Here are some of the books we’ve reviewed recently. Generations of Virtue is committed to making only the very best resources available to you. We carefully read and research every book before we carry it, and we hope that these reviews bless your efforts in finding quality resources for your family.
I recently went to see the movie “Bella” with a friend. If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend going (16 and older). I’ll just give you a short synopsis of the plot and leave the real summary to PluggedInOnline. (If you’re in the dark about Plugged In, it’s a wonderful site with reviews on movies and TV shows written from a Christian perspective. Never venture to the movies without checking Plugged In first!)”Bella” follows a chef in New York City who works for his somewhat overbearing restaurant-owning brother. When his brother fires a waitress for being late, chef Jose is concerned that there is more than being fired that is upsetting this young woman. After following after her, Jose learns that the unwed waitress, Nina, is pregnant and contemplating having an abortion. He then spends the rest of the day with her, trying in his quiet way to help her learn about the sanctity of life and the benefits of adoption.
If the encouraging plot of the movie wasn’t enough, the back-story to the film is also inspiring. One of the main producers and lead actors for the film is Eduardo Verastegui, who says that one of his reasons for jumping into the production side of film was to create “Films that I can bring my family together to see. I can bring my mother and I don’t have to cover her eyes in any scenes.” Eduardo used to be a pretty popular star in Mexico, where he starred in soap operas and movies with less than moral plots. His turn-around came when he realized “everything about me was about having a thousand pictures with my shirt off, showing my abs. Everything was just being reduced to an object because I thought that that’s what sells and that’s what you need to do, you know? When you [have] all these managers training you since you’re 18 years old, brainwashing you and all you do is what they tell you…that’s why I was feeling empty”. Eduardo also wanted to make films that portray Latinos, women, and men in general in a better light than our stereotypes (driven by the media) have in the past. Read the whole interview here.
I think we can all agree that it’s refreshing to see a film do so well (Bella won the Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award) that has a good message to it. It’s also good to see that there are people (albeit a very few) who care about the messages they are sending out in the media and desire to produce films that are morally constructive. I can only hope that the success of Bella spurs Hollywood producers to make more films like this one.
Another movie we’ve found that portrays the sanctity of life is Tilly. This film is also appropriate for a little younger age than Bella is.
Review by Megan
We recently picked up a very beautiful book called Naomi’s Gift, written and illustrated by Scott Freeman. The story takes place at the turn of the century around Christmas time. A young doctor celebrates the birth of his first son, only to be called away to deliver another baby on the same night. This baby belongs to a hard-working farmer and his wife. Supporting a family on a farm is tough during this time period, and when the young doctor realizes that the baby has a severe handicap, he struggles with whether to deliver it or not. The baby is in breech position, which means a hard delivery and a greater chance of the baby not surviving. The doctor realizes this might be a chance to save the parents from the misery and oftentimes financial hardship that comes with a handicapped child such as this one. However, he decides to deliver the baby after the little one delivers a powerful kick to the doctor’s hands–evidence of a strong will to live.
Sure enough, the family struggles to support this child; wanting the very best for their daughter they take her to specialists and work themselves to the bone in order to pay the doctor’s bills. The doctor never stops struggling with his decision to let the child live until his own son is grown and engaged to a beautiful young woman he’s eager to introduce to his parents. Upon meeting his son’s fiance, the doctor finally comes to terms with his decision as he realizes had he let that little baby die all those years ago, his son would never have the chance to marry the woman he had grown so much to love. Not only is the story a powerful testimony about the sanctity of life, Scott is a talented artist and features beautiful illustrations throughout the book. We recommend this book for children 8 and older when read with a parent.
Passport to Purity By Dennis and Barbara Rainey
This kit provides a wonderful opportunity for a parent to connect with their preteen on a weekend getaway. With a variety of activities, lessons, and memorable discussions, Passport 2 Purity presents a fun and exciting way to talk about a variety of issues teenagers face. Dennis and Barbara Rainey have done an excellent job helping parents and kids to discuss these questions every preteen wonders about:
How is my body going to start changing?
What is sex and why does God say to wait for marriage?
How do I stand up against peer pressure?
How far is too far?
Who can I talk to about sensitive issues like these?
How do I stay pure and guard my heart?
The kit includes a leader manual, student manual, CDs featuring Dennis and Barbara Rainey, passport, and seals.
Preparing Him For the Other Woman By Sheri Rose Shepard
Review By Megan
When Sheri Rose was on vacation some years ago, her three-year-old son asked if she would marry him when he grew up. This question caused Sheri Rose to realize that as a mother, she only has a short time with her son, and that the training she gives him now has the potential to either help or hurt his marriage. What can you do to teach your son how to relate to his wife, provide for her needs, and become a godly man? This quick and engaging read is packed with Biblical wisdom and practical ways to implement the advice in the book. This is an excellent resource for mothers of sons ages 3-19.
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Beautifully Made! Edited By Julie Hiramine Review By Megan
Written by the founders of Generations of Virtue (various women and teenagers), this set of books is specifically designed to help guide girls and their mothers through the passage from girlhood to womanhood. These books focus on a girl’s first period and what a beautiful and wonderful time that is. The message of this series is that women are blessed with God’s gift to be able to give life. Our culture has made a women’s period out to be a burden, but our desire was to write something that really celebrated the period and emphasized the positive aspects of womanhood–not the negatives. Both mother and daughter can go through the first two books together.
