Books

New & Noteworthy Fiction

Chosen by Linda MacKillop, author of “The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon.”

Lightning Strike

William Kent Krueger (Atria Books)

The prequel to Krueger’s Cork O’Connor mystery series, Lightning Strike introduces 12-year-old Cork as he discovers the body of an acquaintance hanging from a tree. Cork shadows his father, sheriff Liam O’Connor, as Liam investigates whether the hanging was suicide or murder. He witnesses the locals mistreat his Irish father for marrying an Ojibwe woman from the reservation and hears insults directed toward her people, revelations that shatter his innocence. Lightning Strike depicts the elusiveness of justice and truth in a broken world populated by complex people.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water

Erin Bartels (Revell)

In Bartels’s lyrical novel, novelist Kendra Brennan retreats to her family lake cottage after receiving a letter from a disgruntled reader. The letter accuses Kendra of not understanding the backstory of her fictional antagonists, throwing her into serious writer’s block before her second novel’s deadline. Kendra’s efforts to uncover truths from the past raise questions about the complexity of forgiving those who wound us. With its thought-provoking storyline, The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water addresses the fine line between being the wounded and being the one who wounds.

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (a true story)

Daniel Nayeri (Levine Querido)

In Nayeri’s biographical novel, readers meet a 12-year-old Iranian refugee, Khosrou, who resettles in Oklahoma, going by the name Daniel. Secret police in Iran had threatened his family after his courageous mother converted to Christianity and refused to stop talking about Jesus. Stuck in an inhospitable school environment, Daniel tries connecting with his classmates by weaving together layered stories about Persian history and his own life’s funny and traumatic moments. While Daniel’s storytelling keeps his past alive in his young mind, the novel deftly portrays the loss and searing pain associated with leaving one’s homeland and living as a misunderstood refugee.

Also in this issue

Our cover story this month examines the career of a relatively unknown linguist whose life is a microcosm of the transformation that global Bible translation has undergone in the past half century. Also in this issue: Why religious moderates aren’t winning elections, the next-gen leaders of the Vineyard, and the sin of cutting corners.

Cover Story

The Woman Who Gave the World a Thousand Names for God

Christian Aid Agencies Have a New Approach to Famine

Online Seminary Isn’t B-League

After the Boomers, New Leaders Bring New Life to the Vineyard

Come On, Let Us Adore Him

Testimony

Before I Got Saved, I Got Shipped Off and Strung Out

Negligence Is a Deadly Sin

Found on Bushes? No!

Editorial

Where the Unborn Are People

Political Empathy Takes Work

Bring Back Altar Calls

5 Books on the History of Christian Parenting in America

News

20% of Polling Places Are in Churches. We Mapped Them.

News

Moral Middle Candidates Want to Save America (But They Keep Losing)

News

Evangelical School Strikes Deal with Chick-fil-A Franchises

What Does the End of ‘Roe v. Wade’ Require of Us?

News

What the First Black Death Victim Wanted the World to Know

News

Migrants to Europe Are Changing Churches

The Rise of the Pentecostal Fusionists

Review

If We Can’t Reason Together, How Can We Worship Together?

Review

Faith and Doubt Aren’t Black and White

View issue

Our Latest

News

Northern Seminary Presidential Installation Goes Awry

It’s unclear whether Joy Moore resigned her leadership at the suburban Chicago school.

News

How Abortion Pills Change the Fight for Life

Texas pregnancy centers adjust their services as women increasingly access mifepristone by mail.

‘The Chosen Adventures’ Educates Our Smallest Bible Scholars

The animated spinoff on the adult show is a heady attempt to disciple kids on the life of Jesus.

Review

Suffering Comes in Many Forms. So Does Theodicy.

Scripture attests to God’s distinct plans to wipe individual tears from individual eyes.

The Bulletin

Hamas Crackdown, Rural Hospitals, and Why Brides Wear White

Hamas punishes political enemies, the importance of rural hospitals, and how purity culture influences modern weddings.

Naomi Raine Isn’t Playing Games

The founding member of Maverick City Music is releasing new songs as a solo artist with an impressive roster of guests.

News

Shrinking Palestinian Christian Population Wary of Cease-Fire

“As people, we can live together … because this is what Jesus asked us to do.”

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube