This Seat's Saved

by Heather Holleman

Class schedules, locker combinations, and the play for popularity — middle school is a new world with new rules. At the start of 7th grade, Elita Brown’s friends enjoy their seats at the popular lunchroom table. Meanwhile, Elita hides in the bathroom. This is not how she envisioned middle school. And her omission from the popular table is only the beginning of her problems. What will she do when she’s terrorized by the meanest girl in school and accused of a crime she didn’t commit? Elita befriends an older couple living in the woods and gains confidence through her project on the red fox. Will Elita find her way and take her seat at the best table? Full of suspense and divine moments, readers will be captivated by this story. Parents and teachers who loved Seated with Christ can invite their middle school reader to This Seat’s Saved. With great discussion questions and a main character who learns to read her Bible, trust God for the first time, and understand what it means to be seated with Christ from Ephesians 2:6, This Seat’s Saved will help young readers on their journey with Jesus.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Childrens, Christian, Young Adult, Modern

192 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2023

About the author

HEATHER HOLLEMAN, PhD, is a popular speaker, writer, and college instructor. She serves with Faculty Commons with Cru alongside her husband, Ashley, who is the Executive Director of Graduate Student Ministry. She is also a faculty member of Penn State's English Department and teaches both Rhetoric and Composition and Advanced Writing in the Humanities. She is the author of Seated With Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison, her first in a series of books on life-changing verbs in Scripture. Heather lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their two teen daughters. She blogs daily at www.HeatherHolleman.com.

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story that I would have absolutely LOVED as a middle schooler. But even as an adult, I almost teared up several times as Elita learned the truths that set her free and let them sink in. I adored her character and how we get to see her grow through the struggles of a seventh grader. And the storyline with the school project was a great plot point that was fun to read about. Highly recommend for the middle schooler in your life 🤩🤩

[Parker Jane Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo gooooooooooooooooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[♡Hannah♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GREAT book. I have no words for it. It is not romantic but not too dramatic either. I love this book.😍

[Tarren Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter, Parker Jane recommended this book to me and I’m so thankful!! Such a wonderful reminder of the good news of the gospel and our seat with Christ that comes with salvation. I pray my girls always remember where they are seated and that Christ intercedes for them. Highly recommend for girls 10-18 to read with their mothers. I cried praise tears that the gospel is still being proclaimed. 🙌🏻❤️

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent middle grades book about identity and friendship. My daughter read this when she was in 7th grade and loved it. I read it now a year later and concur. A sweet and encouraging story for girls of all ages. She recommends the second book in this series, so I’ll head over to read that one next!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet book tackling what it's like being a middle schooler and how to tackle the all consuming frustration of feeling left out and not knowing who you are. HUGE recommend for anyone who has middle schoolers in their life or who is a middle schooler themselves or even who once was in middle school ☺️😉

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would 1,000% recommend reading this with your kids!! It's good for everyone and has great lessons for everyone. It opens doors to connect with your kids and have those conversations!! Thank you for a book like this!! Came at the right time through our True Girl Subscription box!!

[Joanne Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book for the middle school girls in your life. Heather does a great job capturing the struggles of finding “a seat at the table”. What a joy to read this one!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7th grader said this book was so good! She’s asking for the next one in the series. All parents of tweens should read this and then make sure their kids do too. It’s funny and relatable and so encouraging for all of us who just want to fit in but also need confirmation that we are already “in.”

[Heidi Breton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a work of spiritual art.

I cried three times reading this book about a middle-schooler trying to figure out how to navigate her changing world. Elita feels left out and ignored, like so many of us. When she starts seventh grade, her best friend stops hanging out with her, she realizes she’s not ‘cool,’ and begins to struggle in her relationships with her family and other places she always felt safe before.

But Heather Holleman weaves a beautiful story of brokenness, love, and redemption. God is watching out for Elita in ways she never expected.

This book is everything I wish I could convey to all the girls who struggle to find their value in a world of unfavorable comparisons.

