have liked to see less action for action’s sake and a little more advancement in the overarching theme of the series, but I could also just be overly critical.

In the end, this wasn’t my favorite book ever, and even though I didn’t fully enjoy Cloak of the Light, that is my favorite book in the series so far. Do keep in mind that you have to read this series in order. If you enjoy books with high action and a strong emphasis on God’s overarching redemption plan for the world, I’d recommend you check this series out. I have found it engaging reading, and I came away from this book, in particular, with a greater desire to pray and see God at work in my life and the lives of those around me. I’m also looking forward to reading book three at some stage!

WARNING: There is a lot of fighting in this book, and angels frequently kill or are killed. Sometimes, there is physical fighting with people getting hurt; other times, it’s just in the spiritual world. Many scenes are fairly tense and/or violent (there is quite a bit of self-defense in the story). Demons possessing people comes up occasionally. Chapter 11: A man falls on his knife and dies, I swear. Chapter 14: A man threatens a woman. Chapter 21: A school shooting. Chapter 23: An animal killed. Chapter 25: Someone trying to give someone else drugs. Chapter 26: Baby killed. Chapter 34: Mention of a man who committed suicide, a scene inside a gas chamber as people were killed. 

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman

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The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko

Title: The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman
Author: Gennifer Choldenko
Major Themes: Foster Children, Family
Synopsis: After Hank’s mother disappears, the eleven-year-old tries to take care of his three-year-old sister, Boo, the way he always has—but when it becomes obvious they need help, where can Hank turn?

One of my favorite things when I’m doing somewhat boring jobs is listening to audiobooks while I work. One of my more recent listens was The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman, and let me tell you—it was a delight! I didn’t know what to expect when I first got into the book, because contemporary middle-grade stories can be somewhat hit-and-miss with me, but this one ended up being a winner!

Publisher’s description:

Readers will be rooting for a happy ending for Hank in Newbery-Honor-winner Gennifer Choldenko’s gripping story of a boy struggling to hold his family together when his mom doesn’t come home.

When eleven-year-old Hank’s mom doesn’t come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like he always does. But it’s been a week now. They are out of food and mom has never stayed away this long…Hank knows he needs help, so he and Boo seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact.

But asking for help has consequences. It means social workers, and a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he’s been trying to keep secret. And if they can’t find his mom soon, Hank and Boo may end up in different foster homes—he could lose everything.

Gennifer Choldenko has written a heart-wrenching, healing, and ultimately hopeful story about how complicated family can be. About how you can love someone, even when you can’t rely on them. And about the transformative power of second chances.

My thoughts:

It’s hard to imagine Hank’s situation, but unfortunately, I don’t think it’s uncommon. I got angry at his mom at one point, and occasionally, I got a little upset with Hank, too, for wanting to trust her—even though that was a perfectly natural response! I loved seeing those that gathered around Hank and Boo and supported them—it made me wish that there were more kind-hearted people in the world like that!

As far as the characters go, I’d say Choldenko is brilliant. Hank, Boo, Ray, and some of the others felt very real to me. I rooted for them, got frustrated at times, and once or twice wanted to knock a few heads together. I loved the way Hank did his best to care for his sister, even in the times when he couldn’t physically be with her. I loved Boo’s cheerfulness and the way she won the hearts of everyone around her—she felt like an authentic three-year-old, one I’d love to spend an afternoon with. And Hank’s teammates, Ray, and even LouAnn, were all wonderful, supportive friends.

Although it’s not unusual to read books that contain stories about broken families (single parents, etc.), where I feel The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman is different is that it showcases the foster system side of things. I’ve read very few fiction books that deal with fostering (somehow, it seems like adoption is a more common theme), so that aspect was quite special to me. This book shows some of the difficulties foster families and children face, as well as the hope foster families can bring to situations. If you enjoy heartfelt stories about family, friendship, determination, and courage, this could be a great book for you. It doesn’t have any overt faith elements, but it’s a solid, engaging read. I enjoyed this story!

