August 2023 Book Club Recommendations

Our goal in the Foundation Worldview Book Club is to provide resources for you to have meaningful, literature-based worldview discussions with the children God has placed in your care. We work hard to choose books with insightful, truth-based themes. However, we know that our subscribers will have different convictions about the content they allow in their homes, churches, and classrooms. We encourage you to read the recommended books ahead of time, to ensure that the content fits within the framework you have already established in your ministry context. Please also note that by recommending a certain book, Foundation Worldview is not endorsing every work published by a particular author. Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, Foundation Worldview will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book for Adults

Book for Children Ages 8-12

Question 1 - The Johansen family is willing to put their lives at risk to save their neighbors, the Rosens. According to the Bible, why are human lives worth saving?

Discussion Guide - Read through Genesis 1:26-28 and 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Discuss how humans are God’s image bearers and have dignity, value, and worth. Then discuss how God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to reconcile us to Himself. If God believes that humans are of great value and are worth rescuing, we should as well.

Question 2 - When the soldiers ask who Ellen is, Mr. Johansen shows them Lise’s baby picture and claims that it is a picture of Ellen. We know that lying is a sin because it goes against God’s character. However, do you think that the Johansens did the right thing by lying to protect Ellen?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how there are some times in this fallen world when there are no perfect options. In such situations, Christians are called to choose the option that would be most honoring to God, in this case, saving Ellen. To exemplify this point, you can read Exodus chapter one and discuss how the midwives chose to save the lives of the Hebrew boys. (You can also discuss how most of the everyday situations we will face are not like this. In most situations, there are clear right and wrong choices.)

Question 3 - In the closing chapter of the book, Annemarie chose to put herself in harm's way by bringing the secret package to Uncle Henrik. How does this decision demonstrate Annemarie’s love for her friend?

Discussion Guide - Read John 15:12-13. Then discuss how love is being willing to sacrifice for the good of another.

Bonus Question - If your child has gone through Foundation Careful Thinking Curriculum, ask, “How is the love we saw Annemarie display toward Ellen different from the way that our culture often defines love?”

Discussion Guide - Discuss the different definitions of love covered in Unit 2 Lesson 2. Then discuss how Annemarie’s love was self-sacrificing for Ellen’s good, not celebrating and affirming everything about her.

Book for Children Ages 4-7

Question 1 - What mistake did Henry make?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how Henry became frustrated with Halle and made fun of the way she talked.

Question 2 - What did Henry try to do to pay for his sin? DId it work?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how Henry tried to be extra kind to Halle, but all his kindness could not erase the way he had treated Halle.

Question 3 - What was the only solution to Henry’s sin against Halle.

Discussion Guide - Discuss how Henry needed to confess to God and to Halle that he had sinned and ask for their forgiveness.

Bonus Question - If your child has gone through Foundation Early Childhood Worldview Curriculum, ask your child, “Why is it that we can be forgiven when we sin and do not hit the mark?”

Discussion Guide - Discuss the truth learned in Lesson 20, Jesus hit the mark for us.