Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Why Aren’t There More Teens Reading YA Christian Fiction, & How Can Authors Change That?



It seems as if every time I go to a bookstore it’s always such a struggle for me to find the YA Christian fiction section. And once I do find it, there are only a few shelves holding books from this genre. I then look at the YAF section and notice rows and rows of books, the covers of these novels filled with filthy images. For teens. And most of them contain all of the same storylines: teen drama, love stories, summer, and change. And vampires, of course. But most of these books are doing nothing but infecting the minds of teenagers. The authors are providing teens with the stories that we adore because it’s what we dream of or can relate to. If YAF is so popular now, then why isn’t YACF? Many teens have told me it’s because the books they have read in this genre have been cheesy, preachy, or boring. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Most of the time, a teen's view of Christianity and God is going to be based on the Christians around them, including the YA Christian fiction books that they read. And if they're boring and preachy, then they'll want nothing to do with Christianity. They'd rather read the YA fiction that doesn't preach to them, that reaches them on their level, that satisfies their desires accordingly. If they read even just one book in YACF that is cheesy/preachy/boring, they're not going to give this genre another try. Think about it. If you were a nonbeliever and knew someone who was a Christian who always tried preaching to you, shoving religion down your throat, and whose life is so boring because all that she/he does is read the Bible - would that attract you to God? No. That would only leave you with a bad impression of Christianity. And you’re going to want nothing to do with that religion.

I believe one of the reasons that YACF isn't as popular as YAF is because of these types of books. We have to keep in mind that it's not just Christians reading this genre, it is often non-Christians who pick up the book not realizing that it is Christian—or pick it up because of great reviews, a cool cover with an interesting back cover blurb, a recommendation from a friend, etc.

You don't want to preach to them. You want to offer them a story that believers and nonbelievers alike can both enjoy. But how can authors do this? How can we present Christianity in YA fiction without sounding cheesy, boring, or preachy?

  1. Provide the same elements that teens love, except offer a clean alternative with a Christian perspective.
I'm not saying that Christian YA fiction books should be nothing but teen drama and vampire stories with the mention of God every now and then, but that we need to reach the teen culture on its level.
  • Reach out to the hurting.
  • There are many teens who have grown up in a broken family, teens who are barely getting through in life because they don’t know Christ. They may want to find encouragement by reading a book where the character is going through some of the same struggles as they are, because readers like to read stories that they can relate to. And they want to see how the character coped with the struggle and also to feel as if they’re not alone. So they pick up the book, and they find that the character deals with this situation by turning to God. Also keep in mind that not every teen is rebellious and against Christianity. There are some out there who are lost, confused, and hurting. Our books can offer the hope and encouragement they may be looking for.
  • Craft role-model characters.
  • Notice that I did not say craft perfect-Christian-unflawed-characters, but role-models that teens can look up to. This can be a very useful tool since we already tend to follow the lifestyle of those in movies and in books subconsciously. The character Christy from The Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn is a great example of a Christian role model that a teen may want to follow the footsteps of.
  • Don’t write YACF for the sole purpose of teaching youth how to handle situations in a Christian way.
  • As a teen,we can tell when an adult is trying to preach through fiction. And because of this, we’re reminded that it’s a made-up-story that we’re reading that was written by an adult. Instead, pretend that you’re a teen. Write because you want to write, not because you want to preach. Talk to a few teenagers and read other YA books to get a deeper understanding of the youth culture and teen struggles that are current to this time period—please don’t just go by your own view of the reputation that teenagers have. It annoys me so much when I read a book that I can tell is written by an adult, simply because it’s the perspective of the high school life from someone who hasn't been a teenager in years. It’s one of the things that makes YACF cheesy. However, I'm not saying that it's cheesy for any adult to write from a teen's perspective - just don't assume that you already know everything about the teen life based on the reputation we have.
  • Plant the seeds, but allow God to do the growing.
  • Although someone may not get saved just by reading your book, they probably will return to the genre and check out a few more books because of the fact that the story-lines are cool and they closed the book feeling inspired. The more one reads this genre, the more seeds that are planted. And the more seeds that are planted, the more God can work in them. Also, think of the new movie “Soul Surfer.” It reaches nonbelievers and believers. Why? Because it's an inspiring story with elements that people love. And even though a nonbeliever may not ask Jesus into their heart because of watching this movie, a seed was planted. The purpose of writing in this genre shouldn’t be only to get teens saved, but rather to plant a seed which can minister to them. It’s God’s job to do the rest.
    The decisions teens make during these crucial years can affect us for years to come. It’s during this time of our life that decisions are made to set the course of our future. This is why I believe YA Christian fiction could be such a powerful ministry—if only authors knew which elements to include in their stories and how to use fiction to reach all of our youth culture in a subtle, yet profound way.


