Equally Yoked

Laurel Shadrach

by Stephanie Perry Moore

Laurel Shadrach is off to college in Georgia. There she meets Payton Skky, one of her new suitemates. As she struggles to adjust to the pressures of college, Laurel is confronted with difficult decisions regarding friend relationships, alcohol use, and staying pure with her boyfriend. Will Laurel choose to follow God or will she bow to temptations and peer pressure?

Genres: Young Adult, Teen, Christian Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

STEPHANIE PERRY MOORE is the author of many Young Adult Christian fiction titles, including the Payton Skky series, the Laurel Shadrach series, the Perry Skky Jr. series, the Faith Thomas Novelzine series, the Carmen Browne series, and the Beta Gamma Pi series. She is also the co-editor for the impactful BibleZine, REAL. Mrs. Moore speaks with young people across the country, showing them how they can live life fully and do it God's way. Stephanie currently lives in the greater Atlanta area with her husband, Derrick, a former NFL player and author, and their three children. Visit her website at www.stephanieperrymoore.com.

Reviews

[Rhys-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thoughts about this book are mixed--on one hand, I'm excited to discover another early-2000s Christian YA series. (Also, who doesn't love reading a book set in her own home state? I recognized nearly all the location references.) I also admired that this book dealt with genuinely hard topics--so much so, in fact, that I wouldn't hand this book to a girl under 16 (with some exceptions for public schoolers).

However, Laurel wasn't my favorite MC. The decisions she made throughout the course of the story were far from what I would do, and it eventually got on my nerves. It just seemed like she never learned anything and wouldn't take the necessary stand for her faith until very late in the story (by which I mean, of course, break up with a certain despicable character). She was also the typical Christian fiction heroine in that she had not one but two guys who were crazy about her. Is that very relatable to the average teenage reader?

While this book wasn't poorly written, some of the interactions between characters felt forced. I didn't like any of the side characters, except Derek and Bo. But despite all those negatives, I really did enjoy this book and would recommend it. I was intrigued by the college setting toward the end. I would like to read more books by this author/in this series and was fortunate to find this one at a local thrift store.

[Delray Beach Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurel Shadrach is a high school senior, soon going to college and also a devout Christian. She was dating Foster McDowell also a devout Christian. However, because Laurel still had lingering feelings for Branson, Foster breaks with her. Branson and Laurel started their new relationship. Laurel's dreams are about to come true because of the perfect 10 she score at the most important gymnastic meeting at her school.

In a few tragic weeks, she sprained her ankle, her scholarship is revoked, and her chances are ruined. But she is still in college in Georgia. There she meets a black, Christian roommate, Payton Skky. Branson keeps pressuring Laurel into doing things she is not ready for, and Laurel have to deal with friends, relationships, peer pressure, and staying pure. Will Laurel choose to follow God’s commandments? Will she gives Branson what he wants and will she bow to temptation and peer pressure? Will Lauren be strong enough to stay pure and do what’s best for her?

Read this fantastic book and find out!

Other books in the series:

Absolutely Worthy
Purity Reigns
Totally Free

Reviewed by Lunise P., TAB@DBPL Reader Advisor since 2012.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gee, Stephanie, you've done it again. I don't know why I bother with this series. Oh, wait, that's right, because good Christian fiction is hard to find. And this certainly isn't good Christian fiction

[OOSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relations

In "Equally Yoked," I learned that you have to be 'equally yoked' in all things that you do. You just don't have to be 'equally yoked' in Christ, but in all of your relationships as well.

Reviewed by:
Lauren
OOSA's teen reviewer

[Adrienna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read out of sequence of the series, but liked the title...for some reason I could not get into the book.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

cant wait to get my hands on the next one. hopefully laurel can move on and get over branson. i hope laurel and payton become friends.

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F MOO ls bk.3

[A]

Great book!!!