Girls Hold Up This World by Jada Pinkett Smith

Reviewed by Gypsy Culp Houston

I read Jada Pinkett Smith's Girls Hold Up This World, years ago, and I thought that it was a very powerful, affirming book for young girls. I vowed that if I ever had a little girl, this would be required reading.

Fast forward a few years, and I finally got the chance to share Girls Hold Up This World with my three year old daughter. She thoroughly enjoyed it, but her favorite part was when I explained that the little girl on the cover was same girl that sings her favorite song, "I Whip My Hair Back and Forth."

While some of the affirming messages of self love and acceptance, were lost on my three year old, she loved seeing pictures of different little girls. Just seeing positive images of girls, many of which were of color, opened up a dialogue between the two of us about all the great things that girls can do and dream and be. This book helped me to explain to my daughter that being a girl doesn't look like one particular thing. We are all different, we are all valuable, we are all beautiful and we all "hold up this world."

Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat

Reviewed by Gypsy Culp Houston

Eight Days tells the story of Junior, Haitian boy, who was trapped under the rubble of his house after the Port-au-Prince earthquake. Junior uses memories of family times past and his imagination to keep himself occupied during the eight days leading up to his rescue.

The illustrations in this book are simply beautiful. The richness of Haiti shines through the vivid colors and expressive drawings. The spirit of determination and survival are evident in this moving children's book. Eight days gives the reader a much needed positive view of Haiti and the resilience of the Haitian people.

A Million Blessing by Angela Benson, Marilynn Griffith and Tia McCollors

Reviewed by Gypsy Culp Houston

A Million Blessing consists of three novellas written by established Christian fiction authors. Each novella deals with the main character winning the lottery. These stories are not your mother’s Christian fiction. Each author presents a different story with varied circumstances and diverse results. All three writers create characters that are relatable and for the most part likeable.

In Angela Benson’s Showers of Blessings, the reader is introduced to Andrew Gooden, a man of the cloth with a secret. He has a severe gambling problem that could cost him everything, or will it make all his dreams come true? The reader witnesses Andrew’s weakness bring him extreme wealth only to be brought right back to the brink by his little problem. In the end will Andrew learn from his mistakes or continually repeat them?

In Marilyn Griffith’s Second Chance Blessings, Craig Richards an injured professional football player has lost his career, his money and his wife. After so much loss, the one place he can go is home to his aunt in Tampa. There his Aunt Tee, the church and the community of his youth embrace him with open arms. Unbeknownst to him, his aunt had started a scholarship fund with the money Craig had sent to her over the years. The money had touched so many lives that everyone saw Craig as a local hero. How could he be their hero and such a failure in both his professional and personal life? As the story unfolds more is revealed about his relationship with his wife and God. Is there a way to honor the God that he now depends on, and prosper without a football?

Tia McCollors’ A Knight in Pink Armor focuses on thirty-something, motorcycle riding, entrepreneur, Dara Knight. Winning the lottery seems to be the answer to her life long goal of helping others. Dara is opposed to playing the lottery, but after her cousin buys her a ticket, they win. After winning, Dara vows to secretly use the money to help a group of people to whom she has regularly ministered. At first, everything seems to line up perfectly, but unfortunately things take a turn for the worst. Faced with trouble and the unraveling of her dream, Dara is forced to expose her secret and risk loosing everything.

A Million Blessings presents three different scenarios with three different outcomes. All of which include a healthy dose of mistakes, faith and redemption. Is playing the lottery a sin or simply marginally questionable? A Million Blessings allows the reader to consider the presented information and draw his or her own conclusion.