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Painting Angels
What happens when you can t get away from the person who drives you craziest? Sam and Macrina are about to find out. Stuck working together to help the nuns, Sam and Macrina come up with a thousand reasons to disagree. Sam is too rude. Macrina is too bossy. Summer at the monastery will be miserable if they can t find some common ground. With the help of three friendly nuns, a runaway bunny, and Saucer the trusty corgi, Macrina and Sam discover a big secret that helps put them on the road toward peace. A chapter book for ages 7 to 12.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2020
5 people want to read
About the author
Melinda Johnson
8 books56 followersMelinda Johnson began life in a small town in upstate New York. Her literary imagination evolved from this point through an introspective childhood, a master's in English literature, and a confirmed habit of observing her fellow human beings. She is the author of two novels, Letters to Saint Lydia (CP 2010) and The Other Side of the Bonfire (LSP 2012), the Sam and Saucer series (middle-grade chapter books), and several board books. She currently works as Marketing Director for Ancient Faith Ministries.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 17, 2020
Audible version:
Yet again, Melinda Johnson gives us a wonderful story with an engaging narration in the audio recording of Painting Angels. Her narration gives such charm to the list of characters we have come to know and love in the series. Somehow, she manages to make even the animals’ noises charming. The children, nuns, and animals in the story are all familiar by this third book of the series, and this allows for deeper character development, and what I feel to be even deeper topics than what were explored previously. The struggles that the characters work through are relevant to the target audience, and I am so grateful to be able to share this story with my children. I recommend that anyone with elementary and middle grade children seek out this book, and the series, and add it to their home library.
Yet again, Melinda Johnson gives us a wonderful story with an engaging narration in the audio recording of Painting Angels. Her narration gives such charm to the list of characters we have come to know and love in the series. Somehow, she manages to make even the animals’ noises charming. The children, nuns, and animals in the story are all familiar by this third book of the series, and this allows for deeper character development, and what I feel to be even deeper topics than what were explored previously. The struggles that the characters work through are relevant to the target audience, and I am so grateful to be able to share this story with my children. I recommend that anyone with elementary and middle grade children seek out this book, and the series, and add it to their home library.
August 14, 2020
I've had the pleasure of reading the other two stories in this series and greatly looked forward to picking this one up as well. Sam and Macrina are both staying at the monastery during the summer and they just don't like each other. This is the story of learning to get along, finding the blessing in working together, and growing and changing on your views of the world.
August 9, 2020
Read my full review at https://dadsoforthodoxy.com/painting-...
As a father of seven-year-old twins, I’m always looking for things to read with the kids that will challenge them a little but still keep their interest. Painting Angels delivers. It’s a chapter book about a boy and a girl (and a dog). There are fourteen chapters, short enough to read a two or three out loud each night before bed, which is what we did.
The story is about a girl, named Macrina, a boy, named Sam, and their summer days spent helping the nuns at the local monastery where their families attend church. Macrina is a rule-follower. Everything needs to be her way, and her way is the right way. Sam is awkward and stubborn. He’s truthful to a fault, to the perpetual annoyance of Macrina. Though it’s not stated, it’s implied that Sam is autistic. Sam and Macrina do not like each other, and are not pleased at the prospect of spending the whole summer together. Throughout the story, just as it seems they’re figuring out how to work together, one of them does something to annoy the other, and they’re back to square one.
Painting Angels presents as clear an exposition as I’ve ever read of one of the key aspects of Orthodox Christian thought. (You’ll have to read it to find out what that is, though. I don’t want to spoil it.)
As a father of seven-year-old twins, I’m always looking for things to read with the kids that will challenge them a little but still keep their interest. Painting Angels delivers. It’s a chapter book about a boy and a girl (and a dog). There are fourteen chapters, short enough to read a two or three out loud each night before bed, which is what we did.
The story is about a girl, named Macrina, a boy, named Sam, and their summer days spent helping the nuns at the local monastery where their families attend church. Macrina is a rule-follower. Everything needs to be her way, and her way is the right way. Sam is awkward and stubborn. He’s truthful to a fault, to the perpetual annoyance of Macrina. Though it’s not stated, it’s implied that Sam is autistic. Sam and Macrina do not like each other, and are not pleased at the prospect of spending the whole summer together. Throughout the story, just as it seems they’re figuring out how to work together, one of them does something to annoy the other, and they’re back to square one.
Painting Angels presents as clear an exposition as I’ve ever read of one of the key aspects of Orthodox Christian thought. (You’ll have to read it to find out what that is, though. I don’t want to spoil it.)
August 17, 2020
I just finished the third book in the Sam and Saucer series with my 7 year old son. WOW! What an amazing story with an even better lesson. While reading this book I was able to facilitate an amazing discussion about God, the Bible and the biggest rule to follow. My son loved this book so much. He has asked for us to paint our own Angels Icons. The author has a very creative way of capturing the attention of children and teaching them about our Orthodox Faith while making this equally enjoyable for the parents to read aloud.
August 26, 2020
I LOVED this story but more importantly, so did my children. We listened to the Audible version provided to me by Ancient Faith Publishing, and while we usually listen to audio books in the car, my children would ask me if we could keep listening in the house. The conflict between the main characters in the story seems so ordinary yet so common among children that my own kids immediately identified with it. I also loved the exploration of Macrina's inner conflict - I think this is the inner conflict of many people, even Christians, who don't fully understand Christianity. Although this is the third book in the Sam and Saucer series, it does stand on its own. Melinda Johnson's narration is dynamic and engaging.
That being said, I LOVE the whole Sam and Saucer series, and it's definitely worth starting from the beginning to get to know this beloved monastery and all the characters in the story more intimately. I reviewed The Barn and the Book, the second book in the series, on my blog here: https://beingincommunity.com/animals-...
That being said, I LOVE the whole Sam and Saucer series, and it's definitely worth starting from the beginning to get to know this beloved monastery and all the characters in the story more intimately. I reviewed The Barn and the Book, the second book in the series, on my blog here: https://beingincommunity.com/animals-...
July 16, 2023
A meaningful reminder for children (and adults) whose struggle with a rule-following and legalism.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews