Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe

Caroline Saunders

Bethany McIlrath truly understands how to construct an easy-to-connect-with narrative around a gospel-rich passage! Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe is a charming, relatable, and engaging story. Fourth-grade Abigail works hard to be good, experiences crushing disappointment when her efforts fall flat, and delights in the good news of Jesus. Kids who read about Abigail will be entertained, feel understood, and, most spectacularly, come away better equipped to press God’s good news into their everyday lives.

Amanda Cleary Eastep

The second in a new series by Bethany McIlrath, Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe finds Abigail navigating a big career day project at school. As she dreams about what she might be when she grows up, she comes to understand that a person’s job isn’t to be perfect, because that is a job only Jesus can do! Readers will learn, along with Abigail, that God gives good gifts to each of us to do good works—but that the greatest gift is his saving grace.

“Daughter loves it!”

We were so excited for this addition to the Abigail series! We had the privilege to read Abigail and the Big Start Over. My daughter and I loved that one and knew we would enjoy this one as well.

The series centers around 9-year-old Abigail, who is a normal young lady discovering and learning about the world and others and life. You'll walk alongside Abigail as she navigates some difficult situations and circumstances. These are all relatable and genuinely common situations that most kids will encounter at some point. But Abigail remembers that Jesus is our help and our strength. She uses this to help move forward in her heart and thinking.

The book is structured with twenty-one chapters, a note from the author, and a book-club questions section. McIlrath admits in her note that she was just like Abigail - feeling left out, alone, and like an odd-ball. It's always comforting to know you are not alone in those feelings but even more so knowing that Jesus understands, is always with us, and desires to be our friend and Savior.

I appreciate this fiction series for older elementary kids to learn how to implement their faith in real-world situations.

I received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.

“Lovely Read!”

This series of books is a delightful way of engaging children with reading fiction, while also teaching them some fantastic truths about what God is like. This specific book is very sweet, showing us that even when we feel like we don't really fit in with our friends, or don't have the talents and gifts that we might want, that doesn't mean that we aren't loved or valuable. We have Jesus, the one who will never leave us or abandon us. He is the one who loves us as we are, and enables us to be the best that we can be! This is a great book for your 6-11 year old if you want them to grow in both reading skill and love for Jesus.

“Chapter Book with Truth”

My daughter has come home from the school library with books I'm not thrilled for her to read and some I've had to say no to. I love that I have these books to put in her hands. Books that chapter books and talk about relatable things for her age but from a biblical worldview. She is learning how to be a good friend and how to deal with challenging circumstances with truth of God's love and promises for her. She won't get that from school. She's an avid reader and goes through books quick so I'm hoping The Good Book Company continues to put out books like these that I feel good about my daughter reading!

“Big truths for all ages”

Review from my daughter, age 10:
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. Abigail’s school is having a career day. Everybody dresses up and presents a poster. They also give a speech. Abigail meets a very heroic police officer. He gives her a whistle and junior officer badge. Starting now, Abigail silently promises God “I’m going to be extra good.” (Can she manage it?!) She finds out that when she was trying to be extra good, she was trying to earn God’s grace. But you can’t earn it, it’s a free gift. And then her mom taught her that by asking God’s forgiveness He gives her enough grace to spill out to other people. She learns when she tries to be extra good she’s trying not to need God’s grace.

Thoughts from mom:
The truths taught in this book are lessons for all ages- probably as good of reminders for moms as their daughters! I’m thankful for a series that is not only an enjoyable read but teaching such important truths.

I provided this review in exchange for a free copy of the book.

“A new favorite!”

I loved how much my girls loved this! We read this as our Morning Time read-aloud and my girls always looked forward to reading it and often requested, “One more chapter! One more chapter! One more chapter!”.

I also enjoyed how the gospel and other Biblical truths were presented in a clear, simple, fun, and relatable way; and that there is a website that offers free downloads, worksheets from the book, and games to further engage children.

Though written for children ages 7+, my youngest, who is 4 (5 in March), was able to follow along with the story and participate in the thoughtful discussions that often came up as we read or finished a chapter. Therefore, I do believe slightly younger children would enjoy this story, the characters, and the valuable lessons and truths that are presented throughout, especially children who have already been introduced to or are accustomed to wholesome stories that are designed for middle elementary readers. With that said, I do recommend prereading or reading ahead to ensure this is appropriate for children in your family who are younger than 7.

And with book club questions at the end of the book, this would also be great for a girls’ book club or homeschool group.

This was our first book in the Abigail series, and it will not be our last. We will go back and read the first book in the series, “Abigail and the Big Start Over,” and look forward to reading book three, “Abigail Gets Left Out,” which releases in March 2025.

(Though this is book two in the series, you can read it as a standalone.)

Thank you, The Good Book Company, for my copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“New favorite series for our daughter!”

This series has quickly become a favorite in our house. Our 9 old Abby loves them. It’s fun that the character is the same age and has the same name as her, but even more importantly, the books hold to a Biblical worldview and approach situations with the same values and standards we do in our own home. Being a Christian doesn’t make everything in life easy and happy and this story helps kids to understand that. Abigail is relatable with her situations and emotions and I can’t love it more that her parents point her to Jesus through it all. The emphasis on grace and good works is important for us at any age and I think the book did a great job illustrating this is a way that is relatable and understandable for children. This book is funny without being vulgar or inappropriate like so many other children’s books are for middle elementary readers. Mention of prayer, Jesus, and other Biblical principles come up often and naturally throughout the book which helps to reinforce what we do within our own family. Having books that my children enjoy and can relate to while not having to be concerned about its contents is such a relief to me. Many popular series like Junie B or Diary of a Wimpy Kid haven’t been allowed in our home so I’m excited to see this series coming out with more. It’s filling a gap in children’s books for sure!

“best for kids”

looks like one I would buy for my grands

“Sweet Book that Teaches a Reliance on God”

This series is a lovely addition to the Good Book Company’s catalogue, telling a very sweet story and gently sharing the gospel too. There are regular comic book-style illustrations, plus some discussion questions too that you could use if reading it as a family or a church group. The story is paced well, and really easy to read for an older child. A great gift!

“A girly series even parents would love!”

I am so happy to have come across this series! It holds similarities in style and characters to series like Beverly Clearly’s “Ramona”, but with wholesome and biblical teaching as its foundation.

Abby is an elementary-aged girl who is struggling with things will be relatable to young girl readers: being good enough, being liked, getting it right, being perfect for God.
But the way the book portrays her learning and growing is unique and what I want modeled to my own girls - it’s through everyday discipleship conversations with her mom, dad, and grandpa as they look at what scripture teaches.
Instead of the popular societal message to girls (“You’re perfect just as you are! You’re amazing!”), Abby learns the truth of her failings. But she doesn’t stop there. She goes on to discover that she isn’t perfect, but that Christ is. And He offers His righteousness as a free gift that spills out of us when we accept it and allow Him to live in us.

I read this aloud to my young daughter and it was a joy to learn alongside Abigail. As a parent, I appreciate the multiple opportunities for discipleship conversations that sprang from our time reading the book. My daughter instantly connected to Abby and kept asking me to “read another chapter”!
I highly recommend this series if you have girls aged 6-11.

Thank you to The Good BookClub Co for the complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.