The Wish Giver

Title:  The Wish Giver

Author:  Bill Brittain

Publisher: Andrew Glass

ISBN: 0590420402

Audience: 8 and up

Summary: The sign in front of the shabby tent at the end of a row of booths at the Coven Tree church Social read “Thaddeus Blinn,  I can give you whatever you ask for only 50 cents.” Only four went into Blinn’s tent: Stew Meat (Stewart Meade), the owner of the general store; Polly Kemp, who spoke her mind freely and cruelly; Rowena Jervis who loved Henry Piper, a traveling salesman; and Adam Fiske whose family farm had no water.  Mr. Blinn, a fat little man with eyes that seemed to glow, gave each person a card with a red dot on it in exchange for 50 cents.  “Each card will grant only one wish, so think carefully before making it. When you’re ready, press your thumb against the red dot” And with that the Wish Giver was gone and the four, wondering if they had been hoodwinked, went their separate ways. Polly, Rowena, and Adam make wishes that have instant, unexpected, and finally, dire consequences.  Only Stew Meat with the 4^th, unused card can save them from the Wish Giver’s magic.

Literary elements at work in the story: This has the feel of a fable or folk tale. Stew Meat is the narrator, setting the stage by recalling the history of Coven Tree where covens of witches used to meet and the Devil himself walked about.  The situations are humorous, the writing straight forward.  It’s good for reading aloud.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? Not applicable.

Theological Conversation Partners: “Be careful what you wish for” is an adage that occurs frequently in literature and life. Three wishes are a basic part of many fairy tales. Wanting something we do not have-fortune, fame, beauty, or just a day at the beach or a new dress-is part of almost everyone’s life. It’s a game we often play when we talk about winning the lottery. The Wish Giver is a funny, yet thought provoking way to examine wishing and, more significantly, what is most important to us in life.  Scripture gives guidance about how our deepest desires affect out hopes and wishes. Psalm 37:4 and Matt.6:33 remind us that when our first priority is God, God will give us the desires of our hearts.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Have you ever wished for something?  What?  Do your wishes change as you grow older?
2. Would you have given Thaddeus Blinn 50 cents for a wish? Who do you think he was?
3. How was Polly Kemp’s wish granted?  Were the results what she expected? And what was the outcome of removing her wish?
4. How was Rowena’s wish granted?  What results had she expected? What was the outcome of removing her wish?
5. How was Adam’s wish granted?  What results had he expected? What was the outcome of removing his wish?
6. Is there danger in getting what we want too easily?
7.  Do we always know what we want?
8. Christians are called to live in hope.  How are hoping and wishing different?
9. Scripture suggests that if we put God’s will first, God will add all good things to us.  What do you think these good things are?  Do you wish for any of them?
10. Are wishing and prayer alike? If so, how?

This review was written by regular contributor Virginia Thomas.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story

Name of Book: It’s Kind of a Funny Story

Author: Ned Vizzini

Publisher: Miramax

ISBN: 9780786851966

Audience: 13 and up. For teenagers who are well aware of the very real teenage issues of drugs, sex, love, and depression. It is not for readers who may be bothered by some foul language, sexual references, or conversations about suicide.

Summary: This serious, but funny story addresses what some teens and adults go through with depression. As a temporary patient in a mental ward, Craig, the main character and narrator, learns that he isn’t the only one who is having problems succeeding at life. By befriending and helping some of the patients, he also helps himself. Together they discover the blessings of life and how to cope with the obstacles that sometimes gets in the way of happiness.

Literary elements at work in the story: Realistic Fiction

Based on personal experience, the author makes the characters seem very real. With genuine care and empathy, he introduces the reader to a wide range of interesting people who are having problems with money, drugs, alcohol, homelessness, and more.

Creatively finding a way to laugh at depression, Ned Vizzini shows his audience that no problem is worth hurting ourselves over. Instead, we are encouraged to find humor and hope in the challenges we face. With good descriptions and details, he creates a balance between seriousness, laughter, and optimism.

The setting is in the adult mental ward of a Brooklyn hospital, as the teen ward was unavailable due to a renovation project.

Theme: The main theme is about struggle and how the patients deal with the stress that comes from unhappiness, mental disabilities, addictions, relationships and/or love.

