Books for young people

Published by Dernier publishing

Reviewed by one of our School Chaplains for our Autumn 2022 printed TISCA News and Views.

Revenge of the Flying Carpet by J M Evans

I haven’t read much Christian fiction since my youth when the C S Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia reigned supreme. However, I would say that J M Evans’ Revenge of the Flying Carpet is in the same league as Lewis. Flying on a magic carpet, twins Paul and Trinity have lots of mini adventures. Along the way, they powerfully and beautifully grapple with the riches of God’s grace and consider how important their human relationships, image, and ability to forgive others are. Working as a school chaplain, I could easily see this being enjoyed by and helpful to teenagers exploring the Christian faith alongside those seeking to live for Christ. Indeed, Revenge of the Flying Carpet “hits the nail on the head” when it comes to the challenges 21st century teenagers face.

The City Kid by Clive Lewis

Being a teenager in 2022 isn’t easy – the pressures to conform, succeed, and impress constantly pull at you from multiple directions. As a School Chaplain I see this every day. In Clive Lewis’ The City Kid, John Ouma knows those pressures. John thinks he has discovered an amazing life in the city that promises, success, satisfaction, money, and ultimately the dream life. However, unfortunate circumstances mean that John’s world comes crashing down; he’s left grappling with one of the biggest questions: what’s the point of life? John wonderfully finds the answer is found in Jesus Christ. The path that eighteen-year-old John treads in this novel is one that countless teenagers walk today. I wholeheartedly commend it as a book to be given to any teenager, especially those in schools where the subconscious message seems to be “life is all about succeeding and winning.”

Book reviews by Revd G. Beverly, Chaplain, History and Philosophy teacher at King’s Bruton.