God’s Gift to Women By Eric Ludy- Review By Megan
I recently listened to Eric Ludy’s book, God’s Gift to Women, on CD. I had it in my car and took every errand I had to go on over the course of a couple weeks as an opportunity to listen. I’m sure everyone in Colorado Springs got a kick out of me either crying at stop signs and red lights or laughing—sometimes uncontrollably—at Eric’s profound book. If someone had been sitting in the car with me, they probably would have heard several comments such as “That’s a good point” or “Hmm….interesting”. Now, not being a young man in today’s culture, you might be wondering why I chose to write a review on this particular book. The answer is simple: it’s an awesome book that was definitely inspired by the Holy Spirit. Every young man about 16-30 should read or listen to it.
Eric takes every myth our culture believes about manhood and smashes it with God’s truth. He makes it very clear that the attributes the culture and most young men believe today about genuine masculinity are nothing more than fiery darts from the enemy that are serving to wound young men and thereby pull them away from their God-given destinies. As I listened to each myth being debunked, I was shocked at what this generation of young men is up against.
Using examples of men throughout history who shook off mediocrity and followed God with all their hearts, Eric inspires young men to stop living for ephemeral pleasures and goals in order to live the incredible life to which God is calling them.
Girl’s Passage Father’s Duty By Brian Molitor Review By Megan
After growing anticipation, I have had a chance to read Brian Molitor’s new book: Girl’s Passage–Father’s Duty. The book is everything I’d hoped it would be. I first read Brian’s book for boys: Boy’s Passage–Man’s Journey probably about three years ago and loved it. I don’t have children, but if and when I do, I look forward to implementing Brian’s two books.
The books focus on mentoring your children into godly man- or womanhood. They cover things like intentional blessing, lifelong mentoring, and rites-of-passage. I think most people look at the back cover and think that the books are only about setting up a rite-of-passage ceremony for your son or daughter, but they’re so much more than that. I think the reason I enjoyed these books so much is because of the vision that is passed on through the book. Brian gives the reader a desire to bless the next generation by affirming them in their man- or womanhood and by mentoring them into the calling God has on their lives. It’s refreshing to see a father like this who genuinely cares about this next generation and their well being.
Another reason why I enjoyed these books so much is because I went to public school and then a private college where I learned about the world’s definition of womanhood. One of the things Brian mentions in Girl’s Passage–Father’s Duty is that “Our young people today are vainly substituting their first cigarette, drink…theft, or some other mile marker for true transitional events. Are so-called good kids protected from such folly? Not at all. While they may avoid some of the more sensational practices, they often chase their adulthood in perfectionism, overworking, and striving for the best grades in school and yet never really feel satisfied in who they are. It is infinitely better for mature adults to lead our young people into role-defining rites of passage.”
I definitely saw this phenomenon occur during my school years. Only now, after school is over for me and I have moved into a job and away from a lot of my peers do I realize how ridiculous our attempts to move into adulthood. Besides, only God can tell someone who he or she is because He created us. It’s much more mature to wait for what God has for you and put aside your own desires in order to serve Him and live in obedience to Him.
On the other side of the spectrum, I also witnessed and (I sheepishly admit) participated in the “perfectionism, overworking, and striving” side of trying to achieve womanhood. Well, I can say with real-life experience that we can’t prove ourselves by works.
Both of Brian Molitor’s books do an excellent job of showing parents how they can guide their son into appropriate, godly manhood or womanhood. I don’t think there’s a more timely message for our culture, which is currently embroiled in the lie that we don’t need to grow up and move into our destinies in Christ.
I highly recommend this book to any parent of daughters.
The Divine Dance By Shannon Kubiak Primicerio Review by Megan
Honestly written from the perspective of a young woman who has lived in the world and learned to give up the desire to perform for the attention and praise of others, this book will help your daughter choose to perform for her Audience of One and no one else. Shannon packs this concise read full of advice on how to walk off the world’s stage and onto the Lord’s, learn the steps of His unique dance, learn to dance with other believers, and how to have the right attitude during all of these adjustments. Not only does she include deep spiritual truth in this book, she also gives practical reasons for making the good choices most teenage girls have a hard time with—choices involving modest clothing, submitting to authority, dating, and more. Your daughter will find this book to encourage her in learning how to behave as a daughter of the King.
Internet Protect Your Kids By Stephen Arterburn and Roger Marsh
Review By Megan
There’s no denying that kids frequently use the internet and that they are under its influence. More often than not, children use the internet even more than their parents do. Do you know what your children are exposed to when they use the computer? Stephen Arterburn and Roger Marsh have written an excellent book for parents who are concerned about their children’s safety on the internet. Learn how to protect your kids from things like pornography, sexual predators, and other evil influences on the information super-highway. This book will also teach you monitor your children’s online activities and also give you practical ideas on how to teach your children about the dangers of the internet.
Wow………what a good review!