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Fierce and Faithful: 25 Women of the Bible Who Dared to Trust God
Not yet published
Expected 27 Oct 26Introduce Middle-Grade Readers to the Bold Women of the Bible The Bible is filled with stories of brave, wise, and faithful women who dared to follow God's call. Now you can introduce these remarkable role models to the next generation with Fierce and 25 Women of the Bible Who Dared to Trust God.Written by trusted biblical scholars Carmen Joy Imes and Nijay K. Gupta, this beautifully illustrated book brings the stories of twenty-five biblical women to life. From well-known figures like Mary and Sarah to lesser-known leaders like Huldah and Phoebe, each story is told in a relatable way that connects with young hearts and minds. These women are loyal friends or family members, strong leaders, savvy problem solvers, and faithful members of God's people.Fierce and Faithful is an engaging tool for discipleship, thoughtfully designed to help kids ages 8-12 see that God has worked in and through women throughout both the Old and New Testaments—and that he can work through them too!In Fierce and Faithful, you'll discover Scripturally faithful portrayals of twenty-five women of the Bible,Helpful sidebars that explain cultural details and unfamiliar terms,Thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter to aid in understanding the biblical story, andFull-color artwork that brings each woman to life.
With Fierce and Faithful, help the tweens you love discover how they, too, can become fierce and faithful followers of God through these twenty-five women in God's story.
With Fierce and Faithful, help the tweens you love discover how they, too, can become fierce and faithful followers of God through these twenty-five women in God's story.
- GenresFamily
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
Nijay K. Gupta
57 books239 followersNijay K. Gupta is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He has written or edited more than twenty books and has published dozens of academic articles. He is an award-winning researcher and a member of the Society of New Testament Studies.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 28, 2026
Fierce and Faithful
By: Carmen Joy Imes and Nijay K. Gupta
- women of the Bible
- Christian literature for kids
- super accessible & educational
Fierce and Faithful is a beautiful introduction to 25 women of the Bible and the ways God worked through their courage, wisdom, leadership, and faith. It tells of women you’ve likely heard of many times before, as well as lesser known women who played a role in God’s story.
I loved the story-telling aspects mixed with lots of educational aspects like historical explanations and definitions!
The narrator was great and added much to the overall story!
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for access to this ARC in return for my honest review!
By: Carmen Joy Imes and Nijay K. Gupta
- women of the Bible
- Christian literature for kids
- super accessible & educational
Fierce and Faithful is a beautiful introduction to 25 women of the Bible and the ways God worked through their courage, wisdom, leadership, and faith. It tells of women you’ve likely heard of many times before, as well as lesser known women who played a role in God’s story.
I loved the story-telling aspects mixed with lots of educational aspects like historical explanations and definitions!
The narrator was great and added much to the overall story!
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for access to this ARC in return for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★★★★★
Fierce and Faithful is an outstanding exploration of twenty-five women of the Bible and the ways their courage, faith, and trust in God mattered. Although I was familiar with many of these women, this book taught me several things I did not know. I especially appreciated the historical and cultural background explaining what daily life would have been like for women during both Old and New Testament times. That context helped me understand their actions and significance more fully.
The chapters are short and approachable without feeling shallow. Each one introduces the woman being studied, explains her role in Scripture, and considers why her story remains meaningful. Several of the women are unnamed in the Bible, so the authors assign them names for the purpose of discussing their lives and experiences. Each chapter also includes thoughtful questions connecting the woman’s story with situations we may face today, followed by relevant Scripture. The book concludes with helpful suggestions for continuing to study and apply what we have learned.
I received both an advanced listener’s copy and an advanced reader’s copy. The audiobook was excellent, with an outstanding narrator and a chapter structure that made it easy to follow. I reflected on the questions while listening, but I believe readers who want to study the book more deeply may prefer the Kindle or hardcover edition. Having the questions in front of me would make it easier to pause, think carefully, and work through my answers more deliberately.
After looking through the ARC, I was completely impressed by both the layout and Jade van der Zalm’s beautiful illustrations. The visual presentation adds tremendously to the experience and complements the women’s stories wonderfully. In fact, I was so impressed that I am seriously considering purchasing a finished copy when the book is released. The audiobook is excellent for listening and learning, while the print or Kindle edition would be especially valuable for reflection and deeper study.
This is a beautifully written, thoughtfully organized, and visually striking book that would be valuable for personal reading, Bible study, or discussion. It has encouraged me to look more closely at women whose faith and courage played significant roles in Scripture. This was unquestionably a five-star experience for me.
I was blessed with both an ARC and an ALC of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to experience it in both formats. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and unbiased.
