I’ll use my new adult romance Summer at West Castle for an example. This story takes place in South Dakota over the warm summer months. Themes include moving beyond preconceived notions of oneself and others, trusting that God wills for your good even when you don’t feel worthy, Christian courtship, and the importance praying always—but especially when making important decisions. And these themes are fleshed out as Caitlyn, with strong faith and values, interacts with Jarret, who has made a lot of mistakes.

Book Summary:

College student Caitlyn Summer arrives at the Wests’ castle-like house to fill in for their live-in maid. After a recent decision blows her vision of the future, this ideal job and the peaceful surroundings are just what she needs to seek God’s will for her life.

That is, until Jarret West, not wanting a repeat of past mistakes, backs out of a summer-long field study overseas and returns home. The two have never gotten along, and unforgettable baggage from the past makes it hard even to be cordial.

While Jarret’s faults convince Caitlyn he hasn’t changed, she forces herself to offer kindness. Her act of mercy puts them on an unexpected path where Caitlyn is challenged to look beneath the surface and Jarret struggles to trust that God wills good for him.

I often discover themes in my own life, just as you likely do. The more I pray, the more I notice these themes—as if God brings them to the forefront of my mind to help me grow. Sometimes discussions with Jesus inspire me to think about a particular struggle or area of my life that needs improvement—things to which I’d been previously blind. Other times prayer moves me to contemplate some wonderful attribute of God, like His profound humility that compelled Him to take on human form and—as if that wasn’t enough—to become our food in Holy Communion.

Once Our Lord brings themes to my attention, He develops them in ways that often leave me amazed and feeling blessed, like when at Mass the priest speaks on the same topic that came to me in prayer. Or when faith-filled friends spontaneously bring up the same theme I’d been focused on. Or when I find the same theme in the Bible or a devotional that I’m reading. And in other ways.

I’ll bet you have amazing stories to tell on this subject too. Our God is so good to us! Amidst the challenges of daily life, the joys and sorrows, surprises and trials, God is guiding us, especially through prayer and the themes of each of our lives, helping us to better know ourselves and drawing us closer to Him.

Do you enjoy reading stories with specific themes? Be sure to check out Catholic Teen Books Educators Page. Books are grouped by age appropriateness and themes are listed for each book on the website. Themes include: death, judgment, love, forgiveness, mercy, repentance, redemption, prayer, vocational discernment, end times, spiritual battle, loyalty, martyrdom, commitment to truth, and SO MUCH MORE!

Human beings used to wait for things. The message from the friend or relative that came in the form of a letter. The news event that spread slowly via word of mouth. Can we even imagine what it was like for Catholics in centuries past, who had no way of knowing for weeks or even months who had been elected as the new Pope?

We live with lots of noise, even when we don’t have a face-to-face interaction all day. Constant information. Constant entertainment. Constant availability. Constant pressure to perform for an online audience.

This is exhausting. It can also negatively impact mental health. And worst of all, it can impact our relationships with our real friends, our families, and with God.

So, what to do? Can we just throw out the smartphone and cut ourselves off from the online world entirely?

Sometimes we may feel like doing just this! But even if reality dictates that we use technology for many of today’s basics, we can still take a break.

Step away.

When was the last time you felt bored—truly bored? Did you reach for your phone before your brain could even identify the feeling as boredom? The next time you have to wait—for a ride, in a doctor’s waiting room, as a passenger while stuck in traffic—ask if this might be a little gift from God. A moment to slow down.

Some practical ideas:

• Have a good book in your car or your bag so you can read in snatched moments.

• Use the few minutes of quiet to say a prayer.

• Look out the window and note the detail you see. God’s creation is marvelous and can be found in tiny places even in a city setting!

• Carry a notebook and jot down your thoughts, sketch a picture, or play a silly game with a friend. Remember the games of Hangman or Dots and Boxes?

