My mother has inspired me to try to read 10 CPH books for their Read Like a Lutheran program (instead of just going with lesser-pointed books). It adjusted my reading list, bumping up The Messengers: Discovered by Lisa M. Clark. Boy, am I glad it did!
Review of The Messengers: Discovered
I’m an adult who reads a lot of dystopian novels, but I’m generally hesitant about when to introduce that genre to my children. This book is an excellent opportunity, not only to introduce a genre of literature/reading but also to introduce to them the train of thought that sometimes what people think will be a utopia is really the exact opposite.
The Messengers: Discovered is a pleasant, quick, easy, enjoyable read. It’s “negative elements” mostly consist in either a boy’s aversion to robot violence or the tension of an oppressive regime. There’s no sex. There’s no graphic violence, although violence and torture are mentioned in past tense after the tyranny vs. Christian reality is revealed.
I wouldn’t particularly classify this as YA. I think older audiences might think it starts a bit slow, but I can tell that it’s building up to additional books, which I can now look forward to reading and sharing with my whole family. I wouldn’t say this isn’t for young adults, either. Maybe I wish children’s literature were held more highly: this could accompany any number of fine books written for older children but with special meaning for adults.
I do wonder why the setting is vaguely “around our time.” While I suspect that’s supposed to make it feel relevant, it interrupted me as I was attempting to suspect my disbelief. I mean, if it were a society similar to ours but twisted, that would be one thing. Still, that’s a pretty minor editing call to me.
I recommend it! Unless you haven’t read children’s literature for a while. 🙂 Meanwhile, I’m grateful for it.
Thanks, CPH! One of your best novels—and series—yet! The theology builds in good directions. The Bible passages and references are interwoven neatly, and it’s refreshing to see Christian fiction tackle, well, Christianity and some of its struggles head on. It doesn’t replace the Bible or catechesis or anything, but I’m glad I paid money for it. I’m thankful to God to have it in my family library.
Good job, Lisa! Keep up the great work! I look forward to reading more from you!