Fierce and Faithful is an outstanding exploration of twenty-five women of the Bible and the ways their courage, faith, and trust in God mattered. Although I was familiar with many of these women, this book taught me several things I did not know. I especially appreciated the historical and cultural background explaining what daily life would have been like for women during both Old and New Testament times. That context helped me understand their actions and significance more fully.
The chapters are short and approachable without feeling shallow. Each one introduces the woman being studied, explains her role in Scripture, and considers why her story remains meaningful. Several of the women are unnamed in the Bible, so the authors assign them names for the purpose of discussing their lives and experiences. Each chapter also includes thoughtful questions connecting the woman’s story with situations we may face today, followed by relevant Scripture. The book concludes with helpful suggestions for continuing to study and apply what we have learned.
I received both an advanced listener’s copy and an advanced reader’s copy. The audiobook was excellent, with an outstanding narrator and a chapter structure that made it easy to follow. I reflected on the questions while listening, but I believe readers who want to study the book more deeply may prefer the Kindle or hardcover edition. Having the questions in front of me would make it easier to pause, think carefully, and work through my answers more deliberately.
After looking through the ARC, I was completely impressed by both the layout and Jade van der Zalm’s beautiful illustrations. The visual presentation adds tremendously to the experience and complements the women’s stories wonderfully. In fact, I was so impressed that I am seriously considering purchasing a finished copy when the book is released. The audiobook is excellent for listening and learning, while the print or Kindle edition would be especially valuable for reflection and deeper study.
This is a beautifully written, thoughtfully organized, and visually striking book that would be valuable for personal reading, Bible study, or discussion. It has encouraged me to look more closely at women whose faith and courage played significant roles in Scripture. This was unquestionably a five-star experience for me.
I was blessed with both an ARC and an ALC of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to experience it in both formats. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and unbiased.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced listening copy. My opinions are my own.
This is a great book for kids ages 8-12. Each section tells the story of a woman in the bible and includes an opportunity to reflect and take action. I would definitely recommend it to other christian families. Some of the women that are written about in this book will be unfamiliar to young readers, and I love that they will have the chance to encounter them so early in their faith journey.
This is a great book for kids ages 8-12. Each section tells the story of a woman in the bible and includes an opportunity to reflect and take action. I would definitely recommend it to other christian families. Some of the women that are written about in this book will be unfamiliar to young readers, and I love that they will have the chance to encounter them so early in their faith journey.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced copy received from the author.
I wish we’d had this book when my daughters were little! It is well written and well organized with beautiful illustrations and includes godly women who are often forgotten or overlooked such as Shiphrah & Puah, the wealthy woman from Shunem, Hulda, and others. Aimed at probably around a 3rd or 4th grade level, but accessible for younger and still interesting and inspiring for older.
I wish we’d had this book when my daughters were little! It is well written and well organized with beautiful illustrations and includes godly women who are often forgotten or overlooked such as Shiphrah & Puah, the wealthy woman from Shunem, Hulda, and others. Aimed at probably around a 3rd or 4th grade level, but accessible for younger and still interesting and inspiring for older.
June 29, 2026
A book where we learn about the women in the Bible. Though short stories, I did enjoy how much depth the stories carried.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Good book!! Great for middle-grade readers!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a thoughtful resource for helping children become more familiar with the people and themes of the Bible while also building their confidence in reading Scripture for themselves.
Each entry includes a retelling of a Bible character's story, a few paragraphs explaining the character and the historical or biblical context, a helpful sidebar that answers common questions or adds extra background, a "Your Turn" section with a reflection question and summary, and the Scripture references for further reading.
One of my favourite features was the excellent Q&A sections. They tackled questions children might actually ask, such as: Why are there slaves in the Bible? Is it ever okay to lie? Is violence ever okay? Where did the Israelites get their laws? My personal favourites were the explanations of sin, demons, and the description of who Yahweh is.
The glossary at the back is another standout feature. Important words are bolded throughout the book and are easy to look up and pronunciation guides are included for many difficult biblical names, making this an accessible resource for families reading together.
I also appreciated the final "What's Next?" section, which encourages readers to continue reading Bible stories even when they don't understand everything right away, to draw pictures of what they imagine the stories looked like, and to be fierce and faithful by listening to God, trusting Him, and joining in His work.
That said, I did have a few reservations. I was surprised that some well-known Bible characters, such as Sarah and Rachel, weren't included. I also wasn't a fan of assigning names to characters who are unnamed in Scripture.
