Books

Three new novels hitting the bookshelves this month promise to provide hours of enjoyment for LDS young adults, while teaching vital messages to help inspire and uplift them.  All three books approach topics and themes directly related to youth today and are presented in a way that shows the quality and variety of novels written for Latter Day youth.  

Race to Eden, by Alma Yates, is a wonderfully crafted book about two brothers named Brad and Chris and their female friend, Tiffany.  Brad is going away to his first year of college to play football on a scholarship.  For him it’s a dream come true.  Even though Chris is a decent athlete himself, he has chosen to pursue academics.  The brothers are quite different in their interests, but they do have one thing in common … Tiffany.  These three have hung out together since their childhood and now that Brad is going off to college, the three realize that their trio is being split up and things between them will possibly change.

Tiffany has always had a crush on Brad, but with him away and enjoying college life so much, she begins to see Chris in a new light.  They end up going on a few dates together and then work on an extensive school project together, which allows them to work side by side and spend a lot of time with one another.  Feelings develop between them, but neither will admit how they feel to the other person, which further complicates matters.

There is a defining moment in the book that tests the faith and friendship of the characters and becomes an experience that changes them forever.  This book is very fulfilling and satisfying, albeit emotional in the end.

The characters in this book are so likeable and real that it’s easy to forget they are a work of fiction.  The devotion and friendship between brothers is heartwarming.  Their loyalty and consideration of Tiffany is something every girl yearns for.  Yates writes masterful dialogue that rings fresh and true.  The light-hearted teasing among the three main characters makes the book a delightful read, yet their struggles and emotions represent real-life drama in an honest way. 

I enjoyed Yates’ writing style and ability to make the reader care deeply about each of these characters.  The story allows us to watch each character grow, change and adapt to circumstances as life takes them on a journey filled with joys and unexpected challenges.  I highly recommend this book for young men and young women alike.  Once they start it, they won’t want to put it down.

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I’ve been a fan of Jack Weyland‘s since I was a young girl and am still a big fan of his writing.  Saving Kristen is his newest release and is entertaining and intense, exciting and thought provoking.

Kristen Boone, a promising young dancer from Idaho, leaves home to attend UCLA with stars in her eyes and big hopes that she will be discovered by a Hollywood film producer. 

Right off the bat the story presents us with interesting characters, an engaging plot and classic Jack Weyland humor.  Kristen meets a young man named Chad who sweeps her off her feet, even though she tries desperately to keep her feet on the ground.  But who can blame her?  Chad is not only good-looking and rich, but he also makes her laugh and treats her like she‘s the most important person in the world to him.  He even claims to have connections that will put her on the right path to achieve her goal to make it in Hollywood.  Chad is charm personified, and Kristen finds herself falling for him but jeopardizing her standards along the way.  Still, she’s happy and loves being with Chad and his friends, who show her that her dull life in Idaho was nothing compared to the excitement of living a fast-paced life in California.  Even though Kristen has let her standards slip for the sake of having fun, Chad has begun to show an interest in her LDS beliefs and wants to learn more about her religion.  She is confident that everything is going to work out between them.

Things seem just a little too good to be true and Kristen can’t imagine being any happier, when the facade of reality fades into a staggering truth that terrifies Kristen and her entire family.  What began as flirty fun and innocent exploration into an unknown world of money and power, soon becomes a dangerous game of life and death.

Saving Kristen is a powerful, exciting and action-packed story that teaches a great lesson in the importance of staying true to ourselves, following promptings of the Holy Ghost, and avoiding the very appearance of evil.  These are messages that are vital to all of our youth of today.

While Kristen does fall into the trap of temptation a little too easily, her story is a warning cry to young men and young women who face the fiery darts of the adversary on a daily basis.  Kristen learns the hard way that she should have never let her guard down in the first place.  I would highly recommend and encourage young readers to read Saving Kristen.

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In her newest release, Moment of Truth, Cheri Crane gets into the heart and the head of the everyday teenager and writes a story that represents the struggles and challenges that youth are facing in today’s world.   She gives us characters that immediately capture the reader’s attention and a plot that grabs hold and doesn’t let go.   

The story begins with Laurie Clark as she joins her family on vacation in Southern California and meets Ed, a hunky seventeen-year-old from Illinois.  Ed is also on a vacation, but one much different than Laurie‘s.  He spends each day with a group of youth from his Baptist church going into Mexico to help build houses for the homeless.  Smitten by his good looks and charm and impressed by the fact that he‘s devoting his vacation to work for free to help others, Laurie finds herself drawn to this young man.  But too soon her vacation ends and she has to tell Ed good-bye.  They promise to stay in touch, but Laurie hopes someday to see him again. 

Upon her return home Laurie hooks up with her best friend Roz and tells her everything about her summer vacation and Ed.  Roz and Laurie make plans to stay up late and eat popcorn and watch movies, but once the movie begins, Laurie grows uncomfortable.  She‘s forced to stand up for herself and her decision to not watch inappropriate movies.  This doesn‘t go over well with Roz.  Roz tells Laurie that the movie is harmless and is annoyed with Laurie’s complaint.   She also tells Laurie that since this is their last year in high school she wants to fit in with the popular crowd and be invited to all the parties and social gatherings of the in crowd. 

But Laurie doesn‘t feel the same as Roz.  Since her vacation and her interaction with Ed, Laurie‘s focus and priorities have changed.  This becomes a problem between the two girls and becomes even a bigger problem when Roz manages to get one of the most popular boys in the senior class to ask Laurie to the homecoming dance.  Laurie is confused because she knows this boy has a reputation when it comes to girls and dating. 

Hoping that the rumors aren‘t true, and knowing that she would never allow herself to be put in a compromising situation, Laurie accepts the invitation to the dance.  What starts out as an exciting evening soon turns into disaster and Laurie has to once again stand up for her beliefs and values – without the support of her best friend or anyone else around her.

Moment of Truth is a great novel that portrays youth in an honest and realistic way and deals with issues such as peer pressure, morals, modesty, and values.  It shows how one girl doesn’t allow herself to be pressured into doing things against her beliefs just so she can fit in – even when her decision means that she has to stand alone.

Young women especially will enjoy this story and be able to relate to Laurie and her challenges, and even be strengthened by her example.  This is a fun, enjoyable novel, with an especially important message relevant to youth.  Moment of Truth is a must-read for young women and moms who want to understand their daughters just a little bit better.