God’s Crime Scene for Kids by J. Warner Wallace and Susie Wallace

The Police Junior Cadet Academy is back for another adventure and a new case to solve. Continuing from the previous book in this series, Cold Case Christianity for Kids, Detective Jeffries and the junior cadets are back to investigate a mystery shoe box left behind in Jason’s attic by his grandfather who recently passed away. While Detective Jeffries walks the kids through evidence collection, examination, and interpretation, they also discover possible explanations for the origins of the Universe. The students are encouraged to think rationally through all their hypothesis, testing each one from a scientific standpoint, and to not jump to any conclusions about the mystery shoebox or the beginning of life until they have examined all possibilities.

Though the investigation is challenging at times, the cadets not only solve the clues of the shoebox, but they also discover there is reasonable and sufficient evidence to make a case for the existence of God.

Reading Level: Ages 8-11
Read Aloud Age: 8+

J. Warner Wallace has taken another of his books for adult readers and made it accessible to kids and parents alike. This book may be small, but it packs in a lot of scientific facts, scripture, apologetics, and includes free online resources as well. I highly recommend using the online videos and worksheets to further encourage the terms covered in the book and to make sure the reader is understanding the content being covered in each chapter.

The story follows Jason, who is living with his grandmother. His parents have died and his grandfather has passed away from cancer. Because his grandfather suffered at the end of his life, Jason’s grandmother stopped believing in God. Jason discovers the shoe box was left behind with a bible and clues so that Jason would investigate the existence of God for himself. Although Jason believes that there is evidence of a creator of the universe, he struggles to understand why God allows suffering. The book explains that God may allow evil for a time to produce good character and salvation. Ultimately, Jason understands that everything good comes from God and that he has not always made the best choices himself. He realizes at the end of the book that God exists and that Jesus took the punishment of his sin, and the sin of the world, so that those who believe in Him can have eternal life.

While this book is a continuation in a series, it’s not necessary to have read any of the other books prior to this one. Each vocabulary term is explained as they are introduced in each chapter. I think kids will enjoy being a part of the investigation as a fellow cadet as they compile a case for belief in God through scientific evidence, scripture, the gospel, and apologetics.

Although the reading level is suggested for a reader as young as 8, I would recommend it for an advanced younger reader or older pre-teen since the book covers more complex topics such as scientific theories, suffering, grief, loss, and theology that includes moral law, and the sovereignty of God.

Questionable Behavior:

One of the characters suggests they dig up the grandmother’s garden and that it is “better to ask for forgiveness than permission”. The other kids disagree with her, and they do not dig up the garden.

The kids are brought to a morgue to meet with a coroner. There are descriptions of surgical tools such as scalpels and other cutting instruments. The purpose of an autopsy after death is discussed, and the children observe a human brain preserved in a jar. Nothing graphic is mentioned.

Other Things to Know:

At the end of the book Jason has changed his mind and decides to believe that God exists. While I think the point being made is that there is a reasonable belief for the existence of God, it is important to clarify for the reader that God does not begin to exist because one chooses to believe, but rather He exists (and has always existed) regardless if someone believes in Him or not.

One of the cadets mentions that “it is easier to walk on water than to create the entire universe!”. There is no scriptural evidence to support the idea of one miracle being more or less difficult than another for God or Jesus.

This review is written by Good Book Mom contributor, Melissa Grimes. To learn more about Melissa, click HERE.

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