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Empowered: How God Shaped 11 Women's Lives
Empowered takes the popular idea of what it means to be a strong girl and flips it on its head, using the stories of eleven faithful women to show that real power comes from our loving Father through His Son. In the pages of this book, girls will encounter women they may never have heard of. They will learn some of the character traits that go along with the Christian walk. But they will also encounter a God who is faithful to complete the work He has begun in them. They don't have to do the things these women have done to live a life of purpose; by making a direct connection to their daily lives, readers will have a bigger and a more personal view of their Father and His love for them.
The stories in Empowered are about faithful women, but even more about a steadfast God. The same God who was faithful to give Corrie ten Boom the love she needed in order to forgive her prison guard can help girls love the unlovable bullies at school. The love for Jesus that compelled Sophie Scholl to sacrifice her life for a higher cause can empower a young girl who sees injustice in the world around her. In a culture where kids see value in terms of Instagram likes and viral videos, the life of Pandita Ramabai will show the value of humble worship.
Through the inspiring stories of eleven faithful women, Empowered will show girls that God is the true source of their power, strength, and purpose in life, removing the pressure girls may feel to conquer the world on their own.
This B&H Kids book includes a Parent Connection, an easy tool to help moms and dads (or anyone else who loves kids) discuss the book's message with their child. We're all about connecting parents and kids to each other and to God's Word.
The stories in Empowered are about faithful women, but even more about a steadfast God. The same God who was faithful to give Corrie ten Boom the love she needed in order to forgive her prison guard can help girls love the unlovable bullies at school. The love for Jesus that compelled Sophie Scholl to sacrifice her life for a higher cause can empower a young girl who sees injustice in the world around her. In a culture where kids see value in terms of Instagram likes and viral videos, the life of Pandita Ramabai will show the value of humble worship.
Through the inspiring stories of eleven faithful women, Empowered will show girls that God is the true source of their power, strength, and purpose in life, removing the pressure girls may feel to conquer the world on their own.
This B&H Kids book includes a Parent Connection, an easy tool to help moms and dads (or anyone else who loves kids) discuss the book's message with their child. We're all about connecting parents and kids to each other and to God's Word.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2019
6 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Parks
12 books6 followersCatherine Parks loves to help women build friendships around Scripture. She lives in Nashville with her husband, two children, and a cute mutt named Ollie.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 8, 2021
Do you ever buy a book just because it’s beautiful and then you find that the contents are even more beautiful in ways you couldn’t have even imagined?
I bought this book because the concept sounded cute, and I absolutely love the illustrators’ work, but beyond that this was just another book.
Until I opened it up and was immediately hit with a Gospel-rich introduction. The easy to read, short chapters slipped past my 2020-induced reader’s block, and I wanted to both savor it and gobble it up.
Numerous chapters brought on the tears with portraits of women of God in unique, defining moments of their lives. I learned about Pandita Ramabai, Esther Ahn Kim, and others, women of color whose stories I’d either never heard or only knew the revisionist details of.
I read stories about the Ten Boom sisters, Elizabeth Elliott, and others you would expect, ready to skim over testimonies that felt literally drilled into my head but was shocked and delighted to find new perspectives, new highlights to their lives, and even more inspiration and encouragement.
I found topics such as racism, slavery, and the Holocaust to be handled with age-appropriate honesty and respect to those who experienced them, and I would hand this book to readers of all ages.
The study questions, while best used in a book club of middle-grade readers, were helpful and interesting to me as well.
The illustrations (as expected! 😂😍) were a delight, and God shone through every chapter.
I bought this book because the concept sounded cute, and I absolutely love the illustrators’ work, but beyond that this was just another book.
Until I opened it up and was immediately hit with a Gospel-rich introduction. The easy to read, short chapters slipped past my 2020-induced reader’s block, and I wanted to both savor it and gobble it up.
Numerous chapters brought on the tears with portraits of women of God in unique, defining moments of their lives. I learned about Pandita Ramabai, Esther Ahn Kim, and others, women of color whose stories I’d either never heard or only knew the revisionist details of.
I read stories about the Ten Boom sisters, Elizabeth Elliott, and others you would expect, ready to skim over testimonies that felt literally drilled into my head but was shocked and delighted to find new perspectives, new highlights to their lives, and even more inspiration and encouragement.
