Grace Unplugged Can Help You Own It- Your Faith! (Book Review and Giveaway)

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received these books, free of charge, from Fly By Promotions, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about them. 

Back to School can mean many things- good and bad. 

The one thing that as parents, we all know will happen, is that our kids, who have been under our

proverbial thumb, all Summer, will now be exposed to beliefs, actions and thoughts, that are contrary to those of our families and faiths.

How your child, especially your pre-teens and teens, handle this peer (and school) pressure, depends largely on how you have raised them, and how strong THEIR faith is.

So when a main stream movie deals with secular dreams and keeping your faith, and is aimed AT this age- group, you know you need to check it out!

This Summer, when I took Miss Grace to see the movie Planes, I was THRILLED to see a Christian movie being previewed- Grace Unplugged. I was even more delighted when Miss Grace said "ooo mama, THAT'S the movie I want to see the most!", which makes sense, as she wants to be the next Yancy!. As the previews also included Frozen, I was quite happy indeed. Now she's only 6, but I saw quite a few of the 8-9 yr olds near us perk up and be very interested in the preview.So when the opportunity to review the book about the movie, I was thrilled to check it out, before I take Miss Grace to see it- by the way it releases nationwide OCTOBER 4th (check the site locator for a theatre near you and buy tickets in advance!! 

The book is based on the movie: 

Grace Trey is an 18 year old singer as passionate about her Christian faith as she is her phenomenal, God-given musical talent. Both traits come from her father, one hit wonder Johnny Trey who found Jesus after losing his chart success two decades ago. 

When Grace encounters her own music break of a lifetime, the sudden dive into the "real world" puts her deeper beliefs to the test. Pop superstardom is just within reach but appears to require some spiritual compromise. Will Grace reject her faith, or will she own it? 

Grace Unplugged stars AJ Michalka (Super 8) and Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men) with performances by award-winning artists Chris Tomlin and Jamie Grace.

Check out the movie trailer:

Review: 

Having read the book, I still want Miss Grace to see the movie, but with me, so I can explain things she may not understand, due to her age. But older kids will really grasp the situations, especially in light of the recent fiasco from the VMAs- which is a perfect example to spotlight against this movie and use both as a teaching experience of what happens when you let go of your faith and beliefs, and 'go along with the flow', because you want to be famous (or in her case-MORE famous). Grace Trey makes her decisions ultimately on what is right, and is blessed very much in return. The book is a wonderful, modern way, to address societal and peer pressures and if you OWN you faith, it can not be taken away, and your actions and decisions will be based on it.

And now for the second part of the book review- the book used in the movie, as a spiritual guidepost for grace and her family:

Synopsis:  Own It, Discover Your Faith in God

The movie Grace Unplugged tells the story of Grace Trey, an ideal Christian teenager who is also a phenomenal singer. But when she is pushed into the “real world” at the tender age of eighteen after getting the music break of a lifetime, her faith is put to the test.

Own It mirrors the film by asking what it means to really “own” your personal faith rather than just automatically following in the footsteps of parents, friends, or other influencers. Best-selling authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco help readers understand what to do when faith meets real world challenges.

Without solid beliefs, poor choices are likely to follow. You must take the time to really know who you are, who you are becoming, and who God made you to be. It's your personal faith . . . own it!

Review:

If there is one book that all pre-teens and teens need to read about their faith, besides the Bible, THIS is THE book for them to read. ownership is something that foremost in teen's minds- be it a cell phone, computer, iPad,car, and even their own apartment. The concept is frontmost in their minds, so taking that idea and applying to to faith, the authors are able to reach teens, where they live. To make them acknowledge what type of faith driven life they are living- asking whether they are faking, borrowing, renting, picking and choosing or even disowning it. But offering real life examples from their own experience, the author's show what it truly means to faith- how it changes you from the inside out.

This book is perfect for parents to talk about faith with their kids, and for teachers have studies with their teen bible classes. It would be the prefect Confirmation/baptism gift for someone as well! I highly recommend it!

And now for an extra special treat-

ONE lucky BTHM reader will get to win BOTH of the books above!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Grace Unplugged Author

Melody Carlson has sold more than five million books. A professional writer for twenty years, she recently received the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Melody has two grown sons and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest. 

About the Own It Authors

Hayley DiMarco is the best-selling author of more than thirty books including Dateable, Marriable, Mean Girls, and The Woman of Mystery. She has been a featured speaker at Women of Faith, Precept National Women's Conference, and MOPS Intl. among others and has consulted on the creation and enhancement of some of the largest stadium events for teens and young women in North America.

Michael DiMarco is a skillled communicator and teacher who has authored more than a dozen bestselling books including the 2010 Christian Bookof the Year for Youth, B4UD8 (Before You Date). He and his wife, author Hayley DiMarco, have one daughter and live in Nashville, Tennessee. 

BONUS: 

Be sure to download your free copy of Luminate's song "Welcome to Daylight," 

which is featured in the new movie. be sure to check out the great soundtrack, 

with Miss Grace's favorite song by Chris- "Our God"! It's already available to purchase!