Peyton is a rising star in the church who is well on the way to reaching his biggest dreams. Levi is a pastor's son struggling to live up to his faith under pressure from all sides. DaVonte is a kid from the wrong side of town who would be content if he and his friends were just left alone.
When an act of violence presents a sudden decision, each boy's answer will shake the community to its core and shape its future forever. Love and truth face off against fear and pride in this modern extension of one of Jesus' best-known parables.
An avid reader and incurable story-spinner, Angie Thompson also enjoys volunteering in her church’s children’s program and starting (but not always finishing) various kinds of craft projects. She currently lives in central Virginia near most of her incredible family, including two parents, six brothers, one sister, and six siblings-in-law—plus four nieces, ten nephews, and several assorted pets!
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Has anyone else ever gotten the feeling a book is good before they even started it? I have that feeling once in a while, and it has never been wrong yet! That was the case with this one, and it did not disappoint.
Each of the characters in this novella is vivid, to the point, and each play an important role in the story. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning, and the plot moved forward at a steady and engaging pace all throughout. But before I say more, let me explain a bit more about the story!
Basically, there are three main characters: DaVonte, Levi, and Peyton. The book usually switches POVs when the chapters switch, but everything is in the third person except for DaVonte, so I suppose you could say that he is the main, main character. Let me just commend the author right now on how well-written these three boys' stories are!
DaVonte's character shows us that we should never judge others at face value based on race, ethnicity, income, or anything else superficial. Levi shows us that even the most fearful of hearts can take courage and make a difference. And Peyton...Well, Peyton shows us that "religious" doesn't always mean godly. "Simple lessons," you may say. "I already know all those things," you may say. But this book presents them in a completely new and applicable way, showing us how the lessons Jesus taught two thousand years ago are still very real and true today.
Absolutely recommended!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own, and I was not required to leave a positive review.
I always find books especially interesting that are loosely based on a Biblical story - it's fun to watch how the author fleshes different aspects of the true story in a fictional one. And in Bridgers, Angie Thompson did an amazing job fictionally portraying the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Characters: At first, I was a little confused who the main characters were, but it became apparent who the three were: DaVonte, Levi, and Peyton. To avoid spoilers, I'm not going to mention which guy played which role in the story, but I'll just say my favorite character was probably Levi. I could connect so well with his shyness, and I loved his desire to serve the Lord in spite of his weaknesses. Some of the conversations he had were so beautiful and encouraging to me - and such a reminder to completely trust the Lord and not depend on my own strength. His storyline was just amazing! And for DaVonte ... it was beautiful how the smallest bit of truth so deeply affected his life and the lives of those around him. His and Levi's friendship was a ton of fun (fish sticks and Joan of Arc were golden - great writing there, because that's the way good friends roll with inside jokes.) And Peyton ... yeah. Not a fan of him, but I liked Natalie. She was sweet.
Writing Style/Plot: I really enjoyed the writing in this book - it was clear and concise but flowed really well. I wasn't distracted by the writing at all, and that left the spotlight on the story. The plot was great - the parable was utilized well, but it wasn't overly close to the Biblical story. There wasn't a bunch of action, but watching how the story progressed and how the characters developed was so engaging. The book flew by in the best of ways!
Moral/Theme: Obviously, the theme of loving one's neighbors was a huge part of this book. I really liked how the author addressed racial/class tensions - instead of just completely throwing the blame on one side, both sides were presented as being wrong because they both hated each other, just for different reasons. But there were all other kinds of great morals - the power of just a few words of truth, trusting not in our own strength, doing what's right no matter the cost ... and of course, the truth of the Gospel that is the only way people can be changed and lives can be healed.
Overall, I loved this book. It was so encouraging and truth-filled, and I was sucked into the story so quickly. I'm excited to read more by this author in the future.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
My Favorite Character/s: I enjoyed reading about each of the characters but DaVonte is my favorite of all the characters! He isn't your typical hero but I liked that about him. He was interesting to read about, and I almost wish that there is a sequel.
My Verse for DaVonte is Luke 10:34
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (King James Version.)
My Thoughts: This book was so good! I loved the plot and the characters. Ah, this book was so neat, interesting, and the spiritual content was wonderful! And I highly recommend getting this book right away!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Stellae Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
Still such a great book!! I know, I shouldn't be reading lieusurely when I have other books to read, but it just happened okay?! I ordered a copy, sat on my bed, and read.
