Plots and perils

Keeper of the Lost Cities

Shannon Messenger

With a movie in the works, families unfamiliar with this fast-paced fantasy series should start with Book 1. When 12-year-old Sophie discovers she’s actually an elf with special powers, she enrolls at Foxfire Academy, a school for elves in Eternalia, where she faces tough classes, snobby schoolmates, and the Black Swan’s plans to draw her further into the mysterious Project Moonlark. Sophie’s guy friends add appeal for tween and teen boys. Parents will appreciate the book’s innocent magic and clean language. (Ages 9-12)

Wolf Soldier

James R. Hannibal

Like the Chronicles of Prydain, Wolf Soldier combines action, adventure, and medieval pageantry with relatable teenage characters. Drawn from the Christian role-playing game DragonRaid, the plot follows one young man—Connor—on his journey from shepherd to warrior of the Lightraider Order. As dragons, goblins, and other evil creatures invade their homeland, Connor and his small class of Lightraider cadets (including one spunky girl) quickly find themselves on the front lines. Scary fight scenes keep the story moving, while Biblical elements (like faith-based armor) lend spiritual depth to the tale. (Ages 10 and up)

Escape from the Everglades

Tim Shoemaker

In this new teen adventure from Focus on the Family, Parker barely escapes the jaws of a Florida gator. His arm damaged and his faith shaken, he vows never to return. But when his friend Maria falls in love with the wrong guy, Parker and his buddy, Wilson, face down more than swamp monsters to save her. Shoemaker goes a little over the top with his bad guys, including a gator named Goliath, but teens will enjoy the rollicking action and parents the theme of personal integrity. (Ages 12 and up)

The White Rose Resists

Amanda Barratt

When Sophie Scholl arrives in Munich for her college studies, she sees buildings draped with Hitler’s black and red swastikas. Her brother, Hans, soon invites her into his circle of friends—and their dangerous resistance work. Told in alternating perspectives, ­Barratt presents a warm, inviting story of young adults seeking to live virtuously in crushing circumstances. Violence, deception, occasional drinking, and Christ-honoring romance (including some kissing) make this best for older teens and adults. Overall, a timely portrayal of free speech and courage in Christ. (Ages 14 and up)

Afterword

Families with middle-grade fantasy-lovers may enjoy The Serpent Slayer and the Scroll of Riddles by Champ Thornton and Andrew David Naselli (New Growth Press, 2022). In this fictional story, siblings Emmet and Nomi travel into the Bible’s pages to meet Adam and Eve, David, and other Bible figures. To get back home, the kids solve riddles that frame God’s work in redemptive history as the ultimate epic quest. Some younger readers will need help with the typology (seeing Pharisees as dragons) and complex vocabulary (i.e., substitution and malice).

Homeschoolers and Christian educators may appreciate a new folktale book by Geoffrey Thomas. In The Legendary Casey Jones and Other American Folktales (Reformation Lightning, 2021), Thomas includes a variety of colorful, well-known characters (Br’er Rabbit, Johnny Appleseed) along with lesser-known tales, such as the Battle of the Braggarts. These stories shine with simple, homespun humor and charm, ending each with a moral that often points to Christ. —E.W.