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Lightkeepers
Ten Boys Who Changed the World
Billy Graham ~ Brother Andrew ~ John Newton ~ George Müller ~ Nicky Cruz ~ William Carey ~ David Livingstone ~ Adoniram Judson ~ Eric Liddell ~ Luis Palau
Would you like to change your world?
These ten boys grew up to do just that! Find out how Eric won the race and honoured God; David became an explorer and explained the Bible; Adoniram was in prison and praised God; Nicky joined gangs and then the church; Luis was changed by God and God changed others; William translated the Bible and gave God's word to India; George rescued orphans and was trusted with millions; Andrew smuggled Bibles into Russia and brought hope to thousands; John captured slaves but God used him to set them free; Billy preached and God used him to change people all around the world.
Read this book and find out what God wants you to do!
Would you like to change your world?
These ten boys grew up to do just that! Find out how Eric won the race and honoured God; David became an explorer and explained the Bible; Adoniram was in prison and praised God; Nicky joined gangs and then the church; Luis was changed by God and God changed others; William translated the Bible and gave God's word to India; George rescued orphans and was trusted with millions; Andrew smuggled Bibles into Russia and brought hope to thousands; John captured slaves but God used him to set them free; Billy preached and God used him to change people all around the world.
Read this book and find out what God wants you to do!
153 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
39 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Irene Howat
93 books34 followersIrene Howat is an award-winning author who has many titles, for adults and children, to her name. She is married to a retired minister and they have a grown up family. She is also a talented artist and now stays in Ayrshire, Scotland. She especially enjoys letters from children and replies to all of them!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 28, 2016
3.5 stars
My eight year old son enjoyed these true stories and kept begging for the next one. They are definitely inspirational men - John Newton, George Muller, Nicky Cruz to name a few. This book is written in simple language but because of the background of these men some violent acts and thoughts are mentioned in a restrained way.
Overall I liked this but because they were true stories condensed and simplified they would often jump forward in time which made them feel a bit disjointed. The author did try hard to tie together the beginning and endings but sometimes it was disappointing what was cut for brevity's sake. Definitely worth reading though.
My eight year old son enjoyed these true stories and kept begging for the next one. They are definitely inspirational men - John Newton, George Muller, Nicky Cruz to name a few. This book is written in simple language but because of the background of these men some violent acts and thoughts are mentioned in a restrained way.
Overall I liked this but because they were true stories condensed and simplified they would often jump forward in time which made them feel a bit disjointed. The author did try hard to tie together the beginning and endings but sometimes it was disappointing what was cut for brevity's sake. Definitely worth reading though.
May 8, 2016
This book was my read aloud book for the children this month. Eli chose it from a stack of books that his Dad recently purchased for him. We all enjoyed reading this book aloud together in the evening and learning about ten men who grew up to do great things for the kingdom of God. This biography had a chapter telling about the life of each man: Billy Graham, Brother Andrew, John Newton, George Muller, Nicky Cruz, William Carey, David Livingstone, Adoniram Judson, Eric Liddell, and Luis Palau. This was our first book in the LightKeepers series and I can't wait to begin reading another one in May. They stories really were fantastic and so well written. Eli would beg for me to read it to him.
February 2, 2016
We read the story of David Livingstone for CC1 wk15..krb 2/1/16
April 30, 2024
Number of pages: around 150 pages per book
Genre: Non-fiction, Missionary Biographies
Series: I combined all reviews for this series into one. The books are: Ten Boys Who Changed the World, Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents, Ten Boys Who Made History, Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In, and Ten Boys Who Made a Difference.
Age recommendation: 6-12 *Note* Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In is about martyrs so it might be better for older elementary school children (maybe 10-12).
Summary: Each book gives a short biography of ten different Christian ‘boys’ who used their lives for God.
Ten Boys Who Changed the World: Brother Andrew; John Newton; Billy Graham; Eric Liddell; William Carey; David Livingstone; Nicky Cruz; Adoniram Judson; George Muller; and Luis Palau.
Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents: Wilfred Grenfell; C.S. Lewis; James Clerk Maxwell; Ghillean Prance; Paul Brand; Johann Sebastian Bach; Samuel Morse; George Washington Carver; C.T. Studd; and John Bunyan.
Ten Boys Who Made History: Samuel Rutherford; John Owen; Jonathan Edwards; George Whitefield; Robert Murray McCheyne; Dwight L. Moody; Billy Sunday; Charles H. Spurgeon; Aiden W. Tozer; and Martyn Lloyd–Jones.
Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In: Polycarp; Alban; Sir John Oldcastle; Thomas Cranmer; George Wishart; James Chalmers’ Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Nate Saint; Ivan Moiseyev; and Graham Staines.
Ten Boys Who Made a Difference: Augustine of Hippo; Jan Hus; Martin Luther; Ulrich Zwingli; William Tyndale; Hugh Latimer; John Calvin; John Knox; Lord Shaftesbury; and Thomas Chalmers
My thoughts: Since this whole series is pretty similar, I’m just going to review it as a whole. I did not like this series as much as the Ten Girls series, probably at least partly because the Ten Girls series is very nostalgic for me. I loved it in elementary school, but since I didn’t read the Ten Boys series until I was much older, I noticed a lot of things I’m not a fan of (which are probably similar in the Ten Girls series, but I don’t notice because I just remember how cool I thought they were when I was 8).