Viola!
(1st read)
Wow! What a great book!!!
The Characters: Levi - loved him!!! He reminded me a lot of myself.. DaVonte - I have not clue how to say his name, but I like him too!!! Brett - aww! Peyton - *groans* Oh my...he was a total jerk. Ugh! I hope you learns to do what's right! Pastor Allison - loved him too!! He was a great pastor! Asher - hahaha!!!! I loved how confused he was at some of the parts when Davonte and Levi were talking!
The Story-line: Though it was sort of a dark storyline, I really liked it!! I haven't read a lot of books like this, but this was really good!
Content: Gangs, smoking, and a stabbing, but not overly mentioned.
All-in-all: Amazing!! I loved the strong salvation message throughout! It was such a great read and I know I'll be reading it again! It's a very simple read too - only 81 pages! You definitely could read it in one sitting! (I did it in two sittings!)
I recommend this to over fourteen year olds because of the content.
*I received a copy of this book from the author at Book Gobbler in exchange for my honest review
A spectacular retelling of the parable of the Good Samaritan—a story concept I never would've considered! Other than a short story awhile back (which I also enjoyed!), this was my first read by Angie Thompson and I dearly loved the tale. <3
My favorite character was undoubtedly DaVonte, followed by Brett. Levi was great too, but I had harder time connecting with him and thought he seemed a bit young for his age.
Peyton's character bugged me to no end, but toward the end of the book, I began to realize why. He was such a vivid, realistic example of a Pharisee-like Christian. Someone who's in it to make themselves look good, who cares little about reflecting Jesus' light to a lost world. Kudos to the author for tackling that situation!
The message of reaching out to the unlovable, extending grace and love to the untouchable, was needed, solid, and so spot-on. My only issue with this little book would be that the writing style was rather confusing at first, and swapping back and forth between first-person and third-person tense threw me off a handful of times. I caught on fairly easily though and was able to follow along.
4 stars!
Content: A stabbing, not very detailed. Talk of tattoos, cigarettes, divisions between different 'classes' of people.
** I received a complimentary copy of this book from Stellae Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required. **
Wow! I wasn't sure what to think of this when I first saw it, but it sounded intriguing to I nabbed a review copy. And I'm so glad I did! I'm not huge into retellings, especially Biblical retellings, but this one pleasantly surprised me! It is very unique both in story and style, and really grabbed my interest.
Based off the parable of the Good Samaritan, there are three boys - one from the "other" side of the bridge, the rough side of town; one a painfully shy pastor's kid; and one a faithful member of the church - on the outside that is.
I immediately loved DaVonte. What a sweetheart! I loved how that despite how little he knew on the subject, and despite all the peer pressure of pressure, and being a kid from the "other" side of the bridge, he clung to the truth and strove to do what's right. Peyton, on the other hand, drove me up a wall. What a jerk! I would have liked to see a little bit more redemption in his storyline, but obviously, to fit the parable, that couldn't really happen. And I loved Levi! The pressure of being a pastor's kid is very real, and I feel like Thompson handled it very well. I loved that like DaVonte, despite Levi's issues, he still did his best to do what was right.
The style Thompson uses to pen this short novel is very unique. We switch from 2nd person POVs for both Peyton and Levi, to first person POV for DaVonte. I wasn't sure how I felt about that at first, but I think it ended up working really well for the story. Overall, I enjoyed Thompson's writing style, and the pacing of the story kept me engaged at all times.
The themes, morals, and messages throughout this story are spot on. It's clear there was a lot of time and heart poured into this book, for which I commend the author.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much, and would highly recommend it!
When I first saw the cover of this book, my interest was piqued by the words, "A Parable", and discovering that Bridgers was a fictional retelling of one of the parables from the Bible made me even more excited because I hadn't read a fictional retelling of a parable before.
As the pages of Bridgers unveiled before my eyes, I was delighted to find that all of the story's thematic pieces appeared to fit together and didn't end at the Samaritan character bringing the victim to the hospital. The story continued to further develop the characters, which I very much liked.
The only minor drawback I noticed was that the dialogues confused me a couple of times, leaving me wondering who was saying what. This aspect could just be my personal perspective, so other readers may not have the same issue.
But overall, Bridgers is a story that I would reread in the future and recommend to other people.