Perspective: The perspective is that of a high school kid who is trying to deal with the various pressures of adulthood.

Theology: Prayer, instead of worry, can release a person from fear and anxiety.

In the story, there is an emphasis on the first part of the Serenity Prayer: “Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

The story triggers reflective thought about life and how we should all be grateful for the blessings we have. As we compare our problems to some with much worse issues, this book helps us to realize that things are not so bad after all.

Theological Conversation Parnters:

Counting our blessings – God’s guidance and instruction to you – Psalm
16:7, 48:14, 71:17;  Turning worries into prayer – when you were in trouble, God heard your cries for help – Psalm 18:6, 22:24; Before giving up on life read what Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest” – John 10:10.
Faith Talk Questions:

1. The Serenity prayer asks for wisdom to know the difference between things we can and cannot change?  How can we have the wisdom to know the difference?

2. How can the Serenity Prayer help soldiers, alcoholics, and people who are overly stressed? Who else would this prayer be suitable for?

3. What advice could you offer to someone who might be contemplating suicide?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Gina Craft.

Teens and Faith: Three Short Reviews

Regular contributor Virginia Thomas offers three shorter reviews of books related to ways that teens engage questions of faith.

Title:  Preacher’s Boy

Author:  Katherine Paterson

Publisher: Harper Trophy

ISBN: 0064472337

Audience: Ages 10 and up

Summary: Robbie Hewitt decides to give up believing in God. He’s heard the visiting minister condemn wicked thoughts and deeds and suggest that the world will end in 1900.  He’s in trouble because he has disrupted church and, as the preacher’s boy, the congregation holds him to an unreasonably high standard.  If the world’s coming to an end he wants to get in a lot of living before then; he wants especially to ride in a motor car.  Robbie’s oldest brother is severely handicapped physically and mentally and Robbie envies the time and attention Elliot gets from his father.  He also fights with the rich Weston boys who make fun of Elliot. His life is complicated by two drifters who camp in his hideout, Violet and her alcoholic father , and a fake kidnapping plot.  Finally a ride in a motor car restores Robbie’s faith and the new century begins with a joyous ringing of the church bells.

Giving up faith and doubting God are familiar themes for adolescents.  Robbie’s choice of “apeism,” a conflation of evolution and lack of faith, is chosen honestly; God interferes with the lifestyle he thinks he wants.  But what happens when you give up God?  When you need prayer? When you have to make a choice?  When you want to give thanks? When an answer to your deepest yearning can only be a miracle? Robbie’s father is a Christian minister seldom seen in fiction: gentle, modest, open to new ideas, strong in conviction and charitable in relationships.  Robbie is one of Katherine Paterson’s most appealing characters.  Through his voice she examines a young person’s developing faith and understanding.

Title:  Armageddon Summer

Author: Jane Yolen, Bruce Coville

Publisher: Harcourt, Brace & Col.

ISBN: 0152022686 pb.

Audience: Ages 12 years and up

Summary:  Reverend Beelson is taking 144 believers to the top of  Mt. Weeupcut to await the End on July 27, 2000 when God will destroy the world and begin anew.  Fourteen-year old Marina’s mother insists that Marina and her four brothers join her there to prevent their destruction.  Marina’s father stays behind.  Sixteen-year old Jed follows his father to the mountain to look after him. He has been less than stable since his wife left him for another man.  In alternating voices, Marina and Jed tell their stories of the month on the mountain interspersed with county sheriff’s reports, Rev. Beelson’s sermons, the rules for Weeupcut’s camping facilities, and a physchologist on a radio talk show. Marina wants desperately to believe; Jed is firmly skeptical.  Events play out in a violent, dramatic climax as outsiders try to force their way into the camp to be safe with the believers. “Did we do wrong in believing? Asks Marina’s mother. “Never in believing, “ answers Marina, “just in what we believed.”

With the Left Behind series in the movies and news, Christians are prompted to ask what we do believe about eschatology or end times. This is a thought provoking, gripping book about belief, the search for belief, what happens when belief fails. Jed and Marina are well drawn, appealing young persons who survive the summer and begin to search for faith anew.  Before tackling this book is is well to know at least one basic fact about biblical eschatology: Acts 1:6,7.