    ~~~

    Why do you think this genre is small and not so popular?
    If you’re teen, do you read YA Christian fiction?
    Why or why not?
    What other elements should YACF authors include
    in their stories—
    or perhaps leave out?

    Friday, April 22, 2011

    Book Review: "Praying For Your Future Husband: Preparing Your Heart For His" by Robin Jones Gunn & Tricia Goyer

    Back Cover Blurb:

    “From when we were small girls, most of us dream of ‘The One,’ our future husband. We think about what it would be like to be a bride. We wonder who that special guy is and when we'll find him. The great news is that what you do now can make a difference in your life and the life of your future husband!

    Authors and good friends Robin Jones Gunn (Christy Miller series) and Tricia Goyer (author and former teen mom) believe God answers women's prayers for husbands—even husbands they may not meet for years. They invite young women to pray boldly for their future mate … while also asking God to prepare their own hearts.

    In Praying for Your Future Husband, Robin and Tricia share their two vastly different experiences, including the things they did right and the mistakes they made on the path to meeting and marrying their husbands. Each chapter includes helpful Bible verses, prayers, and practical application, along with true stories of women who prayed for a husband and how God answered in remarkable ways.

    God has a beautiful romance prepared for you. Prayer is the key to unlocking the love story … with your future husband and with God, the lover of your soul."

    My Thoughts:

    I’ve read many books on Christian dating and why you should wait for “The One”, but this one brings something new to the table: the benefits one reaps from praying for your future husband and waiting for him. Instead of describing specifically why you shouldn’t date around and how those kind of relationships are not healthy, Praying For Your Future Husband explains why it is so important to pray for your future husband and his relationship with Christ as well as yours, so that God can go ahead and begin preparing your hearts for each other.

    Each chapter of this book is filled with true stories written by girls who have prayed and God answered, journal entries/poems written by others, inspirational quotes and scriptures, as well as a section for the reader to write down their thoughts on the chapter’s topic at the end of the book followed by ten discussion questions.

    I absolutely loved the entire idea of Praying For Your Future Husband. It doesn’t just give specifics on what you should pray for your future husband, but it opens your eyes on to how waiting seasons are fragile and beneficial to your relationship (and eventually marriage) with your future husband and each of your relationships with God. Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer are very personable to the reader and have an obvious passion on this subject. Not only could this book help those waiting for “The One” and wanting to save themselves for someone special, but also to those who have made mistakes in the area of dating in the past.

    What I Disliked:

    Honestly, I can’t name one thing that I disliked about this book.

    Final Comments:

    Praying For Your Future Husband is a must-read book for all teens/young adults, whether you’re in a dating relationship or not.

    I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.


    ~~~
    If you’re a teen, are you for the idea of dating or waiting for
    “The One”? Why or why not?
    If you’re married, did you pray for your future husband before you got married?
    If so, how did your prayers make a difference?

    Wednesday, April 20, 2011

    Rejection Before Resurrection, Rain Before Blossom


    Jesus knew what was about to come. He was about to face the worst rejection and pain a man could face. He knew it would be unbearable, but he also knew that it had to be done. Sure, he could have called on his Father to come and stop everything from taking place. He could’ve called on angels to come and save him. But he knew that the only way to be raised from the dead was first to die. It was worth it to him. How horrible would it have been if Jesus just decided to give up to avoid and put an end to all of the rejection and persecution?

    But he trusted God completely. He had faith that this wasn't the end, but rather a new beginning was yet to come—one night of rain would turn into years and years of blossom. He pressed on through the pain. Through the hurt. Through the rejection caused by his own children.

    Why is it that we don’t have the same perspective that Jesus did when we go through trials of pain and rejection in our own lives? Our society has gotten so accustomed to giving up. We've allowed ourselves to become spoiled, wanting only what we want and when we want it. The word "patience" has vanished from our vocabulary. We tend to assume that if pain is involved then it must not be meant to be—if we aren’t there yet then that must mean we’ll never get there. That’s what Satan wants us to believe. But that’s not what God wants us to believe.


    “When you go through persecution and rejection, it’s not always because somebody has it in for you. Sometimes, that’s God’s way of directing you to his perfect will. When we [focus on what didn’t work out], we inhibit the opening of new doors. When one door closes, if you keep the right attitude, God will open a new door… keep pressing forward… you may not understand it, but trust God and move on with your life. Don’t look at it as the end. Look at is as a new beginning… He has something better in store… Give birth to what God has placed on your heart… Let God do a new thing.”

    ~ Joel Osteen

    It’s not just a coincidence that we celebrate Christ's resurrection during this season. Be determined to keep pressing forward toward your dream like He did, remembering that the beauty of spring cannot be reached until you have gone through the cold of winter.


