The Fifth Release in an Epic Bible Adventure Series for Kids The last thing twelve-year-old John Le remembers (before the world as he knew it disappeared) is flying home through turbulent skies to McCarran International Airport. What happens next can’t be explained as John finds himself in the middle of a wooden boat surrounded by a group of men–in ancient Israel! Imagine. . .The Miracles of … Israel! Imagine. . .The Miracles of Jesus is the fifth release in an exciting epic adventure series for kids ages 8 to 12 written by schoolteacher Matt Koceich. The Imagine series brings the Bible to life for today’s kids as they ponder what it would be like to live through a monumental biblical event.
Don’t miss Book 1 in the Imagine Series–The Great Flood. . .Book 2–The Ten Plagues. . .Book 3–The Fall of Jericho. . .or Book 4–The Giant’s Fall!
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We’ve been collecting this series on ebook since they were first released and they’re a big hit among my adventure-loving crew! Mama especially appreciates that they can have fun with an immersive reading experience that also spurs them to excitedly dive deeper into their Bible reading. The combination of fiction and biblical history is a powerful and inspiring tool to spark interest and create an emotional connection with these beloved Bible adventures. This is a solid middle-grade story full of excitement and truth.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is another great book in the Imagine series by Matt Koceich which are geared toward 8 to 12 year old readers. John Le is in flight back home when he suddenly finds himself transported back in time. At first John is unable to understand what is happening to him and then he is astonished to find Jesus standing in front of him. What is this all about?? John has been dreading returning home to his family…back to his father’s constant criticism and all the tension. He has tried hard to earn his father’s approval, to be a good son, but the constant turmoil at home has been getting him down. If only his father would get to know Jesus, John feels everything would be good again. As days pass and John follows Jesus, he begins to understand what unconditional love is all about…if only he could share this with his father and change his heart!! What will happen to John? Will he remain in the past or will he return to his seat on the airplane and return home. What lies in store for John at the end of his journey? This is a great book to spur young people’s imaginations and get them thinking about the deeper issues in life…the things that bear everlasting truths.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
This is the fifth book in this series for children ages 8-12. Each book gets better and you should read them in order to get the best benefits. Each story is funny, scary and teaches a lesson. This one is not about one particular bible story but the many miracles that Jesus performs that are mentioned in the Bible. It will be interesting to see where this author is taking this story as each person that has gone to the biblical past begin to meet each other. I look forward to the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Author Matt Koceich has added another great book to his Imagine series for Barbour Publishing. The Miracles of Jesus allows young readers to learn about some of the miracles that Jesus performed as they are transported from present day Las Vegas back to Jerusalem in A.D. 33. In this book, the main character is John Le, a 12 year old who is carrying a big load on his young shoulders. His mother lost her job, his father turned to gambling to supplement the family income, and apparently, John has become the object of his father’s angry outbursts. During this story, John recalls the hurtful things that his father has said and these are countered by the voice of Jesus, reminding John that he is loved and he himself is a miracle.
Young readers will learn about the many miracles that Jesus performed while on earth and the miracle related to His appearance on the Sea of Galilee after his Resurrection. This story has adventure and excitement but there is also a strong faith message and I was especially touched by John’s belief in Jesus and his hope that he could persuade his father to believe also.
Koceich is a school teacher and it is apparent that he understands the audience that this book targets. The text is easy to understand and with just 106 pages, it is the perfect length for young people ages 8-12. Imagine….The Miracles of Jesus is great Christian juvenile fiction!
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to write a review.
Having read the previous books in the Imagine series, I was very much anticipating this one because Matt Koceich was stepping up the game by focusing on Jesus’ earthly ministry. I was very interested to see how he would handle placing a 12-year-old boy into the scenes of some of Jesus’ works. In the earliest installments in this series, I felt that the author did well overall in making famous Bible stories understandable and relevant to early adolescent readers, providing applicable Biblical lessons in each. However, I didn’t think that “The Giant’s Fall” focused enough on the Biblical part of the story. It is a very delicate balance, and even more so in a children’s short novel, and I applaud Koceich for undertaking this challenge because we need more children’s literature with a godly, inspirational focal point.
With “The Miracles of Jesus”, I was hoping for a compelling book that would give readers a glimpse at what it might have been like to see and listen to Jesus in person two thousand years ago. Did this book live up to my expectations? Yes and no. Chapters one and two are very powerful, and John’s first encounter with Jesus brought tears to my eyes. However, a somewhat disjointed narrative follows. There is a scene that seems to be representative of the book of Revelation, and this one was out of place in my opinion. Other good versus evil scenes that followed made more sense in connection with the storyline. Although I understand what the author is trying to convey, I would have liked more details about Jesus Himself. The main character John Le’s experiences with Jesus are brief, and overall this book did not seem as cohesive as Koceich’s earlier stories. Nevertheless, I did get a strong sense of the theme of faith over fear and appreciated this story. The target audience of 8-12-year-olds will most likely have fewer, if any, issues with it than I did, and I would recommend this to kids within that age range and perhaps even a year or two older.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Another exciting adventure, this time for twelve-year-old John Le as he mysteriously appears in ancient Israel! He is tormented by strange and scary serpents, snakes and beasts as he tries to figure out what in the world is happening to him!
I like how Matt Koceich brings the Bible to life for kids ages 8 to 12 (and even older) through his Imagine book series. This one, the Miracles of Jesus, has young John in the midst of some of the miracles like being in Lazarus’ grave! Also while Jesus was feeding the multitude and how it could have come about.
This adventure is a fun one that surely shouldn’t be missed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Another addition to an already great series, geared to 8 to 12 year olds, and show how you can call on Jesus.
When you run out of options, but Faith is all you have, and that is when your Faith is strongest. This is a point that is brought forward in this beautiful little book!
My 12-year-old found this one captivating, and now looking forward to more of these reads!
I received this book through the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.
Author Matt Koceich has written another great book in his Imagine series. My grandsons are really enjoying these and I highly recommend them.
I will say that the story can get intense but what child doesn’t wonder about meeting Jesus?! Full of excitement and biblical truth, children who read in the age range of ages 8 – 12 will relish the adventure that John finds himself on.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.