Abigail Gets Left Out

Bob Hartman

In the Abigail books, Bethany McIlrath demonstrates how a family’s commitment to their shared faith can help a nine-year-old girl navigate the everyday problems that children face. Each book not only tells a clever, funny story about Abigail but also successfully unpacks the biblical truths that Abigail discovers along the way.

“A Sweet Story of Friendship, Self Worth and Fitting In”

As a mama to a little girl, I love finding great books that encourage my daughter while providing moral lessons and helping to deepen her faith! The Abigail series does just that.

In this newest release, 9 year old Abigail feels embarrassed, inadequate and left out when her school friends decide to put on a musical, but she doesn’t sing and she can’t dance so she’s not sure how she fits into the production. Her feelings intensify when she’s teased by a boy in her class, so her mom points her to Scripture. With the help of a Sunday School lesson and family, Abigail discovers what God’s word says about her, about friendship and helping others. Through her own act of kindness, she learns a valuable lesson about fitting in, being a friend and she learns that she’s never truly alone because she loves and knows Jesus.

I find this to be a sweet, gentle story about self worth, friendship and purpose. I loved that Abigail explored the Scripture as a result of her dilemma and prayed about it, too. We all just want to be included sometimes and this book does a great job of covering that topic with from a Christian perspective, pointing little hearts and minds toward Jesus!

The story was fun and entertaining as well as clever. It was easy to read for late elementary readers. Even my 7 year old enjoyed the story and the cute illustrations. We also had a few laughs as we read it together! This is a definite recommendation for the little girl in your life.

* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

“A Heartwarming Story of Friendship, Faith, and Finding Your Worth”

Abigail Gets Left Out is a beautiful and heartwarming story that captures the emotions of feeling left out while pointing kids to the incredible truth of God’s love. Bethany McIlrath weaves an engaging, relatable narrative that not only resonates with children but also gently teaches the power of friendship, self-worth, and the difference Jesus makes in our lives.

As a homeschooling mom, I’m always looking for books that spark meaningful conversations, and this one does just that. The way Abigail discovers her worth through Scripture—realizing that Jesus made her wonderfully and loves her perfectly—is such an encouraging message for kids navigating friendships and self-doubt.

I know my own 7-year-old Abigail will love having another book in this series! It’s so special to have stories that not only entertain but also help our children see themselves through God’s eyes. This is a must-read for families looking for faith-filled, character-building stories their kids will cherish!

“Teaches kids how to be a friend like Jesus!”

God designed us for relationships, but “having good relationships was hard.” In the third book in the Abigail series, Abigail will discover that Jesus notices her even when her friends don’t, and He’ll help her be a good friend even to those who have hurt her.

This series is unique in the way it incorporates Christian values into the normal, everyday life, of the very relatable Abigail. In this book, we find Abigail struggling to fit in when her friends decide to put on a musical number. Abigail can’t sing and can’t dance, so she finds herself on the outside.

Using Psalm 139, Abigail’s mom helps her to see that God made her on purpose and wonderfully, which makes her pretty special. And He didn’t give everyone the gift of performing, but there is still a way she can be a good friend and help; after all, Jesus is the best friend and the best helper anyone could have.

This is such a wonderful read-aloud for ages 6+ as kids will discover what it means to be a good, loving friend. This book uses Scripture (particularly John 15) to teach Abigail about love, friendship, being a helper, and that everyone has God-given talents and a purpose. It teaches the gospel and about the trinity in a way that will be understandable to the youngest of readers.

*I was provided with a copy of this wonderful, entertaining, and edifying story in exchange for my honest review.*

“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.