Author: Jill Osborne
Publisher: Zonderkidz
ISBN: 978-0-310-74294-4

“Your mom and I think it would be a shame to have some other girl’s name on those shoes. As we’ve been praying, we’ve realized that this will be a good opportunity for you to learn and to grow, and God’s given us peace about letting you be the Swiftriver spokesgirl,” Riley’s dad explains to his daughter in Jill Osborne’s novel, Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek.

First in the FaithGirlz “Good News Shoes” series, this one hundred and sixty-one page paperback targets middle school aged girls or preteens that enjoy clean Christian mysteries and sports. With no profanity or questionable situations, it would be apropos for females ages nine to twelve years old. There are intentional misspellings or all-letter capitalized words for emphasis. This reader wishes all pronouns of God were capitalized for reverence.

In this quick tome, young Riley Mae Hart loves to collect and wears shoes, having over one hundred pairs of them in her closet. When she visits her father’s advertising agency in Fresno, California, she is offered a position as spokesperson for Swiftriver, a maker of shoes designed for all types of athlete

After signing a contract, Riley is whisked away in the limelight doing commercials, television advertisements, and appearances wearing her brand name of shoes. Quickly tired of the constant schedule and attention, she misses her best friend, TJ, as the new season of girls’ softball starts. Rusty, a new girl being raised by her father with little financial means, becomes a good replacement of her position on the team.

Doing advertising shoots with her Riley Mae shoes on, the preteen gets to know two Swiftriver employees, Flip and Fawn, yet she yearns to show Rusty and others God’s love for them. Torn between what she has to do and what she wants to do, her parents make sure she follows through with her commitments.

When the Swiftriver team, her father, and others with her climb Half Dome in Yosemite for a magazine spread, not only are their physical abilities tried and tested, a few must depend on God to keep them safe.

As an engaging beginning of a mystery series for young girls, Osborne connects with the age group as she hones in on God’s grace, love, and compassion. Without preaching, the Word is lightly blended with believable experiences of a middle schooler.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for furnishing this complimentary book in exchange for a review of the reader’s honest opinion.

Follow Here To Purchase Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek (Faithgirlz! / The Good News Shoes)