Even before I transitioned to my new position as a junior high director, I wanted to get my hands on this book. I basically ordered it the day of my hire.

Here’s what 99 Thoughts is not: It is not a topical self-help book full of Bible verses.  It is not one of those books for students to go, “I’m struggling with self-image. What does God say about that?” and then find a bunch of Bible verses on self-image. Those kinds of books are okay, but they don’t speak to the needs of junior highers: plain-spoken truths about topics they really care about.

What happens when you want to know about self-image? First-off, no junior higher calls it that. They want to know “Who am I?” and “What’s happening to me?” Those are two of the exact questions that this book answers.

Yet, when the book solves these questions, it doesn’t give a list of Bible verses; in fact, it doesn’t contain many “Bible verses” at all.  It explains the truths contained in scripture in a way that is relatable and understandable. It is “bite-sized” and not overwhelming at all.

Not only do they give Biblical and practical insight, but the authors relate that insight to their own lives as Junior Highers. Which, speaking of, who are these authors?  Why, Mark Oestreicher and Brooklyn Lindsey, two of my favorite junior high minds!

When I read the stories from Marko and Brooklyn as junior highers, I can’t help but laugh and be brought to my treacherous and awkward junior high days.

So, here’s the skinny: Buy this book. In bulk. And give it to your junior highers. You can even base studies and series off of it. It is good. It is palatable. And it is genius.

You can buy it here.

PS–I know this review is super-outdated. I actually wrote this in December, and somehow it never got published. Here it is ;)