• Talk to the people around you. Whether that’s your sibling beside you in the car or the other customer behind you in the check-out line, connecting with the real people around us is the way we humans were designed to interact.

Immersing ourselves in a good book set in a previous time period can be a refreshing escape and a glimpse into other ways of living. Catholic Teen Books has numerous titles set in a variety of settings. You might check out our historical fiction titles here. My own novel, Firetender, set in the late 1990s, takes readers back to a time when everyday Internet access was still in its infancy and, for people who had cell phones, they were only for making calls. Want to experience a multi-state road trip through the eyes of two teenagers who have NO PHONE with them?

Our current technology is not inherently bad. Like all things, it can be used for both good and evil. But we do know for certain that it’s addictive, leading to overuse, which in turn leads to burnout and broken human connections.

So try leaving your phone in the car or in another room. Maybe even turn it off for a set time period. The online world will continue without you. And if you try it, let us know about your experience in the comments… once you return from your little break from the online world, that is.

The bumps on the exterior of an avocado represent trials and tribulations in life. After all, life can’t always be smooth sailing. The humps allow us to better appreciate the peaceful times. These ridges give the avocado its originality and uniqueness.

Sometimes, a tantalizing avocado beckons me from the kitchen counter, where it sits right next to a bunch of bright yellow bananas. I reach for it, then reluctantly pull back. It’s only been sitting on the counter for one day. If I give into temptation and cut into it right away, it’ll be too hard inside. The texture will be all wrong, and it won’t taste good. Instead, I tell myself, “Be patient. Wait until it’s ready.”

The next day, with much anticipation, I slice through the protective skin and admire the creamy interior. I can’t help but notice the large pit in the center. At times, life throws us twists and turns, forcing us to navigate pitfalls. If we open our hearts and minds to God’s presence in our lives, we’ll begin to recognize His saving grace as He works to protect and rescue us. And wouldn’t you know it, sometimes the very things that we think could slow us down or hurt us end up being the fruit that leads to growth and development. In actuality, the avocado doesn’t have a pit, but rather one large seed which offers the hope of tomorrow.

After mashing the inner part of the avocado with a fork, I season it with garlic salt, pepper, and lime juice. After all, isn’t seasoning the spice of life? But too much seasoning (overindulging, if you will) taints this tasty treat.

I love spreading the delightful green concoction onto a slice of warm whole wheat toast. However, if one doesn’t pay attention, the toast can become so blackened that it turns inedible. Can we learn a lesson from our toast? Pay attention to details, and hopefully we won’t get “burned.” Keep our souls pure and not darkened by the toxic darkness of sin. Have faith and trust in God’s infinite wisdom.

As an emergency medical services (EMS) volunteer, I meet people at their most vulnerable moments, when a seemingly ordinary day can suddenly morph into one that is dark and sinister, challenging their faith and calling into question an ongoing earthly existence versus transitioning to eternity with God. In these times of profound crisis, people turn to God for help. I know He hears our prayers, for I’ve seen them answered in ways that defy logic. His loving hand pulls us literally or figuratively to safety in ways that cannot be written off as mere chance.

Sometimes, I wish I could save my avocado toast. I would like to hide it away, pulling it back out in a day or two to savor it once more. But then I realize that stifling its glorious splendor transforms it to a dismal, unappetizing brown. Instead, I will choose to enjoy and celebrate this magnificent day, giving thanks to God for His special gifts.

Find more blog posts, Catholic Teen Books booklists, and more on our website.

Sure, you’d like to devour Theresa Linden’s West Brother series or keep up with Corinna Turner’s dinosaur fiction. Maybe this summer you’re looking forward to burying your nose in a book and taking a trip through time with Ellen Gable’s Great War Great Love series, Amanda Lauer’s Heaven Intended books, or Antony Kolenc’s Harwood Mysteries. And that’s just a sampling of books you can choose from by Catholic Teen Books authors.

Many of us are adept at using our libraries to find titles we want to read, often perusing the shelves and walking out with as many books as our arms or tote bags can hold. But did you know you can request that your local library purchase books you’d like to read?

