I stink at this...
Prose: 1
Dekker did a great job on Black, Red, and White. There were a few spots here and there that could have been better, but throughout the three books the problems were minimal.
Character: 2
The main character changes from the 25-year-old who has resorted to borrowing from a loan shark and has to run for his life, to the person in the other world who leads the Forest People against the Horde and teaches them about Elyon’s love. The other characters do not seem flat either, but play a role in the story.
Theme: 1
This was actually my second time reading this story, but I found myself seeing past the allegory and seeing how much God loves us. Thomas’s time in the forest is a very good reminder of God’s love, and the price He paid for us.
I only gave the theme a 1, however, because the other half of the story was a bit vague. It’s not that it wasn’t well done, it’s just that it’s harder to see what that part of the story may be trying to teach. Or maybe the main point is the one I already pointed out.
Plot: 2
These three books are about two different worlds, and by extension almost two different stories. But, the stories are weaved together nicely, and you can see how the main character plays a part in both worlds, and feels the need to do what he’s called to do in both realities. Each reality relies on the other, and I think that was dealt with well.
Content: 2
Although the Great Romance (Elyon’s love for the Forest People, and their love for each other which reflects that) is emphasized in the forest, I don’t think it went overboard. You get the idea without it being overly graphic (unless you have a problem with kissing).
Setting: 2
I was never confused as to which world Thomas was currently in. The “Histories” is our world, and the other reality that Thomas discovers was entirely different. Not only was the geography different, but the forces of good and evil were visible (such as how the disease the Horde is covered in represents sin).
The setting also helps with Thomas’s growth. In our world, he has to find a way to stop a virus that could wipe out the earth’s population. In the other world, he learns how to lead the Forest People (and because of differences in time flow, he ages several years in that world, while in our world only a few months have passed). Both contribute to his new maturity at the end.
Total: 10
Really dark, huh?
