"The Escape"
and "The Secret Mission"
by A. Van Der Jagt
These two books are very inspiring to read, and I have always been
surprised to find that in all the Christian girl’s magazines that I receive
(and believe me, I get a lot!), I have never seen a book review done on
either of these books. They are just so good, you can’t put them down.
Actually, The Secret Mission is the sequal to The Escape,
but they are both about the same characters.
You can basically sum up both books with just one phrase: The adventures
of three Huguenot children fleeing persecution based on historical facts.
I personally think that stories based on historical facts are always so
much better and much more realistic.
The main character is a 16 (about) year-old boy named John who lived
with his aunt and uncle (who were Catholic; John was a Christian). John’s
father had been sent to the galleys, his mother was dead, and his sister
was in Paris. John eventually runs away to Paris to rescue his sister and
then heads off to Holland, the land of freedom. You can get a copy of these
books from: Christian Reading Materials, 831 Orchard Dr., Lewiston, NY
14092
-Elizabeth Perron, Grand Rapids, MI
Little Jewel Books
Here is a wonderful series of books for your younger sisters and brothers!
Wholesome and godly, these small books are truly a treasure!
Among my family’s favorites are The Lost Milk Jar and Molly
Helps Mother. In The Lost Milk Jar two brothers and two sisters
go for their milk that they get from a near-by neighbor, and the two boys
decide to play horse with the sled, so the girls get on the sled and the
boys pull it, pretending to be horses. They reach the neighbors house and
get the milk and start to head home, but oh, oh! On a sharp turn the sled
topples over and the milk jar is lost. All four children ask God to help
them find the jar, and the ending to this story is very cute. This story
teaches little children to pray and ask God to help them even in small
problems.
Molly Helps Mother is my #1 favorite! (I know, I know! These
books are for little children, but I enjoy the Jewel books just as much
as my 5 and 2 year old sisters! :) ) Molly’s mother is very sick, and Molly
wants to do something to help her, but she does not know what to do, so
she asks the Lord to show her what she can do to be helpful. Then she finds
her little brother, Timothy, crying and that he wants mother. Well, Molly
finds that God has answered her prayer; if she can keep Timothy happy and
quiet, mother can get some rest and not have to worry about Timothy. What
follows are the many fun things that Molly does with Timothy, and through
this book your brothers and sisters will learn that God is pleased when
we have a serving attitude towards others.
Here are brief descriptions of some of the other “Jewel” books: In
Two Surprises Emy Lou decides to hoe, all by herself, a long row
of cabbages for a surprise for her mother. When her mother finds out, she
makes a surprise for Emy Lou! Little Jewel Bird is a wonderful story
about a hummingbird that two children find; my 5 year old sister’s favorite!
And The Twin’s Picnic is a cute story about a girl and boy (twins,
of course!) who have a picnic outside one day.
Each of these “Jewel Books” are from 24 to 32 pages and are paperbacks,
with nice covers that are “wipeable” (in other words jelly and all the
other wonderful things that will come in contact with these books when
handled with little hands will come right off these books! :) ). These
Rod & Staff books are available from the book catalog “Keepers of the
Faith” (a catalog with very nice, godly books for all ages) and are $2.15
apiece. The address is: P.O. Box 100, Ironwood, MI 49938-0100 and a “Keepers
of the Faith” catalog is free.
- Amy Zander, Bardwell, KY
The Hawk and the
Dove Trilogy
by Penelope Wilcox
If you are studying the Middle Ages in school, or are curious about
the life of people, but maybe especially the monks, then I would suggest
The Hawk and the Dove Trilogy. The three books include The Hawk
and the Dove, The Wounds of God, and The Long Fall and mainly
show the lives of two monks throughout the book, during the 11th century
in France. Peregrine is the abbot- an independent man who is willing to
help others, but doesn’t like others helping himself . . . until an injury
makes him almost helpless. It is then that he begins to learn some important
lessons. Tom serves Peregrine and has many trials and scapes as he tries
to live a pure life. There are other characters as well which will make
you reflect upon your own life, examining it for faults. This trilogy is
hard to find, but the complete set can be ordered through: The Elijah Company,
Rt. 2, Box 100-B, Crossville, TN 38555
- Jana Baldridge, Richland Center, WI
The Holy War
By John Bunyan
“The Holy War” is, in my opinion, a book that every teenager
and adult ought to read... It was written by the same author of “Pilgrim’s
Progress” (which, at one time, was the most widely read book next to the
Bible). “The Holy War” is an allegorical account of the capture of the
city of Mansoul (-first, by the Evil Prince, Diabolus - then by the mighty
King Saddai, through the conquest of his Son, Emmanuel.) This wonderful
allegory pictures the struggle between good and evil. It pictures the struggle
that wars in the breast of one who truly experiences the conviction
of sin that leads to genuine salvation. If you find within your
soul, that you can’t personally relate to the allegorical experiences and
spiritual struggles of Mansoul, then it may be possible that you have not
truly received that regenerating new birth called “Salvation by Grace.”
