Summer Reading Recommendations for the Soul

Summer is here, which means you might find yourself with a little more time for—reading! What did you think I was going to say—watching sports!? Well, we can always hope. Until then, invest your time in some reading that will be good for your soul. Here are my recommendations in a few different categories.

For Children

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis can almost go without mention here because it is so well-known. If your kids haven’t read through it, though, it’s well-worth it. Truth be told, however, with each passing year this series is becoming a better fit for the pre-teen and teen category. You’ll definitely need to read these books to your younger children, as they will find them too hard to read on their own.

If you’d like your child to practice their reading skills while developing some good devotional habits, consider Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones. These short devotionals are accessible for beginning readers from about 3^rd grade on up. They would also make for good family devotions at any time of the year.

My family has not made it very far through this last series, but I’m hearing enough good things about The Green Ember series by S. D. Smith to be able to recommend it to you.

For Pre-Teens/Teens

If your pre-teen or teen likes graphic novels, check out the graphic novels of the Bible produced by Kingstone Comics (www.kingstone.co). The authors have made every effort to stay close to the text of Scripture with their dialogue, which makes these graphic novels a fun and engaging way for pre-teens and teens to get more familiar with the Bible. One note of caution—the drawings of demons in these novels could be frightening for some kids and even teens. My six- and nine-year-old kids haven’t been bothered by them, but others might have different reactions.

Inspirational Non-Fiction

I’ll mention several recommendations in this category in rapid-fire fashion:

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. The story of Louis Zamperini, Olympic athlete turned Army Air Force airman during World War II. After spending much of the war in a Japanese POW camp, Zamperini found power in Christ to forgive his former captors.

Fire Road, by Kim Phuc Phan Thi. The story of the little girl in the famous photo from Vietnam, running down the road naked after being caught in a napalm attack. She later became a Christian and lived a remarkable life.

D. L. Moody: A Life, by Kevin Belmonte. The story of the great evangelist and the institutions he founded. I was particularly touched by stories of Moody’s humor.

Mission at Nuremberg, by Tim Townsend. The story of a Lutheran U. S. Army Chaplain and his efforts to minister to Nazi war criminals during the Nuremberg Trials.

For the Glory, by Duncan Hamilton. The story of Olympic legend Eric Liddell of “Chariots of Fire” fame. Liddell later became a missionary to China to ministered there during the Japanese occupation in World War II.

Inspirational Fiction

Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn. I’m a man, so I’m not supposed to cry, right? Well, this book brought tears to my eyes several times. A story about a nominal Christian from the United States on a business trip to China to visit a former classmate. This beautiful depiction of faith will touch your soul.

The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis. Ever wonder what’s going on in the mind of a demon—what it might be thinking as it tries to tempt you? C. S. Lewis humorously and insightfully pulls back that curtain through a series of fictional letters from an experienced demon to a rookie demon who’s trying to learn the ropes.

Any novels by Joel C. Rosenberg. Okay, I might be stretching the definition of “inspirational” here. These aren’t warm-and-fuzzy, feel-good novels—they’re stories of war and espionage told against the backdrop of a Christian worldview. “The Last Jihad” series in particular is set within the framework of biblical prophecy.

Christian Living

I’ll start with two books by Paul E. Miller—“A Praying Life” and “The J Curve.” These books are fantastic explanations of two subjects we often don’t understand as well as we’d like—prayer and suffering.

Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. It’s hard to long for a place you don’t know much about. Many Christians are in that place with regard to Heaven, but Alcorn’s book will help fill in the gaps in your understanding.

Decision Making and the Will of God, by Garry Friesen. A slightly older book, but timeless in its advice. Many people are virtually paralyzed in the face of decisions. That feeling can be amplified for Christians because of the notion of missing God’s will for your life. This book will help you have a more biblical understanding of that subject.

Heavy Lifting

For those brave souls looking for a challenge!

Salvation and Sovereignty, by Kenneth Keathley. When most Christians start thinking deeply about their faith, it doesn’t take them long to get around to questions about how God’s control over all things can fit together with our ability to make choices. This book offers a systematic analysis of such questions and—in my opinion—successfully blends ideas from both the Calvinist and Arminian positions.

Why Does God Allow Evil?, by Clay Jones. Who hasn’t asked this question? This book examines the subject from many different angles and offers some very compelling answers.