The Best Endorsement…
My 11-year-old son got to this book first. Isn’t the cover amazing? Which fantasy-loving reader wouldn’t swipe it from his mom’s to-read pile?
The next day he returned it, saying, “Mom, you gotta write a review for this book and put it in your next giveaway.”
Wow. That’s a great endorsement. He reads a lot of books, but has never said that so I knew this read would be something special.
Laurie Christine’s Garden of Mysteries follows Seth, the son of Adam and Eve as he seeks to break the curse God has placed on the earth, as well as the dragon who wants to turn Seth against the King (God).
I loved this premise–what if Adam and Eve’s son tried to break sin’s curse? Much about this time in the Bible is little known, so it was fun to see Christine’s imagination at work. Every chapter, I looked forward to how she’d weave fact and fiction together. Speaking of… In the back that she included a chapter-by-chapter ‘Fact or Fiction’ section to share what is in the Bible and what she imagined for the story. So fun!
I think all kids, but boys especially, will connect with Seth’s desire to change his world. He wants to ease the burdens and hurts his parents carry. Justice, family, and doing what’s right are important to him, even if he needs to learn how to do those things in submission to the King’s plan. The author created a hero who reflects the many amazing qualities young boys have and empowers boys to step into those traits.
But what really captivated me about this story is the book’s gospel-centered heart. There is a real struggle here between Seth and the Dragon that represents the struggle between God’s people and Satan, who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10) and to separate us from God. This book highlights that battle in a way that shows the threat, but ultimately focuses on God’s sovereign power and love for his people.
The last thing I want to share is something readers might not think much about: book formatting. The text layout in this book is especially easy on the eyes, with short paragraphs and lots of blank space, grey-scale illustrations, and cute little pomegranate section dividers. These features make this book absolutely perfect for those who might feel ready for middle grade books, but are scared off by lots of text.
Bottom Line: Garden of Mysteries, A Dragon Slayer Bible Story, is great for kids 8-12, especially boys, who like adventure stories based on the Bible. With an imagination-provoking premise and a hero we want to root for, Laurie Christine draws us into God’s larger story of redemption while reminding us to be courageous warriors!