I'm typically not interested in reading works of fiction featuring religious content, just like I'm not interested in reading books featuring sports or science fiction.
A member of the Vintage Teen Books group posted about the Christian books by John Benton last spring. I paid no attention to the post at that time. The books looked like the typical vintage teen books of the 1970s and 1980s with nothing extraordinary about them.
A member of the Vintage Teen Books group posted about the Christian books by John Benton last spring. I paid no attention to the post at that time. The books looked like the typical vintage teen books of the 1970s and 1980s with nothing extraordinary about them.
Later, a member complained about the post, saying that it shouldn't have been approved (read the full story here). This member felt that the books were inappropriate in light of then-current events (the overturning of Roe v. Wade). They mentioned that the books have pimps in them and that we don't know how badly the girls are treated in the books. Since we don't know how the girls are treated, we shouldn't allow them to be posted in the group.
I checked into the books. I learned that the books were from The Living Hope Library Series and were written by Reverend John Benton. Benton was the director of the Walter Hoving Home in Upstate New York. The Walter Hoving Home took in girls who had slipped into lives of crime, including prostitution and drug abuse. Each girl lived at the home for one year, and during that time, accepted Christ into her heart and through Christ was able to overcome her problems.
I didn't see a problem with having the books in the group, and I allowed the post to stay. The books featured teenagers and were published in the 1970s and 1980s. Why would there be a problem? The complaint about the books did make me curious. If I am told that a set of books is inappropriate and apparently controversial, then I'm going to see why for myself. I purchased four of the books to try.
I finally read one of the books, Denise, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I started another book, Debbie, and could see that I was going to enjoy it as well. I then compiled a list of titles and systematically went down the list, finding the cheapest copy of each book online.
Once I had the books on hand, I tried to put them in order, not succeeding until I paid attention to the list of titles in the front of each book. It didn't occur to me to check for a list. Duh. I know better than to ignore the presence of a list. Now I have the books in order.
Most copies of Carmen are in softcover with a copyright date of 1983, but the book was originally published in hardcover in 1970.
This is the list of titles in order of publication.
Carmen, 1970 Teenage Runaway, 1976
Crazy Mary, 1977
Cindy, 1978 Patti, 1978
Suzie, 1979
Marji, 1980
Lori, 1980
Sherri, 1980
Marji and the Kidnap Plot, 1980
Julie, 1981
Debbie, 1981
I checked into the books. I learned that the books were from The Living Hope Library Series and were written by Reverend John Benton. Benton was the director of the Walter Hoving Home in Upstate New York. The Walter Hoving Home took in girls who had slipped into lives of crime, including prostitution and drug abuse. Each girl lived at the home for one year, and during that time, accepted Christ into her heart and through Christ was able to overcome her problems.
I didn't see a problem with having the books in the group, and I allowed the post to stay. The books featured teenagers and were published in the 1970s and 1980s. Why would there be a problem? The complaint about the books did make me curious. If I am told that a set of books is inappropriate and apparently controversial, then I'm going to see why for myself. I purchased four of the books to try.
I finally read one of the books, Denise, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I started another book, Debbie, and could see that I was going to enjoy it as well. I then compiled a list of titles and systematically went down the list, finding the cheapest copy of each book online.
Once I had the books on hand, I tried to put them in order, not succeeding until I paid attention to the list of titles in the front of each book. It didn't occur to me to check for a list. Duh. I know better than to ignore the presence of a list. Now I have the books in order.
Most copies of Carmen are in softcover with a copyright date of 1983, but the book was originally published in hardcover in 1970.
This is the list of titles in order of publication.
Carmen, 1970 Teenage Runaway, 1976
Crazy Mary, 1977
Cindy, 1978 Patti, 1978
Suzie, 1979
Marji, 1980
Lori, 1980
Sherri, 1980
Marji and the Kidnap Plot, 1980
Julie, 1981
Debbie, 1981
Lefty, 1981
Vicki, 1981
Jackie, 1981
Marji and the Gangland Wars, 1981
Terri, 1981
Nikki, 1981
Marji and the Gangland Wars, 1981
Terri, 1981
Nikki, 1981
Connie, 1982
Valarie, 1982
Sheila, 1982
Denise, 1983
Stephanie, 1983
Candi, 1983 Sandi, 1984
I've learned from reviews that I've read online that many young Christians read these books for what they called the "salacious details." These books contain no description of anything sexual. However, readers can fill in the details themselves, and one reviewer said that they did exactly that when they read the books.
These books each feature a young person who gets caught in an endless cycle of drugs and prostitution. The teen hits rock bottom multiple times. Finally, the teen learns about Teen Challenge or meets Reverend John Benton and Mrs. Benton and is introduced to Christ. The books are quite meta since John Benton wrote himself into the books. Sometimes some of the Living Hope books make appearances in the books. Carmen and Cindy are mentioned often with the characters commenting about how good the books are.
The books are extremely over-the-top, often with nonstop crazy events. The protagonist can be expected to make the very worst decision in all situations with their life going from bad to worse to even worse.
If you are like me and enjoy the crazy content of books like Sweet Valley High, then you will find that these books are like SVH on steroids.
I will be publishing reviews. In each review, I will give a content warning so that you will be forewarned about events that could be triggering depending upon your life experiences.
I hope that I will make it through the entire set and will follow through with a review of each book. My stamina for reading and following through with reviews has been poor for the last three years, but perhaps I can do it this time. I already tried to read through the books last summer and got sidetracked. Perhaps I can succeed on this second attempt. I have thus far made it through one-third of the books, so there is hope.
Augie, 1984
Kari, 1984
Tracy, 1984
Paco, 1985
Kristi, 1985
Lorene, 1985
Rocky, 1985
Renee, 1986
Lisa, 1986
These are not all of the Christian books written by John Benton. They are the ones that I feel embody the spirit of the vintage teen genre of the 1970s and 1980s.
I've learned from reviews that I've read online that many young Christians read these books for what they called the "salacious details." These books contain no description of anything sexual. However, readers can fill in the details themselves, and one reviewer said that they did exactly that when they read the books.
These books each feature a young person who gets caught in an endless cycle of drugs and prostitution. The teen hits rock bottom multiple times. Finally, the teen learns about Teen Challenge or meets Reverend John Benton and Mrs. Benton and is introduced to Christ. The books are quite meta since John Benton wrote himself into the books. Sometimes some of the Living Hope books make appearances in the books. Carmen and Cindy are mentioned often with the characters commenting about how good the books are.
The books are extremely over-the-top, often with nonstop crazy events. The protagonist can be expected to make the very worst decision in all situations with their life going from bad to worse to even worse.
If you are like me and enjoy the crazy content of books like Sweet Valley High, then you will find that these books are like SVH on steroids.
I will be publishing reviews. In each review, I will give a content warning so that you will be forewarned about events that could be triggering depending upon your life experiences.
I hope that I will make it through the entire set and will follow through with a review of each book. My stamina for reading and following through with reviews has been poor for the last three years, but perhaps I can do it this time. I already tried to read through the books last summer and got sidetracked. Perhaps I can succeed on this second attempt. I have thus far made it through one-third of the books, so there is hope.
2 comments:
I've been collecting all the books, I only need 3! Rocky, Kari & margi gangland wars.
Anyways I love these books. They give a satisfaction & encouragement to want to help others through there struggles.
I read my first book by john benton in While incarcerated, it was Denise. I loved it. & I've kept reading. As someone who has gone through drug addiction & is now in recovery these books are very comforting & motivational to me. I want to make a difference through Christ.
Thank you for telling your story. These books have helped many people over the years.
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