The Demon and The doG
This doG is a demon's nightmare...
Start here if your reader likes things a bit spooky, laughs at gross-out jokes, and needs a story that gets moving on page one.
Books by Bryant Benitez
Faith-based stories your kid will actually finish.
Books like these usually fail one of two ways. They preach, and your reader quietly gives up around page nine. Or they are so careful about saying nothing that there was never a reason to start.
These are adventure stories first. The faith is in the plumbing, not painted on the front.
Master of DivinityFuller Theological Seminary
10+ yearsleading churches, several denominations
Hospital chaplainthe job nobody volunteers for
Two books outa third being written
The reason these exist
Bryant spent over ten years leading churches, and he has sat with people in hospital rooms on the worst day of their lives. He noticed the same thing in both jobs: the people with the hardest questions about God were rarely the ones in the building. Often they were kids.
So he did not write a lesson with a story wrapped around it. He wrote stories with the questions left in. A demon with an inconvenient dog problem. A girl, an artificial intelligence, and an alien. Nobody gets told what to think.
His heart is for those outside of the church. That is his own line, and it explains the books better than a genre label does.
Which one should you start with?
Two books, two different readers. Pick by the kid, not by the order.
The A.I. and The Alien
Faith, wired into a story instead of bolted onto it.
Start here if your reader likes science fiction, likes noticing things other people miss, and wants a girl at the centre of the story.
What readers actually said
Not blurbs. These are readers' own words, kept as they wrote them.
The plot itself is unique, original, and a great way to bring in the concept of faith-based stories. It's not in your face, and yet it makes you think and wonder. Truly a great read!
Clever concept with a plot that moves along quickly and keeps a reader's interest.
It was fun to read and I enjoyed the little hidden stories. It was a great medium sized book length. I also liked the main character and the way she was portrayed.
One we are not showing you yet. The most useful review of The Demon and The doG came from a ten year old boy, and his favourite thing about it involved demons and a bathroom. It is held until his parent confirms we may quote a child by name. That felt like the right way round.
Who these are for
Parents
You want substance without a sermon, and you want to know what is in it before you hand it over. Fair.
Read this firstThe kid who hates reading
Fast start, short chapters, jokes a ten year old actually laughs at. One reader called the length just right.
Why it worksChurches and groups
Written by a pastor who has led them. For when you want a story to start the conversation instead of a worksheet.
For leadersPeople buying a gift
Signed by hand, to whoever you like. The one thing a giant retailer cannot do for you.
Signed copiesNot sure it suits your reader?
Then ask the author. Bryant would rather answer a question than sell you the wrong book, and he will say so if it is not a fit.