Apples of Gold: A Parable of Purity

I love Lisa Samson's writing and I loved this little book. It's a sweet story that illustrates clearly the preciousness of purity and saving not just your body, but your heart as well for your future lifemate. I wish I'd heard this message as a teenager. Sadly, all that we good girls were told at that time was to just not go all the way. Purity is so much more than just keeping the virginity intact. Lisa's story tactfully presents this important lesson in a way that won't offend or give too much information for those not ready for more explicit details. It would make a wonderful gift for a girl entering her adolescent years.

Thanks Lisa, for another tool for me to use to talk to my daughters about self worth and purity! It's a great message that underscores Biblical values of wisdom, humility, and being faithful with God's gifts. It's the polar opposite of the message most often sent to our young women in today's society. As with most parables, the characters are a bit exaggerated - the beautiful, vain, shallow, careless Kate and the plain, wise, thoughtful and careful Liza - but the exaggerations are the tools with which the author makes her point. I also loved the illustrations, and the letters to the reader at the end of the book. The author's heart for teen girls is evident, and it's yet another reason why there's shelf just for Lisa Samson books on my bookshelf.

Kind hearted island Governor St. Juste summons the two Carpenter sisters, just turned seventeen Kate and almost eighteen Liza. Just his calling for them terrorize the siblings who cannot understand what they did wrong even as they rationalize that the governor owes his life to their father. Still he is their benevolent ruler so they heed his beckoning. He explains that his eldest son Claude is coming home after a tour with the Royal Navy. He gives each girl a red apple that they are to protect before giving it to Claude. The one who keeps the apple properly will stay in Claude's home. Who will pass the test depends on how each sees the importance of cherishing and nurturing the apple but neither understands the hidden agenda well beyond keeping house for an aristocrat. Those who push abstinence down teen throats expecting sheepish obedience need to take a close look at the low keyed parable APPLES OF GOLD; a fantastic fairy tale that emphasizes sexual wholesomeness is a reasonable choice. Liza is a terrific character struggling with the possibilities of intimacy that her sister seems to enjoy, but believing as difficult as it seems she feels not ready and sticks to her convictions. Though simplistic, this "parable of purity" is a well written message targeting young teens as sexual pressures to do it bombard her from every angle as NPR recently reported with even young children's TV shows. Harriet Klausner

Apples of Gold: A Parable of Purity by Lisa Samson is a beautiful book about the importance of young women holding on to their virginity. It's a tough topic to handle, and Samson does a terrific job of writing a fairy tale that shows that lesson well without talking down to her audience. Two sisters, Liza and Kate, are given the responsibility of taking care of some apples for the Governor of their small island. They are to care for the apples for one week and then give them to the Governor's son when he returns to the island. The ending of the book is never really in doubt, but even in this straightforward tale, Samson does a great job of getting inside of the characters' heads. The illustrations are simple, yet lovely black and white drawings. The best part about the book is that after my daughter and I read it, we started talking about the issue of purity and what the Lord expects from us. The conversation didn't last long, but now that we've had the first one, the second and third will be much easier.