I found topics such as racism, slavery, and the Holocaust to be handled with age-appropriate honesty and respect to those who experienced them, and I would hand this book to readers of all ages.
The study questions, while best used in a book club of middle-grade readers, were helpful and interesting to me as well.
The illustrations (as expected! 😂😍) were a delight, and God shone through every chapter.
February 16, 2020
Since I am a public school teacher, this is one I can’t just use in my class. However, I learned about it from a church friend and immediately knew I wanted to read it! I love that it focuses not just on these women who did amazing things, but more so the reason and way they were able to do them, through Christ! I’ve bought the boy’s version, Strong, for my boys to read, but I want to get this one to read to them after as well!
May 7, 2022
Nice easy read, definitely aimed at a younger audience but has some great examples of God's strength and grace in difficult circumstances
August 3, 2022
About: Through the inspiring stories of eleven faithful women, Empowered will show girls that God is the true source of their power, strength, and purpose in life. In the pages of this book, girls will encounter women they may never have heard of and will learn some of the character traits that go along with the Christian walk. But they will also encounter a God who is faithful to complete the work He has begun in them.
Genre: non-fiction, christian, biographies, inspirational
Gender: girls
5/5 stars
TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT: some parts of these ladies' stories may be sad or scary to younger girls, depending on how sensitive they are.
Ages 7-13
"Empowered is full of stories of God-fearing, courageous women to feed the soul. The author explores 11 ladies' lives and shows how the Lord walked them through trials and temptations and will shape the readers own tale too. The book provides resourceful questions, a verse that alludes to her story, and a theme quote with an attribute shown through the women's life. I love reading missionary accounts to dream about, but the girls featured here weren't necessarily stereotypical "super-heroes". They were ordinary women that would just listen to God's call for their life and obey. It's so encouraging to surround yourself with stories that show that God uses anyone and everyone. Ladies of all ages can reap valuable lessons and faithful reminders that The Greatest Author of All is writing their own tale for their life. Such a powerful read to inspire young women walking with the Lord."
Genre: non-fiction, christian, biographies, inspirational
Gender: girls
5/5 stars
TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT: some parts of these ladies' stories may be sad or scary to younger girls, depending on how sensitive they are.
Ages 7-13
"Empowered is full of stories of God-fearing, courageous women to feed the soul. The author explores 11 ladies' lives and shows how the Lord walked them through trials and temptations and will shape the readers own tale too. The book provides resourceful questions, a verse that alludes to her story, and a theme quote with an attribute shown through the women's life. I love reading missionary accounts to dream about, but the girls featured here weren't necessarily stereotypical "super-heroes". They were ordinary women that would just listen to God's call for their life and obey. It's so encouraging to surround yourself with stories that show that God uses anyone and everyone. Ladies of all ages can reap valuable lessons and faithful reminders that The Greatest Author of All is writing their own tale for their life. Such a powerful read to inspire young women walking with the Lord."
April 24, 2019
A great read for young girls (and not so young)! :) I'll be passing this on to my niece.
December 9, 2021
Empowered follows the lives of eleven Protestant Christian women whose stories can empower girls of today. The stories are told in an approachable and largely unsentimental manner, often focusing on direct quotations from the women, most of whom have left writings that we consider spiritual classics today.
Empowered, for once, satisfies even my credentials for diversity. (Little girls of all ethnic heritages and abilities should be able to find role models who look like them!) There are two women from Asia (Esther Ahn Kim from Korea and Pandita Ramabai from India), two Black women (Phillis Wheatley and Charlotte Forten Grimké), and two women with disabilities (Joni Eareckson Tada and Fanny Crosby). The rest of the subjects are Sophie Scholl, Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom (in separate chapters), Elisabeth Elliot, and Annie Armstrong, who bring their own diversity in terms of age and missional practice. Esther Ahn Kim is called by her birth name, Ei Sook, in her chapter, and pronunciations are given for names like Ei Sook and Scholl.
