Rating: 
Summary: Terrific novel...
Review: **** For decades, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and all things Middle Earth have captured the hearts and imaginations of young and old alike. Despite J.R.R. Tolkien's insistance that it was not an allegory, millions of Christians see the greatest story ever told just beneath the surface, as if runic words inscribed its pages. Whether or not you read that into this modern mythos, it can not be denied that Aragorn, Gandalf, and the rest of the Fellowship captured the meaning of virtue in their lives. From wisdom to loyalty to graciousness, they were examples of what we should be. Likewise, in Denethor, Grima, Sauron, etc, we see what we should strive not to be. In this book, the author takes these traits two by two, the good and the evil, and shows us how it played out in Middle Earth, in the Bible, and how to carry it into life. Given the popularity of this saga, it works with great efficiency. It would be a wonderful cross generational Bible study, especially since she takes the time to clue readers in on the teen jargon's meaning. For that alone, parents should invest in this book. It's a book designed to be read over several weeks, but you will have to exercise restraint not to sail through it in one sitting, so readable is it. ****
Reviewed by Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.
Rating: 
Summary: Walking With Frodo- a teenager's review
Review: I got this book just because I like Lord of the Rings and I thought it sounded cool. I never knew how good it would really be! The author does a really good job of getting into the character's minds and motives and applying their situations and choices to real-life situations. This book was written for high school and college students, but I would reccomend it to adults too. How much spiritual truth can you learn from a pop culture phenomenon? You will be very surprised!
Rating:
Summary: A must read for Christians and LOTR fans alike!
Review: I have used this book with my children as a devotional tool in our family. This book is fun to read. My teens and Tolkien fans, have found this to be a refreshing change from our normal devotionals. The author presents her ideas, plainly, yet with power and conviction. She has a nice honest, fresh approach, and is not self-righteous in her presentation. Her understanding of Tolkien's stories and his characters ring true and are very insightful. Her ideas mesh very nicely with Bible themes and scriptures. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon) I feel this book has a very valid universal message to all Christians. It has common themes that apply to every Christian in whatever faith they find themselves. This is an excellent read for anyone.
Many of the themes discussed in the book are applicable to every person trying to find a purposeful, and good path in life.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, In-Depth Study
Review: I only read this book of my daughter's out of curiosity. Imagine my surprise and delight to find much more than a "young adult" spin on the current LOTR fanaticism - and I highly recommend this book for all ages as a true understanding of Tolkien's subtle Christian message in his epic novels. Being a LOTR fan since the early 70's, this book helped me revisit the moral underpinnings of the story as well as my own Christian beliefs. Hats off to Ms. Arthur for a job well done.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, In-Depth Study
Review: I only read this book of my daughter's out of curiosity. Imagine my surprise and delight to find much more than a "young adult" spin on the current LOTR fanaticism - and I highly recommend this book for all ages as a true understanding of Tolkien's subtle Christian message in his epic novels. Being a LOTR fan since the early 70's, this book helped me revisit the moral underpinnings of the story as well as my own Christian beliefs. Hats off to Ms. Arthur for a job well done.
Rating:
Summary: Read out loud with 12 year old
Review: I read this devotional over the phone this summer with my nephew. We enjoyed the time spent together with the discussion questions. My nephew could relate to the choices laid out and benefitted by the study. The best chapter was Week 9, choosing hope vs despair. As the author Sarah Arthur states, "Put your hope in the Author of our story, His promises will not fail!"
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of Tolkien References, Little Substance
Review: My motivation for reading "Walking With Frodo" was primarily an interest in Tolkien's work, rather than in Christian devotion. "Walking With Frodo", however, is not a critique or analysis of Tolkien from a Christian perspective. Rather, the author Sarah Arthur uses Tolkien as a jumping-off point to discuss Christian themes. The book is primarily aimed at young people. Given even this purpose "Walking With Frodo" does not work well. Ms. Arthur draws comparisons between Tolkien's work and Christian thought that are thin and conclusory. She begins, for example, by describing Gandalf's battle with the flaming Balrog. With no more support than that, she immediately tells the reader that of course the parallel creature in Christianity is Satan. (Tolkien was once asked if his work could be compared to Wagner's "Ring" cycle of operas. Tolkien answered that both works contained references to rings and that was the end of the comparison. The Balrog/Satan comparison strikes me as similarly light-weight.) Ms. Arthur draws other comparisons and conclusions in a similar vein, using very little Tolkien material to support them. I find it hard to imagine that any young person with a good grounding in Christianity to begin with, is going to obtain anything more in this volume that could not be gained merely by reading the Bible itself or participating in related group activities. If the purpose is to attract young people who are LOTR fans to consider Christian values, I fear that any young person intelligent enough to read and understand Tolkien's work will see through "Walking With Frodo" as a thin attempt to tie Christian ideas to the coattails of Tolkien's current popularity. I note also that although Ms. Arthur identifies Prof. Tolkien as a Christian, she does not mention that he was Catholic. (Likewise, C.K. Chesterton is identified as a Christian in a footnote, with no mention of his Catholicism.) While Protestants and Catholics may enjoy closer relations now, we know that this was not always so, either in this country or in Tolkien's time in Britain. We should remember that it was not too long ago that some Americans questioned whether a Catholic could lead this country as its President. In a book aimed at young people who may not be fully aware of the circumstances of Catholic/Protestant relations, (and as one who has had a Catholic education through college) I would have liked to have seen the fact of Tolkien's Catholicism mentioned.
Rating: 
Summary: What is this?
Review: Never in my life have I heard of such rubbish. The Word of God is to be the only basic source for the study of God's Word--not a trilogy of fantasy novels. Many Christians are becoming so wrapped up in pop culture that they have trouble differentiating the difference between the fictional events found within The Lord of the Rings and the true, inerrant Word of God. We need to get out of Middle-Earth and into the real world. You cannot find strength, guidance, and spiritual power in a fictional collection of stories, regardless of whether or not they are allegories of the Christian's journey. "Walking With Frodo"?! Is this meant to equate Frodo with Jesus Christ? Reality check: Frodo was never real, Middle-Earth was never real, and all the events which took place within Tolkien's world never happened. Christ was real, however. The battles He faced and the battles we face are very real, and we therefore should not waste our time in thinking that this garbage will assist us in them.
Rating:
Summary: I received the book as a gift and was delighted!
Review: Sarah Arthur's "Walking with Frodo" blew me away. I received it as a gift and thought it was merely an attempt to cash in on the LOTL craze. I was wrong. This book is an excellent devotional or small group study guide. And you don't have to be a total LOTL fan to "get it" ... Eminently readable and biblical without being heavy handed ... I loved it. Even those who don't consider themselves Christians can enjoy the thought-provoking and well realized chapters. Those who are "Bible-shy" can understand the author's points by following her references to The Lord of the Rings. Well done! I can't wait to see what Sarah Arthur does next.
Rating:
Summary: What is this?
Review: Sarah Arthur's "Walking with Frodo" blew me away. I received it as a gift and thought it was merely an attempt to cash in on the LOTL craze. I was wrong. This book is an excellent devotional or small group study guide. And you don't have to be a total LOTL fan to "get it" ... Eminently readable and biblical without being heavy handed ... I loved it. Even those who don't consider themselves Christians can enjoy the thought-provoking and well realized chapters. Those who are "Bible-shy" can understand the author's points by following her references to The Lord of the Rings. Well done! I can't wait to see what Sarah Arthur does next.
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