Several years ago, we really enjoyed reading the Gladys Aylward biographical story, These Are My People (1984), by Milly Howard. I found this other novel by Howard in a pile of books that a ministry gave us, so I thought it would be a good option to balance out our readings. Both my kids have been enjoying the Gary Paulsen books we’ve read recently (like Brian’s Hunt and Dogsong), but my daughter (11) also enjoys female protagonists from time to time, so this was a good fit.
It’s an exciting story for any 10-11yo girls with hearts for “romance”—though not necessarily the love kind of romance. It’s got action and daring, friendships and betrayal, fugitives and royalty. It’s got a little bit of everything, and even my son (13) reluctantly enjoyed the simple plot.
The main lesson of the book (for teachers and parents to note) is the importance of duty over will. Brenna ultimately must give up on her own desires to do the things she’s called to do, designed to do. After all, she’s the princess, and without her leadership, the nations would fall. It’s a message of growth and maturity for this young girl, and one more broadly for the reader of realigning one’s will to God’s.
I actually remember seeing this book cover on my shelf as a kid, so I very likely read it when I was their age. Sadly, I didn’t remember a blessed thing about Brenna, Quintag, Rino, or the plot! The reality suddenly hit me as I read, making me wonder: which of the many stories we read together will my own kids remember?
I’m not worried about it, of course. Our daily practice of reading together is instilling in them a love for books and joy over a good yarn. And there are plenty of other, better things for them to store up in their hearts than the plots to the many books they’ve enjoyed over the years! It’s just a curious thing, the good memories that fade over time.
The verse that popped into my head when I wrote that was 1Corinthians 13:13,
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (NLT)
And the fact that a verse instantly popped in my head when the plot of an entire book didn’t when I read it a second time—-well, let me just say the Word of God is that better thing to store up in the heart!
This was a good book, and we’d likely read Milly Howard again. For the time being, though, we’re heading back to another author in the same vein, Jeri Massi and her trilogy beginning with The Bridge.
©2024 E.T.
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