Sandra Dutton

Ten-year-old Mary Mae loves to sing hymns with her Granny, go to Sunday School, and learn about trilobites. She has lots of questions about how the earth looked millions of years ago. Trouble is, Mary Mae’s mother thinks it’s wrong to believe the world is that old. Mama believes God created it six thousand years ago and she believes that nobody should teach Mary Mae otherwise. When Mary Mae starts taking her questions to church, asking how God created the earth in six days or how eight show more people could take care of animals on an ark, Mama puts her foot down: homeschooling. Mary Mae must decide where her loyalties lie: with science and Miss Sizemore, with God and Mama, or somewhere in the middle. show less

This story really resonated with me. Growing up we didn't go to church until I was five years old. Then my mom became a Christian and everything changed. It is difficult to understand where science and the Bible meet. A lot of people say that you can't have both but I believe the Bible backs up science. In the story I felt like Mary Mae when so many people were telling me one thing and my mind was always asking questions. I remember my own son asking our pastor when the dinosaurs were on show more earth. I personally like my husband answer to the problem that the earth can't be as old as scientist say it is. My husband says God could have made it as certain age to start with. This was a fun look at how strong some people feel in their religious beliefs. I was never offended because it was never a put down. Well written and a book I look forward to putting on my shelves at school. show less

Ten-year-old Mary Mae, living with her parents in fossil-rich southern Ohio, tries to reconcile, despite her mother's strong disapproval, her family's Creationist beliefs with the prehistoric fossils she studies in school.

Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com

Mary Mae is a Christian. She's also a lover of the sciences.

When her teacher starts teaching her class about evolution, Mary has a hard time reconciling the Bible's version of creation with science's teaching of evolution. Her mom says that God is right and the Bible is God's word, but there is evidence supporting her teacher's theory.

Can Mary find a way to mesh her love of science with her love of the Bible?

A quick read for people who like Christian show more fiction. Although the characters seem a little one-dimensional, the message to be yourself and to follow your dreams is a good one. Those who enjoy inspirational, realistic fiction will like reading MARY MAE AND THE GOSPEL TRUTH. show less