Do you enjoy Sci-Fi books? I just read my first. Thunder (Stone Braide Chronicles Book #1): A Novel* As I said, this was my first book of this kind to read – the story was interesting, I like Bonnie Calhoun as an author, but the story type wasn’t my favorite. I’m glad she’s writing Christian books like this though – because our children/teens need options to the other mainstream books of this kind. My daughter has been bugging me to read Hunger Games & something else (can’t remember the name) – but I didn’t want to read them & could only imagine how twisted they might be.

Back to Thunder – it was an interesting take on a ravaged life-as-we-know-it earth and people making do after a crisis. The people “divisions” were portrayed in a way that made me think about how we stereotype people based on so many different things – money/lack of, intelligence, and priorities – and treat them accordingly. Such as:

• we don’t do [whatever activity]
• we don’t watch [whatever kind of movie]
• we don’t wear [whatever]
• we don’t tattoo. pierce. dance.
• we don’t listen to [whatever] music

Each of these are notions our parents instilled in us and some we may stick with and carry on with our own children, some we turn our back on…. regardless, for whatever reason in our human minds we decide we’re somehow better than those who do [fill in the blank]. And our stereotypes have now declared classes we live by in the modern world.

There were brief hints of a life relationship being close, or not, to the Creator, but it was never stated in a Christian vs non-Christian way. This was weird for me. Since I’ve not read other books like this, I can’t compare it to it’s kind. I like Christian books because my life is the way it is because of Christ, I can’t imagine separating Him from my life. As a result, to read a book not centered in who we are in Him always leaves me left wanting. This “emptiness” was not because of the story, but because of the kind of story it is. I’m guessing it couldn’t really incorporate our Christian walk and still follow this style of book.

While I didn’t necessarily enjoy the story, I did appreciate how our faulty human nature was cleverly pointed out (whole thought process on stereotypes above). I especially appreciated the author portraying a child who has learned to survive in dire circumstances, yet so obviously still needed and wanted someone to care, to lean on. There were some descriptions I passed over because they were too graphic for me- but I’m a wimp :-). Overall, I thought the book was fine. It wasn’t my favorite, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be yours. You’ll have to read Thunder for yourself to really know – besides all I said, I suspect my daughter would give a different review, but she hasn’t read it yet. 🙂

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**I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Revell for my honest review, and I am a couple days late in posting. I’ve been sick.**

Day 11 of 31 Days