And the story is top-notch, too. Just trust me, read it. You won’t be disappointed.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I wish I had when I was 12. In a world that is intent on telling our daughters to define themselves and then live the rest of their lives trying to make the world accept them, it is refreshing to hear a message of Truth - you are accepted exactly as you are in the Kingdom of God. I loved the message of forgiveness and grace in the story as well.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this as a gift for my daughter and some girls I mentored this year, as they finish elementary and prepare for middle school. I wanted to read it myself first, and I am so blessed by what Heather has shared. I pray these girls all read and take heart to the wisdom shared through a story. I am grateful!

[Anna Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom made me read this book because I called AG a loser for not doing her Aceable 😐

[Karly Pinizzotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLY recommend this book. It’s not just for girls. Anyone that is in middle school or has been through middle school needs to read this book.

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was super cute however it definitely would of been better without all the religion aspects added into it. I wanna know more about the foxes and what happens next.

[Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Scripture Connection

This is a case where the Scripture Connection is integral to the plot line. To avoid spoilers, I’m going to include the reference, but not the verse, itself.

Ephesians 2:6

Spiritual Themes

This delightful book took me by surprise, in terms of integration of spiritual content. The key theme flowed effortlessly into the plot line, and I was struck by the emphasis placed on part of a verse— in a way I had never thought of before. Readers of all ages will benefit from the beautiful message (Eph. 2:6) of identity in Christ.

We also have the delightful opportunity to watch Elita develop a relationship with Jesus, which is really neat!

What I Liked

Typically, I try to read review copies (somewhat) in the order requested/received. When my copy of This Seat’s Saved arrived, I couldn’t resist peeking at the first few sentences. That immediately pulled me into the story, and I ended up diving into the book, even though I had several titles “ahead of it” on my list.

As I’ve realized over the past year or so, I’m particularly fond of books that explore friendship– particularly friendships between girls. And, based on the reading I would do from a young age, I have an even softer spot for middle grade friendship books. Recently, I’ve been diving back into a favorite childhood series, but it’s not Christian. With that said, it was so fun and refreshing to read This Seat’s Saved, which has the fun elements of that favorite series, but packs a rich, meaningful message, as well.

Holleman, in my opinion, does a great job of capturing the voice of a junior higher. Her thoughts feel authentic and the narrative voice is highly engaging. I also like that the author integrated social media, without praising it to a young audience, by not allowing Elita to have accounts. The novel acknowledges the prevalence of social media, but since we are reading the perspective of someone with no access, we aren’t deeply delving into it. Rather, we, like Elita, are sideline observers to the cultural phenomenon.

Friendships

At the start of the book, Elita and her best friends are beginning junior high. In a marked shift, Elita finds that the differences between herself and her friends, which used to simply add flavor to the friendship, are beginning to feel insurmountable. Against her will, she discovers that her friends are drifting away from her.

I really appreciate Holleman’s realistic treatment of the friendships. Without going too much into the plot, I’ll say that I feel this portrayal was also fair, and I think that the presentation of the friendships is encouraging for those who are experiencing changes in their relationships.

The friendship Elita has with a boy feels both realistic and age-appropriate. While one of her seventh grade friends has a “boyfriend,” Elita does not date. (She does have a crush, though).

The Fox

At Elita’s age, I was much more like her bookish neighbor. Now, though, as I tend a young food forest (Meadow Arc) with my mom, this element of the plot felt so relatable to me. We get really excited when the Lord brings a new creature to our suburban jungle. I also appreciate that Elita is willing to pursue an interest that others may not understand—particularly during adolescence, when it can be a lot easier to just meld into the crowd. At the same time, Elita feels even more relatable in that she is not trying to stand out among her peers. She honestly doesn’t know how to fit in. (As someone on the autism spectrum, I’ve been complimented for not caring about what others think, as reflected in my fashion— at a time when I was trying more to fit in).

This Seat’s Saved is an excellent encouragement that adolescents don’t have to– and just don’t– always share the same interests. Plus, the elements about nature were highly
Content

Elita is not 100% respectful toward her parents, but I like that she recognizes that her parents are watching out for her. For example, while disappointed that she can’t have social media accounts as a seventh grader, she acknowledges that this is better for her brain.