FTC disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Stellae Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
I loved this book! I admit, at first, I wasn’t too sure about it. The title and the blurb looked intriguing, but I lost interest in chapter one. This was mostly because of the unusual voice that kept distracting and confusing me. But, I stuck with it anyway, and wow! It was amazing!
This story, which is really a modern-day retelling of the good Samaritan, can really hit you at the core. For me personally, it was a really good reminder to reach out even further to the people around me. I think it might be for you too.
I have said and written this many times before, but good books stay on one’s mind. This one certainly will.
I absolutely loved this book! Angie Thompson has become one for my favorite authors and one I know I can trust to give beautiful and amazing stories! “Fish sticks” and “Joan of Arc” I absolutely love that!!! Highly recommend this story for ages 13+ or younger depending on the maturity of the reader! I can’t say for sure what others will think and I’m 14——loved it so much!
^i want to thank Angie for giving me a free ebook copy to read!^
I stayed up way too late reading this book, but I LOVED it so much!
This story made me laugh, made me tear up a little, and made me love it a lot! I... yeah, I just really loved it! DaVonte, Asher, Levi, Brett- loved them. Ms. Sondra was somebody I felt like I have met before- loved her in her gruffness. And Peyton- I wanted to tell him a few things. The characters were so well done, and the message was juat so sweet and needed!<3
2024 Reread I really enjoyed this reread. I think I liked it better the second time through for some reason. And I loved DaVonte and Levi and Brett! And Asher.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where one point of view is first person, and the others are third. I wasn’t sure how it was going to work, but it worked surprisingly well.
This book is a well done story with the plot of the good Samaritan. I enjoyed the characters and how they interacted. Well, Payton really needed some help, and I hope he got it. (I would have loved to see his father and pastor step in and have a talk with him.) The prejudice between people was sad, but true. However, the author took the story to a start of a solution and left me with hope for a better future for these characters.
There is talk about gangs, tattoos, smoking, and blood, but it was clean in spite of all that.
I honestly have no clue. I should've read this the moment I heard about it. Yes, I loved it that much. I've never read a parable extension, as Angie titles this masterpiece. IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!! I absolutely love how it portrays something hard and tough without overly slathering on the unnecessary details. DaVonte was my favorite!! And I wuved Levi. I have some words for Peyton, though. Sorry, but I didn't like him at all. ;) But this literally exactly the type of book I love. I seriously don't like myself for not reading it sooner. XD I'm so reading this again and soon!!
5+ stars and 7/10 hearts. This little book was lovely. I was hooked by chapter one, and my interest never waned. I loved DaVonte right away—he was so kind and thoughtful, trying so hard to do right even if he hardly knew what right was. His interactions with Brett and Levi were awesome—especially with Levi, who was almost as sarcastic. The humour was excellent. xD Asher was awesome too. ;) There was a mention of drugs, cigarettes, stabbing, murder, tattoos, and the like, but they are barely mentioned or not detailed and handled very well (we all know I’m sensitive to stuff like that, and I had no problem with it). I loved the message of the book—it was so true and so well done. The scene where Pastor Allison counsels Levi—ohhhh. I needed to hear that so badly. It almost brought tears to my eyes. And the scene where DaVonte almost smokes—that was beautiful. So much love shown. <3 Recommended ages: 14+.
A Favourite Quote: “‘You have to let His Spirit work. Trust Him enough to step out and do what He puts in front of you, and trust that He’ll carry you through it. Don’t try to work up the courage to face it. That’s where you fail. Step out, even when you’re shaking in your shoes, and trust God to give you what you need in that moment.’” A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “Dusk was beginning to fall, but not enough to be penetrated by the faint halos of the streetlights.” A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘You want to bleed ketchup all over the place? I mean, I’m not saying it won’t stain, but you look like a human french fry.’ “‘I knew yellow was a bad choice.... By the end of the day, I’m going to smell like a milk-drenched meatloaf, so it doesn’t much matter.’ “‘The end of the day?’ “‘Right. I smell like one now. By the end of the day, I’ll smell like rotten meatloaf drenched in sour milk. Thanks for reminding me.’”
*I received a copy of this book from the author but I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest opinions.*
"I guess I look like the kid you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, ..." With an opening like this, I knew the young adult Bridgers: A Parable by Angie Thompson was going to tell me a story that would hold conflict and most likely trouble.
