Abigail and the Big Start Over

Laura Wifler

Bethany has created a delightful series that helps young readers connect their faith with their everyday life. Abigail’s adventures are fun and relatable, delivering valuable lessons for all kids and making this series a great one to add to your bookshelf.

Caroline Saunders

While plenty of books for kids this age have ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys,’ Bethany McIlrath has crafted real-world characters in real-life settings who exhibit both vice and virtue and desperately need God’s grace for a fresh start. Honestly, that was my favorite trait of this book—how all the characters demonstrate their need for grace, from Abigail to her new friend Flora, to their irritating classmate Greg, to Abigail’s mom. This engaging book will help kids honor others, seek to understand others, extend grace to others, and grow in grace themselves.

“A fun new book in the series!”

Read-aloud with 5yo girl.

Readers who have enjoyed the first few books in the Abigail series from @thegoodbook will enjoy rejoining their literary friend in her newest adventure! Known for being imaginative & creative, Abigail is a lovable young girl navigating the various challenges of growing up. Whether she’s figuring out what it means to be a good friend, or what it truly means that Jesus is THE BEST friend of all, Abigail's journey to the truth is full of relatable experiences and applicable lessons for readers.

In this third book of the series, Abigail learns that we human are made for relationships but sin affects our friendships. In studying John 15 alongside her parents and trusted mentors, Abigail learns that the Gospel of God’s love and Jesus’ perfection brings restoration and freedom to our relationships - both with our Heavenly Father and earthly friendships.

Something I especially love about the series is the emphasis on Scripture and discipleship. I also love that simply & profound truths are communicated in story form that allow young readers to really connect.
Thank you to The Good Book Company for the complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

“Friendship and belonging!”

This early chapter book follows Abigail as she struggles with feeling left out. With a relatable story and biblical encouragement, it helps young readers navigate friendship challenges while pointing them to Jesus as their true source of belonging.

“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.

“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.

“Wonderful for middle elementary readers!”

My daughter, also named Abigail and also age 9, loved this book! Abigail is relatable and real. The story shows typical thoughts and struggles for a 9 year old Christian girl. It’s Christian without being too corny or over the top preachy. It also is very realistic with the situations that Abagail encounters. Funny and entertaining without the drama or inappropriate topics that many middle elementary school series seem to have these days. As a mom, I appreciate clean reading for my kids, but the addition of grace and the gospel is all the more better! It’s wonderful that an entire chapter is devoted to showing how Abigail finally understands the gospel and applying grace. The author naturally built upon it throughout the book so it wasn’t out of place or just an afterthought to tack Jesus onto the end of book. This is so well done and we look forward to the others in the series!

“My 8 Year Old's Favorite Book!”

I received Abigail and the Big Start Over compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.

Abigail and the Big Start Over is the debut title by author Bethany McIlrath and the first book in the Abigail series. The book introduces readers to a young girl named Abigail who recently moved to a new city and school. This season for Abigail's family is called the Big Start Over. Abigail is eager to make friends and longs for stability amidst all the changes.

It took me a while to get around to reading my copy of the book because my eight year old daughter immediately grabbed it upon its arrival and read it in three days. She then thanked me for her favorite book. When I finally had the chance to read Abigail and the Big Start Over, I could see why it was her favorite! The book includes lovely illustrations that are appealing to young girls. It also includes characters and situations that are relatable.

The book does a wonderful job of simply presenting the gospel message and concludes with a sweet message from the author reminding readers of God's unending grace. A neat addition to the book is its book club discussion questions making this a fun read for young girls and their friends.

If you know of a young girl looking to read a sweet, wholesome, Christ centered story, I highly recommend Abigail and the Big Start Over.