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Parable Port #1
The Sower's Secret
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 31, 2025
Desiring a fresh start Anthony and his mom have moved to the seaside town of Parable Port. It doesn’t take long for Anthony to recognize there’s something different about this little town. Seems to be a place where Jesus’ parables come to life in surprising ways.
This revelation starts as a flock of orange birds stalks Anthony and flowering vines grow everywhere, knocking people out cold with their pollen. Parables are supposed to be helpful, right? But something or someone is messing with the Parable of the Sower and causing confusion.
Anthony quickly makes friends with the locals, Duck, J.R., Grace, and Brooklyn. Together, they uncover clues, decipher riddles, and stay one step ahead of the birds and vines to save the town, before it’s too late.
This is a new Christian series for middle grade readers entitled Parable Port and The Sower’s Secret is book one.
In this first instalment ,you’ll find A map of Parable Port, readers can use to track the kids as they race around town to solve the mystery, chapter opening illustrations that are comedic using engaging art to enhance the story, spiritual lessons to further your Bible knowledge and a kid-friendly devotional that explains the Parable of the Sower at the end of the book.
There is a QR code that takes readers to the Penguincas podcast, for the inside scoop from the characters themselves.
This is a fast-paced story perfect for reluctant readers containing silly entries like an electric blue Cadillac escape car, a secret passage, and a silkie chicken chase all in the manner of middle grade reader humor.
This first faith-filled adventure is perfect for for boys and girls ages 8-12.
This revelation starts as a flock of orange birds stalks Anthony and flowering vines grow everywhere, knocking people out cold with their pollen. Parables are supposed to be helpful, right? But something or someone is messing with the Parable of the Sower and causing confusion.
Anthony quickly makes friends with the locals, Duck, J.R., Grace, and Brooklyn. Together, they uncover clues, decipher riddles, and stay one step ahead of the birds and vines to save the town, before it’s too late.
This is a new Christian series for middle grade readers entitled Parable Port and The Sower’s Secret is book one.
In this first instalment ,you’ll find A map of Parable Port, readers can use to track the kids as they race around town to solve the mystery, chapter opening illustrations that are comedic using engaging art to enhance the story, spiritual lessons to further your Bible knowledge and a kid-friendly devotional that explains the Parable of the Sower at the end of the book.
There is a QR code that takes readers to the Penguincas podcast, for the inside scoop from the characters themselves.
This is a fast-paced story perfect for reluctant readers containing silly entries like an electric blue Cadillac escape car, a secret passage, and a silkie chicken chase all in the manner of middle grade reader humor.
This first faith-filled adventure is perfect for for boys and girls ages 8-12.
March 4, 2026
The ability to tell a story that engages and teaches a lesson without being a wooden, derivative, or overtly allegorical takes talent. The authors of The Sower's Secret accomplish this with style and substance. I remember being a kid and reading books that fell flat or were condescending. The books that I still remember and return to are akin to Parable Port. The characters and town comes to life and draw you into the story. Isn't that the point of telling stories?
Plus, I really think Mr. Green is an archetype like Sauron in the Lord of the Rings. The agent of chaos luring around the corner, but not a caricature.
I highly recommend this for the intended audience and adults as well.
Plus, I really think Mr. Green is an archetype like Sauron in the Lord of the Rings. The agent of chaos luring around the corner, but not a caricature.
I highly recommend this for the intended audience and adults as well.
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April 18, 2026“I know all it takes is one seed of faith to save the day.”
I’m always excited when I find a book that I can hand my child and not worry about the content. Do you want a book for your child that is full of the Gospel, found family, friendship, lots of adventure, twists and turns that will keep their attention? You do?! Then you should definitely get them The Sower’s Secret. There is a conversation at the end of the book that Anthony has with his Abuelita that is fantastic. I tried sharing snippets of it, but it was so hard to capture the feeling of it, without sharing it all. You’ll just have to read the book to know what I’m talking about.
There’s even a devotional at then end that ties into the book.
*I was sent a complimentary copy with no expectations for a favorable review.
March 8, 2026
I am a big fan of middle grade novels and was excited to read this new one. The story opens when Anthony and his mom move to a new (and unusual ) town of Parable Port. After a Sunday School lesson on the parable of the sower, Anthony realizes elements from that story are coming to life and taking over the town. He and his new friends from Sunday School might be the only ones to save their community. But how?
This was a fun “Adventures in Odyssey”-type feel and I think will be a hit with young readers!
This was a fun “Adventures in Odyssey”-type feel and I think will be a hit with young readers!
March 25, 2026
There's so much I enjoy about this book! The characters are fun and interesting with their own unique personality. J.R. is my favorite with her unrelenting insistance that her podcast is always the most urgent and important priority. Blake is a great addition because he's a bit obnoxious to the other kids without being cartoonishly over the top as a bully or a jerk. Anthony is a good protagonist with enough mystery about his family background to set up future backstory in subsequent books. And Duck's insistence that Anthony must have a nickname is a fun running gag, but I do wonder if struggling readers will remember this is what he's doing as the book progresses.
