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Payton Skky #5
Surrendered Heart
It's Payton's second semester at college. The death of her grandfather and a deepening relationship with Tad teach her the value of living for God. As Payton surrenders her heart to God and shares her faith, she finds out that all she has ever desired is wrapped up in Him. Her relationship with Christ allows her to be complete and to handle the growing pains of life.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
17 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Perry Moore
135 books173 followersSTEPHANIE PERRY MOORE is the author of many Young Adult Christian fiction titles, including the Payton Skky series, the Laurel Shadrach series, the Perry Skky Jr. series, the Faith Thomas Novelzine series, the Carmen Browne series, and the Beta Gamma Pi series. She is also the co-editor for the impactful BibleZine, REAL. Mrs. Moore speaks with young people across the country, showing them how they can live life fully and do it God's way. Stephanie currently lives in the greater Atlanta area with her husband, Derrick, a former NFL player and author, and their three children. Visit her website at www.stephanieperrymoore.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 20, 2013
The Payton Skky Series is basically about a young African American Woman who is going through the growing pains of graduating from high school and transitioning to college and still being able to keep her faith in the Lord. The author of this series lives in Conyers, Georgia and the main character, Payton Skky, is from Marietta Georgia. I thought this was a great book to read because I read all of Payton Skky Series back in high school and I thought it would be great to reread one of my favorite books in high school. I love how the main character, Payton, and her family are all from Georgia and that she decides to go a school in Georgia. This particular book, Surrendered Heart deals with the issues Payton deals with as a college student at the University of Georgia, as a girlfriend, as a best friend, as a daughter, sister, friend, cousin, and a Christian. She is trying to find the balance in life while still trying to maintain her Christianity. I believe her character is a lot like me. Balancing my first year of college and my faith in God was hard, but I sustained. Rereading a book that I read long ago has helped me to appreciate it a lot more.
At first I was going to write about how the author depicted voice so well in this book because I felt as if I knew the character personally, but as I continued to read this book, I saw another writer's craft that was excellent in this book. That writer's craft is conflict. As I sat and read this book, I was on edge and anxious to read the next page. I was even more anxious to read the next word, sentence, paragraph, page, and chapter when different conflicts arose. There were many conflicts in this book. Payton's grandfather dies in the beginning, Payton's best friend comes close to getting raped, Payton's ex-boyfriend's brother dies in a gun shooting, and so many others. All of these conflicts in the story, and the author delivers them to the reader/ audience so well. Trouble is the necessary ingredient in writing and it allows the reader to want to keep reading. Moore, the author, allows all of the conflicts to slowly come up and then BOOM!!!! For example, in the beginning of the story, Payton was so worried about her family and them all getting along during Christmas. She goes to her grandfather for advice about what to do. Payton was asking, where were her aunts and uncles. Her grandfather tells her they went out on the front porch and asked if she could get him some water. She goes to get him some water and then he lays down. "I went into the kitchen to get my grandfather some water. it had been twenty minutes since I had talked to him..... Papa, "I said softly, wake up and drink some water......." I touched his chest and he wasn't breathing..... "I screamed, Papa wake up." The chapter continues as the rest of the family come in and find him unresponsive and they all begin to panic. Chapter one ends with a cliff hanger and chapter two opens up with Payton saying, "He was dead." This issue in the story caused me to want to read the story. Another conflict then arose about who will take over the grandfather's house, in his will and etc.
Moore definitely used conflict well because she allowed the readers mind to wonder and to want to know what was going to happen next. She allowed the conflict to come slowly. I honestly had forgotten the grandfather had died. He was a key character in the beginning of the chapter. My mouth dropped when Payton said in the next chapter he had died. If the author didn't use this element of conflict well, I would suggest that the author think back to one of their favorite books and then tell me why that was their favorite book. Most likely he or she would say they loved the suspense, how conflicts arose, it kept their attention, and the end. Having conflicts in a story is all about kepping the reader's attention. Without situations, arguments and conflicts, the story would be boring. I would also suggest that the author ease the conflict in the writing or the story. Don't just throw a conflict out there, allow the readers/ audience to tongue to get wet or to be seating at the edge of their seats. Resovling this conflict, the dad ends up taking the house his father left and Payton begins to slowly understand that her grandfather is now in a better place.
