"There are many books designed to teach youth how to read the Scriptures. This book tells them why," says Kathleen Chesto in praise of Know It! Pray it! Live It! The author, Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart, is something of a staple part of the current St Mary's Press diet. Herself a contributor to the long-awaited Catholic Youth Bible (St Mary's Press, 2000), she presents here a companion to the CYB that attempts to break open Scripture for young people.

Know It!... is a compelling thematic tour guide through the Scriptures. Seven chapters each take a major life question (Why are we here? How do we live? How long does it take? Why do we die? How do we make a comeback? What are we called to be? Who is God?) and unpack it with reference to believable youth scenarios, analysis, bible reference, factual detail, action ideas and prayer.

Know It!... gets an extra vote for taking as its platform a family-centered model of youth ministry. An extensive introduction clearly outlines how to use the book as a family or as an individual.

Does it work? Well, it isn't the easiest of tasks getting today's young Catholic into the Scripture but this approach certainly has more going for it than most. Calderone-Stewart knows the world of the young and enters easily into the experiences and reality that is often so foreign as to be inaccessible to adults. This is perhaps best expressed in her final chapter set in an Internet chat room complete with standard chat room formatting and grammar. One can only guess what the editors made of this on first draft! Yet it powerfully explores the issue exactly as our young people do in such forums today.

If your teenager is interested in these deeper questions and is open to challenge, throw them in. Even better, accept the challenge and dive in with them!

Now here's a great looking book! Bringing together 10 articles and a parish workshop, Vibrant Worship with Youth sets out to clarify the principles of solid, heartfelt and inclusive Catholic liturgy. In his Foreword, Catholic youth ministry godfather Bob McCarty, describes the book's purpose. "The 1997 publication of From Age to Age prompted ordained, pastoral, and liturgical ministers to gather together with young people to discuss its message. Out of this dialogue came insights, strategies, and a renewed commitment to creating vibrant worship that includes young people. The articles in this manual reflect the fruits of these discussions and will benefit leaders in parishes and schools in their liturgical planning and practice." But this is not just another guide to organising your next youth mass. Vibrant Worship picks up the topical issues, draws on the experience of eleven leaders in the US liturgical and youth ministry scene, and come to the conclusion that what young people seek is what we all seek - vibrancy in liturgy. Far from promoting a youth separatist model however, the authors here argue for passionate worship. In the words of liturgy guru David Haas, "it is about our young people (and all members of the Christian tribe) being freed and empowered to worship authentically and honestly." Communal participation, cultural considerations, leadership, drama, catechesis, and liturgical ministries are all covered. Stand-outs for me were Bishop Ken Utener's, Ten things to Keep in Mind When Preaching to Youth and Tom Tomaszek's, Spirited Music and Singing. Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart's, Liturgical Catechesis: A Parish Workshop Model offers a great young Catholic approach to the key principles at issue. I plan to use this one in my own diocesan work. There are solid insights here for anyone interested in revving up liturgy for the entire community's benefit but with young people foremost in mind. Just keep your American-Kiwi contextual translator switched on! If you have the budget (and you'll need one at this price), grab a copy.

"My Wish List" is a book for those of us who prefer to stick to a religious bases when reading. If you like a book with good character development and an interesting plot, this book is definatly not for you. I would say this is more of a Christian religion book that you would find in a school, rather than a modern-day masterpiece. It mostly explores the ideas expressed in the Catechism and how to lead a more filling life in the path of Christ.