mishon's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
melsmodernlife's review
lighthearted
3.0
Overall, a lighthearted children's book. This series is a take on Bible stories with the Adventures in Odyssey twist. I read these when I was much younger and it's interesting to read them as an adult. There is some violence in this (to be honest it was more than I remembered there being for a children's book, but I guess that shouldn't be a big surprise because the Old Testament was pretty brutal too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Suicide
lmbartelt's review
4.0
I don't have a lot of experience with Adventures in Odyssey, which is loosely tied to this series of books. In Darien's Rise, the first installment of the Passages series, a couple of adults discover and read an old story one of them found in a trunk from an estate sale. The story is about two kids who find an old house in the woods and are supernaturally transported to another place and time.
What's cool about this story is that it's based on a story from the Bible. In this case, it's based on parts of the life of King David.
I haven't read a lot of middle grade fiction, but I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written and the parallels are not obvious but also not so subtle that you have to have studied the Old Testament in depth to know it.
The books are promoted as a fresh look at familiar stories, and I would agree with that label. I'm looking forward to reading more of these.
What's cool about this story is that it's based on a story from the Bible. In this case, it's based on parts of the life of King David.
I haven't read a lot of middle grade fiction, but I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written and the parallels are not obvious but also not so subtle that you have to have studied the Old Testament in depth to know it.
The books are promoted as a fresh look at familiar stories, and I would agree with that label. I'm looking forward to reading more of these.
holtfan's review
Read this book a few years ago and LOVED it. I couldn't remember its name until I finally found the person who lent it to me xD The story of David, it was a fun, interesting novel that (if I recall correctly) was well-written.
booksforchristiangirls's review against another edition
2.0
This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.
8/24/2015-
"Personally didn't enjoy the writing style at all, but younger readers might look over that fact. The content made it feel like it was aimed more for younger boys, but I think reading the actual Bible story from the Bible or a graphic Bible might be better."
*Main Content-
A suicide (boarder-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Dead bodies (semi-detailed); Sword fighting, blood, stabbing, & trying to kill someone (semi-detailed); Mentions of slaughtering a family & rebels; Mentions of selling kids into slavery;
8/24/2015-
"Personally didn't enjoy the writing style at all, but younger readers might look over that fact. The content made it feel like it was aimed more for younger boys, but I think reading the actual Bible story from the Bible or a graphic Bible might be better."
*Main Content-
A suicide (boarder-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Dead bodies (semi-detailed); Sword fighting, blood, stabbing, & trying to kill someone (semi-detailed); Mentions of slaughtering a family & rebels; Mentions of selling kids into slavery;
More...