Book Review: Wild Grace by Max Lucado

Title: Wild Grace: What Happens When      

      Grace Happens

Author: Max Lucado

# Of Pages: 176

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: September 11, 2012

Source: BookSneeze

Level: Young Adult

Rating: 3 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

Bestselling author Max Lucado explains that if teens let God’s grace change them, shape them, and strengthen them, their lives will never be the same.

Today’s teens are being shaped by the pressures and disappointments of the world. But Max Lucado encourages them to take a close look at what can shape their hearts and their futures from the inside out—God’s grace.

As Max explains, "God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A whitewater, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you." Wild Grace gives teens an understanding of how grace can change their lives in powerful ways, even when those lives are messed up, off track, or in trouble. Each chapter describes another miracle that happens when we allow God’s grace to work on us and through us:

“Grace is God’s decision to change everything. Good-bye, earthly labels. Stupid. Unpopular. Ugly. Failure. No longer. You aren’t who they say you are. You are who He says you are. Spiritually alive. Connected to God. Amazing.”

Teens will be convinced that God knew what He was doing when He made them and His grace is always there, ready to work wonders that are bigger than anything this world has to offer.

My Verdict

This is the first time I’ve read the teen edition of one of Mr. Lucado’s books and I’m sad to say I didn’t enjoy it as much as his adult books. Don’t get me wrong, he is still an incredible author and pretty much the only non-fiction author I will read, but I was a little disappointed.

The layout of the book was extremely nice, with fancy chapter headings, pop out quotations and such: really gorgeous. The story was adapted for teens by James Lund, but I felt the adaptation was a little too “hip” which I didn’t like, but I’m sure the younger crowd will appreciate, such as the references to Lady Gaga and other “teen” things.

One of the things I always LOVE about Mr. Lucado’s books is that he includes real life stories that he seamlessly weaves into the point he’s trying to make. These are usually the parts that really touch my heart. These stories were handled a little differently this time and instead of Max telling us about them himself, they come in the form of letters written directly by the person. I didn’t like this format as much and was actually most touched by the one story not in this format, the story of Barbara Leininger and her sister, Regina who were taken captive by Indians in 1775. As I read through this story on a bench in the school hallway I found myself blinking back tears and willing myself not to cry.

I enjoyed this book but I couldn’t help but wonder if I would have enjoyed the adult version Grace better. I want to read the adult one now so that I can compare the two. I think I’ll stick with what I know and love and continue to read his adult books and pass on his next teen edition.