Conflict is something elementary children need to know about when reading books and when telling and writing stories. I would do a mini lesson with this writer's craft. I will ask my students what are their favorite books, and then I will ask them why? We will then refer to the writer's craft conflict and why it is important to understand what it is? I would read a great book to my students that leads to something and then I will stop. My responses I expect to get will be, "What... you are stopping the story now?" "Finish the story, it is getting good." This will be my example of how a conflict should arise in your writing. You want to make the readers want to continue the book and you do not want to jump straight into the conflict. Ease the conflict in the story allowing the reader to continue to read.
This is Realistic Fiction
At first I was going to write about how the author depicted voice so well in this book because I felt as if I knew the character personally, but as I continued to read this book, I saw another writer's craft that was excellent in this book. That writer's craft is conflict. As I sat and read this book, I was on edge and anxious to read the next page. I was even more anxious to read the next word, sentence, paragraph, page, and chapter when different conflicts arose. There were many conflicts in this book. Payton's grandfather dies in the beginning, Payton's best friend comes close to getting raped, Payton's ex-boyfriend's brother dies in a gun shooting, and so many others. All of these conflicts in the story, and the author delivers them to the reader/ audience so well. Trouble is the necessary ingredient in writing and it allows the reader to want to keep reading. Moore, the author, allows all of the conflicts to slowly come up and then BOOM!!!! For example, in the beginning of the story, Payton was so worried about her family and them all getting along during Christmas. She goes to her grandfather for advice about what to do. Payton was asking, where were her aunts and uncles. Her grandfather tells her they went out on the front porch and asked if she could get him some water. She goes to get him some water and then he lays down. "I went into the kitchen to get my grandfather some water. it had been twenty minutes since I had talked to him..... Papa, "I said softly, wake up and drink some water......." I touched his chest and he wasn't breathing..... "I screamed, Papa wake up." The chapter continues as the rest of the family come in and find him unresponsive and they all begin to panic. Chapter one ends with a cliff hanger and chapter two opens up with Payton saying, "He was dead." This issue in the story caused me to want to read the story. Another conflict then arose about who will take over the grandfather's house, in his will and etc.
Moore definitely used conflict well because she allowed the readers mind to wonder and to want to know what was going to happen next. She allowed the conflict to come slowly. I honestly had forgotten the grandfather had died. He was a key character in the beginning of the chapter. My mouth dropped when Payton said in the next chapter he had died. If the author didn't use this element of conflict well, I would suggest that the author think back to one of their favorite books and then tell me why that was their favorite book. Most likely he or she would say they loved the suspense, how conflicts arose, it kept their attention, and the end. Having conflicts in a story is all about kepping the reader's attention. Without situations, arguments and conflicts, the story would be boring. I would also suggest that the author ease the conflict in the writing or the story. Don't just throw a conflict out there, allow the readers/ audience to tongue to get wet or to be seating at the edge of their seats. Resovling this conflict, the dad ends up taking the house his father left and Payton begins to slowly understand that her grandfather is now in a better place.
Conflict is something elementary children need to know about when reading books and when telling and writing stories. I would do a mini lesson with this writer's craft. I will ask my students what are their favorite books, and then I will ask them why? We will then refer to the writer's craft conflict and why it is important to understand what it is? I would read a great book to my students that leads to something and then I will stop. My responses I expect to get will be, "What... you are stopping the story now?" "Finish the story, it is getting good." This will be my example of how a conflict should arise in your writing. You want to make the readers want to continue the book and you do not want to jump straight into the conflict. Ease the conflict in the story allowing the reader to continue to read.
This is Realistic Fiction
April 19, 2025
The end has come and so has my reprieve. This book as the last suffers from the same ills as the previous installments: a whiplash inducing pace, hollow characters, and unsatisfactory description and dialogue.
