C.S. Lewis; The Space Trilogy

Did you know Lewis published three novels in the mid 1940's based on space travel and the spiritual battles that exist on every heavenly body that God created? This SciFi trilogy includes the books, "Out of this Silent Planet," "Perelandria,"and "This Hideous Strength."

The first book includes a linguist named Ransom, who is kidnapped by new age scientists who travel to Mars to confront the ancient beings living there. As it turns out, the planet is heavily under the influence of angelic beings who easily accept God's plan for their lives, and mourn for Earth, the silent planet under the influence of a darker being. The next books includes the creation of a human-like race on Venus, with a green, but equally beautiful "Eve." The final book deals with the battle between good and evil one earth, and includes the reawakening of Merlin from the King Arthur's tale.

I read all three novels and loved them, but I have to say that the content may be above the heads of most junior high and some high school students. There's a lot of philosophy in all three stories that they won't be able to appreciate. It WAS interesting to compare Lewis' fiction to space travel two decades later, and I really enjoyed the Merlin's character in the final book and how he was woven into the story.

All in all, if you're looking for a good read to share as a family, these books could be considered. Expect a lot of discussion, but enjoy a glimpse into Lewis' earlier works as a younger author.

Books with cuddly pink covers may not be as innocent as they seem. When my 11 year-old came home from the bookstore with a book titled “Thirteen” by Lauren Myracle, I immediately checked on Amazon and found a few less than favorable reviews including one that claimed the book contained a scene where the main character contemplates intimate acts between her parents. (Yes, THAT intimate act.)

I read further reviews on the author and found multiple comments by both parents and teens that claim her books introduce readers to sexual language and behavior, as well as drugs and unhealthy relationships with adults and teens. These reviews are most specific to the novels written in “text language” but also apply to most of the author’s very popular books.

I find it frustrating that I cannot set my children loose in their section of the library and trust that the books they find there are written with their well-being, rather than profit, in mind. The idea to write a series that follows characters through their formative years, as well as novels written in coded text language, are genius and I wish that Myracle was concerned enough about her readers to encourage positive thinking and include character enriching content in her novels, rather than selling the creepy detritus found within her paperback covers.

I can only stress how important it is for caregivers to read and discuss the literature their children read and weigh the consequences of exposure to the content.