The Parent's Note in the beginning give parents the option of reading the book first, explaining the reason why Thompson used the references she did.
I found the story to be extremely realistic, the fact that it could have taken place in any major city or small town was right on spot. Thompson's characters were true to life and surprisingly I understood their actions although they were a bit shocking at the beginning, as you would never have thought Christians would act the way they did.
The story takes two version of one incident and intersects them at a surprising point. What happens next should make Christians dig deep in their hearts and open their eyes to what God has taught us as opposed to what the world has taught us.
I loved the name of the book and the explanation of how it came about bringing in the meaning of the cover. This is an excellent read for all ages, as we find that the power of God can overcome any prejudices developed over the years.
4.5 stars. A modern day retelling of Jesus's parable of The Good Samaritan. I blazed through this novella, and it wasn't hard to do. The writing style was quick, snappy, and fun, and sometimes humorous. The story never paused or lagged at all, and the concept was unique.
DaVonte is probably my favorite character. I liked the way he talked and thought, and he was just, well, awesome. Levi was the second favorite, I felt for him <3 And Peyton? Gah. Talk about being hypocritical. He was way too good with words and way too poor with actions. Asher and Pastor Allison made such good side characters and I was particularly fond of Asher. Such a good big brother <3
And Levi and DaVonte's salute? Fish sticks and Joan of Arc? Priceless lol. Maybe the best part of the whole book, haha. And the scene where DaVonte realizes how much Levi and Asher care was so sweet <3 <3
Overall, I really enjoyed this novella. This review is short because I don't feel like writing a long one, but it was a very good book and a very good retelling! So if you're into that sort of thing, please pick it up and give it a try.
Bridgers is a very well-written, modern-day version of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Thoroughly engaging with great characters and a story that keeps you turning pages. I highly recommend this short read! More in-depth review to come on the Bookworm Banquet podcast.
This book was not at all what I was expecting - in a good way. It was so much better. The parable parallels were stellar, and the way each of the characters grew in their walk with God was memorable and inspiring. The love of God came through this story.
Recommended Age: 13+ Everyone needs to read this book! I'm serious. It touches on important issues today such as drugs, gangs, cigarettes, etc . When I first started this book, it was really confusing. I wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but after the most important scene happened in the book , I just really felt drawn to this. Three POVs are in this book and it's really interesting. I instantly disliked Peyton at the beginning, which I figure we were supposed to feel that way about him. He was an example of those who think highly of yourself and those who come from the same background as him, not accepting people with tattoos and who came from poorer areas. Peyton was the type of character who faked who he was, sort of a false believer. DaVonte Jones was probably the main "main" character out of the three and just really showed me that it doesn't matter if you claim to be a Christian because showing how you treat and value people will prove to the world who you really are on the inside. This book is very important for us Christians, especially those beginning their teenage years, to read so we can understand the important issues of reality today. I really like this book and I think it's worth getting.
Content: mentions of drugs, tattoos, drinking, and gangs. A brief scene about the main character smoking cigarettes and being turned away from that. There's a violent crime that happens and some mentions of blood.
I received this book from Interviews and Reviews in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to provide a positive one. This review was written in my own words and opinions.
Bridgers: A Parable by Angie Thompson - wow, wow, wow! What a powerful contemporary telling of The Good Samaritan. Bridgers is an amazing read, packed full of Godly truths. God came for everyone. God loves everyone. Who are we to judge when we should be loving? Just as in the Biblical story, people walk on by with excuses for not helping. "I needed to get to church." A young man, rough to look at but with the seed of the love of God planted in his heart, lives out the love of God. He prays "begging a God you're not even sure exists" to help him. The novel urges us to be the change we want to see. We need to be the ones bridging the gap. We need to not just talk the talk but walk the walk. The novel asks "where would Jesus be?" He would be with the people who need Him most and need to hear about Him. Jesus asks us to do the same. "Don't ever underestimate what God is doing through a willing vessel." Too many of us spend too much time on our appearances. We end up looking good without necessarily being good. Bridgers: A Parable is just such a powerful read. Read it in tandem with the parable of The Good Samaritan in the Bible. Our God is a great big God who loves everyone. I will leave you with my favourite quote: "He is stronger... than addiction... than fear... than any chain the enemy can use to bind us." I received this book from The Book Gobbler for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
This was better than I expected it to be. The beginning was very, very slow and I almost gave up on it but it did end up picking up and I enjoyed the story. DaVonte was my favorite for sure!
