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Abigail series #2
Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe
Fun, absorbing novel that helps kids aged 7+ to engage with the Bible as they learn that it’s only through Jesus that we can please God.
It's nearly Career Day, and 9-year-old Abigail is trying to decide what she wants to be when she grows up. She wants to do something that will please God and her family, so she decides she will be a missionary police officer-a job that she thinks means behaving perfectly and making sure everyone else does too!
But all her efforts seem to backfire. After some helpful Bible teaching from her loved ones about the story of Paul's conversion, Abigail rethinks what it means to please God and to "be good"!
This fun, relatable story will help kids to realize that it’s only through Jesus that we can please God. And with the Holy Spirit’s help, they can become more like Jesus and do good works with him.
The Abigail books are a fiction series designed for children 7 years+. They follow the adventures of 9-year-old Abigail as she figures out what faith means for her everyday life. Young listeners are inspired to read the Bible, talk to God and apply what they believe to their own lives.
Includes book-club kit with questions for discussion. Can be used in homeschool groups or kids' book clubs.
It's nearly Career Day, and 9-year-old Abigail is trying to decide what she wants to be when she grows up. She wants to do something that will please God and her family, so she decides she will be a missionary police officer-a job that she thinks means behaving perfectly and making sure everyone else does too!
But all her efforts seem to backfire. After some helpful Bible teaching from her loved ones about the story of Paul's conversion, Abigail rethinks what it means to please God and to "be good"!
This fun, relatable story will help kids to realize that it’s only through Jesus that we can please God. And with the Holy Spirit’s help, they can become more like Jesus and do good works with him.
The Abigail books are a fiction series designed for children 7 years+. They follow the adventures of 9-year-old Abigail as she figures out what faith means for her everyday life. Young listeners are inspired to read the Bible, talk to God and apply what they believe to their own lives.
Includes book-club kit with questions for discussion. Can be used in homeschool groups or kids' book clubs.
- GenresChildrens
208 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2024
5 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Bethany McIlrath
8 books17 followersBethany McIlrath loves to get lost in a book and to help others discover their next read. When she's not reading stories, she's usually writing them or dreaming about them as she comes up with real-life creative adventures for friends, her husband, and a doorbell-like dog named Indy. Serving in children's ministry is also one of her greatest joys.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 4, 2024
I am so happy to have come across this series! It holds similarities in style and characters to series like Beverly Clearly’s “Ramona”, but with wholesome and biblical teaching as its foundation.
Abby is an elementary-aged girl who is struggling with things will be relatable to young girl readers: being good enough, being liked, getting it right, being perfect for God.
But the way the book portrays her learning and growing is unique and what I want modeled to my own girls - it’s through everyday discipleship conversations with her mom, dad, and grandpa as they look at what scripture teaches.
Instead of the popular societal message to girls (“You’re perfect just as you are! You’re amazing!”), Abby learns the truth of her failings. But she doesn’t stop there. She goes on to discover that she isn’t perfect, but that Christ is. And He offers His righteousness as a free gift that spills out of us when we accept it and allow Him to live in us.
I read this aloud to my young daughter and it was a joy to learn alongside Abigail. As a parent, I appreciate the multiple opportunities for discipleship conversations that sprang from our time reading the book. My daughter instantly connected to Abby and kept asking me to “read another chapter”!
I highly recommend this series if you have girls aged 6-11.
Thank you to The Good BookClub Co for the complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Abby is an elementary-aged girl who is struggling with things will be relatable to young girl readers: being good enough, being liked, getting it right, being perfect for God.
But the way the book portrays her learning and growing is unique and what I want modeled to my own girls - it’s through everyday discipleship conversations with her mom, dad, and grandpa as they look at what scripture teaches.
Instead of the popular societal message to girls (“You’re perfect just as you are! You’re amazing!”), Abby learns the truth of her failings. But she doesn’t stop there. She goes on to discover that she isn’t perfect, but that Christ is. And He offers His righteousness as a free gift that spills out of us when we accept it and allow Him to live in us.
I read this aloud to my young daughter and it was a joy to learn alongside Abigail. As a parent, I appreciate the multiple opportunities for discipleship conversations that sprang from our time reading the book. My daughter instantly connected to Abby and kept asking me to “read another chapter”!
I highly recommend this series if you have girls aged 6-11.
Thank you to The Good BookClub Co for the complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
December 29, 2024
❤️ WHAT I LOVED: How much my girls loved it! We read this as our Morning Time read-aloud and my girls always looked forward to reading it and often requested, “One more chapter! One more chapter! One more chapter!”.
I also enjoyed how the gospel and other Biblical truths were presented in a clear, simple, fun, and relatable way; and that there is a website that offers free downloads, worksheets from the book, and games to further engage children.