WARNING: Chapter 1: Smells like crap. Chapter 22: Oh my God. Chapter 29: Someone teases a boy about kissing a girl, oh my God. Chapter 34: Lying. Chapter 41: Oh God. Chapter 46: I swear. Chapter 50: I swear. Chapter 53: Lying.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Okay for Now

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Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

Title: Okay for Now
Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Series: sequel to The Wednesday Wars
Major Themes: Friendship, Dysfunctional Families, School, Vietnam War, PTSD, Audubon
Synopsis: After his family is forced to move to a new town in upstate New York, Doug Swieteck encounters more hope and friendship than he ever anticipated, while struggling to deal with a difficult home life.

Early this year, I picked up The Wednesday Wars while our family was on holiday, and I got engrossed in the story. It surprised me by its depth and humor, and solidified in my mind even more that Gary D. Schmidt was an author I wanted to keep my eye on. After I finished that book, I realized I had the chance to get Okay for Now, an unofficial sequel, in print—and I decided to put off my interest in reading this until I could hold the real book in my hands. I’m glad I waited; this way, we were able to enjoy it as a family read-aloud—although I’m not sure the word “enjoy” is the right adjective. This is a deep story, and it’s got some heavy things in it. But by the time I got to the end of the book, I wrote in my reading journal that if I could, I’d give this book six stars in a 5-star rating. It’s good.

Publisher’s description:

“The Dump” is what Doug Swieteck calls his new home in upstate New York.

He lands there in the summer of 1968, when the Apollo space missions are under way, Joe Pepitone is slugging for the New York Yankees, and the Vietnam War is raging. At home he lives with a father who has lost his way and a brother accused of robbery. And Doug’s oldest brother is returning from Vietnam. Who knows what wounds his missions have given him?

But Doug has his own mission, too, and it begins when he first sees the plates of John James Audubon’s Birds of America at the local library. His mission will open a world as strange to him as the lunar landscape.

My thoughts:

Doug Switeck is one of those kids you wouldn’t have any reason to look twice at—except when he is acting up. Coming from a dysfunctional family as he does, he really doesn’t have a lot going for him, but somehow, as the story progresses, you start to see the layers that make up this guy who really does act like a jerk sometimes.

Where The Wednesday Wars is, generally, fairly upbeat (okay, okay; yes, there are some difficult elements there, too, but overall, it’s got a great line of humor and hope running through that story), Okay for Now is much heavier. At first, I admit I struggled with that because I was hoping for more of the same as the first book. But then I realized what Schmidt was doing, and it was brilliant. Taking the character that, admittedly, no one likes—and then going behind the scenes to help us see what makes Doug Doug—it made him a real person. He became someone you could relate to, come to love, and eventually root for. And grieve with.

This is a deeply nuanced story. Not only does it deal with a dysfunctional family, not only is it set during the tumult of the Vietnam War and the Space Race, and not only does it have some characters you really love to hate—this is a story of hope and joy overcoming almost impossible odds. And it’s written in such a way that you keep guessing all the way through as to what’s going to happen next, and hoping, hoping, hoping that something will finally go right for Doug. (And somehow, despite the heavier themes, this book is not depressing—in fact, it’s one of the more hopeful ones I’ve read recently!)

There’s also clever storytelling at play. Somehow, Schmidt manages to repeat different phrases or themes to make a point without them getting old. Occasionally, characters lose their names if they aren’t acting particularly kind or human—and when they do shape up, they gain their names back again (I loved watching that happen!). One time, I remember noticing that the story (which was written in first person, past tense) suddenly switched to present tense during a particularly stressful scene. The way it’s written, you don’t see it until you see it (I noticed because I was reading it aloud, but I don’t think anyone else in the family picked it up until I pointed it out to them)—but it gives an immediacy to the story that that particular scene needed. It was brilliantly done. There is a restraint and power in the way this story is put together, and in the end, I have to sit back and marvel.

If you enjoy books that have rich, well-formulated characters that feel real, read this book. If you enjoy stories of brokenness and despair that have strong redemptive themes, read this book. Or, if you just enjoy a dash of history in a well-written story, read this book. Okay for Now is a journey, and I thoroughly enjoyed taking that journey. It’s one I’m planning to keep on my shelf long-term. Highly recommended!

