Four YA novel recommendations

Today, I’m recommending four YA novels for you: Hesitant Heroes by Sharon Rene, The Demons Among Us by Jill K. Willis, Tinsel in a Twist by Laurie Germaine, and Castle of Refuge by Melanie Dickerson. With gift giving on the horizon, you might consider giving these novels to your teens. Find short reviews below.

Hesitant Heroes

In Hesitant Heroes by Sharon Rene, a group of teens discover their school is involved in an evil plot to assassinate a key political figure, and the administration intends to blame the Christian students, who have disappeared. As the teens discover more, the danger escalates, especially since traitors exist around them. A slip would get them all killed.

I liked the intense plot of this speculative novel. The story pulled me in with its different layers. As I would be if I found myself in such a predicament, the likeable characters wrestle with doubts, insecurities, and other emotions as they get deeper into the crisis. Relationships and love interests are challenged. Should they keep a stoic façade or share their vulnerable hearts?

I appreciated that each person contributed to the cause with his or her unique talent/gift. Examples of gifts included expertise in martial arts and weaponry, yet others specialized with interacting with animals.

Sharon does a beautiful job of balancing all the tensions and bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion.

The Demons Among Us

This scary novel gets one thinking about Satan’s sneaky ways of getting us going down a road we never intended to follow. He uses our goals like dancing in Paris, being valedictorian, playing soccer as the star athlete, getting the star part in a play to hook us. But demons lie and destroy, and they cannot make promises to fulfill dreams or give eternal life on earth. Demons equal death.

In The Demons Among Us by Jill K. Willis, siblings Daniel and Joy wrestle with their own personal struggles and choices when an angel visits them in Joy’s room to warn them against Hunter, an upperclassman and jock at their high school, who seems cool and popular, but who has a demon living in him.  Their parents confirm the existence of demons when they tell them about how demons once tried to destroy their town. Well, the scary beings are back, and they intend to take the souls of as many as they can, including many of Daniel and Joy’s friends.

It’s easy to identify with Daniel and Joy. They want to fit in. They don’t want to get their friends in trouble so they overlook dangerous activities.

I like how the characters are stretched to trust and to obey even when the moment is super scary and might end in death.

Tinsel in a Twist

Tinsel in a Twist by Laurie Germaine continues the story of Tinsel, the Christmas elf from Tinsel in a Tangle. Tinsel travels with Niklas and Santa and Mrs. Claus to Germany for Niklas’ initiation ceremony, but the anticipated fun trip turns into a nightmare. Tinsel loses her talent, Niklas’ ex-fiancé intends to steal him back, the sought-after Silver Reindeer alludes them, and her allies disappear in a hostile foreign place. Tinsel’s confidence erodes fast, yet her strong character resists repression. If she doesn’t fight to save Christmas, who will?

Before reading this novel, I never heard of Krampus and Krampusnacht. This troubling holiday adds to the tension in the novel since herein lies the enemy of Christmas.

Laurie created relatable and likeable main characters who cry out interesting Christmas exclamations and winter references like crumbling candy canes! Mutti’s Kandi Cups sound so delicious, I wish I could buy one at The Flaky Crust.

I, of course, love the sweet romances. Most of all, the encouragements found within the pages of this novel stand out. Everyone needs to hear these truths because we all get attacked by something similar to mistlefoil. In the novel, like in life, a real war wages in our thought life.

Another point many people wrestle with is how much to share about themselves. Sometimes like Gina we neglect to share something about ourselves out of fear of rejection, but the truth is always best. Holding information back tends to always backfire. The author captures emotions well.

Castle of Refuge

Castle of Refuge, the second book in the Dericott Tale series by Melanie Dickerson, picks up the story of Edwin, Lord Dericott, after he returns home to his castle after losing an arm. Storyteller Squad highlighted the first in the series in April.

The hero and heroine wrestle with self-perception and self-confidence issues based on their perceived deformities. Edwin, of course, has no arm, thus sword fighting, horseback riding, running—all things he did with ease before his mishap—rise up as embarrassing weaknesses.

As Edwin struggles with this new inferiority complex, Audrey fights her own insecurities. Her sister, Maris, tries to destroy her any way she can. In one failed attempt, Audrey suffers burns which leave her scarred. Although beautiful, she believes herself ugly, unwanted, without an opportunity to fulfill her personal dreams. Edwin vows to protect Audrey, yet Audrey’s very existence puts those she cares about in serious danger.

Both must learn to trust God and trust their instincts. They both wonder what their purpose could be and feel they are ugly and destined to be alone. Dickerson weaves this sweet romance in while the characters grow in confidence and boldness.

This happily-ever-after clean romance is set in England during the Middle Ages. Their troubles are so different than our modern troubles in some ways, but in others all too familiar.

I hope you’ll enjoy these wonderful stories with your teens. Books make excellent gifts. Have you read any of these yet?