The Resurrection

debut novel by Mike Duran

Realms 2011
320 pages

Haunting and Redeeming

Ruby Case is an ordinary mom living a quiet life ... until her prayer and simple touch raise a boy from the dead.

Ian Clark is a disgruntled pastor, haunted by demons past and present--demons both figurative and literal. He no longer knows what he believes in. It certainly isn't the God who deserted him years ago. And Ian can't wait to remove himself from the church.

When Ruby's touch brings the boy back to life, both Ruby and Ian are thrust into a search for meaning behind this "resurrection" and uncover a spiritual darkness that's been gripping their town for years.

I've recently discovered Mike Duran's blog, deCompose, and found it to be extremely challenging and thought-provoking. I may not always agree with him, but he continuously encourages me to think beyond my typical box and that's definitely a good thing.

The Resurrection does the same by confronting our spiritual complacency and our acceptance of the status quo. It's not comfortable. And that's good.

As I was reading, questions kept invading my thoughts:

• How many of us have secrets, demons, lurking in the corners of our homes that we try to ignore or are too tired or afraid to expel?
• Miracles happen around us daily. An acorn grows into an oak tree. A caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Life is created when a man and a woman join together. All wondrous miracles, but ones that science can explain away. But how would we react to a Lazarus type of miracle? What would we think if our best friend's touch brought the dead back to life? Would we look to God for the answers? Or would we react with fear?
• And what about spiritual warfare? Do hordes of demons swarm around us, vying for our soul, or is that purely myth?

Those are just a few of the questions Duran raises. The Resurrection doesn't necessarily provide tidy answers. Yet, amidst the darkness, this book is filled with hope and redemption.

I don't typically read speculative fiction because it's often so far out I can't relate to the characters or the story. Duran eliminates that problem by creating very real characters. He introduces them in plausible situations, and then throws in the fantastic. By doing that, he makes this story believable and relatable.

He keeps the action moving so the book is impossible to put down, and he keeps the reader guessing. I had no clue how the story was going to play out.

While this  novel is targeted toward adults, I know teens would love it. It's one part This Present Darkness (Frank Peretti), another part The Visitation (also Peretti), another The Nightmare (Robin Parrish), yet the story is fresh and it's told with a unique voice. My teens love Peretti's The Veritas Project two-book series and have read those books numerous times. Now, they're trying Peretti's other works. Parrish's The Nightmare is one of their favorite reads and they've recommended it to their friends. And look at teens' most popular series' today: Harry Potter and Twilight. Kids are hungry to learn more about the spiritual realm. As a parent, I can't think of a better book to give them than The Resurrection.

With this debut novel, Mike Duran has proved his literary prowess and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

Learn more about Mike Duran at http://mikeduran.com/.

Not Only For Teens

Teens may be the most difficult group of readers to find books for. As a parent, we want to encourage them to read, but when we see what's out there in the general market and in Christian fiction, it can be very discouraging.

I have three teens right now and they all complain about lack of choice, especially in Christian fiction. My daughter's a lot like me in that she doesn't want the "fairy tale" story. She wants gritty realism but doesn't care for the books available in the general market as they're too explicit. She loves Melody Carlson books and she enjoyed Bill Myers' Forbidden Doors series. My oldest son has discovered Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker. I can't get my youngest son past his Star Trek and Star Wars books yet, but at least he's reading.

So, if you're looking for a good books for teens to read, you may have to search a bit. I went to the experts, my kids, and got a few suggestions.

Nightmare by Robin Parrish - This novel isn't aimed at teens but when a book begins in an amusement park funhouse, you'll immediately catch the teen's interest. To quote my sixteen year old son, "Nightmare is a psychological thrill ride with mystery and suspense hidden behind every page." I think that says it best.

Dark Star by Creston Mapes - Imagine the world of Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler and you've got the protagonist in Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol and Full Tilt. The music scene is a huge draw for teens which makes Mapes books instantly intriguing. My daughter had this to say about Dark Star: "It has to be one of my favorite books I've ever read. I'm really into music, so the fact that Everett Lester is a rock star is really interesting to me. This book shows what can happen when you're on drugs, when you mess with a psychic, and what you feel like living your life without God. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 13. It's amazing." And my daughter has passed this book around to all of her friends.

Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen - Sam Carrier has Tourette's Syndrome and all his life  he's been subjected to name calling and bullying. He'd give anything to just be still, then maybe the beautiful Naomi would finally notice him. If your teen is looking for a book that's more challenging, that encourages them to think deeper, whose prose has a poetic quality, then check out Jonathan Friesen. (Parents love his novels too.)

What books do your teens like to read? Or, what would they like to see  at your local Christian bookstore or in your church library? Parents want to know.

On a side note, if you're interested in hearing the true testimony of a rock star, check out this video of Alice Cooper.