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But, God

By: Braylon Darnell Kelley

Here’s a powerful book based on real events… all about faith, family, and friendship! About a lively and imaginative, boy named Zach, nicknamed “Zach-e-Poo”. He navigates life with guidance from his guardian angel, Grace, and the temptations of Mr. Bad Guy, a mischievous figure encouraging poor choices. Zach’s curiosity encouraged by Mr. bad guy, leads to a dangerous mistake when he drinks a harmful cleaning solution. Rushed to the hospital, Zach’s family prays for his recovery, trusting in God’s plan. During his stay, Zach befriends Mia, a courageous girl battling cancer. Their bond brings hope and encouragement to everyone around them, highlighting the power of friendship, faith, and community. As Zach recovers, he gains wisdom, gratitude, and a deeper appreciation for his family’s faith. The story concludes with the affirmation of his family’s mantra“But God,” a reminder of resilience, love, and divine intervention in life’s challenges. We read this with the third graders, and they really enjoyed it. They were very concerned for Zach, and were quite relieved when he made a full recovery. I love the personification of Mr. bad guy and Grace, the guardian angel. They highlight the importance of making good decisions and not listening to that mischievous voice in your head. Also the illustrations are absolutely fantastic! They perfectly compliment the text and bring the book to life in a powerful way. The artist really hit it out of the park with this one! This book 100% belongs in every Sunday school and Christian school out there! Having said that, I think it will resonate with everybody religious or not. The underlying themes of family, friendship, having faith and staying positive during hard times is universal. This is one of those books that you find yourself thinking about days later, it stays with you. To me, this is the hallmark of a great book, and is something that the vast majority of books fail to achieve. I highly recommend this book for everyone, it’s definitely worth picking up!

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