🍎 WHO IS THIS FOR: Though written for children ages 7+, my youngest, who is 4 (5 in March), was able to follow along with the story and participate in the thoughtful discussions that often came up as we read or finished a chapter. Therefore, I do believe slightly younger children would enjoy this story, the characters, and the valuable lessons and truths that are presented throughout, especially children who have already been introduced to or are accustomed to wholesome stories that are designed for middle elementary readers. With that said, I do recommend prereading or reading ahead to ensure this is appropriate for children in your family who are younger than 7.
And with book club questions at the end of the book, this would also be great for a girls’ book club or homeschool group.
💭 OVERALL THOUGHTS: This was our first book in the Abigail series, and it will not be our last. We will go back and read the first book in the series, “Abigail and the Big Start Over,” and look forward to reading book three, “Abigail Gets Left Out,” which releases in March 2025.
(Though this is book two in the series, you can read it as a standalone.)
⭐ Recommend!
Thank you, @thegoodbookcompanyusa, for my copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
(4.5 stars rounded up)
I also enjoyed how the gospel and other Biblical truths were presented in a clear, simple, fun, and relatable way; and that there is a website that offers free downloads, worksheets from the book, and games to further engage children.
🍎 WHO IS THIS FOR: Though written for children ages 7+, my youngest, who is 4 (5 in March), was able to follow along with the story and participate in the thoughtful discussions that often came up as we read or finished a chapter. Therefore, I do believe slightly younger children would enjoy this story, the characters, and the valuable lessons and truths that are presented throughout, especially children who have already been introduced to or are accustomed to wholesome stories that are designed for middle elementary readers. With that said, I do recommend prereading or reading ahead to ensure this is appropriate for children in your family who are younger than 7.
And with book club questions at the end of the book, this would also be great for a girls’ book club or homeschool group.
💭 OVERALL THOUGHTS: This was our first book in the Abigail series, and it will not be our last. We will go back and read the first book in the series, “Abigail and the Big Start Over,” and look forward to reading book three, “Abigail Gets Left Out,” which releases in March 2025.
(Though this is book two in the series, you can read it as a standalone.)
⭐ Recommend!
Thank you, @thegoodbookcompanyusa, for my copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
(4.5 stars rounded up)
October 28, 2024
Abigail “knew that when she grew up, she wanted to do something good for God.” Something that would make God and her parents proud of her! A flying missionary police officer hero! Surely that would make God say, “good job.” Will being a hero live up to her expectations? Find out in Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe by Bethany McIlrath with illustrations by Katie Saunders.
Career Day at school introduces 9-year-old Abigail to Officer Dave. After he saves her from a fall off the monkey bars, Abigail decides she wants to be a hero like Officer Dave. Abigail thinks a hero means trying “to be very, very good, and to make everyone else be good too.” But after learning that Saul from the Bible desired that very same thing, she starts to wonder what it really means to please God and be a hero. Her teacher says, “We can’t be good enough for God on our own,” but that sounded like a challenge to Abigail. “She wanted to be so good that God didn’t have to forgive her.” Extra good at school. No talking. No fun. Just work.
While Abigail tries to play hero with her school mates and brother, she thinks she is pleasing God by “being good,” but she soon learns a hard lesson. Dad tells her, “Sometimes people think they’re doing something good for God and get it wrong.”
I love how Abigail discovers what it means to be “good” by learning about Paul. “He trusted Jesus and loved Jesus. So, he tried to be like Jesus.” One of my favorite parts is when Abigail finds out that Saul and Paul are the same person. She doesn’t understand, since Saul is a bad guy and Paul is a good guy. “He was a guy who met Jesus,” explains Abigail’s dad. And that’s what changes everything for Paul, for Abigail, for you and me. Abigail realizes she needs forgiveness and that she needs to be more like Jesus to be a real hero. But Jesus is perfect. Abigail can never be perfect and she’s pretty sure God is tired of having to forgive her all the time. Abigail’s grandpa tells her that we don’t have to be perfect because “Jesus is the only perfect one.” He teaches her about grace and the good works that flow from it, but that good works alone cannot save us. You can’t earn it! It’s totally free!
The author does such a wonderful job explaining grace and good works in Chapters 15 and 16. I recommend spending some time in these chapters, as kids will be able to grasp a difficult topic quite easily. The grandpa uses an analogy about following instructions to fix a faucet, and how you wouldn’t skip to the end. Just like you can’t skip to good works. We get to become more and more like Jesus every day and do good works with Him. There are also great lessons on wisdom, prayer, and the Spirit- this time with a cake analogy. “He fills us, and THEN we spill his love.”
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8).