I love what Parks says in the introduction: “Be encouraged to recognize the way in which [God has] made you. You are exactly who you’re supposed to be--not the next Elisabeth Elliot or the next Pandita Ramabai or the next Charlotte Grimké. God created you with your unique abilities and desires. Your job isn’t to be like these women; it is to bring yourself to the table and ask God how He wants to use you--not necessarily to change the world in a grand way, but to do the little things that add up to a faithful life.” (xvi) One of my pet peeves is when people are labeled “the next so-and-so.” I also dislike pressuring children to change the world, which was frequent messaging from adults toward my generation--maybe that’s why we have headlines complaining about how millennials are changing the world. “The little things that add up to a faithful life” are what truly does change the world even more than grand ambitions. Small faithfulnesses add up to a beautiful life, which beautifies other lives. The Ten Boom sisters are excellent examples of this--Corrie’s In My Father’s House tells of their lives before the war, and how her decisions shaped her into the woman we know from The Hiding Place and her prolific ministry.
The book design for Empowered is quite lovely. The cover has an attractive metallic sheen, and the silhouette motif is a gorgeous nod to encouraging young readers to see themselves in the subjects. Each subject has an exquisite portrait by Breezy Brookshire. However, the order of the subjects didn’t make much sense to me, jumping around in time, geography, theme, and subject. As a historian, chronological order makes the most sense to me, but not even alphabetical order was attempted here.
One caveat for adults considering this book for children is that the cited sources are often at the adult level. Many Christian biographies/memoirs can be appropriate for younger readers, so each text should be evaluated individually. Were it up to me, I’d have placed the sources together at the end of the book rather than included them alongside each figure, because they are placed more like recommendations for further reading than simply works cited. For example, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom is a classic that many middle and high school readers can enjoy. Yet, Keith Harper’s Rescue the Perishing, which collects Annie Armstrong’s correspondence, is not super readable. (Armstrong had an…idiosyncratic epistolary style.) Difficult topics, like American chattel slavery, the Holocaust, and Japan's occupation of Korea are discussed clearly but not graphically, in ways that the target age group can grasp. In particular, the discussion of American chattel slavery in the chapter on Phillis Wheatley stood out to me.
At the end, bullet-point biographies provide a handy reference to each woman’s life. The chapters consist of a portrait accompanied by a quotation, a biographical story covering the subject’s life and a major event or two, a brief devotional entitled “Empowered to ______,” and questions for discussion, that often included looking up Scripture. The length and tone of the chapters would make great read-alouds, and the questions are meant for discussion. The devotional sections are focused on applying elements of the biography to issues children face.
Any young Protestant girl’s spiritual life would be enriched by reading this book, and I rejoice to think that this generation of young women will grow up knowing the names of Charlotte Forten Grimké, Sophie Scholl, Ahn Ei Sook (Esther Ahn Kim), and others. Highly recommended!
Empowered, for once, satisfies even my credentials for diversity. (Little girls of all ethnic heritages and abilities should be able to find role models who look like them!) There are two women from Asia (Esther Ahn Kim from Korea and Pandita Ramabai from India), two Black women (Phillis Wheatley and Charlotte Forten Grimké), and two women with disabilities (Joni Eareckson Tada and Fanny Crosby). The rest of the subjects are Sophie Scholl, Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom (in separate chapters), Elisabeth Elliot, and Annie Armstrong, who bring their own diversity in terms of age and missional practice. Esther Ahn Kim is called by her birth name, Ei Sook, in her chapter, and pronunciations are given for names like Ei Sook and Scholl.
I love what Parks says in the introduction: “Be encouraged to recognize the way in which [God has] made you. You are exactly who you’re supposed to be--not the next Elisabeth Elliot or the next Pandita Ramabai or the next Charlotte Grimké. God created you with your unique abilities and desires. Your job isn’t to be like these women; it is to bring yourself to the table and ask God how He wants to use you--not necessarily to change the world in a grand way, but to do the little things that add up to a faithful life.” (xvi) One of my pet peeves is when people are labeled “the next so-and-so.” I also dislike pressuring children to change the world, which was frequent messaging from adults toward my generation--maybe that’s why we have headlines complaining about how millennials are changing the world. “The little things that add up to a faithful life” are what truly does change the world even more than grand ambitions. Small faithfulnesses add up to a beautiful life, which beautifies other lives. The Ten Boom sisters are excellent examples of this--Corrie’s In My Father’s House tells of their lives before the war, and how her decisions shaped her into the woman we know from The Hiding Place and her prolific ministry.
