In our Warrior Mamas Series, have been talking about guarding our children from the enemy’s lies found in our culture and how to combat those lies with God’s truth. We know that our enemy, Satan, uses many different avenues to speak lies to our children, and one of the ways he deceives our kids into unbiblical beliefs and temptations is through books.  Books can be a powerful influence on those who read them, especially children.  Children are not yet grounded in their convictions, so books can more easily shape their attitudes, moral convictions, and perceptions of the world.  As Warrior Mamas, we must be vigilant against the enemy’s attempts to use harmful books to lie to our children.

Before we hand a book to our children, we must… 

1. Check the content and discern what lies or unbiblical worldviews are present. 

As parents, we’re often so grateful when our children develop a love for reading that we can overlook the possibility that the content itself may not be shaping their hearts and minds in healthy ways. Unfortunately, we cannot trust libraries and even schools to screen the books they put on their shelves, so we have to be vigilant to check the content in books before we innocently allow our children to read them.   Thankfully with resources like Common Sense Media and the birth of AI, we can use technology to help us know what is in a book without having to read the entire book ourselves.  For example, you can ask AI search engines to write a Christian parenting review from a Biblical perspective, and it will provide you details about any book from a Christian perspective.  When screening books for the enemy’s lies, know that the lies may be implicit ideas woven into the story line with message such as “life revolves around me”  or  “I can do whatever I want in life.”   Or the lies may take what God calls evil and make it look good, like promoting sorcery, revenge, greed, or sex outside of marriage.

2. Determine through prayer and God’s Word if the book would be helpful, neutral, or harmful to your child spiritually as well as emotionally. 

This may depend on how subtle or focused the lie is in the book.  Is the unbiblical theme prevalent throughout the entire book or just mentioned in a couple of scenes? Look at the age and maturity level of your children and consider how impressionable they would be to the lies.  If the lies are subtle, and your children are older, you may decide to have a conversation about the lies ahead of time or while reading the book with them, so that they become aware of the lies. Alternatively, if the lie is prevalent and/or your children are young and impressionable,  it may be best to steer clear of the book altogether.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” – Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSURE

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

---

Here are 5 common lies found in books, examples of each, and some great alternative choices with Biblical worldviews. 

1.  Lie: ‘Follow Your Heart’ when it comes to your identity and decisions  

This is a common theme woven through books and movies, and the subtle lie here is that we should do whatever we feel like doing rather than determining whether our actions are morally right.

Book Examples

The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix: (various authors)  Ages 7-11

This series follows a group of middle-school girls who start a babysitting business. Each book usually focuses on one girl, showing her family life, friendships, challenges, and growth. The original version was more innocent, but the new version has some elements of caution.

• Truth is seen as subjective, so characters follow their own desires   
• Your identity is defined by what you want it to be with LGBTQ expressions shared in a positive way 
• Moral guidance comes from peers rather than God or parents

Lumberjanes Graphic Novel Series, (various authors, ) Ages 8-12

This popular graphic novel series is about a group of girls who attend a summer camp and go on adventures together involving mythical creatures and mysteries.  

• Strong emphasis on self-defined identity
• Normalization of gender ideology without discernment
• Decisions guided by emotions rather than moral truth

God’s Truth: ‘Trust in God, not your heart’

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?”  – Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight.”  – Proverbs 3:5-6, (NIV)

God’s Word is clear that our heart (our emotions and desires) can deceive us, but when we submit to God’s ways, He will guide us through life.  Our children need to know and understand that we don’t make decisions or base our identity on how we feel in the moment but on God’s Word. 

Alternative Biblically-Based Books: 

Meet the Daniels Sisters: (Faithgirlz), Ages 7-12

This chapter book series is about a family of four fun and adventurous sisters who recently lost their mother. They live with their father, who is a pastor, and their aunt, who moves in to help take care of them. Each book is about one of the sisters and a lesson she learns as she begins to use the gifts God has given her to bring Him glory. I love how the girls talk kindly to each other, and although they have lost their mother, there is clearly a strong family identity between them and their father. The girls demonstrate lots of wonderful character qualities that make them a great role model for young readers. There are also many lessons of faith woven throughout the chapters to encourage girls in their walk with the Lord, so I highly recommend this series!

