Sober Faith

Payton Skky #2

by Stephanie Perry Moore

Payton Skky and her girlfriends are in their senior year at their Georgia high school and loving every minute of it. But the rest of Payton's crew has strayed from God and continues to make bad decisions. While chasing after a good time, her friends begin experimenting with alcohol, drugs, and sexual sin. How can Payton help her girls turn toward God and away from those sins? Can she resist her own impulses to try things she knows are against God's will? See if Payton discovers how to show her friends that true faith is sober faith.

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

STEPHANIE 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.

Reviews

[Alex (Bri's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely talks about the important teen issue of drinking. Payton just drinks because her friends do it, but when she sees how alcohol can make her friends crazy. But this wasn't the best part of this story.

Payton still held herself on a pedestal above her friends for most of this book, but once she drinks, she starts to see things from her friend's perspective. I felt that she definitely humbled herself in this story when she started to see herself in the same boat as her friends rather than just labeling them "sinners." They all had to get past the peer pressure of teen drinking and get out of the dangerous situations that their choices had put them in. 

Payton almost ruins her relationship with her boyfriend due to her drinking. He refused to participate in those activities, but by being with her, he could get in trouble as well. Honestly, I don't see their relationship getting very far. Payton barely trusts him and expects him to be perfect, and he is pretty "perfect" for the most part. But, she isn't perfect, but she puts stress on him to be. Also, I think he has either a bad past or something negative about him that is being hidden at this point. Something just doesn't add up, and I don't know what, but I definitely have a weird feeling about his character. Hopefully, this will be explained in future novels. 

Again, I have to say that even though I don't particularly like Payton, I do enjoy this series. It talks about real teen issues, and if you are able to overlook Payton's holier-than-thou attitude, you will truly enjoy the books. It has even been a good reflection series for a Christian girl like me to see how I view people. I would hate to come off as being like Payton, and I've started to see how I sometimes judge people, from strangers to friends. Payton loves to judge people, but in this book, she got a shock when she realized that even she wasn't perfect. 

The book's plot moved smoothly, almost like a television show rather than a book. It definitely has a lot of 90s vibes as the book was written in the 90s, but it applies to teens today. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for YA teen Christian fiction with African American characters.

[Mikala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Self-control, perserverance, and knowledge are all things Moore cites as a hallmark of good Christian, but in Skyy's case where is the humility???

In Moore's defense she attempts to address this in this next installment of the Payton Skky series. It kicks off where we left the titular character, at the closing of a debutante ball. Her friend's boyfriend Bam goads the gang into celebrating the occasion with bottles of champagne and now her faith is shaken (*dun dun duuuuun*).

I will say a more foreboding spirit would have made this a touch more realistic. Friends make out with friend's boyfriends, couples sloppily start dancing and blasting vulgar music, sound individuals start tripping over air and its all thanks to a couple glasses of bubbly. Pull out the shots of Everclear and Hennessey before we start questioning sanity.

Obviously the boyfriend does not approve. Tad still is as much of a character as the hangnail that reappears on my index finger every few days. His emotions are invoked only by how much Payton worships God. He even goes as far to kick his car door when Payton decides to take a sip of champagne. I thought that would be foreshadowing to a more flawed character due to the sheer lack of emotional regulation but nope! In Tad Taylor's world all roads lead to disappointment! He does get blamed for Payton's friends' drunken fiasco but the class divide between Payton's family and his is all wrapped up in an apology dinner.

I will say to all future readers "GO GO GO!" in catching the plot to this meandering story. So many things happen to these teens in one year that I questioned if there was a publisher error. Have multiple works been fused together? Nope! But after the drunken night, theres an unchaperoned spring break, followed by a suicide attempt, followed by possible paralysis, followed by recovery of said paralysis, followed by a relative being hospitalized/passing away (I think?), to unreconciled racial tension, to a sort-of break up, followed by a sort-of gettting back with an ex, to getting back together with previous guy and breaking up, also graduation (*deep breath*).

In the midst of all this chaos Payton attempts to be a guide to her friends but is soon humbled by an older "disciple". Her personal drama certainly makes her not the best canidate to straddle the all too prized high horse. Sidebar: the concept of a disciple disturbs me. Tad introduces the concept to Payton saying its an accountability partner for one's walk with Christ, recommending that the other is best older. But considering organized religion's reputation for enabling abusers. I'd reccommend younger readers save themselves the trouble of being "touched" by a higher power and just read the Bible themselves.

All things work out for our girl of course. Meaning that shes the center of the world yet again. Her fellow pupils all gasp when she and the gang step out their car at prom. "No photos please" she shouts. "Okay", she concedes. "Maybe just this one time". (Jk)

As someone who went to prom, the people you care about are only the ones you bring. Also, the food is bad. Not looking forward to the next book. This one certainly lacked the gusto of the first.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sooo good. This is one of my favorite books. if u like faith and god and reading about normal everyday teenagers this really is the book to read. iff u know rhea ask her for the book she has all the series

[Geanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that all teenagers should read as it tackles the subject of drinking. It tells what happens when drinking gets out of control and the sometimes life changing consequences it has for both the drinker and the drinker's friends & family. A VERY GOOD read.

[Lanetta Dickens · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty boring

[Neicey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good Book

[Jennieka]

it was a great book. i'd recomend it for some but not all.

[Annie]

One of the best books i read so far

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a really gud book
enjoy it alot:)

[Krystal Roberts]

This is a awesome book, this tells you aboutlife ..

[Ginae Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME READ!!!!!!!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

she keeps me wantin gmore of these series.

[Be · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every girl in High School should read this book!

[Dre'ana Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like the author stephanie perry moore she's one of my favorites