The Restorationists Book 1: Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision (Nudity)

Reading Level: Late Elementary, Middle School

I loved the themes about the purpose of art: to serve and to share, not to assume power. I loved the theme about overcoming fear. In the end, Vincent learns to make sacrifices to help others. My primary concern is for families wary of pornography. Read on…

Possible Concerns:

• Nazi swastika vandalism. A painting is vandalized with a swastika.
• Death due to fire. Several family members are killed in a fire.
• Child abduction. Several children are held as prisoners in a mystical training ground.
• Frustration with parents. When Vincent learns he has a gift that they didn’t tell him about, he is frustrated with them. Later, he comes to terms with the idea that they were trying to keep him safe, but he still struggles.
• Lies & Deceit. Vincent chooses *not* to share with his cousin secrets about his aunt, and he deceives her by not telling her the whole truth about her. He wants to keep an option open of working with his evil aunt.
• PRIMARY Concern: Naked people in a picture. The kids put a canoe over their heads so they don’t have to see. But there is a conversation about how nudity is a part of art. The boy comments that it’s gross, and it makes him feel uncomfortable. The girl says she doesn’t notice anymore and maybe that’s a bad thing. At the end in a note to the reader, the author acknowledges that nudity is a part of art and says that you don’t have to look at anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, but she hopes you won’t let it stop you from enjoying other art.

Families wary of pornography may wish to have a conversation, and it is tricky because the human body isn’t gross, but pornography is, so how do you handle this? I’d remind kids that if something gives you a funny feeling in your stomach, you need to listen to that, even if others don’t get the same feeling. In this story, Vincent is uncomfortable but Georgia isn’t. Georgia listens to Vincent and helps him, but in our world others might not be so sympathetic. Still, you need to listen to the nudges God gives you, even if others don’t feel the same nudge; this is a way you can develop courage and character and obedience to what God is calling *you* into.