The book design for Empowered is quite lovely. The cover has an attractive metallic sheen, and the silhouette motif is a gorgeous nod to encouraging young readers to see themselves in the subjects. Each subject has an exquisite portrait by Breezy Brookshire. However, the order of the subjects didn’t make much sense to me, jumping around in time, geography, theme, and subject. As a historian, chronological order makes the most sense to me, but not even alphabetical order was attempted here.
One caveat for adults considering this book for children is that the cited sources are often at the adult level. Many Christian biographies/memoirs can be appropriate for younger readers, so each text should be evaluated individually. Were it up to me, I’d have placed the sources together at the end of the book rather than included them alongside each figure, because they are placed more like recommendations for further reading than simply works cited. For example, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom is a classic that many middle and high school readers can enjoy. Yet, Keith Harper’s Rescue the Perishing, which collects Annie Armstrong’s correspondence, is not super readable. (Armstrong had an…idiosyncratic epistolary style.) Difficult topics, like American chattel slavery, the Holocaust, and Japan's occupation of Korea are discussed clearly but not graphically, in ways that the target age group can grasp. In particular, the discussion of American chattel slavery in the chapter on Phillis Wheatley stood out to me.
At the end, bullet-point biographies provide a handy reference to each woman’s life. The chapters consist of a portrait accompanied by a quotation, a biographical story covering the subject’s life and a major event or two, a brief devotional entitled “Empowered to ______,” and questions for discussion, that often included looking up Scripture. The length and tone of the chapters would make great read-alouds, and the questions are meant for discussion. The devotional sections are focused on applying elements of the biography to issues children face.
Any young Protestant girl’s spiritual life would be enriched by reading this book, and I rejoice to think that this generation of young women will grow up knowing the names of Charlotte Forten Grimké, Sophie Scholl, Ahn Ei Sook (Esther Ahn Kim), and others. Highly recommended!
January 4, 2023
This was such a good little book about different women of faith. It was definitely aimed at teenagers, but I really enjoyed it. It was cool to learn about all those women and what they did. There were several I had never heard of!
July 29, 2023
2.5
All the stories were very cool and inspiring, but I think I was older than the target age range.
All the stories were very cool and inspiring, but I think I was older than the target age range.
June 6, 2020
This book celebrates eleven notable women who made significant contributions to the world because of their faith in Christ. These women represent different races, nations, and spheres of influence, and even though some of them are well-known in Christian circles, such as Corrie Ten-Boom and Elisabeth Elliot, others, such as Sophie Scholl and Pandita Ramabai, are more obscure. In each chapter, the author shares a biographical sketch, a short devotional, and discussion questions. The questions include Scripture references, and encourage readers to reflect on how the chapter's lessons relate to their lives.
The focus of this book is clear from the title. Catherine Parks uses the language of empowerment to teach girls about the power of the Holy Spirit, showing them that these women were able to accomplish what they did because of God's strength in them. She encourages girls to know that they, too, can serve God and others in meaningful ways, because even though they may never face the intense conditions that many of these women did, God calls each of us to serve Him within our ordinary lives and the circumstances in which He places us.
This book is a great resource for Christian schools, homeschool families, and devotions. It teaches about a variety of women and historical issues, and does so in a way that elevates God's power instead of making the women themselves the center of the story. Parks is honest and direct about the women's accomplishments and their faults, and never praises them in a way that encourages idealization or the belief that no one could be like them. This book is refreshing and encouraging, and is a great choice for both children and adults who are interested in learning about historic Christian women.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The focus of this book is clear from the title. Catherine Parks uses the language of empowerment to teach girls about the power of the Holy Spirit, showing them that these women were able to accomplish what they did because of God's strength in them. She encourages girls to know that they, too, can serve God and others in meaningful ways, because even though they may never face the intense conditions that many of these women did, God calls each of us to serve Him within our ordinary lives and the circumstances in which He places us.