Title:  The Heavenly Village

Author: Cynthia Rylant

Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN: 0439231493

Audience: Ages 9 years and up

Summary: The Heavenly Village is a place of peace and beauty with flowers, a river, trees, small houses and shops.  It is a stopping place for spirits who are not quite ready for heaven, for those who need to finish their stories. People are always arriving or leaving, something or someone is always being mended.  Here you will find Everett, a bank teller who needs time to see beauty he ignored on earth.   There is Violet Rose, a baker, who is still concerned for her cats. Dr. Blake was so busy on earth that he never had time for his family or to listen to his patients.  Now since no one is really ill, he listens to his patients for hours (and they think they are in heaven) and visits his home each evening, unseen by his family. And there’s Fortune, the rescue dog, who was a nuisance in Heaven but is quite useful in Heavenly Village.  There is some provocative idea on almost every page.  For example, God is surprised that no one wants to lose weight in Friendly Village.  Since they are not worried about what others think about their looks, they decide they look just fine. Or God usually sends a messenger or loved one to welcome a new spirit to Heaven.  He has learned that most people like to get a little unpacked before they meet the Creator.  This is a short, delightful, beautifully written plotless collection of characters and incidents.

What happens after death?  The Heavenly Village will stimulate discussion but not provide any answers.  The Bible gives us few details (and it’s well to know 1 Cor. 15, 1 Thes., Rev. 22, John 14 before you discuss  this book) but we can’t seem to get beyond time and space, beyond golden streets and gates of pearl and white robes. Rylant frees our imaginations. The book has more to say about life than the hereafter, about how we fail and how we grow.  God is depicted as gentle, wise, meeting the needs of all of his children but rather limited on earth. (Rylant is not concerned with sexist pronouns.)  Each chapter has a Bible verse introducing it and it’s worth some time to think about why a verse was chosen for a particular chapter. This is by no means a book of theology but it does stimulate theological thinking and it is fun.

Teens and Faith: Marcelo in the Real World

Title:  Marcelo in the Real World

Author:  Francisco X. Stork

Illustrator:

Publisher:  Arthur A. Levine Books

ISBN: 139780545054744

Audience:  Ages 14 and up

Summary: Marcelo Sandoval, an autistic seventeen-year old, has come to the end of his junior year at Patterson, the special education school he has attended since kindergarten. His autism has not been accurately identified but it is marked by an inner music Marcelo hears, a lack of social skills, a need for an inflexible schedule, and an intense interest in God. Marcello is a practicing Catholic who meets regularly with a Jewish rabbi and names his dog from a Buddhist prayer. He has a job for the summer caring for the ponies in the Patterson stable. Marcello’s father , a driven, successful lawyer, has other plans: Marcello is to work in the “real world,” the mail room of his father’s law firm.  If Marcello works successfully there, he can return to Patterson for his senior year; if not, he must go to public high school. The real world requires Marcelo to make “small talk,” learn to distinguish sarcasm, adapt to new situations, and follow a competitive law firm’s rules.  And so Marcelo learns-to work with Jasmine in the mail room, to read the faces and intentions of co-workers, to find his way around Boston, to tell the social lie, to be aware of sex. The discovery of an injured girl’s picture in one of his father’s files jolts him into an action that may destroy his father’s law firm.  The result of this action makes public high school mandatory and compels Marcelo to deal with suffering and God’s will for his life.

Literary elements at work in the story: Marcelo is a rich, multi-layered novel told in the first person.  This unique perspective never varies as Marcelo tries to process figures of speech, grasp the real intent of a statement, deal with multiple stimuli, understand a discussion about girls and sexual attraction.  It is a profound experience of a different point of view, of the strengths and handicaps of autism. Marcelo seldom uses pronouns, referring to himself and others by name.  Several times undesirable language is used and some vulgarity is expressed but both are integral parts of the story and highlight Marcelo’s difference in the way he thinks about sex and life.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? Marcelo’s father is Hispanic and despite his success still faces racial and cultural prejudice. Marcelo’s autism elicits ridicule and contempt. Wendell, a significant character, is sexist and exploitive.  Rabbi Heschel and Aurora Sandoval are strong, compassionate women. The law firm is made up of successful males who compete, make money and use secretaries. Some characters are stereotypes but most are believable, vital persons.