Title: Bridgers: A Parable Author: Angie Thompson Publisher: Quiet Waters Press Released: November 21, 2017
Peyton is a boy with a bright future. He attends church, says the right things, and is even reaching his dream of becoming a preacher.
Davonte comes from the wrong side of town. He’s not necessarily a bad kid, and just wants to be left alone, but in school and in town he can tell that people have some opinions about him.
Levi’s the pastor’s son. He knows what he is supposed to do, but he’s shy and nervous, and struggles to stay committed to his faith when pressures arise.
These boys all have the same choice to make, and only one of them steps past expectations and stigmas in order to truly help another in need. The choices they make will influence their entire community.
This book blew me away. To be honest, I skimmed the description and picked it for the cover. It was as much and more than I was expecting. Angie’s characters are amazing, and it’s impossible not to relate to the characters and feel invested in them and their story.
Bridgers is based off the story of The Good Samaritan, and it’s one of the best retellings I’ve ever read. It is a powerful story in itself, and also makes the story it’s based on come to life in a new way.
When we hear the words “good Samaritan,” we think “nice person.” We don’t think about the stigmas and expectations that the real Samaritan had to be brave and caring enough to overcome. We don’t think about how caring for another person could have disrupted their life. Bridgers really shows what caring about other people enough to do something about it when they’re hurting might look like in a modern setting we recognize.
The writing style in this book was very unique, and I really enjoyed it. The POV switches are unusual in that it switches from third person for Peyton and Levi to first person for Davonte. I’d never seen that before, but I think it worked very well to distinguish the characters and their perspectives and also make the book very personal for one of them.
The dialogue was spot-on, and I love a book with good, natural dialogue. The book shows and doesn’t tell, which can be a very hard thing to do, even for well-established authors and writers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Stellae Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
Overall, Bridgers impressed me very much and is going on my list of favorites. For that reason, I contacted the author and asked if she’d be interested in answering a few questions for a short interview to include with this review. That will be found on my blog, https://stackofbooks.home.blog/, on February 1.
This little novella retells the parable of the Good Samaritan in a moving way. I was hooked by DaVonte's voice when I skimmed the free preview of Bridgers on Amazon, so I bought the ebook and...yep, the rest of the book lived up to the preview! This book reminded me of The Outsiders (the social divide, DaVonte's first person POV, characters living rough but trying their best). So that was great. I wish the story had been longer, actually, to allow more time for longer, more complicated character arcs. But oh well. ;)
Overall, Bridgers is a well-written story, filled with heart and memorable characters. I recommend it!
This is a short Christian coming-of-age novella, a modernized parable of the Good Samaritan meets S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders". The community is divided. On one side of the bridge are the poor folks, the greasers, the "deadbeats". On the other side of the bridge are the more well-to-do jocks, the "bridgers". The cast of characters includes DaVonte Jones, a poor high-school student from the "wrong" side of the bridge; Brett Martens, a track athlete from the "right" side of the bridge; Levi Allison, the timid son of a preacher; and Peyton Emeric, the stuck-up spoiled rich kid who the other bridgers look up to and whose lead they follow.
I enjoyed this book very much. This is the second work I have read by this author, and neither time did she disappoint. The moral was great, the story was great, the characters were great. It had alternating points of view, switching back and forth from DaVonte's first-person POV to a third-person POV, which at first was somewhat annoying to me but which I got used to rather quickly. I highly recommend it. Five stars.
I don't think I've ever read a retelling of a Biblical parable before, but this one pleasantly surprised me. I liked DaVonte and Levi, and the theme was seamlessly woven into the story. I definitely recommend this to fans of Christian contemporary YA fiction or anyone who wants a short but thought-provoking Christian read.
4.5 stars. I absolutely love this book! I've read it at least 3 times in the past 6 months since I got it. Angie Thompson does such an incredible job of weaving together a perspective-challenging plot, with characters that are incredibly life-like, and her fun sense of humor that adds so much to all of her books. I would have to say, that it's one of the best fiction books that I've ever read! It was so good to see the world through DaVonte's eyes, and I really enjoyed the touch of having his POV written in the first person--it forced the reader to instantly identify with him, and look at life from his perspective.