This book is a great resource for Christian schools, homeschool families, and devotions. It teaches about a variety of women and historical issues, and does so in a way that elevates God's power instead of making the women themselves the center of the story. Parks is honest and direct about the women's accomplishments and their faults, and never praises them in a way that encourages idealization or the belief that no one could be like them. This book is refreshing and encouraging, and is a great choice for both children and adults who are interested in learning about historic Christian women.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2019
This collection of short biographic sketches of 11 women who lived through the ages, including modern times, is quite well written with their young audience in mind.
The stories are interestingly written and will surely engage the heart and mind of the young girl. The goal of the book is to show how in the face of unfathomable situations that portend evil, destruction, harm, and emotional harm the individual can be strong and can take a stand for that which is right.
The Biblical Esther is, of course, included and she is representative of the Biblical woman of strength whose story is told. The two ten Boom sisters, Corrie and Betsie, who were strong during World War II in the horrors of German concentration camps are included. Some whose names I had never heard are in this group of 11 women but whose stories shine with strength and staying power.
I highly recommend this non-fiction book for all young girls to read. Age appropriateness: 8-14 years.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from B&H Publishing Group's book review program. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
The stories are interestingly written and will surely engage the heart and mind of the young girl. The goal of the book is to show how in the face of unfathomable situations that portend evil, destruction, harm, and emotional harm the individual can be strong and can take a stand for that which is right.
The Biblical Esther is, of course, included and she is representative of the Biblical woman of strength whose story is told. The two ten Boom sisters, Corrie and Betsie, who were strong during World War II in the horrors of German concentration camps are included. Some whose names I had never heard are in this group of 11 women but whose stories shine with strength and staying power.
I highly recommend this non-fiction book for all young girls to read. Age appropriateness: 8-14 years.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from B&H Publishing Group's book review program. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
June 14, 2020
I received an ARC from B&H Publishing Group via NetGalley, this review is my opinion..
In this time we hear the Empowered In our society this word means so many things, but sadly many of them are wrong Catherine Parks did a wonderful job on this book, give in us a correct definition of what empowered means. Especially since this book is the focus for young girls, and they need guidance with all the changes they are an experiment. In this book, we found a real-life story, of women who decide to trust, follow and obey God and how these ordinary women, were God used by God in their specific time and place to make a difference. This book could be a beautiful gift and I believe it could also an opportunity to getting more deeper with the questions after each chapter, to not only knowing more of God but who He says they are.according to the Bible.
In this time we hear the Empowered In our society this word means so many things, but sadly many of them are wrong Catherine Parks did a wonderful job on this book, give in us a correct definition of what empowered means. Especially since this book is the focus for young girls, and they need guidance with all the changes they are an experiment. In this book, we found a real-life story, of women who decide to trust, follow and obey God and how these ordinary women, were God used by God in their specific time and place to make a difference. This book could be a beautiful gift and I believe it could also an opportunity to getting more deeper with the questions after each chapter, to not only knowing more of God but who He says they are.according to the Bible.
September 27, 2020
One of my joys this year was reading this to my 8-year-old daughter. We were both intrigued, challenged, and inspired as we read of the lives of these faithful women. Very well-written and HIGHLY recommended.
March 4, 2021
I read this with my 12 year old daughter. She was captivated by the stories and challenged by the helpful questions at the end of each chapter.
This is a collection of short biographies of women used by God and included many women I was already familiar with (such as Corrie ten Boom, Esther Ahn Kim, Elisabeth Elliot, Joni and Fanny Crosby) and also some stories that were new to me (Pandita Ramabai, Phillis Wheatly, Annie Armstrong).
What I loved most about this collection is how it is presented. It not only teaches your child about women that God has used but specifically homed in on their gifts/character strength and how God used that. So with each chapter you focus on a character strength/gift/quality/fruit of the spirit (whatever way you wish to categorize it), for example: true strength, seeking justice, gratitude, kindness, godly ambition. The end of each chapter focuses on how God empowered them to ........ followed by some questions (with bible verses to look up) and a key verse. Highly recommend. There is also a version with men used by God called "Strong" which my husband is reading with my son. We will swap over when they are finished.
This is a collection of short biographies of women used by God and included many women I was already familiar with (such as Corrie ten Boom, Esther Ahn Kim, Elisabeth Elliot, Joni and Fanny Crosby) and also some stories that were new to me (Pandita Ramabai, Phillis Wheatly, Annie Armstrong).
