About the Book

Book: King of Tennessee

Author: David Alan Shorts

Genre: YA/Teen Fiction

Release Date: July, 2020

It was an ordinary day in Tabersville, Tennessee, until nearly everyone in town disappeared. Middle-school trouble maker, Stewart Rainquest, soon turns this nightmare into a dream come true as he sets about living like a king in his small southern town. Things take a turn for the worse as members of the biker gang Stewart idolizes commit murder before his eyes. While doing his best to keep his distance from the killers, Stewart learns how to drive a car and meets Gina, a high school student battling cancer. Their friendship leads them through wild adventures, but only time will tell if Stewart will learn the truth about what happened to everyone in his town.

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About the Author

David Alan Shorts has a passion to teach kids things which matter for a lifetime, rather than just the next test or Sunday School lesson. He has written many books, short stories, and magazine articles, along with musicals, plays, and songs. His three children keep him busy and constantly evaluating life through the eyes of youth. He has taught music to thousands of kids in Northern California for more than twenty years. When he’s not doing what matters most, he enjoys flying model airplanes and working out.

More from David

My son and I had just finished watching a Mad Max movie when a conversation began about post-apocalyptic movies and what the Bible has to say. The Apocalypse is real and is described in some detail in the Bible. So, why aren’t all apocalyptic stories told from a Christian world view? That was when I began creating King of Tennessee as an attempt to give depth in today’s contemporary post-apocalyptic stories. It combines action and adventure while still keeping the life-changing message of God’s salvation in the novel.

I would like this to be the book the makes “apocalyptic” a Christian word again. This can be the book that gives some kids a second thought about God, when they might have dismissed Him as meaningless otherwise.

My Thoughts

David Alan Shorts’ “King of Tennessee” is a book that is geared toward a young adult/teenage audience. This is not my normal genre of reading - but I know that my teenager and young adult like this sort of book - so I was happy to read it. In "King of Tennesee" we meet Stewart Rainquest. He is a bit of a trouble maker. One day - most of the people in his town disappear. Think about what others that are not believers may feel when the Rapture comes - and some are left behind. That is the vibe I got from this book. Stewart at first LOVES this idea. He has noone to answer to, he has noone to listen, and noone to tell him no. As time goes on - the biker gang that he loves and looks up to - shows that he is not safe.

This book has a great message. While you may feel that you can do whatever you want, you don't want to get left behind .I feel that this is a great book for a youth group to read and discuss. The characters are well written, it has a positive biblical message and an intriguing storyline.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program. All thoughts are my own.