Theological Conversation Partners: Because Marcelo’s keen mind sees most questions and events in religious terms almost every event in this novel has a theological slant. How do we pray, experience God’s presence, know God’s will?  What is the purpose of suffering and how do we live with it.  What is the purpose of sex in God’s creation?  How do we know right from wrong?  How can we talk about our faith in the secular world?  These are a few of the questions with which Marcello struggles as he leaves the sheltered environment of Patterson for the law firm.  His conversations with the rabbi about, sex, suffering, and finding God’s will require attentive, repeated reading.

Faith Talk Questions:

1.  What is the real world according to Mr. Sandoval?  How does this contrast with Marcelo’s view?
2. Jesus asks God not to take his followers out of the world (John 17:15) and Paul suggests to the Corinthians that they are to maintain contact with the world as Mr. Sandoval sees it. (1 Cor. 5:1) How do we and Marcelo bridge this gap?
3. Marcelo calls his life of prayer “remembering.” Is this a good description?  How would you describe your prayer life?
4. What’s the difference between small talk and large talk?
5. Marcello attempts to explain to Mr. Holmes how to control worry and anger?  What do you think of his suggestion?  Do you think Mr. Holmes understood?
6. Marcelo’s father tries to explain to him how he can talk about religion in the real world. Is it good advice?  How does it handicap Marcel’s communication?
7. Marcelo asks Rabbi Heschel why Adam and Eve felt shame in the Garden of Eden when they realized they were naked. (Genesis 3:7) Is her insight about evil affecting the imagination an adequate explanation?
8. Rabbi Heschel says that God speaks to us through urges that are painful. When Marcelo follows this urge that may hurt his father, her advice is, “Trust God. God will know how to use whatever hurt results for His own ends.”  What do you think of “painful urge” as a term for God’s guidance?  Do you think her advice is sound?
9. Have you tried to discern God’s will as Marcelo does? How did you know?

This review is the last full review with faith questions in our series on teens and faith.  For the next two Mondays, shorter reviews of six books will also be offered.  Virginia Thomas is the writer of this series.

A Gathering of Angels

Name of Book:  A Gathering of Angels

Author:  Peter Eyvindson

Illustrator:  Walnes Cangas, Julner Remy, Lucson Petit-Homme

Publisher:  Broken Wings Missions, Inc.

Audience:  Ages 8 and up

Summary:  A Gathering of Angels is a collection of prayers written by the boys who call the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in Port au Prince, Haiti home. Each boy at the home takes turns leading morning and afternoon prayers in the home’s chapel services. This book serves as a collection of some of those prayers written by boys ranging in ages from nine to 25.

Literary elements at work in the story:  This collection of prayers represents the first person points of view of each author as he speaks to God. The book is written by orphaned children in a children’s home in Haiti, and their worship and prayer life serve as the setting for their writings. There are no themes to the prayers, rather the overarching theme to the book is a life of prayer and worship to God.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability make a difference to the story?  Readers are introduced on the surface through the prayers to the culture of children’s home life in Haiti. The authors are all male and of African descent. The illustrations bring to life the prayers and give a more in-depth understanding of culture and socio-economic life in Haiti. While the book does not reference children of limited abilities, further research on the St. Joseph’s Family Homes will reveal a home specifically for mentally and physically challenged orphaned children, both boys and girls.

Scripture:  Romans 12:9-18

Theology:  We are called and gathered by God into one body, family or community called the Church of Jesus Christ. God creates the church and we live as part of it, in loving relationship with God and with each other. In response to this calling by God, we are to use our God-given gifts and abilities to feed, nurture and shape the way that we live our lives of faith each and every day. In doing so, we are carrying out the mission of God for the church in the world.

Faith Talk Questions

1. Have you ever written a prayer and shared it with other people before?
2. When you talk to God in prayer, what do you say?
3. Do you know anyone who lives in a children’s home?
4. Do you think you could pray thanks to God if you lived in a children’s home?
5. Do you know someone from another country? Do they pray to the same God you pray to?
6. What is your favorite prayer from this book? Why?
7. Will you write a prayer and share it with someone today?
8. How do you share your faith with other people? Through prayer? Artwork? Church? How?

