Across the Ocean Book Review (Author Celena Janton) - June 2017

This is a fairy tale for all ages. So much to love about this one... Where do I begin?

  Let's start with the author. Mrs. Janton is a Christian author, and her writing serves as a clear display of her faith. She tackles tough spiritual issues with elegance in her writing. She has a way of explaining things in a way a child can understand without "dumbing things down" like some tend to do, and I appreciate that in a children's author.

  

    Now, onto the book! The lead characters are well-developed, and easy to love. Let's talk about them for a moment.

Penelope, raised by her widowed mother, Constance, lives a simple life. A life that was centered around truth, love, and fairy tales. The child grew in knowledge and inner strength, and spent much of her time alone reading. Her mother aged, as parents do, and as her life came to an end, Penelope's was only beginning.

Findlay, or Fin, was raised on the other side of the world in a great, luxurious castle. He learned in a classroom, unlike Penelope who learned by losing herself in a book under a great tree. He was taught by the "wisest man in the world," and was lived his life by a set of rules in a book that, apparently, the intelligent should adhere to. Money, self-image, submission to the extent of blind following, and worldly knowledge were the key character traits drilled into him during his childhood.

The contrast between the two are great, and it shows just how different people can grow up to be based on what they are taught as children. On the one hand, Penelope was encouraged to love and seek out the truths written on her heart. Conversely, Fin was taught that man-written truths are the only truths, and that seeking out anything else is foolish, including ideals such as true love.

The book continues after the introduction of the key characters, and Penelope is sent on an adventure. I'm not big on giving away spoilers, so I will just leave it at this: Penelope goes off on a journey that is an allegorical picture of a spiritual voyage. She seeks out to learn who she is, what her purpose is, and where she belongs. She learns many lessons along the way that children will either relate to, or store away in their hearts to remember as they grow and learn more of God and spiritual truths.

As you read on, you follow the journey of Fin as his life unfolds as well. You see strong character development here and find that God's hand is always at work, even when we don't see it. Fin's life is woven in with Penelope's and their purposes are revealed to them.

The twists and turns along the way are nothing short of magical, and the end result will give you goosebumps!

Content:

There is zero inappropriate language.

There are zero sexual scenes or suggestive elements.

The subject of death is touched on a few times, though not in a way that will give little ones nightmares. It is mentioned as it is: a fact of life, that sometimes comes unexpectedly.

Age: Any and all ages, really. If they are old enough to sit still and listen, or old enough to read it for themselves, I say have at it! 

Length: 136 pages on Kindle, 101 on paperback.

Where to buy: Amazon

Price: Kindle: $0.99 on Kindle, FREE on Kindle Unlimited

          Paperback: $5.90

Be sure to check often for specials and promotions. Celena is good about putting her books out for free on occasion!

Check out the author on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CelenaMarieAuthor/
She's also available on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TravelinSistrs

Be sure to leave her a review on Amazon AND Goodreads after you check out her books!

Be sure to buy the second book in the series, Down the Stairway (A Christian Fairytale Book 2) as well! The third book in the series is set to come out this December.

*All excerpts, information, and photos are owned and property of Celena Janton and may not be used, from this blog post, without express permission from the author. The review itself may be shared, but not altered.*