What I loved most about this collection is how it is presented. It not only teaches your child about women that God has used but specifically homed in on their gifts/character strength and how God used that. So with each chapter you focus on a character strength/gift/quality/fruit of the spirit (whatever way you wish to categorize it), for example: true strength, seeking justice, gratitude, kindness, godly ambition. The end of each chapter focuses on how God empowered them to ........ followed by some questions (with bible verses to look up) and a key verse. Highly recommend. There is also a version with men used by God called "Strong" which my husband is reading with my son. We will swap over when they are finished.
September 30, 2025
Number of pages: 207
Genre: Non-fiction, Missionary Biography
Series: N/A
Age recommendation: 10+
Summary: Eleven ordinary women, one extraordinary God. Each chapter covers one historical Christian woman and a lesson we can learn from their life.
My thoughts: This was a really good book. I loved learning about the eleven women in this book. While I had heard about most of them, there were still a few that were unfamiliar, and I found it very exciting to find more Christian women to read about. I also loved that the author included her sources at the end, so if I wanted to, I could go read more about all of these women. I love finding new good biographies, so this was amazing!
The writing itself wasn’t the best. It definitely could have used some more editing to make it flow more smoothly. Sometimes, it sounded a lot like a school writing assignment with “this person did this and then this happened and then that happened.” The choppiness of the writing probably wouldn't have bothered me too much as a younger reader though. The author also missed parts of the context sometimes (I particularly noticed this in the chapter on Betsy TenBoom. I only knew what the author was referencing because I had read other books about her - the author missed context for a statement Betsy made). Since I knew the context in this situation, I'm not sure how difficult it would be to understand for a reader who doesn't know the context, but considering I only really noticed this as an issue in the one story I know very well it's probably not too bad.
Something I personally didn't love (reading this book as a young adult) was how the author put explanations for more complex words into the text to ensure the reader knew what she was saying. While this is great for the intended younger audience, I found it a little bit annoying as I already understood the words. Another thing I personally didn't like was that the book was written in third person, with personal anecdotes included in the stories (not just the lesson parts). I would have preferred a dramatization or fictionalization, or at least just less narration. Again, these are personal preferences and are probably not an issue for most readers.
I really liked that each chapter ended with a personal application and reflection questions. I thought it was a good way to not idolize the women you were reading about, but use their stories as an inspiration to go on for the Lord. The author also had a specific lesson she drew out of each woman’s life (for example, using your talents for God), and it was nice to just be reminded of some of the ways each of us can live for God.
I also appreciated the emphasis on these women being ordinary people who used their means for God. Most of these women just made themselves - their talents, their time and their money - available to God and let Him lead them. I found this encouraging as it had the emphasis that anyone can do great things for God, and even the seemingly small things are great!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will probably be checking out some of the references used for this book!
My personal rating: 4/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
Genre: Non-fiction, Missionary Biography
Series: N/A
Age recommendation: 10+
Summary: Eleven ordinary women, one extraordinary God. Each chapter covers one historical Christian woman and a lesson we can learn from their life.
My thoughts: This was a really good book. I loved learning about the eleven women in this book. While I had heard about most of them, there were still a few that were unfamiliar, and I found it very exciting to find more Christian women to read about. I also loved that the author included her sources at the end, so if I wanted to, I could go read more about all of these women. I love finding new good biographies, so this was amazing!
The writing itself wasn’t the best. It definitely could have used some more editing to make it flow more smoothly. Sometimes, it sounded a lot like a school writing assignment with “this person did this and then this happened and then that happened.” The choppiness of the writing probably wouldn't have bothered me too much as a younger reader though. The author also missed parts of the context sometimes (I particularly noticed this in the chapter on Betsy TenBoom. I only knew what the author was referencing because I had read other books about her - the author missed context for a statement Betsy made). Since I knew the context in this situation, I'm not sure how difficult it would be to understand for a reader who doesn't know the context, but considering I only really noticed this as an issue in the one story I know very well it's probably not too bad.
Something I personally didn't love (reading this book as a young adult) was how the author put explanations for more complex words into the text to ensure the reader knew what she was saying. While this is great for the intended younger audience, I found it a little bit annoying as I already understood the words. Another thing I personally didn't like was that the book was written in third person, with personal anecdotes included in the stories (not just the lesson parts). I would have preferred a dramatization or fictionalization, or at least just less narration. Again, these are personal preferences and are probably not an issue for most readers.
