Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen

In Between Two Brothers, a boy struggles for forgiveness and reconciliation after his older brother is seriously injured in a traffic accident.

Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen. Balzer and Bray, 2024, 335 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-15

Isaiah (“Ice”) Abernathy is one lucky sibling. Not only does he admire his high-achieving big brother Seth, but Seth actually seems to like his li’l bro—the two have always been best friends. Things are changing at the start of Seth’s senior year, though. He has a track scholarship to Texas A&M and college prep is taking up most of his attention. The first real blow for Ice is that his brother has been accepted for early enrollment and will be moving out in January! The second is Seth reneging on a promise to participate in a sibling event that has special significance for Ice.

Ice blows up, leading to their first real fight. Words are said, followed soon by regret. But before he can apologize, Ice receives terrible news: while driving to school the following day, Seth’s truck was hit by a speeding semi. He’s in ICU with a serious brain injury. The unsaid apology and ungranted forgiveness weigh on Ice during vigils by his brother’s bedside, and when neurological tests indicate that Seth is severely damaged, guilt intensifies.

The Abernathy family are faithful church attenders, and prayer is a recurring theme of their story. Though determination sometimes falters, both with Ice and with his parents, faith helps them persevere. “We’re not taking [the doctors’] message of hopelessness back into Seth’s room,” Mom declares. “The air he breathes needs to be full of faith, healing, and love.” The enormity of the challenge before them is clearly portrayed, as is the tedious and often distasteful day-by-day care of an unresponsive patient. Their hard-won triumph in the end will make readers cheer.

The object of their faith and prayer isn’t always clear, however. Ice privately refers to God as the wish-granter, and his parents don’t try to expand on that understanding when they hear it. Wish-granting is not a godly attribute nor an explanation of how prayer works—it’s more a form of positive thinking. That’s a disappointing aspect of this story, which is otherwise affirming and even inspiring at times. (Also, note two instances when God’s name appears to be used carelessly.)

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.75
• Artistic/literary value: 4.25

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: We like Crystal Allen’s Magnificent Mya Tibbs series of chapter books.
• Review: Back to the Bright Before features another protagonist with a burden of guilt after a family injury, this one with a more mystical angle.

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