New Wings by Donna Stanley

Donna has a teenage daughter who loves to read about the supernatural. When she couldn't find a suitable book for her daughter that wasn't about vampires and witches, she decided to write one herself.

This is a great book for teens. It reminded me of the Peretti books because we readers get to see the angels and demons at work. Seventeen year old Olivia is the heroine (named after Donna's daughter). She can see her guardian angel, Mike. He protects her several times and encourages her in her prayer life. Olivia finds that there are other people, although few, who can see into the spirit realm as she can.

Donna tackles some important issues for teens in this novel. Be prepared. The novel covers some serious topics, like cutting , date rape, bullying, and other issues confronting teens today. Some of the scenes are descriptive (although nothing I found offensive). Because of the serious nature of the topics in this novel, I would recommend it to older teens, juniors and seniors in high school. I think it might be a bit much for younger teens.

The lessons Olivia learns in this novel are many. Perhaps the most prominent is the importance of prayer. Olivia and her friends pray, responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and release the angels to do their work. What an encouragement to teens to pray, knowing that they are taking part in the spiritual warfare going on around them.

Whenever there is fiction about the supernatural, I pay particular attention. I am very happy with Donna's novel. Theologically, I think it is right on.

I really enjoyed this novel. If you would like a novel for your teen to read that is a page turner as well as instructive and encouraging, this is the novel.

Donna Stanley lives in the beautiful Endless Mountains of northeastern

Pennsylvania with her husband and their teenage daughter. She attended Philadelphia Biblical University, Moody Bible Institute, and Mansfield University, where she studied angelology, demonology, and the anthropology of religion. She was a youth leader for ten years and a pastor's wife for sixteen years. She now serves as a young adult mentor and leader in her local church. Find out more at www.donnastanley.com.

Creation House, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from a media group for the purpose of this review.