THE ALLIANCE: Becoming Beka #2
Sarah Anne Sumpolec
Moody Publishers
Fiction
ISBN-10: 0802464521
ISBN-13: 9780802464521
256 pages

Author Sarah Anne Sumpolec offers her readers a brief refresher on lively high school protagonist Beka Madison's recent conversion to Christianity, and how facing familiar faces and situations might be more challenging than she had hoped. While life at home has settled considerably since Beka "came clean" about her years of masquerading as a Christian when she wasn't, life at school continues to have its run-ins and wrinkles with certain classmates.

Former friend Gretchen, now the popular "it" girl, suddenly decides to offer Beka the warm hand of friendship again. But Beka is wary. She knows firsthand how dangerous Gretchen can be once Gretchen turns on a person. The problem is that Beka isn't courageous enough to nix the whole "we're friends again" scene as she secretly enjoys being "popular." As Beka begins to develop her relationship with Christ, her eyes are opened to a variety of formerly unrecognized issues. She starts asking herself the difficult questions: Is she ready to do what is right even though it means committing social suicide? Is she prepared to give up "sure things" and trust that God will provide for her needs? Does she have the courage to stand up for principles and people that are being compromised and attacked?

No simple answers arrive in neatly wrapped packages via special delivery for Beka. Still, she makes huge leaps of faith through small but significant daily choices. When Gretchen invites Beka into a Wicca group, Beka senses the inner warning that she shouldn't participate. When boy "friend" Mark attempts to meet with Beka against his parents' wishes, she confronts him on his dishonesty. Even after her budding friendship with fellow believer Lori is threatened, Beka finds enough gumption to make amends and start over.

Beka's re-entry into her high school after Christmas break is most definitely a tumultuous one. And yet, Beka's sure and steady growth is heartwarming and encouraging. Though her dad remains the ever-concerned father and insists that Beka get counseling to help her through the ongoing grief of her mother's death, Sumpolec does a neat job of letting readers see how simply sharing hurts and struggles is healing in itself. One of the author's most telling life lessons from Beka's vantage point is that everyone needs "backup" in the form of supportive, loving, character-rich individuals. Readers will appreciate Beka's voice of honest conflict and applaud her every faltering move toward maturity.

   --- Reviewed by Michele Howe.

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