The faith aspect is well done without feeling preachy and it certainly avoids denominational debates which I'm sure is a wise decision for a middle grade book. I particularly liked the way the kids who attend church don't have all of the answers as they are exploring and deepening their faith and I also enjoy that they are a mixed friend group where not everyone believes in God/Christianity. It's a good way of showing how a young Christian can be a witness to peers who haven't heard or understood the gospel.
The book itself is really well put together with fun illustrations throughout. The map of the town at the beginning is SO great to have, but the zoomed out overview of the town uses font that's just too small to easily read. It might be better to put the overview of the town as a double-page illustration, with a separate page for the zoomed in view of downtown.
The villain is a great addition to the story without seeming overly frightening. The way he gets his comeuppance at the end is hilariously silly and over the top. It didn't match the rest of the grounded/realistic approach to the story, but that actually just makes it a bit more fun and surprising.
Ultimately, I would put this at a 4.5/5. I certainly appreciate the book for what it is and I'm really excited about seeing where the series goes in future books. The town and its history is such a great concept for a middle grade series. I'd like to see a bit more depth and nuance to the main characters where they move beyond simplistic character traits and there's plenty of opportunity to do so in subsequent stories. I also think the dramatization of the parables of Jesus could be better integrated throughout the plot and character development as the kids work through the deeper meaning instead of feeling like it's just a clue to solve a mystery. For instance, how does Anthony reflect on the meaning of scripture being a seed that grows inside him and what does the parable mean on a spiritual level and practical acting out of his faith? How does it relate to his relationship with his dad? The vines and birds and rocks are obvious dangers to the kids, but what do those challenges look like on a spiritual level (especially for kids). For example, what are the metaphorical birds or vines a Christian kid encounters in 2026 at school, on the playground, online?
Achieving the balance of adventure, but kid-friendly Biblical lessons is such a big challenge so I'm definitely not criticizing or feeling disappointed. I'm just wondering if some kids (and parents) want a bit more depth to the spiritual foundation of the story. I love the word from the authors at the end that points kids in the right direction to further explore the key scriptures and their meaning once they've finished the book.
I'm looking forward to book two!
The faith aspect is well done without feeling preachy and it certainly avoids denominational debates which I'm sure is a wise decision for a middle grade book. I particularly liked the way the kids who attend church don't have all of the answers as they are exploring and deepening their faith and I also enjoy that they are a mixed friend group where not everyone believes in God/Christianity. It's a good way of showing how a young Christian can be a witness to peers who haven't heard or understood the gospel.
The book itself is really well put together with fun illustrations throughout. The map of the town at the beginning is SO great to have, but the zoomed out overview of the town uses font that's just too small to easily read. It might be better to put the overview of the town as a double-page illustration, with a separate page for the zoomed in view of downtown.
The villain is a great addition to the story without seeming overly frightening. The way he gets his comeuppance at the end is hilariously silly and over the top. It didn't match the rest of the grounded/realistic approach to the story, but that actually just makes it a bit more fun and surprising.
Ultimately, I would put this at a 4.5/5. I certainly appreciate the book for what it is and I'm really excited about seeing where the series goes in future books. The town and its history is such a great concept for a middle grade series. I'd like to see a bit more depth and nuance to the main characters where they move beyond simplistic character traits and there's plenty of opportunity to do so in subsequent stories. I also think the dramatization of the parables of Jesus could be better integrated throughout the plot and character development as the kids work through the deeper meaning instead of feeling like it's just a clue to solve a mystery. For instance, how does Anthony reflect on the meaning of scripture being a seed that grows inside him and what does the parable mean on a spiritual level and practical acting out of his faith? How does it relate to his relationship with his dad? The vines and birds and rocks are obvious dangers to the kids, but what do those challenges look like on a spiritual level (especially for kids). For example, what are the metaphorical birds or vines a Christian kid encounters in 2026 at school, on the playground, online?
Achieving the balance of adventure, but kid-friendly Biblical lessons is such a big challenge so I'm definitely not criticizing or feeling disappointed. I'm just wondering if some kids (and parents) want a bit more depth to the spiritual foundation of the story. I love the word from the authors at the end that points kids in the right direction to further explore the key scriptures and their meaning once they've finished the book.
I'm looking forward to book two!
March 12, 2026
Thank you to the authors, Tyndale House Publishers/ Tyndale Kids and NetGalley for allowing me an eARC of this novel to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Anthony and his mom move across the country to start over in the town of Parable Port. Immediately trouble starts happening, starting with a weird flat tire on the way into town. Anthony immediately meets a group of kids that he will need to become friends with in order to save the community from harm. On the first night there is an earthquake that only the kids seem to feel. Things quickly go from bad to worse and the kids must work together to use words of wisdom from their Sunday School teacher and the Parable of the Sower in the Bible to save their town from ruin.
