Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
  and what a Secret!! February 7, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Dr. Jacob Cooper, Biblical archaeologist, and his two young teen-aged children, Jay and Lila, accompany their father to a small country in Africa after being summoned by Brent Anderson, a missionary to Africa, and two solemn costume-wearing Africans.
Thus begins a very unlikely adventure for the Cooper trio. In Togwana, they meet Dr. Jennifer Henderson, an African-American geologist from Stanford University, who has also been summoned. They face the new dictator Idi Nkromo, a cruel, heavy-fisted ruler. The problem facing these newcomers is the Stone of Togwana, not a stone of nature, not a man-made stone, but a mountain-size creation blocking the range between two actual mountains. What is more, it appears overnight, fully there. The Togwanians call it a baloa-kota, a curse, a plague. The dictator has called a man of archaelogy and spirit and a woman of science to disappear the stone, because the dictator plans to perish the people beyond--the Motasas, stereotypical bone-wearing, spear-chunking Africans.
This new "mountain" measures three miles wide and two miles high. Once they begin to measure and test it, all manner of supernatural things begin to occur. The small group flies to the top in a small aircraft to examine the Stone there. When a monstrous snowstorm threathens to annihilate them, they fly off but strong currents force them to land on the cannibal side among the Motasas. Whereas Togwanians on the other side fear this surreal structure, the Motasas recognize it for what it is: a sign from God.
Let it be said that this is just the beginning of a seemingly parallel world in which a Christ-like personage figures into their mythos and religion. The snake bites them to make them do bad. Coincidentally or not, the villagers have built their houses on stone foundations made of the same red rock as this new mountain. They believe that God will send them water through this mountain so their village will survive and flourish. There are many other direct references to events in the Bible.
Frank Peretti is a popular Christian writer, who weaves stories of faith tested by trial and tribulations. In this series of young adult Christian novels featuring the Cooper trio, Christian values and codes are at the core. Even in their troubling early teens, Jay and Lila remain children of faith, as reflected through their behavior.
This little story is a quiet victory of faith, demonstrated by the Coopers and the Motasas, a seemingly most unlikely people to follow God, which is the point--God can touch all peoples. The novel is a nice read to confirm a young Christian's faith and a reminder of the great working powers of God in all places and in all people. Indeed, God works in mysterious ways to bring about good. But then, you will have to read the book to find out what this Stone brings.
 Amazing...In The Best Way You Could Imagine January 12, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm a big Cooper Kids fan (and my name is Cooper, too). This book, Secret of the Desert Stone, is one-of-a-kind. As far as plots and settings and storylines in general go, this one's OK or above average, but nothing fantastic. In fact, if that was all I was looking at, I would rate it three stars. But the reason I rated it five was because breaches the most important thing in a person's life in a totally innovative and oh-so incredible way. The Coopers crash-land in the territory of a savage tribe in Africa while trying to discover the secret of a phenomal stone in an African dictatorship. But what they discover among the people is breath-taking. This book has a POWERFUL spiritual message (and don't get me wrong. It's NOT TOTALLY BORING....just not as action-packed as the other ones. A plain and simple fact meant to inform, not to dissuade). If you're reading the Cooper Kids, READ THIS BOOK. It will be a story you won't forget.
Amazing July 29, 2002
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I loved this book! It gives readers a breather in the series, since the most of the books have dangerous situations. This book is not so dangerous until the end, but it is soooo interesting to see the simalarities between the idea's of the people they meet and Christianity. It starts when Dr. Cooper and his kids investigate the apearance of a large, perfectly rectangle stone in a mountain pass. The tribe they meet behind it is very friendly to them. During their stay with the them they discover the tribe is expecting water to come from the stone to help them grow crops, although the army on the other side is terrified of it. Dr. Cooper's family also dicover the people have a religion very similar to Christianity, with some of the same stories that some from the Bible. In the end, the stone saves them all. This is such an interesting book, it was a thrill for me to read.
Absolutley terrific! May 20, 2000
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
Frank Peretti is one of the best authors on the face of this Earth. This book, The Secret of the Desert Stone, displays that talent. He perfectly captures the greatness, and soverigntiy of God in a creative way. Once again, I totally admire the Coopers maturity as Christians, and their complete trust in the Father.
Inspiring, powerful, and an excellent thriller for all ages. August 7, 1999
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This book is a great book for all ages. I am currently 17 and I love it. It is a wonderful testimony of what you can do with faith in God.
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