Tag Archives: Catholic teen fiction

A fight for Virtue: A Review of ‘Extreme Blindside’

“Virtue demands courage, constant effort, and above all, help from on high.”–Saint John Marie Vianney

Review and Comments

Leslea Wahl has once again written a novel that will carry her readers on an exciting adventure as her two main characters, Sophie and Jake, try to solve a new mystery.  Wahl’s novels have never failed to entertain their audiences with danger, intrigue, and budding romances, but this novel presents new challenges.  Unlike her other novels, this book doesn’t have two people getting to know one another, it has a couple who has to work against odds to stay together.

Jake and Sophie are both at the winter games as Jake prepares to compete.  Sophie has been given an opportunity as an apprentice journalist and her task is to write about Jake.  As the story progresses, however, more and more competitors are getting hurt.  Through some investigative work, the two figure out that there must be someone out to get the different competitors; to either hurt them or disqualify them from competition.  While it’s fun for the two to be together on this adventure together, relationship issues ensue.

In this modern, throw-away culture we live in, it’s easy for people to quit relationships when they get difficult.  Sophie really struggles with Jake’s fame and the constant flow of girls who surround him, and Jake struggles with trying to make her comfortable.

The relationship issues in this book are tough, but what makes it so important for young people to read is that they really strive for that Christian/Catholic ideal.  They know that they don’t want to compromise morals.  They say short little prayers for each other.  They hold each other accountable for their decisions.  I’m not saying that they have a perfect relationship because jealousy, anger, poor communication, and frustration definitely seems to be breaking them apart, but when things get tough, they find each other again in front of a crucifix.  Sophie knows where to find Jake and when she sees him, there he is staring at Jesus’s body on the cross, uniting his own suffering with Our Lord’s.  Sophie stays with him as he prays and together, their relationship grows.

This scene in the book is one of the most beautiful portrayals of relationship in Leslea Wahl’s novels so far.  I think it’s so critical that these types of scenarios play out in more teen books.  Instead of loose morals or betrayal or revenge or the feeling of helplessness, they find safety and security in the cross, in Jesus himself.  And you know what?  This isn’t too far out of reach for teens today.  Most people just don’t expect this of them.  So thank you, Leslea Wahl, for giving us characters of esteem and faith for our young people to follow.  Thank you for not making prayer seem weird or out of place.  Thank you for your entertaining books and intriguing mysteries.  Each book you write is a wonderful witness for young people.

General Teaching Resources

Catholic Resources

Read our review of The Perfect Blindside here.

Read our review of An Unexpected Role here.

Read our review of Where You Lead here.

 

 

 

 

Hope for the Future: A Review of ‘For Eden’s Sake’

“It is a poverty that a “child must die”, so that you may live as you wish.”–Mother Teresa

Reading Level

Grades 9+

Review and Comments

One of this year’s newest Catholic YA novels is difficult to describe.  I want to make this a simple review, but there’s too much to think about.  It’s beautiful, it’s sad, it’s hopeful, it’s true.

The story begins with Isaac, a young man of faith and conviction, letting go of his inhibitions and drinking too much at a work event.  He makes some bad decisions and because of this ends up getting a girl he hardly knows pregnant.  This young woman, Rebecca, decides that she is not going to keep the baby and asks for money from Isaac for an abortion.  From here the emotions fly on both ends as they fight over the life of this unplanned child.  It’s a simple plot, but the emotions behind the actions and decisions of the characters is what really moves the readers.

What is Beautiful

I’m old enough now where I’m able to look at the parents of Isaac and feel their pain and disappointment in the actions of their son.  He has done something stupid.  He has sinned, and his sin has caused a difficult situation not only for him, but for a girl he hardly knows.  He is now connected to this girl whether he wants to be or not.

I felt the tension in the room as Isaac told his father what he had done and I felt for both of them, but the reaction of his father is one that I feel most parents SHOULD hope to have.  His mother the next morning is describes has having disappointment in her eyes despite the smile on her face as she makes breakfast for her son.  

The beauty here is that Isaac has wonderful parents, but also, this is how I would imagine God would respond to a confession of sin.  Disappointment, sadness, and yet love that permeates the frustration.  Isaac’s parents react in the image and likeness of God…and THAT is beautiful.

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