4 out of 4 stars
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Have you ever become disillusioned or questioned your faith? After experiencing loss, including the death of his beloved grandmother, Christopher begins to doubt his beliefs. In The Journey Of Christopher by Michael J. DiSalvo, Christmas is only a few days away, but sixteen-year-old Christopher is suddenly irritated by everything related to the holiday. As he is wrestling with his faith, he is transported to a faraway place, and he meets a quirky guide who helps him discover the truth about staying on the right path and the ultimate power of Jesus.
To avoid confusion, I will start by noting that this coming-of-age story is mistakenly categorized in the wrong genre. A more accurate description of the blended genres might be The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe meets A Christmas Carol with a dash of sci-fi. The story is best suited for a young adult audience and traverses themes of family, faith, loss, generosity, love, sacrifice, and good versus evil. It contains no profanity, and the violent encounters are relevant to the plot. Additionally, the editing is flawless.
Most of the story focuses on Christopher's journey while he is away from home, but his family is introduced and also referred to later in the book. DiSalvo does an excellent job of using the storyline to illustrate the characterization of Christopher's parents and younger brother. I particularly like the portrayal of his mother; she is the picture of the Christmas spirit as she prepares for the holiday. I also appreciate the humor of Christopher's guide, Mike.
My only dislike is an entire chapter devoted to a battle scene between Christopher and an otherworldly character. As DiSalvo doesn't reveal the nature of the character in the synopsis, I want to be careful about exposing spoilers. It is an epic battle between good and evil, and Christopher risks his life to defend a new friend. I appreciate the sacrificial example, but the chapter would be more interesting with a shorter battle.
I'm pleased to rate The Journey Of Christopher 4 out of 4 stars. Despite the lengthy battle chapter, it is an otherwise engaging story with a creative plot and inspirational message. As the story revolves around the crisis of Christopher's faith, I recommend it primarily to Christian readers. However, the fantasy and sci-fi aspects may also appeal to a wider audience. The content is suitable for ages 12 and older. Fans of inspirational holiday tales will also appreciate the Christmas spirit it evokes.
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The Journey Of Christopher
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