An angry teen, a desperate mother, a missing father, and a shadow lurking in the background. Things were going from bad to worse for Nick and his family. Tempted to run away after yet another argument with his mom, Nick receives a handwritten, leather-bound copy of an old book a family legend passed down to him from his great grandfather. The book, called Dragon Seed, leads Nick deep into his family s history and introduces him to another angry young man who lived in the shadows (the shadows of the tombs). Like Nick, you’ll be shocked to discover where he fits in this story of epic proportions! This page-turning, young adult fiction story invites older children and teens into the real-life struggles of Nick. But it also ushers them into an imaginative exploration of the life of the young man Jesus saved as he wandered through the tombs. Best-selling author Marty Machowski uses both stories to introduce the reality of spiritual warfare and how its shadows affect and change us. Machowski, a trusted teacher for children of all ages, presents a thoroughly biblical view of spiritual warfare that emphasizes the importance of humility and dangers of pride. Teens will be drawn to the story of Nick and his struggles and will learn, as they read, to also identify the shadows in their own life and turn from them. While the biblical teaching is evident throughout the narrative of Dragon Seed, Machowski also includes a twelve-lesson Bible study at the end of the book to help teens ground their understanding of spiritual warfare on biblical principles. Youth pastors, leaders, and parents will also want to explore with teens the small group study at the end of the book with its unique take on spiritual warfare that emphasizes the biblical theme of humility. This is a perfect book to read with a group and discuss together the implications of Nick s struggles for their lives.
Dragon Seed is the parallel story of teenage Nick and God’s great love for mankind colliding in an action-packed, concrete way. Machowski turns sin into dragons and makes the spiritual realm visual in a way that reminds me of Ted Dekker’s Circle trilogy.
Dragon Seed is billed as a modern-day parable, and I don’t think that label quite fits. While part of the story is based on scripture straight from the Bible, but with the gaps we don’t know filled in fictionally, much of the story is straight from scripture. So much is based on Biblical account that I don’t think it can be called a parable; I think ‘allegory’ is a better fit, although, again, so much is Biblical that I’m not sure that’s a great moniker, either.
When it comes right down to it, I’m not sure the label is really all that important. What is important is that the Biblical references are true and real. The story is compelling and well written. The characters are real and life-like and reachable. The story itself is one that everyone can relate to.
I love the way that Machowski took the idea of the dragon from Revelation and used the concept of sin throughout the Bible to show how easily that sin can infect us all; how none of us are immune to it, and how nobody is too far gone to be saved from it. The concrete imagery is easy to picture and something that, again, we can all relate to.
Amazon bills this book as for older children and teens, but I disagree. With children of varying ages, and several adults all in the story, I think it’s one that almost everyone can relate to.
As I finished reading the book, I found myself wishing for discussion questions, as my children were already clamoring to read it for themselves. While those are not available, the book does contain twelve devotions at the end, which do include questions – and some even reference projects or activities you could do to make them more hands-on and inclusive.
Dragon Seed would be a great book for a youth group, church study, or family read aloud. It’s versatile, exciting, and relates truth, but best of all, it points to Jesus’s love while encouraging discussion. Dragon Seed deserves a place on your bookshelf.
I received a copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity. All opinions are my own.
What are your thoughts?