The books aren’t particularly well-written- at all. It’s fine for an elementary schooler (who it’s actually intended for), but the writing isn’t spectacular. Another thing I wasn’t particularly impressed with was the choice of people to write about. A lot of them are really famous preachers and stuff, so that makes sense, while the others were completely unfamiliar to me. That’s fine – in fact I kind of like that because it introduced me to good Christian examples I never would have known about otherwise. However, some of the people chosen just didn’t seem to fit exactly with the theme of the book, or I knew of other people who would be better to write about, and it frustrated me that they weren’t mentioned. (I don’t exactly remember which people I didn’t think fit, but I do remember thinking better choices could have been made).
All that being said, as an elementary schooler I wouldn’t notice these things. The books are all easy for younger children to read and understand, and at that age I would just think it was cool what all these people did for God.
My personal rating: 3/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
Genre: Non-fiction, Missionary Biographies
Series: I combined all reviews for this series into one. The books are: Ten Boys Who Changed the World, Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents, Ten Boys Who Made History, Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In, and Ten Boys Who Made a Difference.
Age recommendation: 6-12 *Note* Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In is about martyrs so it might be better for older elementary school children (maybe 10-12).
Summary: Each book gives a short biography of ten different Christian ‘boys’ who used their lives for God.
Ten Boys Who Changed the World: Brother Andrew; John Newton; Billy Graham; Eric Liddell; William Carey; David Livingstone; Nicky Cruz; Adoniram Judson; George Muller; and Luis Palau.
Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents: Wilfred Grenfell; C.S. Lewis; James Clerk Maxwell; Ghillean Prance; Paul Brand; Johann Sebastian Bach; Samuel Morse; George Washington Carver; C.T. Studd; and John Bunyan.
Ten Boys Who Made History: Samuel Rutherford; John Owen; Jonathan Edwards; George Whitefield; Robert Murray McCheyne; Dwight L. Moody; Billy Sunday; Charles H. Spurgeon; Aiden W. Tozer; and Martyn Lloyd–Jones.
Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In: Polycarp; Alban; Sir John Oldcastle; Thomas Cranmer; George Wishart; James Chalmers’ Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Nate Saint; Ivan Moiseyev; and Graham Staines.
Ten Boys Who Made a Difference: Augustine of Hippo; Jan Hus; Martin Luther; Ulrich Zwingli; William Tyndale; Hugh Latimer; John Calvin; John Knox; Lord Shaftesbury; and Thomas Chalmers
My thoughts: Since this whole series is pretty similar, I’m just going to review it as a whole. I did not like this series as much as the Ten Girls series, probably at least partly because the Ten Girls series is very nostalgic for me. I loved it in elementary school, but since I didn’t read the Ten Boys series until I was much older, I noticed a lot of things I’m not a fan of (which are probably similar in the Ten Girls series, but I don’t notice because I just remember how cool I thought they were when I was 8).
The books aren’t particularly well-written- at all. It’s fine for an elementary schooler (who it’s actually intended for), but the writing isn’t spectacular. Another thing I wasn’t particularly impressed with was the choice of people to write about. A lot of them are really famous preachers and stuff, so that makes sense, while the others were completely unfamiliar to me. That’s fine – in fact I kind of like that because it introduced me to good Christian examples I never would have known about otherwise. However, some of the people chosen just didn’t seem to fit exactly with the theme of the book, or I knew of other people who would be better to write about, and it frustrated me that they weren’t mentioned. (I don’t exactly remember which people I didn’t think fit, but I do remember thinking better choices could have been made).
All that being said, as an elementary schooler I wouldn’t notice these things. The books are all easy for younger children to read and understand, and at that age I would just think it was cool what all these people did for God.
My personal rating: 3/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
February 16, 2022
The fourth entry into the boys' series shows that Church history is filled will all sorts of interesting and forgotten people. While this volume probably has more famous folks there are still elements to be discovered.
In this volume, ten boys which include David Livingstone, Nicky Cruz, Brother Andrew, George Muller, William Carey, John Newton, Adoniram Judson, Billy Graham, Luis Palau, and Eric Liddell follow a similar story pattern of about 15 pages each. The sections starts off with a childhood and family setting and move to either some early important events or through to teenage and college-age and then into adulthood of what they're known for. The stories include mostly fictional conversations so as to give young readers more than just facts to remember. The conversation are in the spirit of learning about the person. Each person also has a focus on their Christian faith and it usually inspires the conclusion of the story as a way to glorify God. At the end there is a "FACT" of the story expanded upon, a "KEYNOTE" that focuses on the aspect of the story to think about God, a "THINK" area in which a challenge question is presented for discussion, and a "PRAYER" section.
