Books for Christian Girls: "Playing by Heart" by Anne Mateer

Monday, September 8, 2014

"Playing by Heart" by Anne Mateer

About this book:

“Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream: a teaching position and a scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics. But when she receives a shocking telephone call from her sister, Jewel, everything she's worked for begins to crumble.
After the sudden death of Jewel's husband, Jewel needs Lula's help. With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister. But the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Neither subject belongs anywhere near the halls of academia, according to Lula!
Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year, determined to do well and prove herself to the town. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys' coach, Chet, to learn the game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She's returning to college as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.
However, the more time she spends in Dunn, the more Lula realizes God is working on her heart--and her future is beginning to look a lot different than she'd expected.”

Series: As of now, no.

Spiritual Content- Lots of Church going; A few hymns are played & sung with a couple written out; Talks about God, Him seeing us, and Having Hope; Many Prayers and strong Faiths; A little boy is mad at God for taking his daddy (it’s only mentioned once).

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: five forms of ‘stupid’ and a man is called a “cuss”; That man hits another man (semi-detailed); Mentions of war (This book is set in WWI) and a mention of a man who commented suicide.

Sexual Content- A detailed kiss; Lula gets called a looker; Love, falling in Love, the emotions and staring at the lover’s face.

-Lula Bowman

-Chet Vaughn
First person P.O.V. switches between them

Set in 1917-1918 {It’s not mentioned at the beginning}
314 pages

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Pre Teens-

{Because of the romance}

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

I know next-to-nothing about Basketball, so this was an educational book! Just like all the other Anne Mateer books I’ve read, there were plot twists I didn’t see coming! It was really neat to read both P.O.V.s in First person, as I don’t see many guy’s P.O.V. in first.

And I’d like to share with y’all the Best. Quote. Ever.

‘”I’ve often had to stand on the firm ground of my convictions when others thought I ought to be doing differently.’”