Guest Author - LeeAnn Bonds
Looking for a sweet little allegory to read with your children or grandkids? Between Two Kingdoms, by Joe Boyd, might be a good choice for you. This charming story features children of the Great King who are eternally seven years old and eat chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. But of course, all is not well. The kingdom is divided, and a false prince is working to take over everything.
The children build tree houses, and are sometimes asked to go on missions to the Lower Kingdom to fight the rebellion. The missions might be short or last for years. They might involve physical danger and even torture and imprisonment. But the children are always ultimately safe, for they are guaranteed to return to the Upper Kingdom and be happy seven-year-olds forever.
The character development is a little sketchy, but rounded enough to accomplish the goal of the allegory. Likewise, the plot is simple—but perhaps just about right for discussing with children. The story would be good to read by chapters, talking over each chapter before going on. Several spiritual truths are hinted at, or pictured in novel ways that might pique an older child’s interest. I found especially intriguing the representation of the Holy Spirit as an actual river in which you could swim, and which was also alive. And though there are bad guys in the book, even supernatural ones, they are not too scary. You needn’t worry about frightening young listeners.
Mr. Boyd is a teacher, a pastor, an actor and a screenwriter. His goal in this story is clearly evangelical, and you might consider reading it with adults who are new to the faith, or are seeking the truth, and discussing it chapter by chapter as suggested above. Mr. Boyd avoids “Christianese.” There are no churches or pastors in the story, but the truth of God’s love for us, our sin, and the wonderful gift of salvation and security are vividly pictured.
This pocket-sized book, published by Standard Publishing, is a delight for the eyes. The cover picture draws you right into the mood of the story, with an elaborate metal gate and mist-shrouded “kingdom” silhouetted in the background. Matching chapter heading illustrations appear throughout its 191 pages. FSB Associates kindly provided me with a copy of the book to read and review.