You can, and it’s often a simple process.

That’s why Catholic Teen Books and other organizations and individual authors are promoting the Stock the Shelves Campaign. Your library may have a simple online form for requesting books, or you may have to make your request at the circulation desk. Either way, Catholic Teen Books makes it easy with its online catalog, which includes titles and ISBN numbers for ease of ordering.

Having those titles stocked on your library shelves not only benefits you but also authors and other readers. New books are often stocked on easily visible shelves, promoting their circulation. And how simple it is to recommend a book to a friend when you can tell them they can reserve it at the library!

So, please take a few minutes this month and select a book or two you especially want to read and ask your library to stock it. Then, we’d love it if you’d share with us how it went and maybe a picture of a Catholic Teen Book novel on your library’s shelf!

Normally, I would have pictures of my husband, our kids, or our eight grandchildren, but I hadn’t been able to find a recent picture that appealed to me. Jesus’ picture was ideal. It’s so sweet, and, interestingly enough, in this depiction, He looks so similar to our youngest grandson when he was that age. No wonder it spoke to me!

After I set the picture as the wallpaper on my phone, I shared the image with my friends on Instagram and Facebook. I felt like I’d done what I was called to do—get the picture more exposure.

What I didn’t realize was that every time I opened my phone, I would see that picture. And, every time I saw that sweet face of Jesus, I felt compelled to communicate with Him, with either a short greeting or a prayer in supplication or in gratitude.

I’m not sure what the average number of times per day a person checks their phone is, but, at least for me, it’s a lot. Because of this one picture, I’ve substantially increased my prayer frequency and my time spent in prayer.

As a bonus, when I’m out and about or waiting in line, and I pull out my phone, the picture pops up, so people standing nearby can see it. Perhaps it will inspire them to pray as well.

If you’re looking to deepen your faith life, it can be as simple as changing the picture that you see every time you open your phone. It sure worked for me. Let me know if you’re giving it a try, and how it changes your prayer life, too!

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About the author: An avid reader and history buff since childhood, Amanda Lauer is the author of the award-winning YA Heaven Intended Civil War series, and the time-travel novels, Anything But Groovy and Royal & Ancient. Amanda and her husband John have been married more than 40 years, have four married adult children, and eight precious grandchildren.

You can find all our past blog posts at our website, www.catholicteenbooks.com.

What is Catholic Teen Books?

Catholic Teen Books is a lay organization of authors committed to writing and promoting exciting novels for Catholic teens in the hope of counteracting the anti-God culture that permeates society and leaves young adults with few wholesome literature choices.

​​​What makes the fiction Catholic?

Some stories follow the lives of saints, those who dared to live counter-culturally and give themselves entirely to God. Others provide contemporary role models and bring the Faith to contemporary issues. Some shine a light on the beauty and power of the unique aspects of the Catholic faith. The Catholic element is pronounced in some and more subtle in others, allowing the worldview and themes to convey the message of truth.

​Every book reflects the beauty of the Catholic faith and in some way raises the heart and mind to God, instead of dragging souls downward.

​We hope that our fiction will challenge, inspire, and awaken within our readers some of the mystery, joy, and beauty of the Faith. We hope to stir within our readers a desire for something beyond themselves. Because God calls everyone to the fullness of faith and happiness, we invite readers of any faith or no faith at all to read our fiction.

​​We understand that everyone has different tastes in books, and that not every reader or parent will agree with every story, theme, or even genre. Please be aware that not every CTB author has read every single book we represent, and we make no claims to overstep the authority of Holy Mother Church in judgment.

To find a complete list of Catholic Teen Book titles arranged by genre and suggested reading age/grade level, please visit our website by clicking the button below.

See all Catholic Teen Books titles here

We’d love to hear from you! Please get involved in the conversations by joining us and our readers in the comments section for each post.

Thanks!

The Authors at CTB