This is why I strongly recommend that everyone read this book! :)
The publishers address is: Whitaker House, Pittsburgh and Colfax Streets,
Springdale, Pennsylvania 15144
-Summer
Below is an excerpt from “The Holy War” for your personal evaluation:
When the time came for the prisoners to appear before
the Prince, they dressed themselves in mourning attire. The townspeople
also wore mourning clothes and stood upon the wall hoping the Prince would
be moved with compassion when he saw them.
The busybodies in the town ran here and there throughout the streets,
creating a commotion and crying out with fear as they ran. Some were shouting
one thing, and others were yelling something different.
Captain Thunder and the guards walked in front of the prisoners, and
Captain Conviction came behind. The three prisoners, bound in chains, walked
along mournfully, smiting their breasts and daring not to lift their eyes.
They went out at the gate of Mansoul and came into the midst of the Prince’s
army. The sight and glory of his magnificent forces greatly heightened
their affliction. When they could bear it no longer, they cried out, “O
unhappy men! O wretched men of Mansoul!” The sound of their clanking chains
mixed with the mournful cries of the prisoners made the noise even more
lamentable.
When they came to the door of the Prince’s pavilion, they lay protrate
on the ground. One of the guards went and told his Lord that the prisoners
had arrived. The Prince then ascended his throne and sent for the prisoners
who, when they came before him, trembled and covered their faces with shame.
As they drew near the place where he sat, they threw themselves down before
him. The Prince said to Captain Thunder, “Tell the prisoners to stand on
their feet.”
As they stood trembling before him, he asked, “Are you the men who
were the servants of Shaddai?”
Yes, Lord, yes.” they answered.
“Are you the men who allowed yourselves to be corrupted and defiled
by that abominable one, Diabolus?” the Prince asked.
They said, “We did more than allow it, Lord. We willingly chose it.”
The Prince asked further, “Would you have been content to remain in
slavery under his tyranny as long as you lived?”
“Yes, Lord, yes, for his ways were pleasing to our flesh,” the prisoners
answered.
“And did you,” he asked, “when I came against this town of Mansoul,
heartily wish that I would not have the victory over you?”
“Yes, Lord, yes,” they said.
“Then,” asked the Prince, “what punishment do you think you deserve
at my hand for these and your other high and mighty sins?”
They said, “Both death and the pit, Lord, for we deserve no less.”
“Do you have anything to say for yourselves?” he asked. “Is there any
reason why the sentence you confess you deserve should not be carried out?”
"We can say nothing, Lord. You are just, and we have sinned."
“What are these ropes on your heads?” the Prince asked.
The prisoners answered, “These ropes are to bind us for our execution,
if mercy is not found in your sight.”
“Are all the men in the town of Mansoul in agreement with this confession?”
They answered, “All the natives, Lord, except for the Diabolonians
who came into our town when the tyrant took possession of us. We can say
nothing for them.”
The Prince then commanded that a herald be sent throughout the camp
of Emmanuel to proclaim that the Son of Shaddai had in his Father’s name
and glory gotten perfect victory over Mansoul. The prisoners were to follow
the herald and say. “Amen.”
As this was being done, music from the heavens resounded melodiously
all around them. The captains who were in the camp shouted, and the soldiers
sang songs of triumph to the Prince. The colorful banners waved in the
wind, and great joy was everywhere, except in the hearts of the men of
Mansoul.
Then the Prince called for the prisoners to come before him again.
They came and stood trembling. He said to them, “You and the whole town
of Mansoul have committed trespasses and iniquities against my Father and
me. But I have power and commandment from my Father to forgive the town
of Mansoul, and I forgive you accordingly.”
Having said this, he gave them a parchment, sealed with seven seals,
on which was written a large and general pardon. He commanded Lord Understanding,
Lord Willbewill, and Mr. Conscience to proclaim the pardon throughout the
whole town of Mansoul by sunrise tomorrow.
The Prince then stripped the prisoners of their mourning clothes and
gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment
of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He gave jewels of gold and precious
stones to each of the three. He took away their ropes and put chains of
gold about their necks and earrings in their ears.
When the prisoners heard the gracious words of Prince Emmanuel and
saw all that was done for them, they almost fainted away. The grace, the
gifts, and the pardon were so sudden and glorious that they staggered in
surprise and amazement. Lord Willbewill swooned outright, but the Prince
stepped over to him. He put his everlasting arms under him, embraced him,
kissed him, and told him to rejoice for everything would be performed according
to his word. He also kissed, embraced, and smiled upon the other two, saying,
“Take these as further tokens of my love, favor, and compassion for you.
And I command you, Mr. Conscience, to tell the town of Mansoul all you
have heard and seen.”
Then the chains of the pardoned prisoners were broken to pieces before
them and thrown into the air. The three men fell down before the Prince,
kissed his feet, and wet them with their tears. They cried out with loud
voices, saying, “Blessed be the glory of the Lord in this place.”
We need your help, because we are out of book reports
for the next issue! :) We are waiting...waiting...waiting... at
the mailbox... :) - Ed.