Upscale Woodbridge is separated from its neighbor and polar opposite Graveside by a river crossed by a single bridge. The social divide between the communities is alive and well at the local high school, which serves students from both sides of the river. There, teenagers from Graveside call the those from Woodbridge "bridgers," while Woodbridge students just call their Graveside counterparts deadbeats. Fear and suspicion keep the two groups from mixing except under the most acrimonious circumstances.
One evening, track team member Brett Martens is running on the wrong side of the bridge when he's attacked by a group of gang members and left for dead. Enter DaVonte Jones, a student from Graveside, who finds him and, knowing nothing of religion except that God cares for all people, goes to extraordinary lengths to get Brett to the hospital. This simple but heroic act of kindness sets off a chain of events destined to bring DaVonte into a fuller knowledge of God and transform relationships in the two communities.
Bridgers is a smart and sometimes funny retelling of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Aimed at a YA audience, it carries a strong, overtly Christian message, but because the focus is on universal principles, it can be appreciated by people of all religions. The tale unfolds through the eyes of a wonderfully drawn cast of characters, primarily young people but with a few key adults helping them along. The somewhat unusual device of telling DaVonte's parts in first person and the rest in third works beautifully. My last real experience reading YA fiction was when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, but nothing here is dumbed down, so everything ticked along for me. You don't want to put this book down, and it's short enough that you may not have to. Five stars for story, five stars for writing, and five stars overall. Brava, Ms. Thompson!
I was slightly scared I'd be disappointed, but mostly excited when I got this book and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint! What I liked ... • Writing. The entire book was a quick, easy read. The writing flowed extremely well, was perfectly easy to understand, and balanced everything wonderfully. I’d say the reading level was maybe around middle grade which I don’t read as often anymore but was a nice change of pace … No awkward sentence structures or editing errors stood out to me (which I can be extremely picky about …) It had me flipping pages and I never got bored.
•(most of) the characters Levi was so stinking relatable he was great. DeVonte was probably the nicest lad on the block (though I could never really get a clear mental image of him physically …) Peyton annoyed the heck out of me but that’s for later …
The characters all felt very real. A few of them (*coughs*Peyton*coughs*) felt just a wee bit excessive in certain character traits, but for the most part, they all felt very human which I really likes.
• The plot was fairly simple but didn’t feel overly so … More like a nice casual thing to read on your day off … I liked it. It was extremely Christian based (so non-Christians probably wouldn’t enjoy this story that much compared to other stories with a mild Christian theme). The whole thing with it being based off a parable didn’t really … feel extreme. (tbh I’m not 100% sure I know what the parable was xD) I was just having fun reading the story! Ahhh … not sure what else to say about the plot.
• La faith I really enjoyed this guys! When I was contacted the only thing I was a bit weary about was the faith level … as y’all know I’m a pretty strong Christian … but I am a very denominational Lutheran too and so even if a book is 100% Christian I don’t always agree with the fine details which … can bug me to no end. xD So I was preeeetty worried I’d run into a problem here …
I actually ended up having very little of that problem in Bridgers! The faith was dealt with very nicely without seeming exceptionally preachy. It was incorporated very well and I loved every second of it, rooting for the characters, and turning pages hoping to figure out what would happen next.
What annoyed me (or felt off) …
• PoV I was extremely confused by the authors choice of making DeVonte’s perspective in 1st person while the other ones were in 3rd. In the end, I don’t think it detracted from the value, and it was done fairly well, but honestly I’m still confused. I’m fairly certain it could have been done just as well (and … consistent) if his chapters had also been in 3rd?? Just something to note.
Plus, while we’re still on the topic of awkward PoVs, one of the very last chapters threw me a bit. All three of the sort of MCs (idk how that worked exactly) were together and there was quite a bit of head hopping going on. Iiii feel like it was probably in 3rd person omniscient (which confuses me as that’s not CONSISTENT) but this probably wouldn’t matter to normal people … I just don’t like omniscient PoVs at all xD
• The man named Peyton Gaahhh this guy was annoying. Props to making him the most annoying man out there. 😉 Uhh … I hated him. I think his characterization was fairly good, though just a wee bit extreme. He had decent reasoning behind his meanness (which I like) though I do feel like he could have been more morally grey? Idk. I don’t really care about him anymore.
Overall a very nice short read. Angie Thompson is definitely one of my new favorite indie authors and I look forward to reading more of anything she writes!