Books for Children & Teens

A Question of Yams

Christian fiction – Ages 6 to 8

Kuri’s father plants their yams in the usual way, except for one thing. He does not pray to the spirits. He says, “Behold, God is mighty,” and he doesn’t seem worried at all.

Kuri is afraid, because the Head Men warn that terrible things will happen. He wonders whether they are right.

After a while, the rains don’t come and a snake bites him, and he wonders some more. Are the spirits punishing him and his family? Does he dare to be like Father? Does he dare to trust only in God?

Note to Educators

A Question of Yams is written expressly for the young reader who wants to try the more grown-up format of a chapter book.

The story includes plenty of action, but it is told with controlled vocabulary, easy-to-read sentences, and short chapters. Illustrations add context clues.

This book will enable both beginning and reluctant readers to enjoy longer stories, and will serve as a bridge to more complex chapter books.

Karen Brunsvold’s second-grade class at Westgate Christian School enjoys her delicious version of Yam Soup.

The Secret of the Golden Cowrie

Christian fiction – Ages 9-12

Connie Lawrence loves secrets, and when Aunt Laura’s secret leads them to a beautiful cowrie shell, Connie plunges into the mystery. Figuring it out will be fun, and besides, it will give her a chance to prove herself to her big brother, Dan.

But who is the prowler who knows so much about Aunt Laura’s house? What secrets are hidden in the strange little set of diaries? And what should Connie do about the letter she found in the desk? Time is running out for Aunt Laura. Should Connie swallow her pride and ask big brother for help?

The Secret of the Golden Cowrie: Companion Study Guide

An in-depth study of this junior novel that links it to reading content areas and life skills. The laminated folder provides background information, enrichment activities, and useful storage pockets. The teaching guide includes lessons, practical Scriptural applications, and reproducible activity pages.

The Mystery of the Indian Carvings

Christian fiction – Ages 10 and up

A teen—young and troubled—is sent to visit her father’s relatives on a Canadian island. She loves the island and makes friends with a wonderful dog, and her hope of happiness begins to rise. But stolen artifacts and her spiteful cousin threaten disaster. . . She can’t help wondering: does God care?

Trouble at Silver Pines Inn

Christian fiction – Ages 9-12

Treasure is what’s on Nick’s mind when he gets to Silver Pines Inn, but all he finds is trouble. He makes a bad beginning with his grandfather . . . he earns a scolding from an important guest . . . he spoils his brother’s fishing. All on the same day.

He always feels better, though, when he’s talking to the Japanese man, Kashi. They fly kites together and rescue an injured sea gull, and Nick shares his worries about Grandfather. Kashi would make a great friend for Grandfather, he’s sure of it. But his efforts to get the two men together seem to cause even more trouble.

Trouble at Silver Pines Inn: Companion Study Guide

An in-depth study of this junior novel that links it to reading content areas and life skills. The laminated folder provides background information, enrichment activities, and useful storage pockets. The teaching guide includes lessons, practical Scriptural applications, and reproducible activity pages.

Secrets at Silver Pines Inn

Nick Radford plots to find a treasure, hoping that Grandfather won’t have to sell the Inn. Perhaps his family could even live here too! His dream grows brighter when he discovers historic old Notes with cipher clues and makes a new friend—Beckly—and meets a beautiful coonhound.

But things get scary when he can’t decode the clues and Mom gets sicker. Then someone sets fire to a guest cabin. So . . . what’s a kid to do? Should he give up on his dream and ignore the Bible verse he found in the Notes? What does trusting God really mean, anyway? He’d better find out.

A stand-alone sequel to Trouble at Silver Pines Inn

Can Nick figure out the cipher code?

Mik-Shrok

Book 1 in the series “Adventures of an Arctic Missionary”
Christian fiction – Ages 10 and up

The year is 1950 and Alaska Territory is still a vast, unsettled wilderness. Steve and Liz Bailey arrive at the Eskimo village of Koyalik with troubling questions. What has happened to Peter, the missionary they had come to help? They don’t know this primitive area. They can’t speak the language. How can they continue the work that Peter began?

If only they had a dog team of their own! They could use it to haul their wood and water and perhaps travel to other villages.

Steve and Liz pray for a good team of huskies, and the Eskimos watch to see what the white man’s God will do.

Reader Review

Chris Shull, father of four and missionary in Greenland, writes:

“I thoroughly enjoyed this series. Each night after supper, I would read a chapter or more to my wife and children. We laughed, cried, and rejoiced right along with Steve and Liz. Our children hung on to every word and always begged me to read one more chapter to find out what happened next. As a missionary in the Arctic, I highly recommend this series. It is a true to life account of missionary life in the Arctic.”

Charlie

Book 2 in the Series “Adventures of an Arctic Missionary”
Christian fiction – Ages 10 and up

Missionaries Steve and Liz Bailey have come to Alaska Territory to tell the Eskimos about a God who loves them, and each day seems to bring new problems. Steve risks frostbite in treacherous journeys, Liz tries to befriend a disturbing newcomer, and Mik-shrok’s life is threatened. But it is Charlie, their clever, skilled, impressionable young friend, for whom they fear the worst. With God’s help they battle the powers of evil and Charlie’s stubborn will, in hopes that he will find the truth.

77 Zebra

Book 3 in the Series “Adventures of an Arctic Missionary”
Christian fiction – Ages 10 and up

Steve and Liz Bailey continue to bring God’s word to troubled Eskimos with the help of their new airplane, 77 Zebra. They face drunkenness and fear, a life-threatening emergency for their friend, Nida, and Alaska’s daunting cold. But Steve’s greatest hope becomes his greatest struggle when he and young Charlie are trapped in a brutal storm.

The Stolen Years

Christian fiction – Ages 12 and up

David and his sister journey to St. Louis at the invitation of a cryptic letter from his aunt, but his embittered grandfather gives him no welcome. Who is to blame for the disappearance of his family’s silver pistols? And what’s he going to do about that airplane?—it serves only to awaken his fear-filled memories.

As David searches for the pistols and wrestles with his fears, he learns about trusting God—first to take control of his life, and then to heal the bitterness of the years that have been stolen from them all.

Night Flight

Sequel to “The Stolen Years”
Christian fiction – Ages 12 and up

In one of her first letters to David, Kelly says, “There’s plenty going on around here.”

Some things are puzzling, like the mysterious flights being made over the Pine Barrens by an odd-looking little plane. Other things are frightening, like the presence of criminal Marielitos, whom her new friend, Ron, refuses to discuss.

She hadn’t wanted to move to New Jersey anyway, and now she can’t help wondering how much God really loves her. Why did He have to take her away from David? And how is He going to ever work all this out?