Review prepared by Union Presbyterian Seminary alumna Katie Todd

Books about Prayer for Children

Last week, we mentioned that we would not generally pair a children’s book with the reading from the Psalms in our Lectionary Links posts.  We did post a bibliography last week of some book resources on the Psalms for children, and this week, we’d like to share with you a bibliography related to books about prayer.  Both of these bibliographies may give you some help in linking the prayer book of the Bible with our lives today.

Click here to download the bibliography.

Picture by Steve Evans and used under a Creative Commons License.

Faith

Name of Book: Faith

Author: Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis, Cynthia Pon

Illustrator: Various photographers

Publisher: Charlesbridge; Global Fund for Children

Audience: Ages 8 -12

Summary: A book of photographs of children from across the world, of various faiths, participating in elements of their particular faiths. The elements of faith included are: prayer, chanting and singing, reading holy books, listening and learning, cleansing, holy places, holidays and festivals, marking important life events, dress, food and drink, and caring for and helping others. There is also a glossary of terms at the end of the book.

Literary elements at work in the story: This is an informational, book of photographs that include images from settings and locations all over the world. The information about the photographs and events is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator. All of the pictures include children engaging in the faith elements and events.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability make a difference to the story? The book shows children of varied races, cultures and economic statuses and is very good to show both boys and girls involved in the activities. There are no photographs of physical abilities, but strong mental abilities are assumed based on some activities the children are engaging in.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Theology: As loved children of God, we are created to enjoy the creation of God. We do this by living in community with one another; caring for, loving, living in faith with, and loving one another. We believe that we are a community of faith, called together by God, and that God calls us to live our lives by having faith, not by just relying on what we can see, touch and feel.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What are some of the things the children are doing in the book?
2. Do you do any of those things?
3. What do you do that they are doing?
4. How is what we do different or the same as what the children in the book were doing?
5. Does God hear prayers from all children?
6. Can we still worship God even if we don’t go to this church or Sunday School?
7. Do you know anyone that has different beliefs than you?

Review prepared by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Mason Todd

Lesson Plans: Practicing Christianity with Children – Session 4

The practice of prayer is central to the life of faith of most Christians.  Using a variety of children’s books, parents begin to explore their understanding of prayer and how to help their children develop their own understanding and practice of prayer.

Download session 4 here.

When Daddy Prays

Name of Book: When Daddy Prays

Author: Nikki Grimes

Illustrator: Tim Ladwig

Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Audience: Ages 4 and up

Summary: A series of poems about prayer and what prayer says about life experiences. A series of poems that speak to life experiences are taught and enriched by prayer.

Literary elements at work in the story: The story is told through the eyes of a son speaking about his father. It uses a relationship between a father and son to provide concrete examples of prayer and life.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability make a difference to the story? The story uses an African-American family and situations that are specific to the culture. It also shows elements of various socio-economic situations within the culture. The story focuses primarily on the males in the family.

Scripture: Romans 8:26

Theology: Prayer is our personal expression of love to God. When we pray we are calling on God with confidence that God hears and answers our prayers. Just as Jesus Christ prayed for himself, his disciples and all whom God loves, we are encouraged in prayer for ourselves and others. Even when we do not know what to or how to pray, God hears us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What does your Daddy pray for you about?
2. Does your Mommy pray?
3. What do you pray about?
4. Why do you think that the Daddy prays in front of the son?
5. What do you think the son learns when he hears his Daddy pray for him and his family?
6. Do you pray for your Daddy?

Review prepared by Katie Todd, MDiv/MACE, Entering Cohort Fall 2005

Confirmation Curriculum: Prayer (Week 22)

This week marks the last post related to a 24 week series of lessons intended for use in a confirmation class with youth.  Tim Ladwig’s The Lord’s Prayer and When Daddy Prays by Nikki Grimes are used in this session.  Although we have only posted four sessions out of the 24, you can get an idea of how the writer has used children’s literature in a particular educational setting and hope this sparks your imagination to do the same!

Download the last lesson plan here.