In this second book of the Anika Scott MK series, Anika faces reentering Canada. When her family takes an unscheduled furlough because of her father’s health, Anika misses Kenya but tries to fit in in Canada. But the one person close to her age who is supposed to help her to overcome this frightening new situation is just plain mean. But her cousin Tianna has her own issues. Anika gets caught up in the problems facing Tianna whose parents are on the verge of divorce.
Reading level: age 10-14 years
The first in the Anika Scott series, this story is about a missionary kid (MK) in Kenya. In this book 12 year old Anika tries to overcome her initial dislike of Lisa, the new MK on the field who wants nothing more to go back to the States. At the same time Anika worries that her own family will be forced to leave the field because of her father’s illness. In the face of both frustration and danger, Anika relies on her faith in God, and in the process, she discovers something new about His trustworthiness. Other books in the series include: Tianna the Terrible, Anika’s Mountain, Ambush at Amboseli, and Sabrina the Schemer. These are some of the best Christian books for MKs in this age group, as they deal quite realistically and matter-of-factly with MK life.
Reading level: age 9-13 years
Based on the experiences of the author’s mother, this is the story of a Canadian MK who grew up in Taiwan in the early 1900s. The book follows her from her early childhood in Taiwan, to Canada where she grows up with her siblings and her mother’s relatives and afterwards her mother returns to Taiwan to rejoin her father in ministry. Her reentry experience is especially poignant, as she is given the responsibility to take care of her brother in a foreign world. But is there anyone to take care of her?
Reading level: age 10-14
Part of the Trailblazer series, this is the story of Joy Ridderhof of Gospel Recordings written from the perspective of Alastair Sutherland, son of Scottish missionaries on the Philippine island of Palawano in 1949. Alastair’s parents have longed for years to give the gospel to the local tribespeople in their own language, but since it is not written they do not have a way to do this. Then Alastair reads about Joy Ridderhof who with her portable recording machine makes records of the gospel message in tribal languages. The family is excited when Miss Ridderhof agrees to come to their island, especially because Alastair’s friend, Lastani, is chosen to translate. But when a series of problems jeopardizes both the making of the recordings and Alastair’s long-awaited trip to Manila to begin boarding school, Alastair finds it hard to follow Joy’s advice to view the roadblocks as “good rejoicing practice.”
Reading level: age 8-12 years
John Knight and his parents arrive in India where his father has been appointed junior magistrate in the Tinnevelly District. There John and his mother befriend Amy Carmichael who is involved in rescuing and caring for young girls sold as temple prostitutes (described vaguely as “the evil practices of the Hindu temples”). John and his mother become involved in the case of a 12-year old who has come to seek refuge from her uncle who has arranged her marriage to a 50-year old friend so he can gain control of her large inheritance. Unlike the boys in his British-run boarding school, John loves India and its people and learns Tamil to prepare himself to return as an adult to become an advocate for the poorest people of the country. His language skills become invaluable later when he is asked to help the girl one last time.
This book is part of the Trailblazer series that tells about famous Christians (mostly missionaries) through the eyes of children who come in contact with them.
Reading level: age 8-12 years
“The sound of her brother’s scream echoed on and on in her head as though it would never end. “Let me go!” she demanded stupidly in English. The African boy dug his nails into Keri’s arm and brought the knife closer to her face.”
A dramatic adventure set during Mozambique’s civil war, The Wooden Ox follows young TCK Keri as the war becomes more and more real to her and her missionary family. Surrounded by fear and loss, Keri begins to question if she can trust anyone to protect her, even her own father or her God. Many of the events of this story are actually based on the author’s real childhood experiences from when she lived in Mozambique during civil war in the 1980s.
Reading level: 10-13 years
