transcript below:
Today I have a book review for you. Before I begin, I need to tell you that I was asked by the author, Holli Fry, to read her book, Amena’s Quest. I have never heard this name before or heard this title read by the author, so I don’t know if it’s exactly how she would pronounce it.I had never met the author, Holli Fry, before, but she had found me via my homeschool website here. And I found out that she also taught her children at home – she had six children – and she invited me to look at her author website to decide if I was interested in reading and reviewing one of her books. She was not pressuring me at all.And then she recommended I review Amena’s Quest.
Honestly, I was not that eager. This is partly because I would have to give an honest review. I have seen a lot of children’s books that are either lacking any significant merit or are subtly indoctrinating children with all manner of wrong thinking or even inviting them to participate in very questionable experiences. I am happy to say that Holli’s book, Amena’s Quest, is not one of those books. In fact, I think Holli’s book has the makings of a classic.
From the very first chapters, the writing reminded my of Little House on the Prairie books, with a writing style that is at once easy to read and very descriptive. The world-building would make CS Lewis proud. And the allegory within the fantasy gives George MacDonald a run for his money.
Parents do need to be aware that the story deals with life and death matters, facing extreme hardship though never dwelling on despair. However, the adventure is no more intense than battles, say, in Narnia and the overall message is founded on goodness and hope.
The story is decidedly Christian, though this is never directly stated in the story world for the simple fact that it is a fantasy and Holli does not presume to mix the real world and her own. It does bill itself as a parable of Jesus’s love in the subtitle, so that’s there obvious and clear for everyone to see.
Reading the book is a delightful treasure hunt of what some might call easter eggs of meaning. However, the principles are colorfully embedded in the experiences of the young girl, Amena. The reader is never preached to in boring speeches. I can’t tell you what my favorite easter egg was in the story, because that would tell too much about the story. But if, after reading it, you want to know, you can send me an email and I will share that with you.
Based on Holli’s introduction and author information, I am sure she would agree with me that everything in her book, or any book, should be carefully evaluated by Biblical standards. That is, the Bible is the only completely reliable source of truth and is sufficient. I may have had quibbles with how a couple of the wise sayings on the tree leaves were understood in her story, but that is up to you to determine yourself. Even with verses that are clear by themselves there is so much depth added to them by reading them in the context of the particular book or letter of the Bible, as well as the whole Bible.
Another thing I really enjoyed about Holli’s book was the layers in her story world. The further you go on the journey with Amena, the more dimensions appear. It is somewhat like looking at one of those shiny 3-D illustrations that show different features when you turn it different ways and catch the light this way and that. You have to make a little effort, but it’s not hard and things pop out at you and make you smile.
Being a recovering homeschool mom – I jest, because I know what it feels like to have your children all grown, but still have the urge to share and teach – so Holli being a recovering homeschool mom, has also published a workbook to use with Amena’s Quest. That’s just the standard terminology, but she was quick to add that she knows workbooks in general are a boring waste of time, but hers is more of a travel guide, as it says in the title.
This study/travel guide does directly quote the scriptures alluded to in the book. It is organized by chapters according to the book and is more about inviting the reader to delve into the journey more fully. In essence, it is another portal into Amena’s world, where she and her father go in desperate search of something to heal her mother from a mysterious illness. But can they survive many dangers to find what they are looking for and get back in time?
I hope you will check out Holli’s book, Amena’s Quest. You can find links to it and her website (below).
Holli Fry’s website and her other books: Holli Fry Books