    ~~~

    Why do you think our culture tends to give up so easily?
    Have you ever felt like giving up after being rejection
    during the process of reaching towards your dreams?
    Why do you think that God allows for trials to happen
    before we finally reach a season of blossom?

    Wednesday, April 13, 2011

    Focusing On Strengths Rather Than Weaknesses

    During my spring break last week, my friend and I went to go see “Soul Surfer” in theaters. This new movie is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a teen surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack but eventually reached her dream of becoming a professional surfer. It was an incredible movie, to say the least.

    One of the many things that I took away from this movie is that it’s so easy to sometimes focus on your weakness rather than your strength – what you don’t have in order to succeed rather than what you do have in order to succeed. Bethany could have simply given up her dream of becoming a professional surfer because of the fact that she lost an arm. But how horrible would it have been if she had allowed that one weakness hold her back from her dream?

    I think all of us can learn something from this story. We should quit looking at the disadvantages we have - whether it’s age, height, lack of talent or knowledge. It’s your decision if you’re going to allow that weakness to keep you from reaching your dream.


    “You may not realize it now, but your DNA is filled with strength, courage, ability, favor and determination. You are full of can-do power. It doesn’t matter what your current condition looks like… you may not think you have what it takes to succeed, but that doesn't change what God put within you… God has already crowned you a champion.”

    ~Joel Osteen

    If you haven’t seen this movie, I encourage that you do. Bethany was able to reach her dream of becoming a pro surfer, despite the fact that she had only one arm. How? Because she focused on the one arm that she did have rather than the one she didn’t have. Because God was on her side – and she kept reminding herself that she could do all things through Christ who gives her strength. (Philippians 4:13)

    "What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog."

    ~President Dwight D. Eisenhower

    ~~~
    Have you seen the movie “Soul Surfer” yet?
    If so, what’s something else that you learned from it?
    Why do you think it’s so easy to focus on our weakness rather than the strength we have in God?

    Saturday, April 2, 2011

    Book Review: "Unlocked" by Karen Kingsbury

    I post my book reviews a little differently. Instead of creating another summary of the novel in my words, I post the back cover blurb, what I liked about the book, what I disliked about the book, and final comments. Every book has it's pros and cons, and I will be reviewing from my point of view - based on my opinions, my taste, and the author's writing style.

    The novel I'm going to review today is "Unlocked" by Karen Kingsbury in honor of "World Autism Awareness" day today.

    Back Cover Blurb:

    "Holden Harris is an eighteen-year-old locked in a prison of autism. Despite his quiet ways and quirky behaviors, Holden is very happy and socially normal---on the inside, in a private world all his own. In reality, he is bullied at school by kids who only see that he is very different. Ella Reynolds is part of the 'in' crowd. A cheerleader and star of the high school drama production, her life seems perfect. When she catches Holden listening to her rehearse for the school play, she is drawn to him ... the way he is drawn to the music. Then, Ella makes a dramatic discovery---she and Holden were best friends as children. Frustrated by the way Holden is bullied, and horrified at the indifference of her peers, Ella decides to take a stand against the most privileged and popular kids at school. Including her boyfriend, Jake. Ella believes miracles can happen in the unlikeliest places, and that just maybe an entire community might celebrate from the sidelines. But will Holden's praying mother and the efforts of Ella and a cast of theater kids be enough to unlock the prison that contains Holden? This time, friendship, faith, and the power of a song must be strong enough to open the doors to the miracle Holden needs.”

    What I Liked:

    Well-rounded, believable characters and dialogue. Honestly I couldn’t put this one down. “Unlocked” is very moving, inspiring, uplifting—especially to those who has a child struggling with autism. I love Kingsbury’s writing style and the metaphors that she used to describe Holden’s situation throughout the entire story. Holden’s point of view was very convincing as well—his thoughts, his actions—it was almost like being inside of an autistic teen’s brain. Although this novel is fiction, it reminds us that God can do miracles even when our circumstances seem absolutely hopeless.


    What I Disliked:

    The beginning was a bit depressing and slow, but eventually everything picked up and it honestly became a challenge for me to put down. The story was a bit predictable, but there were a few surprises along the way.

    Final Comments:

    Overall, “Unlocked” by Karen Kingsbury is a novel that I would recommend to any age. This is the first book that I’ve read by Karen Kingsbury but it will definitely not be the last.


    ~~~
    Have any of you read "Unlocked"?
    Do you think the author did a nice job at portraying the struggle that autism brings?
    What did you think about the plot, the themes conveyed, the writing style, etc.?


    PS: There will be no posts Monday through Friday due to my spring break. See you guys Monday, April 11th!