Today I'm going to recommend three awesome books that you should definitely put on your reading list.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This is one of the most touching, phenomenal books I have ever read in my entire life.  While I was reading this story, I literally felt traumatized when the women were being traumatized.  I actually cried while reading this book.  It's just... amazing.  I love it.  I love every single moment of this book, even the moments that are heartbreaking and terrible.  A Thousand Splendid Suns brings to light the abuse and difficulties that Muslim women in Afghanistan have to endure every day.
Rating: PG-16
Quick Summary: A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years... that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms.  It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, wearing personal lives... are inextricable from the history playing out around them...  It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love. 
Violence/Sex/Cussing: There was some minor violence, a few rape scenes with some details that someone under sixteen probably should not read, and a few minor cuss words.
Get this book on Amazon.



Deadline by Randy Alcorn
I read this entire thick book in about two days.  It had me floored.  Randy Alcorn is a phenomenal writer who painted a beautiful and frightening perception of the afterlife and Spiritual warfare.  I still talk about this book, years after I read it for the first time.  Deadline is thought-provoking and truly captivating, which is what I enjoy most about Christian fiction.  It was an amazing read.
Rating: PG-13
Quick Summary: "His body hung suspended between two friends, his soul between two worlds." When tragedy strikes those closest to him, award-winning journalist must draw upon all his resources to uncover the truth about their suspicious accident.  Soon he finds himself swept up in a murder investigation that is both complex and dangerous.  Unaware of the thread to his own life, Jake is drawn in deeper and deeper as he desperately searches for the answers to the immediate mystery at hand and- ultimately- the deeper meaning of his own existence.  Deadline is a dramatic and vivid novel of substance, filled with hope and perspective for every reader who longs to feel purpose in life.
Violence/Sex/Cussing: Because this book is Christian fiction, it's fairly clean, although it has some mature thematic content and deals with subjects such as Spiritual warfare and death.
Get this book on Amazon.

 

The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
I don't read a lot of nonfiction, but I was highly recommended to read this book.  It was honestly revolution-inspiring.  The pages of the book were creatively designed and lovely.  The Irresistible Revolution was controversial, and at times, I disagreed with what Shane Claiborne was saying, but mostly, his words truly touched me and renewed my fire and passion as a child of God.  I recommend all young Christians to read this book with an open mind, so long as you remember that this was written by man.  Irresistible Revolution encouraged me to stand up for my faith, change my generation, and live on the edge, just like Jesus did.  It's a very inspiring book.
Rating: PG-13, not because of mature themes, but because of the maturity needed to understand the content
Quick Summary: In The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne invites you into a movement of the Spirit that begins in the heart and extends through our hearts into a broken world.  Using examples from his own unconventional life, Shane Claiborne stirs up questions about the church and the world, challenging you to live out an authentic Christian faith.  This book will comfort the disturbed, disturb the comfortable, and invite believers to change the world with Christ's radical love.
Violence/Sex/Cussing: None. This is Christian non-fiction.
Get this book on Amazon. 

I started out the Left Behind series with the kid books when I was nine years old.  Ever since then, I've adored the books.  I've read the original Left Behind several times and read it again recently, so I thought I would go ahead and review it on here. :)

Summary-
In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the globe disappear.  Vehicles, suddenly unmanned, careen out of control.  People are terror stricken as loved ones vanish before their eyes.  In the midst of global chaos, airline captain Rayford Steele must search for his family, for answers, for truth.  As devastating as the disappearances have been, the darkest days may lie ahead.

What I Liked-
There aren't many fiction novels about the rapture that I know of, but the few I've read seem more wacky than realistic.  Left Behind lets you see from the eyes of its characters.  You feel their terror and sadness and emotions.  You feel redemption when they become Christians.  You mourn for their families.  LB doesn't feel futuristic like a lot of rapture books do either.  It was written in 1999, but it could easily fit into today's world.  I love how I can still relate to LB's characters, even a decade after the book has been written. 

I love the way the scenes switch from character to character.  Rayford Steele seems to be the main character, but the reader also reads from perspectives of Chloe and Buck.  The switching scenes add momentum to the story. 

The rapture is a mystery to so many people.  While it must be remembered that Left Behind is fiction and written by men, the book casts light on the book of Revelation and adds interesting perspectives onto confusing and mysterious verses.  It has also encouraged many people to further study Revelation and prophesies from the Old Testament and end times.

I love how Left Behind has drawn attention to the fact that if the rapture occurred today, you might be left behind.

LB captures the attention of many age groups.  Rayford is in his forties, Buck is in his 30s, and Chloe is in her 20s.  Teens can read the kid series, where the characters are aged twelve to sixteen.  These varying age groups help most readers to be able to relate to a main character in the book and further immerse themselves into the story.  

What I Didn't Like-
I wish that the authors would have added more direct Bible verse locations in the story instead of vague references.  I would think, "Oh, I know that verse... but where is it so I can look it up myself?"  It would be nice if they had a Bible reference section in the back. 

At times, the old technology is distracting when they talk about old VHS tapes and cable and dial up internet.  It would be nice if Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins made some minor editing and created a more modern version by fixing those few old references.

What I Learned-
Readers need to remember that LB is fiction and the way the rapture is portrayed in this book is the way Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins see it.  However, LB gave me many ideas about the rapture.  It's a very thought-provoking novel. 

I Recommend This For-
Anyone 13+.  Young children might be frightened about the serious subject, but it's a great book for Christians and non-Christians alike.  It involves romance, action, and Jesus, so just about anyone should enjoy something about this book.