WARNING: Bullying happens in nearly every chapter, sometimes multiple times. Chapter 1: Mention of smoking, freaking (six times), mention of a man frequenting bars, man hits his son, dang, man swearing. Chapter 2: Dang (twice), for heaven’s sake, boy boasts of being in knife fights, lying, freaking (three times). Chapter 3: Lying, insinuation a man beat his son, swore (twice), swear. Chapter 4: Picture of a bird that was shot, dang, girl touches a boy’s hand, boy punches a man, story of a drunk man and a cruel thing he did to his son. Chapter 5: Freaking (six times), helluva, lying, man tries to beat his son, boy kisses a girl. Chapter 6: Man verbally abuses a boy, girl takes a boy’s arm, oh God, man badly injured from war, swore, boy sees drawings of dead people after a battle, freaking, geez, holding hands. Chapter 7: Darn, man talks briefly about PTSD-inspired nightmares, girl holds boy’s arm. Chapter 8: Oh God, boy almost dies. Chapter 9: Lying. Chapter 10: Darnedest, boy lays beside a girl in her bed (no wrong innuendos or connotations), darn (twice), heck (twice). “Bloody, bloody murder” is a phrase that comes up several times throughout the book—I didn’t mark those instances.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Street Kids, Solvents and Salvation

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Street Kids, Solvents and Salvation by Natalie Vellacott

Title: Street Kids, Solvents and Salvation
Author: Natalie Vellacott
Series: Christian Missionary True Stories, book 2
Major Themes: Drugs, Missions, Philippines
Synopsis: When she arrived in a Filipino city as part of a missions team, Natalie was unprepared for what she encountered—drug-addicted children living on the streets.

Several years ago, I downloaded Street Kids, Solvents and Salvation, intending to read it at some stage, but never quite got around to it, despite my good intentions. Recently, though, I realized it fit a category in one of my reading challenges, so I finally picked it up. What a good story! I’m sorry I didn’t take time for it earlier, because it ended up being a fast, easy, interesting read.

Publisher’s description:

They operate like a close knit family, sleeping rough under a bridge, supporting each other in their desperate daily struggle for survival, but this group of Filipino street children has a weakness worse than poverty. They had started at a young age, numbing the pain of hunger, dysfunctional families and abuse.

Now, they are addicted to the solvents, begging and stealing to feed their habit and to make it through one more meaningless day. They don’t care about their lives or the danger of the drugs, they assume they will die young. They are the notorious, detested, even hated, “Rugby boys” named after the sealant that keeps them high and stops them thinking about their tragic lives.

The Logos Hope, a Christian missionary ship docks in the Philippines. Enthusiastic and cheerful crew members set up a book-table engaging passer’s by with the Good News of Jesus. Almost immediately, they realise they are being observed by a bunch of ragged, dirty street kids who swim in the polluted river and fight imaginary battles as they hallucinate.

Locals are embarrassed, they wish their problem had not drawn the attention of these highly regarded foreign visitors. However, encouraged by friendly smiles from the team, the boys cautiously make their hesitant approach.

What will happen when these two worlds collide? Will light conquer the darkness and despair?

Find out for yourself if there really is hope for the hopeless in this dramatic first hand account told by a Logos Hope team member.

My thoughts:

Street Kids, Solvents and Salvation is a peek into a short segment of the author’s life, first as she worked on The Logos Hope and encountered the boys, and then as she returned later on her own to continue the work.

What I found the most striking about this story is that the author was in a rather typical situation—working at a book table, trying to reach out to passersby and share the gospel, and when she realized what was going on with the boys, she had to decide what she would do about that. It’s fascinating to me to think that some of the seemingly most inconsequential events in our lives can shape our thoughts and perspectives for a long time afterward. In this case, it ended up being an intense, but relatively short-lived time, but something that I’m sure she still thinks about frequently.

Natalie Vellacott writes in an interesting, easy-to-read manner. I appreciate her perspective and desire to touch just one person’s life—not looking for big numbers or success. I found Street Kids, Solvents and Salvation to be fascinating, and finished it in just a couple of days. I’ve come away from the story encouraged to look for little ways to shine Jesus’ light on those around me, because, in the end, it does make a difference. If you enjoy reading missionary stories or books that have a strong missions mindset, I’d highly recommend you check this out. It’s a good story!

