Monday, September 12, 2016

Book Review: Crossroads in Galilee

Crossroads in Galilee. Elizabeth Raum. 2016. BJU Press. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Your first choice: Who are you? If you are a boy from the vineyard, turn to A Boy in the Vineyard. If you are the fishermen's sister, turn to The Fishermen's Sister. If you are the tax collector's brother, turn to The Tax Collector's Brother.

Premise/plot: Remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books?!?! Crossroads in Galilee is a "Choose Your Journey" book. The premise is the same. Readers choose between three characters (2 boys, 1 girl). Within each journey there are plenty of decisions--big and small--for readers to make. Not all journeys end well. I came across at least one or two that were less than ideal. But most do end well--with the reader ending up believing and trusting in Jesus.

My thoughts: I really, really, really love the idea of this one!!!! IF this book had been around when I was a kid, I would have read it a dozen times, I think.

At the end of the book, the author shares a list of bible passages for each of the three journeys. Readers get a good, solid behind-the-scenes experience of following Jesus.

For example, journey one: Matthew 3:1-12, Matthew 3:13-17, John 1:35-36, Luke 3:10-14, Luke 3:18-20, Mark 6:17-29, Matthew 11:2-3, Matthew 11:4-6, Matthew 11:7-15, Luke 4:33-37, Matthew 8:21-22, Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 4:3-9.

The back matter also includes more in-depth information to help readers place these stories into context.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

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