I really liked that each chapter ended with a personal application and reflection questions. I thought it was a good way to not idolize the women you were reading about, but use their stories as an inspiration to go on for the Lord. The author also had a specific lesson she drew out of each woman’s life (for example, using your talents for God), and it was nice to just be reminded of some of the ways each of us can live for God.
I also appreciated the emphasis on these women being ordinary people who used their means for God. Most of these women just made themselves - their talents, their time and their money - available to God and let Him lead them. I found this encouraging as it had the emphasis that anyone can do great things for God, and even the seemingly small things are great!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will probably be checking out some of the references used for this book!
My personal rating: 4/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
July 8, 2019
Catherine Park’s juvenile non-fiction novel, Empowered, How God Shaped 11 Women’s Lives (And Can Shape Yours Too), shares the testimonies of 11 women who bravely endured challenging circumstances through God’s strength and power. Each chapter introduces each one of these amazing women of faith by a quote and a hand-drawn picture. You will read through parts of their testimony and research provided. After their stories unfold, you are left with pages where you are able to reflect upon each woman’s traits. Some of these traits include gratitude, loving the unlovable, and fearing God not man. At the very end of each chapter Park’s provides questions to reflect upon.
When I was graciously provided this book by B&H Publishers, I had no idea that it was aimed at children and young tweens. The cover will grab your attention right away with all of the bright colors. The illustrations inside of Empowered are simply beautiful. The 11 women that Park’s chose to focus on with help do exactly what the title says, empower and shape the audience’s livelihood.
Overall I give this book a 3/5 and would recommend it to Mother’s who want their young girls to know about women of faith. We are told that it is not only by the blood of Jesus but the power of our testimony. I plan on passing this read onto someone else. This book is aimed more toward late elementary or young junior high girls. Empowered was an easy read and I loved hearing and learning more about women who have shaped our faith.
Thank you to B&H Publishers for graciously providing this novel for me to review.
When I was graciously provided this book by B&H Publishers, I had no idea that it was aimed at children and young tweens. The cover will grab your attention right away with all of the bright colors. The illustrations inside of Empowered are simply beautiful. The 11 women that Park’s chose to focus on with help do exactly what the title says, empower and shape the audience’s livelihood.
Overall I give this book a 3/5 and would recommend it to Mother’s who want their young girls to know about women of faith. We are told that it is not only by the blood of Jesus but the power of our testimony. I plan on passing this read onto someone else. This book is aimed more toward late elementary or young junior high girls. Empowered was an easy read and I loved hearing and learning more about women who have shaped our faith.
Thank you to B&H Publishers for graciously providing this novel for me to review.
May 27, 2019
This book is about how God shaped the lives of 11 women and is written for young girls to encourage them that God can shape their lives and use them too. It is a very interesting and well- written book and I would really encourage girls to read it. It covers the lives of Fanny Crosby, Bessie and Corrie Ten Boom, Annie Armstrong, and other women who influenced many people.
Each chapter has a theme such as gratitude, obedience, etc., and ends with a section applying that to your own life, some questions to really dig in, and then a verse.
I was really impacted by reading the lives of missionaries and other biographies when I was younger and I think this will be very good for girls to read. The excerpts are not long, and this book could even be used as a devotional. If you have young women in your life and think they would read it, this would be a good investment in their lives.
(Please Note: Although a copy of this book was given to me to review by B&H and Lifeway, the opinions expressed are my own.)
Each chapter has a theme such as gratitude, obedience, etc., and ends with a section applying that to your own life, some questions to really dig in, and then a verse.
I was really impacted by reading the lives of missionaries and other biographies when I was younger and I think this will be very good for girls to read. The excerpts are not long, and this book could even be used as a devotional. If you have young women in your life and think they would read it, this would be a good investment in their lives.
(Please Note: Although a copy of this book was given to me to review by B&H and Lifeway, the opinions expressed are my own.)