Recommendation Status

I thoroughly enjoyed This Seat’s Saved and would be very happy to see more middle grade fiction from this author. When I’m not encountering weird content, middle grade fiction is one of my favorite genres. It is both exciting and encouraging to discover such an engaging, wholesome and truthful story.

What a refreshing message about identity in Christ. Highly recommended for pre-teens, teens, and even women!

[Niyah Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's cover is so cute, and the inside pages are gorgeous with their chapter page illustrations, and the running fox at each right-hand corner. The story theme itself was engaging and gives a lot to ponder, but the quality of the righting seemed dumbed down to me. Too many uses of 'Ugh' not in quotation marks. And the word 'like' appears constantly in places it shouldn't.
There is also some series crush interest, and talk of going on dates, when the kids in this book are only twelve years old. Elita is madly in-love with a boy named Stephen, and she's only twelve (though she does turn thirteen in the book).
What I did like was how well the book showed the struggle that takes place as kids grow older, and friendships start to fall apart. It was a bittersweet story of trying to grow up at the pace of your friends, and being a late bloomer, feeling left behind, not having a seat. The reference to the 'seat saved with Jesus' was precious, and I loved that. Elita no longer had to think of getting a seat at the popular table. She had a seat more special than the rest, and she could share that gift with others by calling them to sit with her. And in the end, she regained her popularity through her work with the fox - a nature project she and two other kids undertook for their school.
I love foxes, so this book was just too good to pass up, but I may find another series to try and not read the rest. There are so many books in the world, and so little time.

[Emily Wertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for early middle school! I’m excited for my daughter to read it in a couple years, and perhaps even my son. What a great read! Middle school was not the easiest time for me, and I love the very real life perspective, paired with biblical truths that I could have used at that age. It kept my attention, and I found myself thinking about the book even when I wasn’t reading it (even as a 40 year old).

[Josi🌷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good… I remember my 7th-8th grade year going JUST like this. Like elementary school I was in, I was “cool”, but 7th grade I just was a “weird kid” and now, as a Sophomore in high school, am just now realizing I have the COOLEST seat with ✨Jesus✨

Such a well written story, and loved the discovering she went through!

[Christine Barth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well done book about inclusion and bullying. It's very sweetly done without being preachy. And it's short and very readable. I'll be giving this to my son, for sure. Especially because he also has strict parents who say no phone.

[kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young adult. Faith based. Easy read. Short chapters. Terrific dialogue related to friendship, popularity, loneliness, forgiveness, and identity. Looking forward to sharing this with my middle school daughter.

[A.N. Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

"All seats provide equal viewing of the universe."

This quote, originally from the museum guide of Hayden Planetarium and now adapted into this novel, sums up the theme of this inspiring book quite well.

"This Seat's Saved" is the story of a twelve-year-old (later thirteen-year-old) Pennsylvanian girl named Elita Brown who feels left out because her best friends have grown up faster than she has, and they save a seat for someone else at the high-top "popular kid" tables. Naturally, she feels alone and betrayed; who wouldn't?

Eventually, she makes some unlikely friends and works on a nature project that would get her the fame and attention she wanted...or so she thinks.

This book is full of ups and downs just like the roller-coaster of middle-school life. It's a book that showcases the reality of what it's like to be one of the non-popular kids, and the isolation of solitude. It was well crafted, and as I learned that the author herself (Heather Holleman) went through a great deal of the things Elita does in this book, it brought an element of rawness and vulnerability to Elita's character and story.

A Few Things I LOVED:
• Elita's character. It felt like reading the slightly arbitrary mind of a girl with an overactive imagination, and that just made her so very lovable. Her mind jumps to strange conclusions and hypotheses the way mine does, and when in doubt, she rationalizes using logic and patterns (also like me). She was written to be so relatable.

