Stepping Heavenward

Title: Stepping Heavenward
Author: Elizabeth Prentiss
Genre: Devotional fiction
Age Level: Older children-adults
Characters: Katy, Mrs. Mortimer (Katy's mother), Dr. Cabot, Mrs. Campbell, Ernest, Amelia, Ernest and Katy's children
Plot: Katy Mortimer is a 16-year-old Christian who isn't really living out her faith much besides attending church. She is much more interested in worldly pleasures and finds Bible reading and prayer dull and dry. The book chronicles her life and, especially, her spiritual journey. Her father is killed, but her faith deepens as she observes her mother's godly and submissive response to the tragedy. Katy becomes engaged (against her mother's advice) but rues it and is glad she has been rescued (by breaking off the engagement) from such a marriage when she discovers the true character of her fiance. Katy also struggles through trials involving prejudice, friendships, respecting her mother, surrender, worldliness, jumping to conclusions, and growing and maturing in her faith. Eventually she meets the man God has for her to marry, and after a rough start to their relationship, they fall in love and marry. Katy begins the new adventure of being a wife and later, a mother. God teaches her many things through these new relationships in her life. The book draws to a close as Katy is nearing death and astronomically more spiritually mature than she was when the book opens.
Precautions: None
Ratings: This book is a great encouragement spiritually as the reader observes and sympathizes with Katy's trials, struggles, and joys.