The most apparent in this segment is Payton's Mary Sue qualities which shine like a marquee at an ostentatious mega church. For one I found myself questioning who exactly are these characters again as no one spoke like people only prophets. I am sorry. I may not have grown up in the 90s, but I know for a fact college age young adults do not insert their walk with Christ into every conversation. And in some aspects these instances were highly underserved, only existing to serve the main character.
For instance Jewels the racist roommate of previous has now decided to seek mentorship from Payton. The same goes for Dakhari, the hedonisitic ex-boyfriend of yore who not only attempted to assault her twice now, but is a known drunk and womanizer. Both exhibit no recourse in their wrongdoing yet miraculously turnaround their morals without readers being clued into their journeys. The same can be said for many other side characters, some even first introduced in this story. Payton makes it her mission to be a missionary and her goals are handed to her on a silver platter.
Not only is nuance omitted (I for one know that all Christians interpret differently). Where are the card games? Where are the discussions about passing classes? Does Payton even have a favorite color? The one thing I can credit the author for is that there was a subplot dedicated to Payton and Laurel trying out for cheerleading. Yet how can one feel a sense of accomplishment for this character when she meanders through plot points with the ease of a feather. Her grandfather dies and not much time is allocated for her or her family's grief and conflict. The man she loves is with another woman. Yet he quickly dumps his partner and is back with her. The brother of her ex is killed and all she can think of is how he is going to hell and when she is going back to school. She falls out with friends from high school and they quickly apologize. Girlfriends relay sensitive information like a past abortion and one doles a simple passage of prayer and the audience is whisked away to the next scene.
You see, not much time is given for things to be felt and there is great aversion to hard conversation. One thing that irks me about Payton and Tad's relationship is its superficiality. Theyre a young couple who barely act as a couple. All they do is recite Godly monologues without any chemistry. Tad likes football and God, but what else? We do not hear any more about his family or media he likes to watch. The two do not relay struggles with intimacy or how they balance affection with their faith.
Payton is treated like a precious saint wherever she goes. She writes one newspaper column and everyone on campus commends her. Her and Laurel makes the cheerleading squad and everyone in her dorm claps for her. Everywhere she roams there is an audience to praise her. God is at her back and not a mystery to solve.
I cannot say this book will be of relation to young Christians. Its a dull rambling of perfection. Returning to this book series was fun initially as a young adult, but I see why my old self put down its pages.
The most apparent in this segment is Payton's Mary Sue qualities which shine like a marquee at an ostentatious mega church. For one I found myself questioning who exactly are these characters again as no one spoke like people only prophets. I am sorry. I may not have grown up in the 90s, but I know for a fact college age young adults do not insert their walk with Christ into every conversation. And in some aspects these instances were highly underserved, only existing to serve the main character.
For instance Jewels the racist roommate of previous has now decided to seek mentorship from Payton. The same goes for Dakhari, the hedonisitic ex-boyfriend of yore who not only attempted to assault her twice now, but is a known drunk and womanizer. Both exhibit no recourse in their wrongdoing yet miraculously turnaround their morals without readers being clued into their journeys. The same can be said for many other side characters, some even first introduced in this story. Payton makes it her mission to be a missionary and her goals are handed to her on a silver platter.
Not only is nuance omitted (I for one know that all Christians interpret differently). Where are the card games? Where are the discussions about passing classes? Does Payton even have a favorite color? The one thing I can credit the author for is that there was a subplot dedicated to Payton and Laurel trying out for cheerleading. Yet how can one feel a sense of accomplishment for this character when she meanders through plot points with the ease of a feather. Her grandfather dies and not much time is allocated for her or her family's grief and conflict. The man she loves is with another woman. Yet he quickly dumps his partner and is back with her. The brother of her ex is killed and all she can think of is how he is going to hell and when she is going back to school. She falls out with friends from high school and they quickly apologize. Girlfriends relay sensitive information like a past abortion and one doles a simple passage of prayer and the audience is whisked away to the next scene.