• Stephen Rackley. I was prepared to be so sick of the typical "middle school boy crush" character and arc; after all, I am so tired of all the arcs people have written in the past where the main character has a crush on someone but doesn't know how to talk to them, which results in a lack of communication for pretty much the entirety of the book. But no: This book was SO much better in that regard! Stephen was actually a main character who was very chill and easy to get along with; he is first and foremost Elita's friend and there is no awkwardness on his part. He's an excitable fellow with a passion for nature, animals, and math (oh, and "Star Wars"! YES!), and a lad with whom anyone would get on well. He breaks the athletic popular boy stereotype, and I LOVE IT. If I had to pick a favorite character, it would be Stephen for sure.

• Chapters 21 and 22 hit me in the feels. Good chapters, those. Without spoiling anything, they're the most vulnerable chapters; they're chapters in which Elita must find faith and trust in more than just herself or her friends/family...and the "conversation" between her and God using the Bible was actually very creative.

A Few Things That Could've Used Some Work:
• The forced spirituality. I'm sorry, but though a Christian I be, I value realistic practicality over exaggerated spirituality—and the moment I start to see what feels like a sermon *in a fictional book*, it's an immediate turn-off. I adore old characters teaching lessons, but Mrs. Burgley's explanation of all things Biblical to Elita made me feel like Elita's arc was null; why experience bad things in life that lead her to the Lord when she can simply be preached at from the old lady across the street? Some of it was fitting, but some of it wasn't...and that leads me to the next point.

• Mrs. Burgley's monologues, even outside of the spiritual realm. I'm not quite sure if this is considered a spoiler, but later in the story, Mrs. Burgley explains to Elita that she had the exact same experience as Elita with the high-top tables, and explained it in detail and what she learned from it. Seriously? The *exact* same experience? To me, that seemed unrealistic. First off, it is very unlikely that an old lady who lives in Elita's development somehow experienced the exact same thing in middle school when she was younger, and even if she did, why couldn't the author have used a different circumstance or experience that still taught the same moral but in a more "object lesson" type of way? Secondly, her explaining what she learned from it made Elita's arc completely useless. Now Elita doesn't have to experience any pain or suffering to learn about God; all she has to do is listen to someone talk! It was rather disappointing. :(

• A few parts of the fox project seemed unrealistic, but upon learning that the author had a very similar experience in real life, I can't really say that. I suppose, as Sherlock Holmes once said, “Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent.”

~Conclusion~

All in all, this was a very inspiring and beautiful story rooted in past experience. Though many chapters and scenes seemed unlikely or preachy, the message in itself is a wholesome and important one to which many teens and tweenagers will absolutely relate. It inspires those of us who wonder if there is a place for us in this world, because even if it is not apparent, there is always a place for us in the World Above. Even if we cannot find a seat for ourselves in the myriad of worldly tables, we shall heed the words of the wise and matured Elita Brown: "You’re already seated at the best table with Jesus."

[Madalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just say randomly I think more people need to know about this book

[A Good Book Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Seat’s Saved follows Elita Brown, a 12-year-old navigating the social hierarchy of middle school while feeling overlooked, excluded, and unsure of where she belongs. As friendships shift and social dynamics grow more complicated, she often finds herself on the outside—wrestling with comparison, rejection, and questions of identity and belonging.

What I really appreciated about This Seat’s Saved is its central message: Jesus already has a seat saved for you, even when others say “this seat’s saved” to exclude you. Watching Elita’s spiritual growth unfold—her faith deepen, her confidence grow, and her understanding of who God created her to be mature—was moving. The book thoughtfully points readers back to gospel-centered identity rather than approval, popularity, or fitting in, which is such an important message for this age.

Now for a small caveat.

This book is written for 10–12-year-old girls and is told entirely from the perspective of a 12-year-old. As such, the voice and tone reflect that age, with plenty of inner dialogue and expressions you’d expect from a middle schooler.

I’m a 30+ year old mom of three boys under seven, but as a Christian book reviewer, I intentionally read across ages and genders so I can responsibly recommend books to a wide audience.

Because of the content, if I had a daughter, I would personally want her to read this after I was confident she was already encountering the social pressures of middle school. There is frequent conversation around makeup, fashion, popularity, crushes, annoying parents, phones, and social media. Elita is the only girl in her class without a phone and experiences real meanness from popular girls, along with struggles related to body image. There is also brief discussion of classmates labeling her and her crush as “boyfriend” and “girlfriend.”

