Bridgers a Parable

Author: Angie Thompson
Genre: Young Adult

Three boys. One choice. No turning back.

Peyton is a rising star in the church who is well on the way to reaching his biggest dreams. Levi is a pastor's son struggling to live up to his faith under pressure from all sides. DaVonte is a kid from the wrong side of town who would be content if he and his friends were just left alone.

When an act of violence presents a 

sudden decision, each boy's answer will shake the community to its core and shape its future forever. Love and truth face off against fear and pride in this modern extension of one of Jesus' best-known parables.

Reviewer: Hanna Olson

Bridgers is a fast-paced, rip-roaring good read. Angie Thompson has delivered a well thought out and meaningful story of teen life on both sides of the tracks. With themes including drug and alcohol abuse, gang violence, superficial Christianity, peer pressure, social anxiety and much more the author weaves a tale that not only hits the reader hard but is most relevant to young adults today.

From the start, you won't  want to put this story down. The story and character development build in such a way that you feel like you become a part of that world cheering for members of both sides of the bridge. With clear Christian subject matter, the progression of the story is filled with real-life choices and consequences of those choices. It's a battle of selfish conformity versus righteous bravery for the main characters with a true picture of the gentle nudging of Holy Spirit. Forgiveness is illustrated along with trusting in the Lord, believing the Word of God, and loving even those who are hard to love. 

I couldn't think of a more beneficial fictional story for teens than Bridgers. This work is highly recommended by me, so much so, that I bought four copies to give to the youth in my life. I am looking forward to reading more from Angie Thompson and praise God for this ministry gift He has given her and her willingness to share it with us.  

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Reviewer: Crystal P.

Everyone needs to read this book! I'm serious. It touches on important issues today such as drugs, gangs, cigarettes, etc.

When I first started this book, it was confusing. I wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but after the most important scene happened in the book, I just really felt drawn to this.

Three POVs are in this book, and it's really interesting. I instantly disliked Peyton at the beginning, which I figure we were supposed to feel that way about him. He was an example of those who think highly of themselves and those who come from the same background as him, not accepting people with tattoos and who came from poorer areas. Peyton was the type of character who faked who he was, sort of a false believer.

DaVonte Jones was probably the main "main" character out of the three and just really showed me that it doesn't matter if you claim to be a Christian because showing how you treat and value people will prove to the world who you are on the inside. 

This book is very important for us Christians, especially those beginning their teenage years, to read so we can understand the important issues of reality today. I really like this book, and I think it'd be worth getting.

Content: mentions of drugs, tattoos, drinking, and gangs. A brief scene about the main character smoking cigarettes and being turned away from that. There's a violent crime that happens and some mentions of blood. Recommended age: 13+​

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