On an ordinary afternoon in late July, fourteen-year-old Prissie Pomeroy stumbles into an adventure on her way to the mailbox. Koji—a strange boy in shining clothes—claims to be an angel, and she’s stunned to learn that there are others, like Milo, their easygoing mailman, and Harken, the elderly gentleman who runs the used bookstore on Main Street. None of them can explain why she’s suddenly able to see the unseen, but with God, nothing is impossible.
The only problem is, Prissie refuses to believe any of it! However, with a little good advice, a lot of patience, and a nudge in the right direction, she learns to accept the truth. Koji and his teammates answer her questions, change her perceptions, and strengthen a faith she’ll soon need… for danger lurks in the darkness.
An avid reader who took up writing on a whim, Christa Kinde hails from Scandia, Minnesota, a small town on the fringes of the Twin Cities metro area. She attended Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she discovered the glories of singing in Latin, took biblical Greek as a second language, and learned to play a mean game of foosball. Nearly a decade later, she put her dual degrees in English and Bible to practical use. Everyday Living: Bible Life and Times [Thomas Nelson] was soon followed by numerous Bible study guides and workbooks, including award winning titles for Max Lucado and Women of Faith.
Christa and her husband Wayne lived for several years in rural West Michigan, then spent a handful more in Nashville, Tennessee. They’ve thoroughly enjoyed their travels throughout the United States and abroad and currently reside with their five children in San Diego, California. The Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] is Christa’s first fiction publication.
My Impressions:
While I primarily read/review adult fiction, I am always on the lookout for books I can recommend for my friends’ children. To that purpose, I accepted the invitation to read Christa Kinde’s first book in the her Threshold series, The Blue Door. I think this book is perfect for middle school girls who are looking for a bit of adventure and for their parents who want to make sure there is a good message in the books they read.
Priscilla Pomeroy is an average fourteen year old looking at an uneventful summer spent working around her family’s farm. Prissie is a bit old-fashioned in her outlook, but suffers from the same things most young teenagers face — the desire to fit in combined with the desire to be a bit special. She gets more than she bargains for when she meets Koji, a boy most people cannot see. Prissie’s world is soon turned upside down.
Prissie receives an incredible gift — to see with spiritual eyes. Her world is opened to the invisible around her. But her sight is confined to angels, despite the fact that there is a spiritual battle surrounding her. Prissie is a character most young girls can identify with — not quite sure of herself, mostly focused inward, and facing changes in her relationships. The spiritual aspect of The Blue Door provides a layer of adventure and a starting point for exploration of what to believe about God and His Kingdom. The angels Prissie meets are not what she expected, but are good examples of how angels and people should be judged on their hearts toward God, not their outward appearances. The Blue Door can open up discussion with your teen about a number of issues — friendship, honesty, family values and spiritual warfare.
There are still a lot of questions left unanswered at the end of The Blue Door – but the next book, The Hidden Deep takes off where it ends. I am sharing the first 3 books in the series with a friend’s 8th grader and will let you know her take on all three books.
Recommended.
(Thanks to DJC Communications and ZonderKidz for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
To buy the first 3 books in the Threshold series, click on the images below.
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