June 7, 2019
The women's stories in this book are so amazing to me and also overwhelming. I so take my easy life for granted in comparison to the things they faced and were empowered to do for God. They challenged wrong thinking, hurting others, loving the unlovable, saving lives, sharing truth, asking why and never stopping when their hearts told them to obey and continue on. I appreciate learning more about real women and trusting in God's power to do what he has made for me to do. This book is intended for a younger audience but I felt it was just right to give me an overview and then it had at the end of each chapter book titles to read more about that women if I choose. The questions were helpful for deeper thinking and this would also be a great book to read aloud to others. I appreciated this quote from the author, "God daily gives us the power we need to reflect His glory, to love Him, and to love others, just as He did for all the women in this book. Be encouraged to recognize the unique way in which He’s made you."
June 18, 2019
I don't usually read much middle-grade writing, so this was a little different for me. However, I loved this book! It made me want to know more and more about the women that Catherine Parks highlighted. And I was delighted to see that she included their biographies or books at the end of each section. Parks also has questions you can talk about with your daughter/younger woman and Bible references to go with each section.
I will keep this one for my someday daughters or my nieces. The women she highlighted changed the world for God's glory, and I was so encouraged by their stories.
If you have an elementary-school-/ middle-school-age daughter, I would HIGHLY recommend this book.
I will keep this one for my someday daughters or my nieces. The women she highlighted changed the world for God's glory, and I was so encouraged by their stories.
If you have an elementary-school-/ middle-school-age daughter, I would HIGHLY recommend this book.
October 4, 2020
Written for middle grade readers, the selection of role models presented in this book is more global and diverse than is often the case. I learned about some great Christian women I hadn't heard of before, such as Esther Ahn Kim and Pandita Ramabai. For what it is meant to do, I think the book succeeds. However, even though the purpose of the book is didactic, I wish the questions about the women had been left more open ended, with room for readers to make their own connections between God, the Bible and these women's lives. This isn't a book that is likely to attract young readers on their own; it's one that adults will use to teach.
March 11, 2021
Empowered is a book that is geared toward 8-14 year olds, but has much to offer individuals of all ages—including this 40 something Mama. I appreciated Parks’ voice reaching toward the younger crowd and explaining some difficult words in a way that they could understand but not be insulted for maybe not knowing what a particular word in a quote from the 1700’s might mean.
I’m glad I finally had a chance to read this book and will definitely be passing it along to all of my immediate family—young and old. :-) A solid 4.5 stars!
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
I’m glad I finally had a chance to read this book and will definitely be passing it along to all of my immediate family—young and old. :-) A solid 4.5 stars!
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
April 22, 2024
I loved this book! It's written for children but my 11 year old daughter loved it and asked me to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Such inspiring true stories of women (all different in background and gifting) who served the Lord and made a difference for him. I loved how the author told you the sources of her information (ie The Hiding Place for Corrie ten Boom), so I can look up those books and read them too! A wonderful book for young girls to read (and their mothers too!),
January 5, 2023
I read this book thinking of it as a possible summer study with tweens. I think it would be great with 10-15 year olds. It was also encouraging to me to hear the stories of these women and it made me want to learn more about them. We can learn so much from how God has worked in the lives of others!
June 30, 2024
Good inspirational read. I'm 22 and it was clearly written for girls younger than me, and I went in knowing that, but it was still a good read and inspiring to see how women have found Christ and lived for him throughout the hardships that have come their way.
Would highly recommend
Would highly recommend
July 1, 2019
A fantastic read for middle grade girls! This would be a great book for homeschool or church girls programs. It is inspiring and encouraging with amazing stories of outstanding Christian women!
March 17, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to share it with my granddaughters.
December 23, 2021
Enjoyed reading this with my 5th graders and thinking through what following Jesus looks like in practical ways.
January 18, 2024
I must have gotten this book years and years ago and never read it until now. I hadn’t read for fun since early high school and now I’m almost 23, so I’m not exactly the target audience for this book. With that being said, it sparked my interest into the lives of these women and how they were able to glorify the Lord. I’m now interested in learning more and reading their own works. I recommend this book for young women and am planning on giving it to my sisters in law (ages 11-16) as I believe they would enjoy it and learn a lot from it.
May 1, 2024
Really good book. 4 stars because it was below my reading level. Otherwise, it was good. I know a lot of people can find it really helpful for them.
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