Ava's Battle — Trudy J. Peck

Ava Pemberton, a high school senior, is doing homework in her bedroom one day when a storm outside sends a flash of purple lightning through her window, energizing a crystal sitting on her desk. The miracle of the crystal allows Ava to connect online with an unnamed prophet in ancient times. She calls him Vineman. Over the course of the next few weeks, Ava helps Vineman heal from a life threatening injury as he adjusts to living in a cave in hiding from his people. He helps her see new perspectives concerning issues that threaten Ava's peace. These include tension between her and her mother concerning family values, an excess of parental control in her life, and a best friend who comes out as lesbian and ostracizes Ava afterwards. As Ava is struggling with these issues, she turns to new friends and experiments with dishonesty and drinking. We also learn about her secret love interest. Meanwhile, Vineman listens to Ava's concerns, guiding her to look to God for answers. He does this even as he is learning how to live secreted in a stark cave with a water source but very little food or physical comforts. He eventually makes a friend who brings him supplies and provides a way for him to go out of his cave at night and see what his people are up to. He finds them amassing armies for a great battle which threatens to destroy the entire civilization. What he knows could save them, yet they won't listen. At Vineman's encouragement, Ava slowly attempts to make changes in her relationship with her mother. Then Vineman's whereabouts are discovered. His life is in danger. And the crystal disappears. How will Ava deal with this new challenge? Etched - Ava's Battle, introduces the reality and humanity of an ancient prophet. Through a little bit of magic, we see into the life of a modern youth struggling to unearth her core beliefs. It is the first in a series that will highlight scriptural prophets and show how their teachings are relevant and healing for issues we face right now, today.