Overview
God might not be asking you to build an ark, but he is asking you to help him change the world. So don't worry...you won't have to grow out a beard or spend 40 days in a rainstorm. Believe it or not, changing the world can be as simple as everyday acts of kindness. Whether you do something good for someone in your family, or that new kid at your lunch table, or the neighbor around the corner, you can make a difference and help change the world---or at least, their world, for now. Inspired by the Universal Pictures movie, Evan Almighty, starring Steve Carell, Do Good will show you how you can help change the world by doing good every chance you get, right where you are, right now. You'll discover:• how you can live every moment with God
• what to do when life (or God) interrupts your plans
• where to look for opportunities to do good
• what to do when people around you think you're crazy
• how you can make a difference in the world within your reach Most of all, you'll begin to see why you're the perfect person to help God change the world---starting right now!
Synopsis
A nonfiction book for teenagers, full of practical ideas (as well as the reasoning) for living out kindness in the world.
VOYA
AGERANGE: Ages 12 to 18.
Teens make up a major segment of today's pop-culture market, as evidenced by the co-branding of books and media in almost every area of teens' lives, including the spiritual. Building on the $100 million-grossing movie of the same name, Do Good: Evan Almighty and its accompanying Evan Almighty Devotional ask teens to consider the point of doing good deeds. Passages reflect on the difference between action and intention; the ways a person's motivation affects acts of kindness shown to others; and the probability that teens choosing to live for God will experience misunderstanding or hostility from others. Explicitly Christian in outlook (which will limit the titles' overall popularity), both books take teens seriously, using a tone that is conversational and not preachy. The books largely are positive, although they challenge readers to sense God's work in difficult times and when confronted with the consequences of evil acts. Promoted to the right audience, both books will circulate, although the devotional's bland cover and small size might cause it to be overlooked in nonfiction collections. Teens may have been better served had the publisher combined the workbook format of Do Good with the devotional text into a single volume. A four-page list of doable "random acts of kindness" is the highlight of both books. Purchase the devotional if your organization serves a large Christian community, and offer Mikki Halpin's acclaimed It's Your World-If You Don't Like It, Change It: Activism for Teenagers (Simon Pulse/S & S, 2004/VOYA December 2004) to nonreligious teens drawn toward community service. Reviewer: Jay Wise
April 2008 (Vol.31, No. 1)
Editorials
VOYA
AGERANGE: Ages 12 to 18.Teens make up a major segment of today's pop-culture market, as evidenced by the co-branding of books and media in almost every area of teens' lives, including the spiritual. Building on the $100 million-grossing movie of the same name, Do Good: Evan Almighty and its accompanying Evan Almighty Devotional ask teens to consider the point of doing good deeds. Passages reflect on the difference between action and intention; the ways a person's motivation affects acts of kindness shown to others; and the probability that teens choosing to live for God will experience misunderstanding or hostility from others. Explicitly Christian in outlook (which will limit the titles' overall popularity), both books take teens seriously, using a tone that is conversational and not preachy. The books largely are positive, although they challenge readers to sense God's work in difficult times and when confronted with the consequences of evil acts. Promoted to the right audience, both books will circulate, although the devotional's bland cover and small size might cause it to be overlooked in nonfiction collections. Teens may have been better served had the publisher combined the workbook format of Do Good with the devotional text into a single volume. A four-page list of doable "random acts of kindness" is the highlight of both books. Purchase the devotional if your organization serves a large Christian community, and offer Mikki Halpin's acclaimed It's Your World-If You Don't Like It, Change It: Activism for Teenagers (Simon Pulse/S & S, 2004/VOYA December 2004) to nonreligious teens drawn toward community service. Reviewer: Jay Wise
April 2008 (Vol.31, No. 1)