This book was supposed to be a fantastical retelling of the Parable of the Sower. I found it to be just a somewhat fun adventure story. Nothing particularly made me think Parable of the Sower until the very very end. I think it missed its mark a bit. I also think some kiddos might get a little lost in what is going on in the story. Again, I think it was just a cute story.
If you are a parent looking for a clean fantasy book you might enjoy this book. If you are hoping for a book to teach a strong Biblical lesson this one might be one to skip.
Anthony and his mom move across the country to start over in the town of Parable Port. Immediately trouble starts happening, starting with a weird flat tire on the way into town. Anthony immediately meets a group of kids that he will need to become friends with in order to save the community from harm. On the first night there is an earthquake that only the kids seem to feel. Things quickly go from bad to worse and the kids must work together to use words of wisdom from their Sunday School teacher and the Parable of the Sower in the Bible to save their town from ruin.
This book was supposed to be a fantastical retelling of the Parable of the Sower. I found it to be just a somewhat fun adventure story. Nothing particularly made me think Parable of the Sower until the very very end. I think it missed its mark a bit. I also think some kiddos might get a little lost in what is going on in the story. Again, I think it was just a cute story.
If you are a parent looking for a clean fantasy book you might enjoy this book. If you are hoping for a book to teach a strong Biblical lesson this one might be one to skip.
March 14, 2026
"The Sower's Secret" is the story of Anthony, who has just moved to the town of Parable Port with his mother. Something strange seems to be going on in the town. There are very weird birds everywhere, giant vines growing from the ground, and rocks rolling down the hills. It turns out that Jesus' Parable of the Sower has come to life and it is up to Anthony and his friends to discover how to stop the story elements from tearing the town apart.
One of the authors, Shaun Stevenson, is a children's pastor and his ability to communicate biblical truth to young people comes through in the book. It is funny (especially Duck, Anthony's best friend), it is exciting, and there are elements of Bible doctrines woven into the text, not in a "preachy" way, but naturally through the story.
This is the first book in a new series (the second title will be available later in 2026), but I certainly hope they will continue to write the adventures of Anthony in Parable Port.
I was sent a copy of "The Sower's Secret" by Tyndale, but there was no obligation to write a positive review. I really did like the book.
One of the authors, Shaun Stevenson, is a children's pastor and his ability to communicate biblical truth to young people comes through in the book. It is funny (especially Duck, Anthony's best friend), it is exciting, and there are elements of Bible doctrines woven into the text, not in a "preachy" way, but naturally through the story.
This is the first book in a new series (the second title will be available later in 2026), but I certainly hope they will continue to write the adventures of Anthony in Parable Port.
I was sent a copy of "The Sower's Secret" by Tyndale, but there was no obligation to write a positive review. I really did like the book.
March 3, 2026
The Sower’s Secret is a wonderful retelling of the Parable of the Mustard Seed with a creative, modern twist. Set in the engaging world of Parable Port, it weaves faith-based lessons into an exciting, action-filled story that kids will love.
The authors have created a vivid town full of memorable characters—some instantly likable, others more challenging—and that balance keeps readers invested from start to finish. I especially appreciated the reflection at the end that clearly connects the story back to the original parable, helping readers of all ages understand its deeper meaning.
As a middle school teacher in a Catholic school, I can easily see my students connecting with this book. It delivers both adventure and message beautifully. I’m really looking forward to seeing where the series goes next!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The authors have created a vivid town full of memorable characters—some instantly likable, others more challenging—and that balance keeps readers invested from start to finish. I especially appreciated the reflection at the end that clearly connects the story back to the original parable, helping readers of all ages understand its deeper meaning.
As a middle school teacher in a Catholic school, I can easily see my students connecting with this book. It delivers both adventure and message beautifully. I’m really looking forward to seeing where the series goes next!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a fun Christian middle grade book that brings a Parable from the bible to life in a fun way that I think children will really enjoy.
Anthony and his mother are new arrivals to Parable Port, and it seems as soon as they arrive some strange things start happening. There are vines popping up everywhere, strange birds, rockslides, etc. What on earth is happening?
Anthony and a few others just learned about The Parable of the Sower in Sunday school and now it's all actually happening in a bizarre way and it's up to Anthony and his new friends to save the day and put Parable Port back to normal.
This was just a super fun and cute story, and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Anthony and his mother are new arrivals to Parable Port, and it seems as soon as they arrive some strange things start happening. There are vines popping up everywhere, strange birds, rockslides, etc. What on earth is happening?
Anthony and a few others just learned about The Parable of the Sower in Sunday school and now it's all actually happening in a bizarre way and it's up to Anthony and his new friends to save the day and put Parable Port back to normal.
This was just a super fun and cute story, and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews