Recommended Reads for the Christy Challenge

A few of you wonderful folks out there in blogging land have expressed interest in joining the Christy Challenge, causing Deborah and myself to jump up and down with glee, but since you are ,perhaps, just dipping your toes into the complex world of Christian fiction for the first time, you want some guidance.

I'm going to share with you a few of my favorite books out of the Christy list, and hope that it gives you something to think about while making your decision. :)

Songbird by Lisa Samson is a good pick for any of you who enjoy literary fiction. Lisa actually has quite a few titles on the list, and while I haven't read all of her books, they are sure bets. She has a knack for creating true to life characters that encounter real life issues. I am always touched by her books, and her book The Passion of Mary Margaret is one of my top reads for this past year.

Finding Alice by Melody Carlson is also a pretty good read about a girl suffering from schizophrenia. I learned a lot about some of the struggles someone who is schizophrenic might face while reading this book. (The 2004 Contemporary category would be a great choice for fans of literary fiction or women's fiction.)

If you love suspense, I definitely recommend Ted Dekker's Thr3e. It was my introduction to this now best-selling author.

Levi's Will by Dale Cramer is an excellent choice. It's just recently been reissued to look like every other Amish book, but it's not. I felt like this book took a hard look at the Amish lifestyle and the difficulty of leaving it in a way that was true. I simply can't recommend it enough, it really really made me think.

I do recommend Last Light by Terri Blackstock. If you read the Moon Crash books by Susan Beth Pfeffer, you might also enjoy these. While not as intense, a lot of similar issues are covered and I found it gripping when I read it.

If you are blogger, you should definitely read The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell which is a fun chick lit story that includes a blog!!! Yay!

And Everything's Coming Up Josey by Susan May Warren almost goes without saying...she is one of my favorite authors and that is one of my favorite books. (Josey is a huge LOST fan, too. Whee!!)

Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson was a life changing book for me, one that consumed me and made me think about every way I spend my time and money and what it means to follow Jesus. Probably a bit more spiritual than the rest, but just....I have so much love for it.

My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay is one of my number one recommendations!!! I LOVED this book! If you like survival stories I think you will enjoy this. I want to say if you liked The Hunger Games you'll like this but then I'm afraid your expectations will be too high. So just think..teens surviving in the jungle!

From a Distance by Tamera Alexander is also a great read with sharp characterization and great writing. The Moon in the Mango Tree is another one of my favorites that I highly recommend.

In conclusion, My top recommended picks are:
Levi's Will by Dale Cramer
Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson
My Hands Came away Red by Lisa McKay
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen
Everything's Coming Up Josey by Susan May Warren

But of course I haven't read them all! Have you read any of the books on the Christy list? What do you think of my recommendations?