All of these experiences are very real—but I’d be hesitant to hand this book to a younger 10-year-old, especially one who is more sheltered or homeschooled. For families in that situation, I’d recommend waiting until closer to 12+, when these pressures are likely already present rather than newly introduced or normalized too early.

For readers who are already experiencing these social dynamics—middle school attitudes, body image struggles, and questions of social standing—this is a wonderful book.

Overall, This Seat’s Saved offers a meaningful, gospel-centered message about belonging, identity, and where our worth truly comes from—but it will shine best when placed in the hands of readers who are already walking through the realities it portrays.

*I received a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This juvenile novel about a girl starting middle school tackles tough themes in relatable ways, exploring the pain of changing friendship dynamics and social exclusion. In this story, Elita feels cast adrift after her best friend sidelines her at lunch and tells her, "This seat's saved." As her friend pursues new interests and a new friend group, Elita deals with emotional pain, worries about measuring up, and tries to figure out how to fit in. At the same time, she is also working on a project for her nature-focused elective class, studying fox behavior and getting to know the other people in her group. Although the book has some very heavy moments, it also has fun and exciting chapters as Elita grows from her new opportunities and builds new relationships.

I found this story very compelling, and I often found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. Previously, I had enjoyed one of Heather Holleman's nonfiction works for adults, and I am very impressed with her fiction writing as well. The characters feel real and convincing, and the book also has a great sense of place, with lots of convincing regional details from Pennsylvania, the author's home state. Holleman also incorporates Christian elements in a way that feels authentic. This could have been preachy, but the message is integral to the plot and is a compelling part of the story. For example, when Elita's mentor shares spiritual truths with her from Ephesians 2:6, this unfolds as a very natural conversation, and Elita's growth at the end of the story feels real and hard-earned.

This Seat's Saved is a great book for middle school girls. Holleman writes with a deep understanding of what it's like to be in middle school, and she includes just enough contemporary cultural details for the story to seem convincing, without trying too hard or going overboard. This will appeal to the target audience, and the themes are so universal that many older girls and women will enjoy this as well. This is an excellent book for mothers and daughters to read together, and it would also be a great choice for book clubs, especially since there is a list of thoughtful, open-ended discussion questions in the back. I really enjoyed this book, and it would be great if it became the start of a series. I would love to see Elita grow through the rest of middle school and onward.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elita Brown is starting 7th grade, and her friends seem to have new interests (boys, clothes), which she doesn't really care about yet. They don't even have room for her at their lunch table. Elita does enjoy her nature class, where she begins a project on the red fox that crosses the family's property each night. She also helps an older couple who lives just through the woods. It's through conversations with this older lady that Elita comes to apply the Bible to her life, specifically her problems with her friends at school.

Overall, this is a relatable book for middle school (girls, since it's from Elita's perspective). A few areas struck me as strange: for instance, Elita has a Bible but doesn't read it and never goes to church. That aspect of Christianity (the fellowship of believers) is not really talked about, nor the faith (or lack of) in her own family. The problem with her best friend is finally resolved, but neither girl actually gets to the heart of why the friend froze Elita out in the first place.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfectly cute story for middle school kids! Elita felt like such a real character, so true to herself and honestly raw. Her emotions were emotions any and every 7th grade kid has felt at some time. I loved that her story coincided with her spiritual journey.

This is definitely a book I'd recommend to preteen kids trying to navigate the rough world of middle school!

[Violet Ashmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good, it was obviously made for younger kids, but honestly I enjoyed that. I really liked to read abt a young girl figuring it out and coming to God. It was so interesting and captivating.

[Arica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and have passed it on to other mom friends. I like the story line and application of how to teach God to a middle schooler as well as how a middle schooler can apply those teachings to life.

[Cayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a Christian 13 year old girl this boom really stuck out to me I WONT DO ANY SPOILERS but I loved so many parts where it talks about he finding her faith in God i will say there is a part where your mouth will drop