Charlotte Fawdington was gripped by both the story and its illustrations
Title: Hikaru: Name above all Names - John Prockter (Catalyst Youth Trust Publishing)
Cost: £9.99
Age: Suitable for ages ranging from 8 to 18 years.
Genre: Faith Fiction
Overview: Hikaru: Name above all Names is a faith fiction children’s adventure novel. It is 384 pages long with four acts. Visually, the book contains around seventy anime illustrations and two double-spread graphic novel pages. Miyako was the greatest warrior in the Royal Guard and enjoyed the closest relationship with the rulers of the Eternal Dimension. Kana, Hikaru & Seirei ruled with all the wisdom of true leaders, but every warrior knew the legend which told of the ‘name above all names,’ who would one day emerge to rule them all.
What I liked
I enjoyed this book. The story was easy to follow, and I found that the characters were easy to like and relate to. The setting was extremely well described and illustrated in the style of anim. Its uncomplicated approach made the story accessible to a wide variety of age groups and backgrounds. The faith angle made the theology obvious to those who knew the story of Jesus, but also clear to those without any experience in theology or bible stories. I loved the description of three different characters and the way the author then went on to combine them in the style of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.
What I didn’t like
There were some repetitive moments, which I personally struggled with, but would be good for readers who have trouble focusing or do not have the time to read the book in one sitting. The book was really easy to read and written in a way that would make it easy for younger readers to read alone without too much of a struggle.
Thoughts for parents
The book was really easy to read and written in a way that would make it easy for younger readers to read alone without too much of a struggle.
While there was mention of the main character ending up with a partner and populating the earth, there were no sexual or explicit scenes. There is mention of violence, but it isn’t too graphic and wouldn’t scare younger readers. I think the content of this book would be really helpful in group settings or with young children who do not fully comprehend the story of Jesus. Question points could include looking at the personalities of the characters, the way they act or how they are relate back to the known bible stories.
This is definitely a book that should be recommended for young readers and new Christians as it is an easy read with the core values of Jesus hidden within the story.
