Twice Freed (Freestyle Fiction Series)

I can't recommend this enough. It has been in my wishlist for ages and I finally bought it - and I LOVE it! I bought it for my nine year old daughter but was drawn into the story myself while pre-reading it for her. It is a beautiful story, emotional, heart stirring, thought provoking and interesting all at the same time! This would have to be one of the best Christian novels I have read. Well researched and educational about the times of Paul, this is a story of how it might have been.

While targeted at older children and younger teens I have read this book as a tween, teenager and adult and have enjoyed it every time. A beautiful imaginative story of Onesimus the slave's journey to understanding and gaining true freedom from sin in Christ. Particularly interesting to history lovers, it is descriptive and accessible to all though at times perhaps less fascinating or a little detailed and verbose for some readers. Readers are drawn along with Onesimus through identifiable experiences and feelings such as jealousy, anger, grief, love, betrayal, suspicion, forgiveness, trust and grace.

This is a wonderful book that imagines what Onesimus' story might have been like. I've always been intrigued by the short book of Philemon and I really enjoyed reading Patricia St John's idea of what the circumstances might have been like. This is not a light read, as St John puts so much into her books with a strong Christian message. I would highly recommend this for young teens looking for a thought provoking read.

Patricia St John is probably my favourite Christian author for children and this is one of her most thoroughly researched works. I enjoyed reading this book aloud to my (homeschooled) children who have developed an appreciation for historical stories with spiritual foundations. I'm not sure that every child would be quite as enthralled without an adult to contextually guide them through the book. St John conveys the essence of the Gospel, leading the reader on a journey from angry resistance to authentic submission. She is a master in discipleship, helping to reveal and unfold deep spiritual issues in her characters and likewise leading the reader along the same path towards resolution in Christ. There are some portions of the book I chose to shelter my younger children from and I would recommend it for mature ten year olds and older (most suited to young teens).