Millie Maven and the Bronze Medallion
Author: Ted & Rachelle Dekker
Published November 1, 2020
Page Count: 214
Millie Maven is about to leave behind her life of servitude to her verbally abusive aunt and her equally wicked uncle for a world of mystery and miracles. Millie finds herself undertaking three challenges that will determine if she can become a student at FIGS (the FarPointe Institute for Gifted Students). During these challenges the students learn of special gifts the Great Teacher has blessed them with. Along with her friends Mac and Boomer they will discover through these challenges that they are enough, loved, and chosen by the Great Teacher to be more than they believe themselves to be. The story at times feels a little bit like Harry Potter, with a dash of non lethal Hunger Games thrown in, with a heaping spoonful of Biblical teachings.
Reading Audience:
Middle School is the aim with this series, but older students and adults will likely enjoy it. The first book was not too long.
Stuff to be aware of:
A car accident is discussed in which a child’s parents died. The main character lives with her aunt and uncle who talk down to her and don’t want her to be seen (think Harry Potter’s aunt and uncle but a little more verbally abusive). There is a scene where a character almost drowns. A character’s hand get seared by magic and it crumbles into dust.
There is lots of name calling and some has to do with physical appearances. For example: “you’re as plain looking as…” and “fatty.” The word stupid is used as an insult multiple times.
Overall:
In the first few chapters it was hard for me to get past the “this feels a little too much like Harry Potter” feel. Millie lives with a mean aunt and uncle because her parents died and when she turns twelve she gets to go to a special school. However, once past the backstory things really change and I found myself excited to see what happens in book two of the trilogy.
There is straight up Biblical teachings in this book. It isn’t allegory or “sprinkled in here and there,” it straight up talks about Jesus (who is referred to as the Great Teacher). It kind of feels like Jesus started a school before he died and this is it. Did the story blow me away? No, many of the storytelling tropes you will find familiar, however it was just different enough that it kept me reading/listening.
I am excited to see where this trilogy goes. There is really neat use of water in this book from a theological perspective. It is obviously a baptism analogy. A character goes into the water, forgets their old life, and then starts a new life following the Great Teacher. It is a great talking point if you are reading this with your children.
Update: Now that I have read the entire trilogy I would suggest checking out my review of the last book also. There is one choice the authors made that kind of confused me. You can read that review by clicking HERE.
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