Adventures of the Northwoods series by Lois Walfrid Johnson

This series of ten children’s books kept me awake late many a night when I was younger. Recently rereading the series, I delighted to find that my childhood favorite was still worthy of praise. Each story weaves a mystery into the changing life of Kate O’Connor Nordstrom and her new step-family. She moves from the city to a farm in the Wisconsin northwoods when her mother remarries after her father’s death. While facing the challenges of a new family and community, hard work, and the dangers of the woods, she learns lessons about fear, trusting God, and choosing worthy friends. The author incorporates historical settings along with real people and towns, because the story is set around 1900. Bits of Swedish and Irish culture are shared as well, since Kate’s step-family, new community, and mother are Swedish, while her deceased father’s family, included in one book, is Irish. One drawback: these books may be more interesting for girls than boys.

Johnson surpasses other Christian fiction authors by far in explaining the gospel by using the story. I have read many works of Christian fiction, and nearly all seem preachy, because they do not integrate the truth well. Initially in the series, Kate, the main character, wonders whether to trust what Christian adults around her are saying, living, and reading from Scripture. In the second book, she realizes her own sinfulness when her successive disobedience, lying, and rebellion endangers her new step-sister. While extending forgiveness to Kate, her mother wisely points out that all are sinners and explains God’s forgiveness through Jesus. On her own, Kate ponders this and believes. Through the rest of the series, Kate still struggles with her sin, fear, and trusting God, but her faith remains. Meanwhile, she learns valuable lessons, such as giving friends a second chance, defending the innocent, and choosing life-long friends who are trustworthy and believe in the same God.