The biggest missed opportunity for me was that each story is presented as a paraphrase rather than using a child-friendly Bible translation. I understand the authors' desire to simplify the language and add context, but I would have loved to see the biblical text itself paired with those explanations. Since the book encourages readers to continue reading the Bible for themselves, including Scripture in each entry could have helped build confidence and familiarity with God's Word. While the Scripture references are listed at the end of each story, I also would have appreciated a brief note from the authors explaining why they chose the paraphrase approach, as that choice is only mentioned in the publication information.
Overall, this is a helpful resource for introducing children to biblical characters and answering many of the questions that naturally arise while reading the Bible. The contextual information, reflection questions, glossary, and practical encouragement to keep exploring Scripture make it a valuable companion for families and young readers.
A big thank you to IVP Press and Net Galley for the advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Each entry includes a retelling of a Bible character's story, a few paragraphs explaining the character and the historical or biblical context, a helpful sidebar that answers common questions or adds extra background, a "Your Turn" section with a reflection question and summary, and the Scripture references for further reading.
One of my favourite features was the excellent Q&A sections. They tackled questions children might actually ask, such as: Why are there slaves in the Bible? Is it ever okay to lie? Is violence ever okay? Where did the Israelites get their laws? My personal favourites were the explanations of sin, demons, and the description of who Yahweh is.
The glossary at the back is another standout feature. Important words are bolded throughout the book and are easy to look up and pronunciation guides are included for many difficult biblical names, making this an accessible resource for families reading together.
I also appreciated the final "What's Next?" section, which encourages readers to continue reading Bible stories even when they don't understand everything right away, to draw pictures of what they imagine the stories looked like, and to be fierce and faithful by listening to God, trusting Him, and joining in His work.
That said, I did have a few reservations. I was surprised that some well-known Bible characters, such as Sarah and Rachel, weren't included. I also wasn't a fan of assigning names to characters who are unnamed in Scripture.
The biggest missed opportunity for me was that each story is presented as a paraphrase rather than using a child-friendly Bible translation. I understand the authors' desire to simplify the language and add context, but I would have loved to see the biblical text itself paired with those explanations. Since the book encourages readers to continue reading the Bible for themselves, including Scripture in each entry could have helped build confidence and familiarity with God's Word. While the Scripture references are listed at the end of each story, I also would have appreciated a brief note from the authors explaining why they chose the paraphrase approach, as that choice is only mentioned in the publication information.
Overall, this is a helpful resource for introducing children to biblical characters and answering many of the questions that naturally arise while reading the Bible. The contextual information, reflection questions, glossary, and practical encouragement to keep exploring Scripture make it a valuable companion for families and young readers.
A big thank you to IVP Press and Net Galley for the advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this read. The illustrations were perhaps the best part of the book as they brought each of the accounts of the women in the Bible to life. Though I appreciated the dramatized storytelling, I would caution for everyone to read the corresponding Bible verses and not treat the recollections in this book as pure gospel. But they did a fantastic job of making these stories relatable to younger girls who are interested in learning more about women in the Bible. I also especially loved the questions at the end of each chapter which were tailored towards thinking deeply about how to apply the lessons we learn in our lives, and ways in which we can live as women learning more about God. I'm glad that they included a list of the other women in the Bible that weren't specifically mentioned in this book. Definitely a good resource to share with middle-aged girls in your life that might have expressed an interest in seeing how women are represented in the Bible.
Thank you to Netgalley and IVP for an eARC of this book! All opinions provided are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and IVP for an eARC of this book! All opinions provided are my own.
October 2, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book that centers women from the Old and New Testaments. It’s one I would have found empowering during my elementary school years and one I wish had been available to my daughter. I appreciate how Carmen and Nijay invite the reader’s imagination into a plausible story of what each woman might have experienced and then relate what we do know from the Bible. I also appreciate how they wove in terminology from the Bible and created a glossary, provided scripture references for reading more, and then practical application. I hope that this book will challenge and empower a multitude of fierce and faithful girls.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is an excellent book for middle grade readers. It would also be a good book to read with your child. It contains helpful facts about important women in the Bible, which adults will also enjoy. Each woman's story is told in ways that a middle grader can understand. Helpful pronunciations and definitions are given. There is a good application question at the end of each chapter. The illustrations are warm and inviting. I highly recommend this gift for girls ages 8-12. It would be good material for discussion groups as well.
I received a preview copy from Netgalley.
I received a preview copy from Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a great quick little read. I think it'll be a hit with younger middle schoolers. While the audiobook was fine I'd recommend picking it up in print for the beautiful illustrations. I wish there was a little more to the stories but I believe this is more about prompting reflection and discussion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a book I wish I had as a child. Not only do we see women of the bible, but it isn't just Mary and the other new testament women. This was wonderful and I'm so glad it exists.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews