Youth Books

Cosette Alves was one among 13 millions Cubans, slaves under Fidel Castro's evil regime. She has seen it all: the schools (in fact concentration and labour camps), the policy of indoctrination, the lack of any freedom of expression... She went through brainwashing and her life was not easy, but she made it out and told all she had to tell. An amazing account of how this young yet extremely mature girl saw Cuba and her repressive regime, how she lived it in her everyday life. The book is thrilling, exciting, explosive !

THIS IS AN AMAZING BOOK DUE TO THE CAPACITY OF TIME AND KNOWLEDGE FROM THE WRITER. BASED ON A REAL TESTIMONY, THE WRITER TAKE THE READER THROUGH THAT UNIQUE SPACE OF LIFE. IT'S STRONG, WEAK AND REAL. IT'S LIFE. THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS SHOWING HABITUAL CONDITIONS. PEOPLE THAT WE CAN BE SOMETIMES IF WE LET THE MINDS GO WITH SPACES. AND, THE END, HOPE AND LOVE, WHAT MATTERS TO KEEP IN TIME.

This is a great book for Junior Highers. I am a junior high counselor at my church and the kids love this book. Although junior high is a time where maturity is a wide spectrum, this book offers activities and lessons that all kids can get into. Just seeing how excited they get over the comics brings a lot of energy to our lessons. I just wish there was an entire series of Micro Messages.

Tom has once again stunned me with his ability to churn out wounderful curreculim! this book has helped me with my youth group, along with other books by Tom Finley and Rick Bundschuh. thanks a bunch!

I found this a fascinating and very well written book - quite eye-opening in its honesty and details. It's interesting to compare it with the description of life in poverty that is described in "Tea and Green Ribbons", popularized as the movie "Evelyn", and to think of how our society deals with the challenges of poverty and related social issues today.

This is the first of four autobiographical books written by the author. In trying to get ahold of the rest of the books, I found out that the next in the series of four was titled "Minerva's Stepchild", but in the US, the first two books were combined and printed with the title of "Minerva's Stepchild".

Without question this is probably the best book I've ever read. It chronicles the author's early years growing up in 1930's Liverpool, going from wealth and plenty to the most desperate of circumstances and deprivation. So often Helen was on the losing end of having too many mouths to feed or having her mother pawn her clothes in order to buy ciggies or having grossly inadequate medical care.Many other people would have turned bitter and unforgiving had they gone through the same situation, but Helen maintains a positive outlook with plenty of warmth and humor. It's not just a good story, it's a remarkable lesson in appreciating what you have in the simplest of terms - a bar of soap, food of any kind, a bed, shoes without holes, a coat. This should be required reading of everyone.

Duffy's book has proven itself over the years. He approaches youth ministry not from a programmatic method, but a relational one. In a postmodern culture where relationships are so important, Duffy gives clear guidance on how we can spiritually nurture teens in a purposeful and real manner.

This is an excellent book on what youth ministry is REALLY all about. A must-have for anyone who works with teens, whether parents, youth pastors, pastors, or adults who simply have a lot of contact with young people in the church. This book will teach you the whys and hows behind nurturing young people into true disciples of Christ. Digs far deeper than organizing programming and implementing an exciting youth program, instead reaching to the heart of what it means to lead youth into a close walk with Christ. BUY IT, not only for your sake, but for the souls of your youth!

Minor Heresies, Major Departures is best summarized by Robertson Davies' back cover quote describing how Espy makes "high comedy about Presbyterian missionaries without any way jeering at their sense of dedication." These episodes from his childhood are a delight to read. He combines the truth of a child's eyes with the sarcasm of an adult as he describes events such as the battle with his sister for the longest prayer or his failure at "cementing the international bonds of love and law" during play with the cook's nephew.

This book is recommended not just to those interested in missionary work, but to anyone who enjoys travel or cross-cultural memoirs. If you are looking for an inspirational tale of missionary good deeds, however, it might not be your cup of tea.

John Espey's memoirs of his Shanghai boyhood are a finely done portrait of a moment in history. He expresses, with a wry humor, his "view of things" as a child, a view which contrasts with those of the adults around him. His disagreement with the Western perspective and Protestant missionary outlook that formed the backdrop to his life in Shanghai before WW II is recorded in civil tones; he gives people credit for good intentions and does not denigrate their sometimes misguided efforts. Espey's memories are a delightful entry into cross-cultural psychology--by one who knows what that term really means.

This is a great book. I would recommend it to any teen girl. It's well written and very easy to follow. It offers lots of practical advice and shares a biblical perspective without forcing the Bible down your throat. I think all teen girls could appreciate this book and can find something in it that relates to themselves. A must have for any home, even if you don't have girls. It gives you an excellent perspective on how teen girls view themselves and the world around them. You have to buy this book!

This book is awsome! It's a great book for all christian girls to have, or even non-christians. It helps you see what God thinks about things girls go through and have to deal with every day. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This book and "Thank You Hashem" by Yaffa Rosenthal is a great book for all aged kids. Colorfull lively pictures together with rhymes brings FUN & life to Mitzvos! Great gift for kids, anytime.

This sefer is beautifully illustrated and colorful. It is written in simple verse and will bring out a love for Torah and Mitzvos in young children. It proceeds through mitzvos that young children can do- from Alef through Taf.

Very well written and researched and most useful to anyone wanting to know all about what various cults believe.

I have read all of Val Waldeck's book and have to say that I find them so Inspirational & Spiritual. She is an amazing teacher and has special insight into everything that she writes.
I look forward to more of her wonderful books being published.

Val Mitchell
Durban, South Africa

These stories were originally published ,in serial form, in the Jewish daily Foward. They are short almost precise stories of IB singers youth in Warsaw and his Fathers "court',the BETH DIN, a combination court,synagogue ,advice for the lovelorn, place of talmudic debate,etc. The stories,vignettes drawn from memory,tell these so well. None of these stories are in the collected stories,so it makes the purchase of these 2 volumes essential{the other is IN MY FATHERS COURT]. From Old widows wanting to remarry, to overly pious mates, to pseudo-intellectual rabbis trying to show off their'learning".,I.B. Singer has left us a record of a vanished civilization, in a place and time less then 70 years ago.Essential stories from the gratest short story writer of our time.

These are vignettes, really, scenes remembered from Singer's youth when he served as a messenger errand-boy for his father who conducted a beth din in Warsaw. Although often ambiguous and seemingly inconclusive, they are the works of a master who can effortlessly create a powerful scene in only four or five pages. He avoids all the popular flaws of the short-story genre. There is not a trace of vanity or judgment in his narratives. He is the perfect short story writer.

If you are working with high school aged youth either in a church or non-profit setting, this is a wonderful resource for discussion starters. Many times, I will start a meeting off by having the young people select a number and them read the "Would you rather" statement that corresponds. After the individual has answered, I have others chime in with their thoughts. Sometimes this can become the entire focus of the meeting. Both versions of the book are a MUST HAVE for those working with teens.

I am a Sunday School Helper for junior high kids. They love when I bring this book to class and they ask for it every week... "Did you bring Would you Rather?" It is great tool to get them talking. We ask a question, and go around the table listening to the reasons why they pick one choice or the other. The quesitons are funny and thought provoking. Great book for teen groups.