Angel of Hope

Angel of Hope by Lurlene McDaniel is a sequel to Angel of Mercy. I didn't know that when I picked up this book - you could read this book without reading the first. These books are part of a young adult series called the Mercy Trilogy. The series is also Christian literature for young adults - who have been previously ignored by the genre. There is no overt preachiness, and any Christian may enjoy the stories.

The story was interesting, although predictable. Amber decides to fill in for her slightly older sister on a mission of mercy to Africa. Her sister has mysteriously taken ill and would not be able to return. On this trip Amber and her mother, a surgeon, help at a rural hospital. Her mother would perform surgeries on young children with cleft palates and Amber would volunteer in public health education programs and a church day-care. There is teen romance, adventure, and a nice, tight resolution.

The author is a skilled writer and I didn't have any problems with the writing itself. Rather, I was concerned about a teenager being allowed to roam by herself in a foreign country with hostilities. It's the same problem I have with many teen television programs. Where are the parents?