Sugar Creek Gang:  (Paul Hutchins), Ages 7-12

Sugar Creek Gang is a 36 book series told from a young boy’s perspective about his “gang” of friends who live in a small Indiana town in the 1950’s. The boys go on exciting adventures and grow in their understanding of their need for Jesus and the importance of sharing their faith with others.  Lessons are based off of moral truths rather than following emotions, and no gender ideology themes are present (was written in the 1940’s-1970’s). 

---

2.  Lie:  Rebelling against authority is ‘cool’ and funny

Books for kids and teens often portray rebelling against authority as a ‘cool’ behavior, whereas respecting authority is seen more as a ‘goody-two-shoes’/negative trait.

Book Examples 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: (Jeff Kinney), Ages 8-10
This popular book series is about a middle-school boy navigating friendships, family, and school in immature, selfish, and dishonest ways. 

• Authority figures are often portrayed as clueless or overbearing 
• Disrespecting authority is portrayed as funny
• Main character cares more about his own needs than respecting others

Captain Underpants: (Dav Pilkey) Ages 6-9 
This book series is about two kids who prank their principal and turn him into ‘Captain Underpants’.  

• Full of crude, unrespectable content that is portrayed as funny. 
• Rebellion to authority is a major theme and glorified throughout the book

*Similar books include Big Nate and Dork Diaries, although Dork Diaries depicts more internal than external rebellion and less of it, but no moral lessons on respecting authority are present

God’s Truth: God wants us to obey our parents and those in authority over us
 

“Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Colossians 3:20 (NIV)

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good” Titus 3:1 (NIV)

Alternative Biblically-based Books

Brave Books: (multiple authors) Ages 4-12
Brave Books is a Christian publishing company that creates entertaining stories with Biblical themes such as respecting others, honesty, and hard work.  Each book contains interactive activities with lessons to further teach the Biblical values presented in the stories.  Their books are a great value-focused alternative for young readers. 

Secrets of the Hidden Scrolls: (M. J. Thomas), Ages 5-9 
This series is a great alternative with lots of adventure and fun without the disrespect of authority.  Two kids and their dog discover ancient scrolls that transport them back in time to great historical events from the Bible. They must search for clues to solve the secret of the scrolls, or they will be stuck in the past forever. This is the perfect book series to cultivate excitement for God’s amazing stories found in the Bible with an emphasis on God’s Word as our authority. 

---

3. Lie: It’s okay to be sexually intimate before marriage if you love someone. 

Book Examples: 
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Jenny Han), Ages 12-17
The Summer I Turned Pretty is about a teenage girl who spends summers at a beach house with family friends and finds herself in a love triangle with two brothers. The story centers on romance, emotional longing, jealousy, identity, and the desire to be wanted. From a Christian perspective, the book presents a romanticized view of teenage love that elevates feelings and attraction as primary guides for decision-making.

• Love is driven by emotion and not morals
• Relationships shift based on desire and impulse rather than commitment.
• Intimacy before marriage romanticized 

To All the Guys I’ve Loved Before (Jenny Han), Ages 12-17
To All the Guys I’ve Loved Before is about a teen girl whose secret love letters to five crushes are mysteriously mailed out,  prompting her to pretend she is dating another guy to cover it up.  

• Promotes dishonesty over truthfulness throughout the book
• LGBTQ+ Normalization
• Romantic intimacy implied between teens

God’s Truth:  God created sexual intimacy for marriage and wants us to avoid sexual immorality of all kinds. 

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 (NIV)


Alternative Biblically Based Books:


A Thousand Tomorrows (Karen Kingsbury), Ages 15 +

Karen Kingsbury is a famous Christian author who writes clean drama and romance novels that are consistent with her Christian faith. Thus, her books are a great option for older teen girls wanting to read books containing love stories. This first book in the Cody Gunner Series offers a clean rodeo romance emphasizing patience, purity, and trusting God’s plan through trials.  The storyline focuses on a Biblical courtship over the intimacy-focused secular books so common among teen girls.  