This series, geared toward ages 7+, but also a great read aloud for younger kids, is entertaining and edifying. Kids will find a relatable story saturated with gospel truths. I got my nine-year-old niece hooked on Abigail, and here is what she had to say: “I loved it. It was even better than the first one. I like the part where she learns about Paul, Saul, and Jesus. I liked that she added new characters, like Mia, but that we also learned more about characters from the first one, like grandpa.” My niece and I highly recommend adding this series to your home libraries, and we can’t wait for the next one!
*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Career Day at school introduces 9-year-old Abigail to Officer Dave. After he saves her from a fall off the monkey bars, Abigail decides she wants to be a hero like Officer Dave. Abigail thinks a hero means trying “to be very, very good, and to make everyone else be good too.” But after learning that Saul from the Bible desired that very same thing, she starts to wonder what it really means to please God and be a hero. Her teacher says, “We can’t be good enough for God on our own,” but that sounded like a challenge to Abigail. “She wanted to be so good that God didn’t have to forgive her.” Extra good at school. No talking. No fun. Just work.
While Abigail tries to play hero with her school mates and brother, she thinks she is pleasing God by “being good,” but she soon learns a hard lesson. Dad tells her, “Sometimes people think they’re doing something good for God and get it wrong.”
I love how Abigail discovers what it means to be “good” by learning about Paul. “He trusted Jesus and loved Jesus. So, he tried to be like Jesus.” One of my favorite parts is when Abigail finds out that Saul and Paul are the same person. She doesn’t understand, since Saul is a bad guy and Paul is a good guy. “He was a guy who met Jesus,” explains Abigail’s dad. And that’s what changes everything for Paul, for Abigail, for you and me. Abigail realizes she needs forgiveness and that she needs to be more like Jesus to be a real hero. But Jesus is perfect. Abigail can never be perfect and she’s pretty sure God is tired of having to forgive her all the time. Abigail’s grandpa tells her that we don’t have to be perfect because “Jesus is the only perfect one.” He teaches her about grace and the good works that flow from it, but that good works alone cannot save us. You can’t earn it! It’s totally free!
The author does such a wonderful job explaining grace and good works in Chapters 15 and 16. I recommend spending some time in these chapters, as kids will be able to grasp a difficult topic quite easily. The grandpa uses an analogy about following instructions to fix a faucet, and how you wouldn’t skip to the end. Just like you can’t skip to good works. We get to become more and more like Jesus every day and do good works with Him. There are also great lessons on wisdom, prayer, and the Spirit- this time with a cake analogy. “He fills us, and THEN we spill his love.”
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8).
This series, geared toward ages 7+, but also a great read aloud for younger kids, is entertaining and edifying. Kids will find a relatable story saturated with gospel truths. I got my nine-year-old niece hooked on Abigail, and here is what she had to say: “I loved it. It was even better than the first one. I like the part where she learns about Paul, Saul, and Jesus. I liked that she added new characters, like Mia, but that we also learned more about characters from the first one, like grandpa.” My niece and I highly recommend adding this series to your home libraries, and we can’t wait for the next one!
*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
October 31, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This book is the second in a series about Abigail, a creative nine-year-old who grows and learns through her experiences at school, at home, and at church. Bethany McIlrath writes from a child's perspective in a very convincing way, and the illustrations from Katie Saunders are cute and add extra energy throughout the book. Someone can jump straight into this book without having read the first, because the author weaves in all of the background information that you need to know. Still, people who have already read the first book will get the most out of this, seeing how the author builds on the original story with similar themes and more character development. We learn more about Abigail and some of her family members and classmates, and also meet some new characters.
This story involves Abigail preparing for a career day at school, trying to decide between multiple different careers and picking a combination of ideas that she thinks will impress other people and make God proud of her. Through a variety of mishaps, she learns that she can't please God through her own efforts, and can't be perfect all the time. She learns more about grace through the story of Paul from the Bible, and through conversations with her parents. Personally, I found the number of mishaps overwhelming, and some kids will feel stressed about how many things go wrong, and how much worse Abigail makes them through her misguided plans.
This is a cute chapter book that will entertain kids and teach them lessons about how the gospel applies to everyday life. This series is a great fit for Christian families who are looking for engaging stories that teach life lessons in a natural way, and the book includes discussion questions for book clubs and an advertisement for free tie-in activities on the publisher's website. Although I didn't like this story as much as the first one, this is another solid entry in the series, and I look forward to Abigail's future adventures.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book is the second in a series about Abigail, a creative nine-year-old who grows and learns through her experiences at school, at home, and at church. Bethany McIlrath writes from a child's perspective in a very convincing way, and the illustrations from Katie Saunders are cute and add extra energy throughout the book. Someone can jump straight into this book without having read the first, because the author weaves in all of the background information that you need to know. Still, people who have already read the first book will get the most out of this, seeing how the author builds on the original story with similar themes and more character development. We learn more about Abigail and some of her family members and classmates, and also meet some new characters.
