The Higher We Go Pier Giorgio Frassati
Friends in High Places Book 5
Unseen Books
Zephyr Publishing
ISBN 9781917628020
eISBN 9781917628037
ASIN B0FPGM1XVS
This was a long awaited volume; it was greatly anticipated by both my son and me. We both have a personal devotion to Pier Giorgio, and my son has completed a year-long leadership program in our diocese named after Frassati. I love the writings of Corinna Turners and this latest in this series is another excellent offering. I have been a fan of her work since I first encountered I Am Margaret, 10 years ago. Since then I have read her books a total of 76 times, and her contributions in Catholic Teen Books Anthologies, and other short works at least another dozen times. I am a fan of everything I have read. She has many excellent books and great series. And this is the fifth novel in this series. The title of the series is Friends in High Places and is about friendship and devotion to specific saints and beatified. And this fifth volume is about Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, it released just a day before his canonization. The description of the series is:
“Friends in High Places is a short fiction series that presents saints’ biographies in the context of imaginary teenagers’ lives. The stories are written primarily to entertain, with inspiration and education thrown in for free!”
And of this particular volume:
“"VERSO L'ALTO." TO THE HEIGHTS.
This was Pier Giorgio Frassati's motto. But what could an athletic, mountain-climbing saint have to say to wheelchair-bound Miri?
When Miri's friend Daniel and his friends get a chance to go on a Pier Giorgio Frassati pilgrimage, they decide to invite Miri along, and show him just how high he can go.
The fifth book in the Friends in High Places series, The Higher We Go can be read on its own. The series is Parental Guidance since it contains some mature themes.”
I will be honest with you. This was a volume that was very hard to put down. It is not only an excellent story in and of itself but it ties together characters from other volumes in the series. It is written as a crossover that I was not expecting but absolutely loved. In this volume we have Daniel and Razim who are characters in The Boy Who Knew: Carlo Acutis and A Lion for a Tomb: Ignatius of Antioch also Katie from Old Men Don’t Walk to Egypt: Saint Joseph and Miri from Child, Unwanted: Margaret of Castello. As such it draws from all the other volumes in the series. We also have Father Thomas who is helping to lead a pilgrimage to Italy. A group of youth with parents and Father Thomas are headed on pilgrimage to visit sites associated with Saint Pier Giorgio. But things do not go exactly as planned. They do not hit their fundraising goal, and they have to adjust their plan. Daniel and Razim work on a surprise for Miri. And many of the youth have their own prayers, hopes and desires. They also have lessons to learn. Read and follow this group as they are on pilgrimage and growing in their faith.
At the end of the volume are a few sections well worth working through:
Discussion Questions
More Information
Prayers To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
A Short Litany To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Novena To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Jesus, Mary, And Joseph Prayer
This story deals with some very serious issues; including faith, hope, and trusting God. We still have the element of a convert to Catholicism from Islam, and still keeping it a secret from his family. We have Miri struggling with accepting help, and learning to let go control of even the little he can. And we also have Daniel who has his own concerns and worries as the trip goes on. All wrapped into the pilgrimage, and the amazing places and experiences on that trip.
This is an awesome story in a wonderful series. I can easily recommend this volume. It is an amazing read. I already plan to go back and reread the whole series over advent this year. The highest praise I can give books is: 1. I want my children to read them, 2. I keep mentioning them to friends and family, and 3. I want to reread them. This book hits top marks on all three. Another masterfully written story from the pen of Corinna Turner!
Book about Pier Giorgio Frassati:
...
I Am Margaret Series:
0.0 The Underappreciated Virtues of Rusty Old Bicycles (A prequel)
0.5 Brothers (Prequel)
1.0 I Am Margaret
1.5 How Snakey Got His Name (Short Story)
2.0 The Three Most Wanted
3.0 Liberation
4.0 Bane's Eyes
5.0 Margo's (Attempted) Diary & Notebook
5.5 An Unexpected Guest
6.0 The Siege of Reginald Hill
6.5 Buttons (Short Story)
7.0 A Saint in the Family
I Am Margaret The Play - Fiorella de Maria
...
Yesterday and Tomorrow Series:
Someday
Tomorrow's Dead
...
unSPARKed Series:
Prequel Short Stories:
Mandy Lamb Series:
Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon
Contributed to:
Secrets: Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories - Catholic Teen Books
Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens
Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens
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