You see, not much time is given for things to be felt and there is great aversion to hard conversation. One thing that irks me about Payton and Tad's relationship is its superficiality. Theyre a young couple who barely act as a couple. All they do is recite Godly monologues without any chemistry. Tad likes football and God, but what else? We do not hear any more about his family or media he likes to watch. The two do not relay struggles with intimacy or how they balance affection with their faith.
Payton is treated like a precious saint wherever she goes. She writes one newspaper column and everyone on campus commends her. Her and Laurel makes the cheerleading squad and everyone in her dorm claps for her. Everywhere she roams there is an audience to praise her. God is at her back and not a mystery to solve.
I cannot say this book will be of relation to young Christians. Its a dull rambling of perfection. Returning to this book series was fun initially as a young adult, but I see why my old self put down its pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2008
In this book Damian and his family is some bad M.F. This is the book so let me give u a little preview of what went down in the first one. In this first one Damian was dating an under cover FBI agent that fell in love with him. She knew that sleeping with him would destroy the case her agency built up against her but she didn’t care she was in love. Before she was able to catch Damian in any type of act his brother Dante told her if you hurt my brother I will kill you. Now Dante is more vicious and crazier then Damian he has no conscious at all. Well when they found out that she was a FBI agent they were going to buy a cake shaped like a badge and invite all her other agents to the wedding.
But before this happened she quit her job because she loved Damian and would do anything for him. In her eyes he was a successful black man trying to make it like the rest. The reason she thought the bureau wanted him bad was because the way he treated Nathan daughter. Nathan is one of the FBI agents who wanted his head on a plate.
One day FBI agent Grace Moore got suspicious about something she remembered hearing Damian over the phone talking about moving cement and she called one of her buddies and asked them was it possible for the dogs to sniff drugs in side of cement mix and he told her no. So that’s when Grace decided to investigate when she did she found something she wasn’t ready to see that someone she loved so much had betrayed her in so many ways and the first was that he lied to her by saying she loved her then about the drugs.
When the final morning came Dante went to the building where all the things were and since he had such a hi tech surveillance system it was able to tell him it was a woman, height, and weight. While he was showing his brother these things the FBI walked in and that’s when he told the system to disable it self which in terms blow up in thirty seconds meaning all the evidence will be gone.
I wont tell you what happens next but its real good. Enjoy the book.
But before this happened she quit her job because she loved Damian and would do anything for him. In her eyes he was a successful black man trying to make it like the rest. The reason she thought the bureau wanted him bad was because the way he treated Nathan daughter. Nathan is one of the FBI agents who wanted his head on a plate.
One day FBI agent Grace Moore got suspicious about something she remembered hearing Damian over the phone talking about moving cement and she called one of her buddies and asked them was it possible for the dogs to sniff drugs in side of cement mix and he told her no. So that’s when Grace decided to investigate when she did she found something she wasn’t ready to see that someone she loved so much had betrayed her in so many ways and the first was that he lied to her by saying she loved her then about the drugs.
When the final morning came Dante went to the building where all the things were and since he had such a hi tech surveillance system it was able to tell him it was a woman, height, and weight. While he was showing his brother these things the FBI walked in and that’s when he told the system to disable it self which in terms blow up in thirty seconds meaning all the evidence will be gone.
I wont tell you what happens next but its real good. Enjoy the book.
August 21, 2015
The ending of this book was good. However, I didn't like how the book kept going back and forth between all of the girl's relationship issues. I also didn't like how Payton seemed conflicted about her feelings Dakari after she was supposedly over him. Also some of the issues I pointed out in an earlier review on a different book in the series are still present.
December 30, 2009
This is a very gud book i found it so interesting that i found myself at a state that i couldn't put it down
November 18, 2013
AWESOME READ!!!!!!
July 4, 2009
This book is good for relationships.
and plus its a good book to read for fun.
and plus its a good book to read for fun.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews