I was pleasantly surprised at the strength of character this and the whole series brought out. Paul Hutchens books captured my 10 year olds imagination. While these aren't huge novels, they are just the right size for a 10 year old's attention span and the central theme never gets lost. This is a great reinforcement for any parent trying to present the correct values in todays world.

As the first in the Sugar Greek Gang series, The Battle of the Bees sets a standard that the author never broke throughout the whole series. That standard is, in a nutshell, to: Give teens something that is wholesome, and good for Christian reading (as well as non-Christian readiing!).

These books not only include a great set of characters, but also good moral standards that would impress anybody.

This particular book is set in the mid-west of the USA in a little town called Sugar Greek (so named for the greek that flowed peacfully through it).

As the book opens, and the plot begins, you will notice that it doesn't sound like anything you ever read before; something most books after this genre fall short in. There is very little repetivness in the book, and the story plot flows smoothly along at a pace that isn't to fast. However it is not so slow that you get bored with the book.

Bill Collins (who the book is about) "tells" you the story, in that it sounds like like he is talkign to you, rather then you reading about him. This gives the reader a differant perspective on the story, and makes things very clear.

One thing that I personally really liked about the book was the fact that, unlike alot of Christian Teen novels, this perticular one had very little girl/boy relationship material in it. However, while it doesn't have that, it has a very exciting plot, plenty of action and adventure, and great kids. The author made every one in the Sugar Greek Gang a hero, and even the reader begins to feel that he or she may have been a hero along with them!

The only thing that I have against the book is the fact that it is to short. There really should be more. At least there is quite a long series here! I strongly recommend getting all of them! You will not be dissapointed in the least!

-Dan Van Nattan
Aka: Danazer

I am a mom to 5 boys and our family has been hooked on the adventures of the Sugar Creek Gang for a few years now! We originally discovered the stories through an awesome set of cassette tapes. The books were dramatized for an radio series by Paul Ramseyer of Northwestern College Radio in Minnesota and our family is now a part of the ministry, helping to produce the audio series for families to enjoy at home! Do you want your children to learn gentle lessons of courage, faith & friendship on THEIR level? Do you want to see real growth in their character? The stories are fun adventures with the truth of God's plans woven skillfully throughout. See the world through the eyes of Bill Collins, a freckle-faced, firey-tempered red head. You'll enjoy Bill's antics and the barefoot fun of all the boys in the "gang"! (As a side note, I do recommend the books be read in order. They tell an ongoing story from beginning to end.) From the back of the tapes: "Step back in time... to one-room schoolhouses, hot summer days of fishing, fun and barefoot boys. Sugar Creek Gang stories engage the imagination and draw a child's heart into a living relationship with God! Hymns, scripture verses, nature lore, poetry; sensitivity toward the disabled, the oppressed... and the courage and confidence to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ." --- Just the right recipe for training up a child!

I was pleasantly surprised at the strength of character this and the whole series brought out. Paul Hutchens books captured my 10 year olds imagination. While these aren't huge novels, they are just the right size for a 10 year old's attention span and the central theme never gets lost. This is a great reinforcement for any parent trying to present the correct values in todays world.

This was a great book and everything! I bet everybody would like this book. I loved every single part in it. This book had alot of funny parts in it and some parts are mystrious & mischeivess. I would recommend this book to anyone.

When roudy, squirmy boys beg for more, you know you have a hit in your hands! Not only did the story carry them - and me - along, the lessons taught can carry them through life! In a very natural fashion, Hutchens introduces themes such as the joy of hard work, manners, cleanliness, the foolishness of drunkenness, caring for others, Bible reading and prayer.

This book could be used as a Sunday School class discussion - a week per chapter. Its strength is that though filled with nuggests of sound Christian wisdom and advice, it is not preachy or devoid of story line. We enjoyed this breif tome so much, we are looking forward to starting another Sugar Creek Gang book tomorrow. This fun read is worth the time and generated some healthy discussion. It is definitely boy friendly! (Note: I caught my 11 year old daugther listening in as well.)

This was our first Sugar Creek Gang book to read. We are definitely going to check out the rest. Mysterious and adventurous enough to hold young boys and girls' attention, but wholesome in nature. Family oriented and Christian themes promoted. Written in a more innocent time. Wish we had those days back, again.......

I am a mom to 5 boys and our family has been hooked on the adventures of the Sugar Creek Gang for a few years now! We originally discovered the stories through an awesome set of cassette tapes. The books were dramatized for an radio series by Paul Ramseyer of Northwestern College Radio in Minnesota and our family is now a part of the ministry, helping to produce the audio series for families to enjoy at home! Do you want your children to learn gentle lessons of courage, faith & friendship on THEIR level? Do you want to see real growth in their character? The stories are fun adventures with the truth of God's plans woven skillfully throughout. See the world through the eyes of Bill Collins, a freckle-faced, firey-tempered red head. You'll enjoy Bill's antics and the barefoot fun of all the boys in the "gang"! (As a side note, I do recommend the books be read in order. They tell an ongoing story from beginning to end.) From the back of the tapes: "Step back in time... to one-room schoolhouses, hot summer days of fishing, fun and barefoot boys. Sugar Creek Gang stories engage the imagination and draw a child's heart into a living relationship with God! Hymns, scripture verses, nature lore, poetry; sensitivity toward the disabled, the oppressed... and the courage and confidence to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ." --- Just the right recipe for training up a child!

I am a mom to 5 boys and our family has been hooked on the adventures of the Sugar Creek Gang for a few years now! We originally discovered the stories through an awesome set of cassette tapes. The books were dramatized for an radio series by Paul Ramseyer of Northwestern College Radio in Minnesota and our family is now a part of the ministry, helping to produce the audio series for families to enjoy at home! Do you want your children to learn gentle lessons of courage, faith & friendship on THEIR level? Do you want to see real growth in their character? The stories are fun adventures with the truth of God's plans woven skillfully throughout. See the world through the eyes of Bill Collins, a freckle-faced, firey-tempered red head. You'll enjoy Bill's antics and the barefoot fun of all the boys in the "gang"! (As a side note, I do recommend the books be read in order. They tell an ongoing story from beginning to end.) From the back of the tapes: "Step back in time... to one-room schoolhouses, hot summer days of fishing, fun and barefoot boys. Sugar Creek Gang stories engage the imagination and draw a child's heart into a living relationship with God! Hymns, scripture verses, nature lore, poetry; sensitivity toward the disabled, the oppressed... and the courage and confidence to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ." --- Just the right recipe for training up a child!

I am a mom to 5 boys and our family has been hooked on the adventures of the Sugar Creek Gang for a few years now! We originally discovered the stories through an awesome set of cassette tapes. The books were dramatized for an radio series by Paul Ramseyer of Northwestern College Radio in Minnesota and our family is now a part of the ministry, helping to produce the audio series for families to enjoy at home! Do you want your children to learn gentle lessons of courage, faith & friendship on THEIR level? Do you want to see real growth in their character? The stories are fun adventures with the truth of God's plans woven skillfully throughout. See the world through the eyes of Bill Collins, a freckle-faced, firey-tempered red head. You'll enjoy Bill's antics and the barefoot fun of all the boys in the "gang"! (As a side note, I do recommend the books be read in order. They tell an ongoing story from beginning to end.) From the back of the tapes: "Step back in time... to one-room schoolhouses, hot summer days of fishing, fun and barefoot boys. Sugar Creek Gang stories engage the imagination and draw a child's heart into a living relationship with God! Hymns, scripture verses, nature lore, poetry; sensitivity toward the disabled, the oppressed... and the courage and confidence to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ." --- Just the right recipe for training up a child!

I am a mom to 5 boys and our family has been hooked on the adventures of the Sugar Creek Gang for a few years now! We originally discovered the stories through an awesome set of cassette tapes. The books were dramatized for an radio series by Paul Ramseyer of Northwestern College Radio in Minnesota and our family is now a part of the ministry, helping to produce the audio series for families to enjoy at home! Do you want your children to learn gentle lessons of courage, faith & friendship on THEIR level? Do you want to see real growth in their character? The stories are fun adventures with the truth of God's plans woven skillfully throughout. See the world through the eyes of Bill Collins, a freckle-faced, firey-tempered red head. You'll enjoy Bill's antics and the barefoot fun of all the boys in the "gang"! (As a side note, I do recommend the books be read in order. They tell an ongoing story from beginning to end.) From the back of the tapes: "Step back in time... to one-room schoolhouses, hot summer days of fishing, fun and barefoot boys. Sugar Creek Gang stories engage the imagination and draw a child's heart into a living relationship with God! Hymns, scripture verses, nature lore, poetry; sensitivity toward the disabled, the oppressed... and the courage and confidence to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ." --- Just the right recipe for training up a child!

This book is a great one to start off bed time reading with your kids. I have never seen a 7 year old sit still that long. It is the first time he was ever excited about going to bed. We just finished it and I am ordering the next in the series. It is a must read for anyone who wants to find a way to spend more time with their kids or wants to incourage them to read.