Jean Fischer (1)

I read through 100 Extraordinary Stories of Prayer for Courageous Girls: Unforgettable Tales of Women of Faith by Jean Fischer without my daughters. Normally, we’d sit down together and read through, but I plan to give it as a Christmas present. Both of my daughters (ages 7 & 4) enjoyed its predecessor 100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls and I’m pretty sure they’ll enjoy this as well.

While reading though 100 Extraordinary Stories of Prayer for Courageous Girls, I noticed show more some overlapping stories between it and its predecessor. So, I pulled out my daughters’ copy of 100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls and compared the two. It’s the same format with a story on the left page and an illustration on the right page. While some of the stories are basically the same, the narrative is worded differently and the illustrations are different.

Things I liked:

The built-in bookmark!

The emphasis on prayer. Some entries focus on a woman’s specific prayer that was answered. Others focus on someone who was known for praying, but are more biographical rather than citing a specific request and answer.

The diversity. The stories included people from different faiths – Evangelical Christians, Catholics, Quakers, and Puritans. It included several women who stood up to racism and fought for racial equality. It advocated for gender equality and cited examples of female preachers. (Which some readers may disagree with.)

Things I did not like:

In the original 100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls, it would give the story and usually ask a question for reflection. However, in 100 Extraordinary Stories of Prayer for Courageous Girls, there was often an imperative at the end of the narrative. I felt like the author took these women and their personal callings and twisted it to create a principle that applied to everybody. Because of that, when I read through this with my girls, I will be sure to examine and discuss those statements with them.

The story of the Canaanite woman who cried out to Jesus to heal her daughter. This story has been interpreted in many different ways and I found the message in this book pretty revolting: “Sometimes when you pray, God will ask you to be like the Canaanite woman, to be like a patient dog at a dinner table.” (Pg. 30). This just didn’t sit well with me. If I’m a child of God, then I’m a child of God – not a dog (even if it’s a beloved lap dog). Frankly, I don’t like the message it sends to my daughter and I really wish the author had left this story out.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. show less

Amidst the myriad compilations of famous and notable people, “100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls” stands out in that it highlights specifically women of faith. This includes some women who were not necessarily praiseworthy but who nevertheless provide valuable lessons through their actions. One page is dedicated to each of the one hundred women portrayed alphabetically, alongside which is an illustration of them, and this setup is very advantageous for being brief and for show more possibly reading this in a devotional style, focusing on one woman per day. The women include Biblical characters as well as historical figures and a few contemporary ones. The Biblical women’s stories include the relevant Scriptures, and all of the stories end with a moral message related to the Bible along with a Scripture quotation. Not all of the stories have happy endings; some of the women were martyred for their faith, and although the author mentions that some were tortured, there are no graphic details. When mature words were used, such as “martyr” or “heresy”, a definition was given, and all of the Scripture references were quoted in easy-to-understand language. This is a beautiful collection of the lives of inspirational women of faith, some of whom have otherwise been lost to the annals of history, and a wonderful book for tweens and young teens.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. show less

My daughters and I love reading this book! I'm learning about these women right along with my daughters. I knew most of the Bible characters and some of the modern women, but there are many featured in this book I had never heard of before. Henrietta Mears, Saint Blandina, and Elizabeth Fry, to name a few. I was delighted that at least three of the stories are about women who are still living as my older daughter had asked early on if any of these women were still alive.

100 Extraordinary show more Stories for Courageous Girls by Jean Fischer is available in hardback binding with a built-in bookmark (which I love). My older daughter remarked on how much she likes the illustrations. There is one vibrant illustration for each woman's story. Some resemble the actual women and others seem to be artistic interpretation.

Both my 6YO and my 3YO enjoy this book. My older daughter and I read about six stories at a time. My 3YO loses interest after two or three. It is probably most appropriate for children ages 6-12. Each narrative concludes with a concept for reflection or a question for discussion.The stories are in alphabetical order which led to a little confusion for my 3YO as we read about Elizabeth (the mother of John in the Bible) and then about Elizabeth Elliot. She questioned if it was the same Elizabeth.

I recommend 100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls by Jean Fischer to any family with daughters. The true stories are entertaining and, as the title suggests, aimed at helping girls learn to be strong and courageous.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this complimentary book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." show less

Girl Power
Jean Fischer has written a wonderful book for your tween entitled "100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls: Unforgettable Tales of Women of Faith." The title sums up what the book is about. There is a short biography of each of the 100 women from over the centuries whose faith helped them. (I found the stories interesting as an adult!) A question related to the biography is then asked for the young reader to consider. Lastly, a Bible verse is included after each biography. show more This book is not only an encouragement for your tween but could be used as a devotional, in a book club, or a home-study course.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. show less