This story involves Abigail preparing for a career day at school, trying to decide between multiple different careers and picking a combination of ideas that she thinks will impress other people and make God proud of her. Through a variety of mishaps, she learns that she can't please God through her own efforts, and can't be perfect all the time. She learns more about grace through the story of Paul from the Bible, and through conversations with her parents. Personally, I found the number of mishaps overwhelming, and some kids will feel stressed about how many things go wrong, and how much worse Abigail makes them through her misguided plans.
This is a cute chapter book that will entertain kids and teach them lessons about how the gospel applies to everyday life. This series is a great fit for Christian families who are looking for engaging stories that teach life lessons in a natural way, and the book includes discussion questions for book clubs and an advertisement for free tie-in activities on the publisher's website. Although I didn't like this story as much as the first one, this is another solid entry in the series, and I look forward to Abigail's future adventures.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
January 27, 2026
I received Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.
This review contains affiliate links
Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe is the second installment in the Abigail series by Bethany McIlrath. In this book, Abigail has to choose a career for her class's Career Day presentation. She wants to figure out which path will help her glorify God the most and learns some encouraging biblical truths along the way.
This middle grade series is sweet and fun, and one of my favorite elements of it is that each book includes all persons of the Trinity. The characters are relatable, and the stories are filled with Scripture. These books are a lovely way to help kids learn deep truths about God.
In this book, 9 year old Abigail is preparing for the upcoming Career Day at her school. She has to decide which career to pursue, and has a hard time committing to just one. As Career Day approaches, she learns that she isn't on her own when it comes to whatever good works she'll do because God is with her. This book is a lovely addition to the Abigail series, and I highly recommend it!
This review contains affiliate links
Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe is the second installment in the Abigail series by Bethany McIlrath. In this book, Abigail has to choose a career for her class's Career Day presentation. She wants to figure out which path will help her glorify God the most and learns some encouraging biblical truths along the way.
This middle grade series is sweet and fun, and one of my favorite elements of it is that each book includes all persons of the Trinity. The characters are relatable, and the stories are filled with Scripture. These books are a lovely way to help kids learn deep truths about God.
In this book, 9 year old Abigail is preparing for the upcoming Career Day at her school. She has to decide which career to pursue, and has a hard time committing to just one. As Career Day approaches, she learns that she isn't on her own when it comes to whatever good works she'll do because God is with her. This book is a lovely addition to the Abigail series, and I highly recommend it!
January 17, 2025
Review from my daughter, age 10:
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. Abigail’s school is having a career day. Everybody dresses up and presents a poster. They also give a speech. Abigail meets a very heroic police officer. He gives her a whistle and junior officer badge. Starting now, Abigail silently promises God “I’m going to be extra good.” (Can she manage it?!) She finds out that when she was trying to be extra good, she was trying to earn God’s grace. But you can’t earn it, it’s a free gift. And then her mom taught her that by asking God’s forgiveness He gives her enough grace to spill out to other people. She learns when she tries to be extra good she’s trying not to need God’s grace.
Thoughts from mom:
The truths taught in this book are lessons for all ages- probably as good of reminders for moms as their daughters! I’m thankful for a series that is not only an enjoyable read but teaching such important truths.
I provided this review in exchange for a free copy of the book.
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. Abigail’s school is having a career day. Everybody dresses up and presents a poster. They also give a speech. Abigail meets a very heroic police officer. He gives her a whistle and junior officer badge. Starting now, Abigail silently promises God “I’m going to be extra good.” (Can she manage it?!) She finds out that when she was trying to be extra good, she was trying to earn God’s grace. But you can’t earn it, it’s a free gift. And then her mom taught her that by asking God’s forgiveness He gives her enough grace to spill out to other people. She learns when she tries to be extra good she’s trying not to need God’s grace.
Thoughts from mom:
The truths taught in this book are lessons for all ages- probably as good of reminders for moms as their daughters! I’m thankful for a series that is not only an enjoyable read but teaching such important truths.
I provided this review in exchange for a free copy of the book.
December 5, 2024
again, the two books I have read from this series are super cute! Coming from a Protestant author, they definitely incorporate God and the Bible and being good, all in an appropriate way for the younger audience. As an older Catholic reader it did seems to me as if some of the theology bordered on Protestant Predestination, but I think children would not think too much about it. There is nothing glaringly wrong. There is simply a discussion about whether we are saved by faith or by works, and the conclusion is that both are needed.
February 4, 2025
My 9 year old daughter is devouring these books! She really enjoyed telling me what Abigail decided to become when she grows up. I think parents will like hearing what she chose too 😊
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews