Also by this author: Abigail and the Big Start Over, Abigail and the Career Day Catastrophe, Abigail and the Christmas Contest: Cousins + Snow + a Big Shiny Trophy = Christmas Chaos!
Series: Abigail, #5, #5
Published by Good Book Company on May 1, 2026
Genres: Children's
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What does it look like for kids to share the gospel with their friends? Join 10-year-old Abigail as she discovers God's power to save and learns about showing Christ's love to others in word and deed.
In this relatable story, Abigail is delighted to spend her summer hanging out with elegant, imaginative, up-for-anything Maggie! But, to Abigail's disappointment, Maggie isn't allowed to come to Bible Club. In fact, it turns out that talking about Jesus is banned in Maggie's house. So how can Abigail share Jesus' love with Maggie in other ways? Alongside Abigail, readers will...
Enjoy summer experiences like building a lighthouse, competing to win ice cream and splashing in a pool
Navigate emotions common to sharing the gospel with unbelievers, like hope, frustration, fear and joy
Discover what it means that Jesus' love first shines into our hearts to save us and then shines through us to othersKids will be inspired to consider the challenges and joys of sharing faith with others, as well as to be fervent in prayer and persevering in hope as they participate in the Great Commission. This fun, exciting novel is the fifth in the Abigail series!
This cute middle-grade novel is the fifth in a series, but it also works as a standalone, since the author reintroduces all of the characters. In this story, Abigail is facing a summer filled with loneliness while her friends are away, but a surprise connection with someone she doesn’t know well leads to a new friendship. Abigail’s new friendship with Maggie is a source of fun and excitement, but it also introduces new tensions, especially after Abigail invites Maggie to her Bible Club. Maggie’s mom won’t allow her daughter to go to any kind of church event, and doesn’t allow any conversations about Jesus.
Abigail and the Summer Situation has a great message about showing Jesus’s love to people while also respecting their boundaries. Abigail’s thought processes and conversations with her parents about this feel very realistic and natural, representing common experiences for Christian kids her age. The book follows dual storylines about Abigail’s friendship with Maggie and her adventures at Bible Club, and what Abigail learns at Bible Club helps her deal with multiple challenging situations.
Author Bethany McIlrath is great at weaving Christian teaching and life lessons into these stories without making them feel preachy, and kids will enjoy reading about the fun activities and games at Bible Club. On the publisher’s website, parents and church workers can download an activity pack to recreate some of these experiences for kids.
Abigail and the Summer Situation is a fun, fast-paced story that will appeal to middle-grade girls. The relatable life experiences, humorous moments, and cute illustrations from Katie Saunders are ideal for the target audience. This chapter book makes a great family read-aloud or book club choice, and there are discussion questions in the back. I recommend this book and the whole Abigail series to Christian families looking for faith-based novels that authentically represent a young girl’s experience following Jesus.