We all have those family members who seem to know more about us than we do about them. D.K. Furutani, author of When Mikan Road Was Ours, is a master at conveying the awkwardness of that feeling. When his protagonist, who works as an English professor, attends a great-uncle’s funeral, a cousin he do
When several children spend a day at the beach, each engages curiously, imaginatively, and playfully with what he or she discovers.A girl finds a shell, and thinks, “This is just a shell. Or is it? / To a clam, it’s a door. / To an octopus, it’s a shield. / And to an otter, it’s a tool. / But to me,
In his unique fictional rendering of the lives of renowned historical figures C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, members of the Inklings, and mystery writers Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie, and more, author John Kelly reveals “the other side of the Inklings.” He writes, “This was how it had alway
When a young girl visits Nanu—her maternal grandfather—her favorite outing is accompanying him to the vibrant, expansive market in India where he shops. Nanu calls out greetings to everyone. This is his community, populated with hard-working merchants selling a plethora of merchandise: guavas, mango
The Christian rock band Tree63 returns with its first full-length record in almost 11 years: Voyage. This recording reminds listeners of the South African trio’s heyday in the early 2000s. “I am no longer a young believer, singing about the excitement of a life-changing spiritual discovery,” said fo
In this split-time mystery and suspense novel, Christian author Jaime Jo Wright explores and weaves together numerous themes: the ongoing, devastating consequences of the American Civil War that ended in 1865; the dangerous spiritual costs of pursuing a fascination with paranormal exploration; the g
This book is a courageous exploration of what happens at the crossroads of disability and Christian identity. We know how we want things to be and how things are “supposed to be,” but often we struggle with how things are. How do we live well in the spaces God has placed us in when he doesn’t take a
Young Cici is excited. School is out for the summer, the cicadas are singing, the days are long, and she’s on her way to the family cookout—a gathering of aunties, uncles, and cousins, with Grandma overseeing the festivities at her house. Cici is especially looking forward to being reunited with her
After watching Episode 1 of the streaming British dramedy Ludwig, my stomach hurt. Why? I was laughing hard. The cozy mystery was delightful fun. Our puzzle-genius star can’t drive worth beans—or park. This hilarious characterization is only a bit of the fun this six-part show offers viewers.Comedia
Author Callie Rebekah Feyen’s unique collection of short stories eloquently draws readers into her childhood struggles to read and learn in school, the role her mother played in encouraging her love for stories and desire to write them down, her coming of age in the shelter of her Presbyterian churc
Come for the recipes and stay for the writing in this luminous collection written by Christian moms who are part of the Coffee + Crumbs online journal community. God, friendships, hospitality, and keeping each other going—whether through spice tea and conversation or an UberEats order on a horrible
A few years ago, I visited the real Little House on the Prairie outside of Independence, Kans. It was my second visit (I’m a serious fan, and also my son lives in Kansas), and I was surprised and delighted to see that this time, the gift shop was carrying books such as the Birchbark series by Indige
In this enlightening and inspiring sequel to Surprised by Hope, renowned Christian theologian N.T. Wright continues to confront and challenge what he asserts is the church’s misunderstanding and confusion about Jesus’ second coming. He offers sound biblical insights, historical explanations about wh
Raised in Seed County, N.C., 11-year-old Hattie Mae is thrilled at the prospect of moving to Philadelphia in 1938—the Black population is burgeoning there because of the Great Migration—and studying at Miss Abigail’s School for Exceptional Young Ladies. Though she hopes to fit in, she’s shocked to d
Repressive regimes always want their citizens to feel one thing: fear.It’s an emotion that’s present from the opening pages of Astronaut! All 8-year-old Lia wanted to do was buy a pretty yellow vase, and before she knows it the angry shopkeeper is marching her home, interrogating her parents about t
Theo who?Readers of this No. 1 New York Times-bestselling novel don’t find out his last name until the very end of the book, and for good reason. We just know this 86-year-old character as Theo of Golden, a fictional town in the South where he moves to quite mysteriously from his New York City home.
The Me That RemainsBy Amy GrantReviewed by Robert J. KeeleyIt has been 13 years since Amy Grant released new music—eventful years for the singer songwriter who became a household name when Age to Age released 44 years ago.But heart surgery and then a bicycle accident and head injury required her to
Singer, songwriter and American Idol alum (season 14) Clark Beckham puts his spin on six modern worship tunes with his project, “Acoustic Worship Sessions.” It’s Beckham’s first offering in about six years and features his dazzling piano and vocal abilities.“I think the elements of this record have
Epistolary novels rarely succeed—they’re notoriously difficult to write without feeling dry—but Virginia Evans’ The Correspondent is a striking exception. A novel written entirely in letters, it stands in the tradition of modern classics like Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead and popular bestsellers like
Author Ragan Sutterfield, a priest in the Episcopal Church who serves a parish in his native Arkansas, became a passionate birder in his preteens. Over time, he began to contemplate the connection between birding and spiritual practices that draw the observer into a closer relationship with God. He