Tag: Brock Eastman

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Spooky Christian YA and Middle Grade Fiction!

I love a good spooky story. In fact, some of my favorite parts in the Thrones series are when Jack, Molly, and Ellie come face to face with the incredible creatures throughout the kingdom of Tanniyn. However, so many scary books don’t end on a note of hope. I believe hope is an important part of the Christian life. Jesus brings us hope!

One time, I asked a group of kids to define hope. One of the kids said, “Hope is kind of like when you are in a problem, but then hope takes you out of your problem…”

In the pause, another kid added: “…and into the heart of God.”

Hope does that: it help us to see there is a God who loves us, is with us, and will never leave us.

So on that note of hope, I want to recommend some spooky Christian YA and Middle Grade books that do end in hope. These fiction books are for a range of ages from around the 9-10 year old age up to the upper end of YA readers. Check out my recommends below!

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BOOK REVIEW: Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop by Brock Eastman

As a Pastor to Kids, I am often asked one question that has always been tough to answer: “Do you know of a good devotional book our family could go through?” I’ve recommended some in the past, but kind of cringed at the artwork or the blocky way the text was laid out inside the devotional book. Then I heard about Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop: 52 fizztastically fun experiments and devotions for families. Now I absolutely know which devotional book I will be recommending to families: this one!

Brock Eastman has put together 52 devotions that include a Scripture passage, devotional, discussion questions, prayer prompts, and a science experiment. Each science experiment connects with the Bible story in organic and fun ways, and kids will find it easy to see the truth of God’s Word through their experiments in God’s World! Every science experiment has detailed instructions, pictures, and material lists so you’ll know exactly how to lead your family each time. The supplies aren’t super hard to find outside of online shopping or the local grocery or dollar store. The entire book is laid out in Genesis to Revelation order, which helps kids keep the flow of the story as they go along.

The artwork throughout the book is also incredible! The entire book is full color and lays flat when open so that way you don’t have to try to keep a finger on the page while you conduct your science experiments and then talk about God’s Word and World together afterward. Kids will definitely love the fun art style, and the pages are easy to read too, so your kids could read out loud even while parents and guardians listen. The book is structured more for a family to do together, not so much for a child to do on their own.

There are also five bonus devotions built around holidays with some fun and festive experiments tagging along!

This book would also work great for Children’s Pastors wanting to add an object lesson to a particular Bible story they are teaching. The experiments are all extremely visual, and there are links in the book to videos of how to do each experiment in case you get a little stuck.

Overall, this is one of the absolute best devotional books I’ve seen I think ever. It is definitely on my Top Recommended List for families looking to add a devotional practice to their spiritual formation at home.

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New Series Coming! The Runners of Abra

I am so excited to announce that I have signed on with Crimson Pulse Media to author a serial story in 2017! THE RUNNERS OF ABRA will debut on January 7th on BrockEastman.com!

THE RUNNERS OF ABRA:

When Eric was only thirteen, he was taken from his family and the peaceful rice fields on the island of Jedros to become a Runner. Roaming the five islands of Abra, Runners are tasked with jobs — jobs they must see to the end. Either finish the job or die.

And then a mysterious benefactor arrives with a bag of gold and Eric’s first job: find the girl spotted somewhere in the northern islands responding only to the name Bella. Simple enough. But this job is not what anyone thought. Others are searching for the girl. Others who will kill to keep Bella a secret.

But Bella has her own secret to keep. And if it gets out, the very fabric of the known world will change forever.

Join the launch party on Facebook!

Happy reading!

-Shaun

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5 Fantasy Authors You Should Be Reading

I’ll admit it: I love reading fantasy stories. There’s just something about the adventure, excitement, quests, monsters, and worlds that are so fascinating and fun to read. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I grew up reading L. Frank Baum’s Oz books from the early 1900’s. Maybe it’s the 1980’s fantasy movies like The Neverending Story and Return to Oz I grew up watching. Either way, fantasy stories are undeniably a good time.

So here are five of my favorite Christian fantasy authors (in no particular order!) that you should be reading:

1. Wayne Thomas Batson

Mr. Batson has written a lot of novels, from epic high fantasy stories like his The Door Within trilogy, to high seas piratical adventures in The Isle Chronicles books, you can’t go wrong with a Batson novel. If you’re looking for rollicking good adventures, I recommend starting with Isle of Swords or Curse of the Spider King. Currently, Batson blogs regularly at Enter the Door Within.

2. Brock Eastman

Although The Quest for Truth series is technically a space opera, there is plenty of sci-fi/fantasy action to keep readers entertained with any of Brock Eastman’s books. Along with his four-part space series, Eastman is also the author of Howlsage, a super fascinating take on spiritual warfare. I couldn’t stop reading Howlsage once I had picked it up. It takes the idea of what if all these different monsters we read about in popular mythology are actually demonic? And what if a group of people were tasked with fighting those spiritual forces of wickedness? He’s also working on a series with author Travis Thrasher (one of my all-time favorite authors), so how can you go wrong?

Brock is very active on social media, and can be found on Facebook.

3. P.W. Catanese

If you’re looking for an author who’s plot twists pull no punches, then look no further than P.W. Catanese. I first read his book Happenstance Found, book one in The Books of Umber series, and I have not gasped out loud so many times in my life. There is an incredibly shocking twist near the end that left me floored and clamoring for the next two books in the trilogy. His other books also tie in loosely to the world of Umber, and I recommend his Further Tales Adventures highly.

Find out more about Mr. Catanese on Facebook.

4. Brandon Mull

One of my favorite authors, Brandon Mull is the author of multiple amazing series, including Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms. Although some of his more recent books have become slightly formulaic, his earlier books are sure to please with fast-moving narratives, exciting adventures, and oftentimes some of the most aggravating situations for characters in all of fiction. So many times I have sat reading a Mull novel and asked myself, “How are these characters ever going to escape this?” And Brandon never disappoints when he does answer that question.

Mull hangs out on the Internet Webs here.

5. E.J. Patten

Okay. This last author on the list is also one of my favorites, but also is one of the most aggravating. Not because his books aren’t good. Because his books are amazing. Return to Exile still remains one of my most memorable reading journeys ever. It’s because there are not enough books from Mr. Patten! You can’t do wrong though to check out this incredible author and the crazy imagination he has. Literally. His imagination is awesomely crazy. Some of the things he has put into his novels boggled my mind with their inventiveness and sheer creativity. I know I am eagerly waiting for the day when book three releases. Did I also mention that he’s hilarious?

E.J. Patten blogs away at Patten Pending.