I believe this will be my last time highlighting this negative aspect of the book because I believe I may be putting too much stock in what the title is promising me. With the title involving people "who changed the world" I was thinking there would be more discussion to the impact of the person. For example, Eric Liddel is a famous person but how he exactly "changed the world" seems confined to his running and POW time. Of course, there's more to his story and his story in relation to his faith is important and a blessing. However, "changed the world" is hard to see. Luis Palau's story is last and I'm not at all sure what the ending had to do with him or overall why he's highlighted among the other people here.
Putting my complaints against the promise of the title away for good, the stories are enjoyable. They also cover a wide variety of different times and places. I believe homeschool families could cover one story and get a history, geography, devotional, and English lesson out of reading one chapter per lesson. Really do pick these up for the younger readers in your life.
Final Grade - B+
In this volume, ten boys which include David Livingstone, Nicky Cruz, Brother Andrew, George Muller, William Carey, John Newton, Adoniram Judson, Billy Graham, Luis Palau, and Eric Liddell follow a similar story pattern of about 15 pages each. The sections starts off with a childhood and family setting and move to either some early important events or through to teenage and college-age and then into adulthood of what they're known for. The stories include mostly fictional conversations so as to give young readers more than just facts to remember. The conversation are in the spirit of learning about the person. Each person also has a focus on their Christian faith and it usually inspires the conclusion of the story as a way to glorify God. At the end there is a "FACT" of the story expanded upon, a "KEYNOTE" that focuses on the aspect of the story to think about God, a "THINK" area in which a challenge question is presented for discussion, and a "PRAYER" section.
I believe this will be my last time highlighting this negative aspect of the book because I believe I may be putting too much stock in what the title is promising me. With the title involving people "who changed the world" I was thinking there would be more discussion to the impact of the person. For example, Eric Liddel is a famous person but how he exactly "changed the world" seems confined to his running and POW time. Of course, there's more to his story and his story in relation to his faith is important and a blessing. However, "changed the world" is hard to see. Luis Palau's story is last and I'm not at all sure what the ending had to do with him or overall why he's highlighted among the other people here.
Putting my complaints against the promise of the title away for good, the stories are enjoyable. They also cover a wide variety of different times and places. I believe homeschool families could cover one story and get a history, geography, devotional, and English lesson out of reading one chapter per lesson. Really do pick these up for the younger readers in your life.
Final Grade - B+
February 12, 2022
Read this book with our two young boys (3 and 5). The 3-year-old didn't follow. Some of the issues addressed (racism, gang culture, slavery) may have been a little too much for our 5-year-old. There is definitely some creative interpretation in the stories, which may make the experience of a person coming to a knowledge of Christ seem to be simpler than it is in actuality. There are a few spots where it seems the author speaks about knowing Christ in a certain formulaic way that doesn't quite jive with my sensibilities, but nothing that is wrong or offensive. Overall, a good introduction to these men who changed the world, giving young ones the opportunity to learn more about the world and what people have done in the past in order to inspire dreams for the future.
July 8, 2022
The book is great. In my case it was a voice of greatness calling out to me. So I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to do something great on earth or in society. What i love about it most it that, that greatness happens via Christ( so to put it ).
I would have given it 5 stars, but because of how the book starts, for me initially it began suddenly and was a bit confusing. It maybe though that it was a matter of cultural contexts as well. Otherwise, its a good read.
I would have given it 5 stars, but because of how the book starts, for me initially it began suddenly and was a bit confusing. It maybe though that it was a matter of cultural contexts as well. Otherwise, its a good read.
June 16, 2021
Great little grouping of snapshots of various famous missionary lives. Some of the starts and stops during the chapters are hard to follow, and leave out some transition information that might be helpful. Perhaps that is because it is directed at a younger audience, but frankly I think those gaps would make it that much harder for them.
September 1, 2022
This book is about ten men who were missionaries for God. It is divided into ten short stories. My favorite story is Nicky Cruz, who was a murderer and then after an encounter with a pastor, he became a Christian. I learned that Billy Graham was the most well-known pastor of his time.
October 28, 2018
I like the word of inspiration at the end of each chapter. Good read for young kids.
May 23, 2020
Review to come soon
May 6, 2024
We read this with the kids over breakfast. Excellent
September 20, 2024
Ok book Boring writing style. Insiring stories. Great men.
July 6, 2025
good
August 23, 2025
Read to my boys for our “morning time”.
June 1, 2021
Good stories but even as an adult some were tricky to follow along with. I feel like some details were missed for conciseness but were needed to understand the full story. Perhaps the author wanted to include elements of each man’s childhood, but the transition was poorly written. Made a lot of the stories less compelling than they should have been.
September 17, 2009
Eli and I are reading through these. They have led to good conversation about faith, God's power, missions... etc.
April 29, 2013
A nice short elementary introduction to ten men who had differnet impacts on the Christian faith; makes you want to learn more about each of them
June 7, 2023
History is the best! I didn't know that George Mueller was a thief at first or that Billy Graham thought Christianity was for sissys.
December 22, 2016
Notes:
so poorly written we couldn't even get through one story
so poorly written we couldn't even get through one story
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews