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Tragedy strikes teenaged Stacey Spencer and her father, Sam, early in “Strength from Within” when her mother unexpectedly dies. Grief stricken, they decide to move and start over in a small Midwestern town called Pine Crest. Superficially pleasant, Pine Crest, is deeply corrupt and Stacey discovers this evil extends to the sons and daughters of powerful adults. Her arrival in the local High School is far from pleasant, and quickly devolves into a terrifying ordeal. C.J. Peterson has written a highly readable, and emotionally intense novel, with a strong Christian orientation. No one will get through the ensuing chaos easily, least of all, Stacey. But faith and determination will help her to survive. Highly recommended by the window on a sunny afternoon.

The storyline is very good. The writing is solid. The fictional conflict is ever-present. The Christian message is clear--and would be a great reference for someone questioning the way today's society is unraveling. As I read the book, I couldn't help comparing today's world metaphorically with the events in the story.

A small town has been taken over by a small group of people who will do anything to get what they want. The reader doesn't see much of how the adults work; the story is told from the perspectives of the teens. A young girl moves to town thinking her life will be smooth sailing. It's anything but smooth when she refuses to go out with the school hunk, the son of one of the ruling families. He's learned from them that he can do anything, get anything, he wants. This story is about what happens when the good kids stand up to him and his followers.

In this compelling story of overcoming tragedy and adversity, Stacey, a high school teenager, must deal with the devastating news her mother has been killed in a car accident. The memories are just too painful so, Sam, Stacey's father, decides to move them to another state and another town. This means Stacey has to adapt and fit in at a brand new school.
Almost immediately, problems occur. A fluid social structure of various cliques, complicated relationships, and evolving friendships make Stacey's transition to the new school a minefield. A wrong step could alienate the wrong person. To make matters worse, some of the boys at school, including one of the most popular, begin to compete for her attention. Do they really like her, or is there a different motivation? Who can she trust? There is no easy answer.
I liked that an inspirational quote segued into each new chapter. I wasn't expecting that, but it is a nice change of pace from typical works of fiction. Kudos to Author C. J. Peterson for this different spin.

Christian values are showcased throughout Strength From Within, and although I hesitate to use the word "normal" (as the 21st century defies normalcy), these values reflect upon the way we should act and treat one another. A lesson, I think, we could all use a refresher on.
This is a great read. Five Stars!

Two afternoons about a week ago, I read C.J. Peterson’s young adult novel, Strength From Within. I waited to write this review because the events she described in the book caused me to reflect about some of my former high school students and the tragedies they experienced in their young lives. A high school, whether it’s in a small community like Pinecrest or a neighborhood in a large city, is a mirror reflection of the world in which it sits. 

Stacey and her father Sam Spencer thought they could escape a tragedy. You see, Sam’s wife and Stacey’s mom, Lauren, was killed in an automobile accident. Both father and daughter were hurting in silence. The intensity of their emotions was driving a wedge between them. Fortunately, Sam had an opportunity to practice law in Pinecrest. Both he and Stacy were ready for a change. Move to a new town. New job. New friends. New school. 

What could possibly go wrong?

The transition was a smooth one until Stacey enrolled in the local high school. There, she encountered opposing groups. One led by the school bully Kyle Chandler, who along with his crew did everything possible to recruit Stacey to join their gang.  Kyle wanted to date Stacey, but she had a bad feeling about him and his friends.  The school had another group, one that Kyle ridiculed. It was led by a different type of leader – a young Christian named Alex. He and his friends embraced Stacy, trying with all their might to protect her from the group led by the school bully. They changed her life when they introduced Stacey to Jesus. However, converting to Christianity did not make Stacey’s life any easier. She remained loyal to her new best friend Alex and joined the local church group.

Kyle and his friends took action, causing Stacey to endure two trips to the hospital. That was the last straw for Sam Spencer. Dealing with the school principal, Sam discovered that the town of Pinecrest had secrets, the kind that were deadly. He and Stacey stood together to not only clean up the school atmosphere but also the evil within the community.  

During their struggles, they understood the quote by Amy Morin: “Being mentally strong doesn’t mean you won’t feel afraid. Instead, mental strength is about feeling afraid and doing it anyway.”  

C. J. Peterson’s book lets young adults know that sometimes doing the right thing is not always the popular thing, but with God’s help, all things are possible through Him.

Focused on Faith

Author C.J. Peterson kicks the story into high gear right off the bat as Stacey finds out her mom, and Sam finds out his wife Lauren died in a car accident. Sam is a successful lawyer, and Stacey is a sixteen-year-old who is undecided about her life goals. The death of Lauren throws them into the world of grief and sadness. Lauren's family tries to help, but it is a lot for Stacey to process. When Sam's law firm offers him a chance at a job in another location and a chance for Stacey and him to reinvent their family, they move to Pine Crest. The new community, school, memories, and friends are the top negotiated areas when one move as a teenager. It is a challenge that teens and young adults relate to and understand. What is odd is that Pine Crest is hiding some evil secrets. Protecting those secrets is costing people high prices. I liked how early on, C.J. showed the now modified relationship between father and daughter. This bond increases throughout the story. Stacey discovers the strange events, and in turn, by Sam, who both try to find a long-term solution. Will their faith be enough for survival? The action keeps the reader engaged, as does the character's evolving relationships. Stacey's evolution to champion for her friends and community shows how far she has come since her mom's death. It also helps guide her to a longer-term professional goal. There are a few descriptive areas that may be rough for some teens, so parents might want to read it first. The story lessons are powerful and remind readers to keep their faith. C.J. is an avid writer with a Christian focus that keeps readers wanting more. A superb choice to help emphasize core values.

With Stacey Spencer, author C. J. Peterson has written one of the more memorable heroines I have ever discovered in the printed page.

She’s strong.

She’s resilient.

She’s self-reliant.

She has an interest in this Jesus guy she keeps hearing about.

But her life is about to change.

Her mother dies when the car she’s driving spins out of control on icy roads, and Stacey faces a life she never expected. As C.J. writes: For the next several weeks, everything sounded hollow as her world spun around her at a high rate of speed. She felt as if she were watching things from a distance. She felt disconnected from her world. She could not imagine how she would exist in a world without her mother.”

She’s surrounded by memories.

Her father, an attorney, believes he and Stacey need a fresh start.

New town.

New school.

Make new memories.

And Pine Crest seems like such a nice community to call home.

Looks can be deceiving.

Stacey finds herself within the grips of a corrupt little town where people are disappearing, people are missing, men in black walk the streets, and there are gunshots in the night. Evil lurks in the shadows.

Is Strength from Within a horror story?

Maybe.

Are the scenes graphic and bloody and scented with the smell of death?

They are.

Is the novel Christian fiction?

Most certainly.

When all is lost, Stacey and her boyfriend Adam are thrown into a dark pit stacked with corpses of those they knew in town.

Both are suffering from bullet wounds. Neither sees a way out.

But earlier, Stacy had looked up and said, “God, if you’re there, we could really use some help down here.”

And she waits to find out if He was listening.

I would have never expected it in a Christian novel, but the suspense in Strength from Within is riveting.