Review: My Refuge - Follow in the Dark #1

I admit that it's been a while since I've read a Christian YA book, but am I ever thankful that Ashley Al Saliby reached out and let me know about her most recent book, My Refuge: Four Girls from Around the World, Imprisoned by Circumstances but Pursued by Hope, the first in the Follow in the Dark series. Not only is the cover stunning, but I am so touched by the ministry possibilities behind this book.

I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

Christian fiction for teen girls learning to follow Jesus in a broken world.

Four girls face the hardships of isolation in remote corners of the planet. Their journeys will be messy, of course. One of them will struggle with growing anger, and another with crippling anxiety. One will drift toward despair. Another will battle surprising temptation. While facing challenges they wouldn’t have chosen, what refuge can they seek? What hope can they cling to?

Not always at their best but also never abandoned, read along as Eden, Zahra, Mei and Katya discover that they are pursued and deeply loved by God. Their raw and relatable stories might point your heart to fresh hope, too.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

This collection of four short stories of different young women around the world is excellent to share with young Christian women. It is clear that the author has a heart for ministering to this audience and that she is passionate about helping the next generation of Christians grow in their faith. Each story depicts a scenario of young women feeling confined or imprisoned, including an American in the hospital's ICU, a Syrian in a refuge camp, a Canadian in her apartment during the pandemic, and a Ukrainian in a bomb shelter. As the stories are quite current, it was illuminating to step into these shoes and see global conditions through their eyes.

This book brings the verse from Psalm 46:1 to life by showing how God is our rescuer and comforter when circumstances look bleak. Meant to be a discipleship resource in the form of these stories, I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to share God's message of hope and light in the darkness. My Refuge is the first in the Follow in the Dark series and I look forward to seeing more from Ashley Al Saliby as she shares the heart of Jesus with young women. This is a book that I could not only relate to now, particularly through the story of Mei, it is a book that I wish I had as a teenager!

Book Summary

Format of book: 📱
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendation: 👍

Comments

All the Cheese

I've been coming across content within the past several weeks that has stereotyped Christian books (and other mediums) as being cheesy on Christian accounts. While this isn't a new label or even a new topic, what has surprised me somewhat has been seeing more Christian authors jump into this conversation who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Although some authors will name others whom they believe are writing non-cheesy fiction, I feel as though the damage has been done by repeating this blanket statement. While readers have freely been engaging in this type of commentary for some time, it's been interesting to see authors chime in, where in some cases, there seems to be an emphasis on self-promotion over reflection. I'm not stereotyping and saying that all authors or even the authors I'm connected to respond with this tactic (because I really don't think they do!), but there are a few out there from my limited experience who seem to respond to this disc...

Review: The Maker of the Mountain

I'm always on the hunt for children's books that share concepts about God in an understandable manner, so I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to read this book set in the mountains. The Maker of the Mountain by Sandra McCracken and Tim Nicholson is a story that I would be happy to share with the children in my life as it combines Bible verses with a map and delightful scenes in nature. Many thanks to Merge Public Relations for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis What is God like? Little Brown Bear is on an adventure to find the maker of the mountain and discover what he is like. Along the way, the bear meets new friends who share that the maker is like a bridge and a gate, a rock and a boat. And he’s always there to light our way home. This charming story offers: Imagery from the Bible to help young readers better understand what God is like A map of the bear’s world with corresponding Scriptures...

Diverse Stories

One of the things I've been challenging myself to do this year has been to read more Christian books written by authors from other countries. I love that the body of Christ spans the four corners of the world and that we get to benefit from hearing so many different perspectives. I've also appreciated getting to know some amazing authors and readers online from other nations and continents as it's enriched my understanding of how Christians experience life. It helps me realize that the views I take for granted may only be limited to where I am situated, geographically and culturally. I haven't read all of the authors below yet, but here are a few Christian fiction authors who write from outside of North America if you're interested in reading more: Africa Ivy Emerson Enewerome Anna Jensen Tope Omotosho Asia Joanna Alonzo Joy Crain Australasia Narelle Atkins Liz Chapman Iola Goulton Jessica Kate Bessie Le Couteur Carolyn Miller Jennifer Mistmorgan Honey Stone Jessica...