Review – Light of Mine

About the Book

Book: Light of Mine

Author: Alen Brokken

Genre: Christian Fantasy Middlegrade

Release Date: November 3, 2019

Light of Mine, introduces Lauren (12), Aiden (9), and Ethan (5) who bear the responsibility of keeping their Father’s newly constructed Tower of Light shining in his absence.

Darkness is spreading through Zoura. Beyond the borders of the heathlands, innocent animals are being turned into monsters, and good men into pawns of the Dark One. Father has vanished after joining the Mighty Mercenaries and mother has gone missing in search of him.

Alone on the farm, twelve-year-old Lauren and her brave little brothers, Aiden and Ethan, must guard the Tower of Light that will guide both parents home. But when a hooded stranger is caught trespassing the farm, and a new bishop claims the church, confusion pervades their close-knit community. Will the children be able to recognize who is a threat to the Tower and who is there to help them protect it?

With little else but the aid of a trio of blessed pets, three mysterious weapons, and their growing faith, Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan find it is up to them to stop the agents of The Dark One from putting out the Light and dooming the heathlands to Darkness.

Fans of Little House on the Prairie will feel at home in the series’ classic farmstead setting, and the sincerity of the children’s love for one another— nurtured by the example of their parents—will bring a smile to readers and listeners of all ages.

Read Light of Mine aloud to your family or confidently give it to your middle grade reader, knowing he or she will be ensconced in a wholesome and riveting experience, beginning to end.

Click here to get your copy.

My Review

Brokken, Allen. Light of Mine. 2019.

Allen Brokken has written a story for older elementary students based on the concept of the Sunday School song This Little Light of Mine. Light of Mine is book one in Brokken’s new series The Towers of Light. 

This intermediate level fantasy novel has several things that will appeal to older elementary children. The first being the children left alone by their parents. Lauren is the oldest at twelve, Aiden is nine, and Ethan is just five. What pre-teen doesn’t think they are old enough to take care of things while their parents are gone. This age group will also enjoy the fight of good over evil and understand the difficulty the children have in determining who is on the side of Light and who is on the side of Darkness. The book does seem a bit didactic and simplistic at times which may turn some children off to the plot. 

Overall, I think this is a good book for children. Light of Mine sounds like a story parents may read to their children at bedtime. Homeschool families may be interested in using the book. I look forward to reading more in Allen Brokken’s series The Towers of Light.

There would not be a problem with adding Light of Mine to a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students. 

I want to thank Celebrate Lit for the complementary copy of Light of Mine. This is my honest review. 

About the Author

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. Follow his endeavors @towersoflight, @twodadsandajoke, and http://www.brokken.net. Your children can grow their own faith and love of God by following the adventures of Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan (plus their pets!) at instagram.com/towersoflight.

Stay tuned for book two, launching in June 2020, and book three in December 2020.

The faith journey continues! Onward and upward.

More from Allen

When my kids were young there was really nothing better than getting out of my car at the end of a long day at work and having my three little kiddos run up to me and give hugs because Daddy’s Home! As a Father of three young children I was very concerned about the direction society was taking. I wasn’t sure that with how things were going that I had the knowledge or the skill to train them up in the way they should go, as the Bible directs.

Then in 2008 I took a new job that had me traveling four days a week. It was one of the hardest times of my life, the stress of a high pressure job, the loneliness of being on the road, and uncertainty of being a young parent really brought me to the end of myself. However, all of the travel gave me a lot of time to study the scriptures and learn from the writing of great bible teachers.

It was during this time that I began to write stories for my children. At first I brought my children’s stuffed animals to life for silly adventures. But then one day while we were putting together a play fort in our back yard I saw a sunrise pattern in the wood in the top of the tower. I thought:

“What if there was a Tower of Light shining God’s goodness over the children and their animals?”

“What if the children experienced the indwelling of the holy spirit in a real way like Sampson or David?”

“What if the full armor of God was physical armor they could use to defeat the darkness?”

As I shared my story with my children, they loved it.

I believe you and your children will love it too.

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, April 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 5

Texas Book-aholic, April 6

Seasons of Opportunities, April 7

Wishful Endings, April 8 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 10

For Him and My Family, April 11

For the Love of Literature, April 12

deb’s Book Review, April 13

Blogging With Carol, April 14

Blossoms and Blessings, April 15

Simple Harvest Reads, April 16 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, April 17 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Allen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f8bb/light-of-mine-celebration-tour-giveaway