Passion and Purity (Elisabeth Elliot), Ages 16 + 
Elisabeth Eliot shares her true story of delayed romance and trusting God’s timing for marriage over her physical desires. This book would be ideal for older teen girls to encourage them to remain pure for marriage.

---

4. Lie:  Sorcery can be good and is something to learn about.

5. Lie: God’s definition of right and wrong isn’t true for everyone and can change with the times.  

 Book Examples containing both Sorcery and Moral Relativism 

The School for Good and Evil:(Soman Chainan),  Ages 9-13
This is the first book in Soman Chainani’s fantasy series, where two friends are kidnapped to a magical school that trains children as fairy-tale heroes or villains. The story intentionally undermines good versus evil, making children question if evil really is that bad.  

• Normalizing occult practices (witches, sorcerers, enchantments, curses)
• Training kids in cursing, kidnapping, and murder for villains
• Dark magic portrayed alongside “good” magic
• Big themes on moral relativism (good and evil are blurred)
• LGBTQ+ themes prevalent and glamorized 

Golden Compass: (Philip Pullman), Ages 10 +
This is the first book in His Dark Materials fantasy series about an 11-year-old girl and her demon-like friend who uncover a plot by a church.  Pullman has openly stated that his series is meant to overtly oppose the message of the Gospel and challenge Christianity.   

• Witches cast spells and sorcery prevalent
• Makes good look evil and evil look good
• Undermines faith and religious authorities 

* A note on Harry Potter: Many Christians feel it is okay for their kids to read this series, even though it is about sorcery, due to the otherwise positive moral content and overall message.  Our family’s personal view is that because its central theme involves sorcery that can mimic real sorcery, it’s still better to stay away from it and not risk giving the devil a foothold.  Books that are more innocent like these can also become a gateway for darker books on sorcery, as they are often located next to darker series on witchcraft in bookstores and at the library. To read more on this topic, click here for an article by Richard Abanes about his thoughts on Harry Potter.  Most importantly, seek God’s guidance and wisdom for your family, considering your own convictions and your kids’ maturity levels before assuming it is okay for your family.

God’s Truth:  Sorcery is evil;  have nothing to do with it. 

“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” – Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (NIV)

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” -Galatians 5:19-21(NIV)

God’s Truth:  God is truth and His truth doesn’t change.

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
– Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

“I the LORD do not change.” – Malachi 3:6 (NIV)

Alternative Biblically-based Books:

The Wing Feather Saga (Andrew Peterson),  Ages 8-14
This phenomenal book series tells an epic tale of three siblings who hold the secret to a lost legend and the jewels of their land. They must travel through deadly forests and cities fleeing hungry monsters and other scary villains in order to find their true identity, fight off evil, and ultimately find redemption. While this is not an overtly Christian book, the author is a Christian and weaved Biblical themes like faith, hope, sacrifice, and redemption into his epic adventure.

The Prince Warriors  (Priscilla Shirer),  Ages 8-14
The Warrior Series is about a group of boys who enter a mysterious land where they are led by a guide who helps them travel through unfamiliar territories, save other warriors, and battle evil creatures. With each battle, the warriors learn how to better use their armor and trust their guide’s instructions from “The Book” to stand against their enemies. This book is a great allegory to help children and teens understand the spiritual battle around us and our need for God’s wisdom from His Word to stand firm against our enemy.

Light Bearers: The Awakening (Mindy Hite), Ages 14 + 

The Light Bearers Series is about a teenage girl who makes a startling discovery about her wealthy uncle and guardian that plunges her into a darkness she never knew existed. The secret threatens to destroy her relationship with her sister forever and leave her unable to trust anyone.  But on an unexpected family vacation, Sarah meets a stranger who reveals a power within her she didn’t know she had, and one she’ll have to master to survive. This series represents good and evil through a Biblical lens, where moral truth comes only from ‘the light’ (analogous to Jesus.)


Because the enemy is real and seeks to steal, kill, and destroy our kids, we need to take every precaution to prevent him from getting a foothold into our children’s lives.  Knowing that harmful books are one of the avenues he uses to deceive, let’s be vigilant parents, making sure we provide books that uplift and encourage our kids in their faith, not hurt or hinder their relationship with God.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9

For more Christian parenting guides for media, check out my one for music and video games. And check back for more to come!