A Girl After God’s Own Heart: A Tween Adventure with Jesus, by Elizabeth George, Harvest House Publishers, 2011, Ages 9 and Up, 112 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-0736917681, $9.99

Elizabeth George, a Washington best-selling author, presents an “adventure with Jesus” in A Girl after God’s Own Heart that can be used as a Bible study or devotional for girls aged 8-14. An age group the media and advertisers identify as “tweens.”

The Urban Dictionary defines “tweens,” ages 9 and 14 as “…too old for toys, but too young for boys.”http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tween While George recognizes young girls fascination with boys, teen idols and the anxiety of “finding themselves” she encourages them to develop a relationship with Jesus with these age-appropriate devotions in this “…crucial, transitional stage...” of life.

Ten short chapters begin with a girl’s “heart” where young readers meet the author and a young girl named Emma. Emma begins each chapter with experiences and issues young girls’ face, such as friends, cleaning their rooms, making good choices and school.

I particularly liked chapter two, “My Space” where Emma shows grandma Mimi her room and her box of “treasured things” labeled “Private—Keep Out!” George includes a list of daily tasks to check upon completion, such as dusting, vacuuming and hanging up clothes, along with who completed the chore—girl, mom or another. (I know many who use house-cleaning services)

In this chapter girls learn tips to keep their rooms clean, how to decorate without ruining their walls with nail marks and thankfulness and gratitude for having a space to call their own; whether a simple bunk bed, a shared room or a bedroom to themselves.

This book would be a memory-making Bible study or devotional for mothers and daughters or grandmothers and granddaughters, even for a Sunday school class. Although I would change the age range to 8-10 year olds because of the maturity level of most girls’ ages 12-14 today.