There is quite a bit to share here in the potentially concerning content section, and it should be taken seriously, but we do want to say that all of this falls within a story that is overarchingly good. While we always want to list the full detail of potentially concerning content, please make sure to read the next section as it captures more of the heart of the book. For any child ready for it, we do HIGHLY Recommend this book and series.
The main thing to know about is that, while this book does go out of its way to keep its audience in mind, it also does not sugarcoat the evil that often chooses to attack while hiding in the shadows and behind the curtain here in western cultures, but is many times operating right on the surface in other cultures, places and situations. It is important that, as much as we would like it not to be true, everything described in this book happens each and every day all around our world. We will share the main portion of this content so you can judge for yourself its appropriateness for your particular children.
The book opens in a village where each year a young child goes missing. Everyone seems to ignore this, which we see through the eyes of one young girl from the town. We find out the reality of many religions around the world. It turns out a ‘spirit doctor’ who pledges his allegiance to demons yearly reminds the village that a child is to be selected (as an ‘honor’) to be the yearly sacrifice to ‘their lord’ the Naga dragon who ‘eats’ them. We see a terrifying scene as the village actually sets out to enact this, with young Katya as this year’s selection.
Katya’s aunt and uncle help her escape, but this leads her into a new danger, another that happens daily all around the world, as she is picked up by someone offering her help, but in reality, takes her for human trafficking. This sets the scene for the author to shine a light on the fact that Thailand is famous for trafficking and prostitution, bringing ‘predators’ from across the world to victimize helpless girls. The author again does keep his audience in mind, but this topic is hit very directly and becomes the stage of some of the very powerful faith-focused moments in the story. One example is a heartwarming section where Chaz rescues a young girl. The book is in no way graphic, but the reader knows what the man had purchased the girl for. This may be a great opportunity, through reading the book alongside your child, to discuss this important topic and the realities of this broken world.
A story of great forgiveness is shared, but it involves a missionary woman whose village was burned and the rest of her family murdered. There is a scene that starts off frightening as a demon possessed man shows up at a outdoor church/missions gathering (see more below).
Other items:
There is quite a bit of content around Chaz being very smitten with a young girl. It comes up a lot throughout. While he is a kid and is certainly learning a lot of his focus is on this topic. It does bring up some solid moments, such as when he prays for leading and really learns lessons around not misinterpreting Bible verses, it is still something for parents to know about when considering.
The cover is a bit frightening as far as images go.
Theology is discussed between kids from a missionary group and is not always fully resolved.
Comic books are mentioned in a positive light, where typically today they are very dark.
Two girls are introduced, one being called ‘well curved’ and another as ‘straight as a stick’
The girl he likes, while they are playing a board game, reaches her foot up from next to him and begins touching his leg with her foot. He gets anxious and excited. The chapter title and one comment refer to this as “footsies”. The whole scene turns into a huge debacle and is shown in a negative light, but it is important to know it is there.
There is a great discussion around cultural sensitivity in missions work that we really like, but think it misses an even more important point that this and all things may have to take a back seat if God calls us to speak out boldly in a way that may be offensive.
It is also important to make sure children know there is all types of mission work, in countless contexts around the world. If they have not been exposed to the variety of opportunities, take the time to get more resources through your church or a trusted source online.