Ever since you realized that you would grow up someday, you’ve been eagerly reaching for that milestone.
Grown-ups have it good, right? They get to go wherever they want. They have so many choices: what to eat, where to sleep, where to work. Nobody tells them what to do. Being a grown-up, yeah, life is easy.
In the new teen novel “Promise Kept” (c.2008, Kensington Dafina, $9.95 / $11.95 Canada, 211 pages, includes book club guide and teasers for the first four Perry Skky, Jr. books) by Stephanie Perry Moore, a young man learns that being an adult comes with certain responsibilities. Can his vows be honored while he stays true to himself?
Everybody thinks Perry Skky Jr. has it great. He’s an important part of his college’s football team, and they’re going to the playoffs. Perry’s got a steady girl now, a nice place to live and roommates he likes. He’s doing well in college and he’s got a supportive family. But Perry’s feeling pressure.
The night before the playoffs, Perry’s teammates want to celebrate early. Although he knows Coach’s rules and although he’s underage, Perry agrees to go out with his friends instead of trusting his gut and his God.
And then there’s Savoy, Perry’s girl. Although she, like Perry, loves the Lord, she’s tempted and tempting. Savoy says Perry’s not spending enough time with her, but the problem is, when he does, things start with a kiss and come close to ending up farther than they know God wants them to go.
Perry’s family, that’s another matter. When his grandmother got sick, Perry knew that his place was with his parents and sister. But it seems like Perry’s father always hears about the trouble at school and doesn’t focus on the good things Perry does. Dad’s always on Perry’s case about stepping up. So when it was time for his own health, why doesn’t Dad step up himself?
With the pressures and struggles that come his way all year, Perry wonders if it’s true that God only gives you as much as you can handle. A run-in with a vicious gang, Savoy’s brother getting hurt, a friend who’s drug addicted… with all these frustrations and problems, can Perry keep his promises to God and himself?
“Promise Kept” is a different sort of a literary critter. It’s meant for boys, specifically teen boys, and Christian teen boys at that.
Author Stephanie Perry Moore has created a world that her audience will embrace in this, the fifth novel in a series. Perry Skky Jr., the young man on whom these books are based, is a believable – if not almost overly-pious – character that most teens will be able to identify with and the problems he faces are that which today’s teens understand. Add in a good supporting cast, a start-your-own-book-club section, and teasers for the first four Perry Skky Jr. books, and you have a novel you won’t mind giving your son, grandson, or brother.
If you know a young man who embraces Christianity but doesn’t know what to read, give him a copy of “Promise Kept”. For him, this is a novel with plenty of promise.