WARNING: Chapter 1: Description of boys high on solvents and taking their clothes off. Chapter 12: Boy gets beaten. Chapter 15: Oh my goodness. Chapter 20: Shouting, boy gets hit. Chapter 26: Boy encouraging others to smoke. Chapter 39: Boy hit on the head with a rock. There’s other violence, too, but more mentioned than described. As can be expected, solvents—and their effects on people—are mentioned multiple times.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Alone Yet Not Alone

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Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger Craven

Title: Alone Yet Not Alone
Author: Tracy Leininger Craven
Major Themes: Faith, Survival, French and Indian War
Synopsis: When Barbara and Regina are captured by Allegheny warriors during the French and Indian War, their faith and hope sustain them through struggles and years of slavery.

When I was a youngster, my parents bought a cassette tape player and several books on tapes for me to listen to. I was immediately enthralled, and spent hours wandering around our property or hanging around the house, listening to a dramatized version of The Pilgrim’s Progress, books Mom recorded for us, and a few stories from Mennonite publishers. But one of my all-time favorite books on tape was Alone Yet Not Alone, and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say I listened to it more than 10 times in my growing-up years. My mother got sick of hearing the story because I listened to it so often, and I remember one day when my brothers were bored, begging me to tell them a story, and I started in on the first chapter of this book, telling it almost word for word through the first few paragraphs. They quickly lost interest, but I didn’t. It has—and remains—among my favorite stories from Colonial American history.

Publisher’s description:

A miraculous survival. An extraordinary faith.

Autumn 1755. Settled in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania, deep within America’s new frontier, the Leininger family celebrates the blessings of a beautiful homestead and bountiful harvest. Until tragedy strikes with the beginning of the French-Indian War, and the devastating raid known as the Penn’s Creek Massacre.

The lives of this simple, God-fearing family are forever altered when Barbara and Regina, two young sisters, are carried away by a band of Allegheny warriors. Driven by their faith in God and the powerful bonds of family, Barbara and Regina hold firmly to the belief that they are never alone, even in their darkest hour, and that they will be reunited again.

My thoughts:

Having always listened to Alone Yet Not Alone, I was somewhat surprised to see how short this book is when I finally got a print version of the story. It’s a quick read, but packs an astounding punch in its storyline. Another thing I was surprised about was how the story is not graphic—some horrific things happen here, but it is almost all offscreen. I realized that in listening to the story over and over as a child, I’d added a lot more details to scenes than are actually present in the book—that was a humorous realization!

The thing that is the most striking about this story is the family’s faith. Barbara and Regina come from a godly, Christ-honoring family, and even though they were captured by the Indians at a young age (Barbara was 12, Regina 9), they already had a firm grounding in the Word of God and trust in His sovereignty. As they endured countless difficulties in their captivity, they held to hope and trust in God—and that’s a challenge for me!

As a youngster, I think the thing I enjoyed most about this story was the adventure aspect. There is a considerable amount of danger in some of the things Barbara, especially, faced, and I loved imagining that I was with her, experiencing some of the same things she experienced. The ending, too, is one of my favorite endings ever—incredibly sweet and hope-filled.

It’s hard to know how to put Alone Yet Not Alone into words, because I’ve known and loved it for such a long time. But if you’re looking for solid, faith-based true stories of courage, heroism, and resilience in the face of desperate odds for your children, or are studying Colonial America, I’d highly recommend you check this book out. It’s a gem!

WARNING: Chapter 1: Thank heaven. Chapter 2: Hearing a gunshot, house on fire, later finding out people were killed, girls taken captive. Chapter 3: Mention of a baby who was killed. Chapter 4: Horse treated cruelly, girl almost burned to death. Chapter 6: Woman burned to death. Chapter 7: Harvest festival with dancing to the gods. Chapter 8: Lying. Chapter 10: Boy injured by a bear. Chapter 11: Someone almost drowns. Chapter 12: Heaven only knows.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com