It’s that time of year. You’re sending off high school seniors who you’ve guided for months and, in some cases, years. You have done all of the work you can and now they have to go out into the world and learn for themselves. But how can you make sure they have the best tools in their toolbox to handle things that will come their way?
Give your high school seniors a gift that fuels their soul and guides them through one of the biggest transitions of their life so far: a book. I know what you’re thinking – a senior just finished years of reading in school, so is a book really the best grad gift? YES! Yes it is. And here at Youth Specialties, we have 8 GREAT books for your seniors available right in the YS Store:
The Case for Grace by Lee Strobel
The Case for Grace offers an experiential case for God and focuses on the transformative work God is doing in our lives. Students are taken on Strobel’s personal journey learning about God’s redemptive love. Buy it HERE.
The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
It’s all about BOLD PRAYERS. In The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson tells the story of Honi the Circle Maker – a man that drew a circle in the sand and didn’t move from it until God answered the prayers for his people. Batterson connects it to our own lives, challenging readers to surround their biggest dreams and greatest fears in prayer. It’s a great gift for the senior in your life, as they make big life transitions. Buy it HERE.
Refuel by Doug Fields
In Refuel, Doug Fields helps readers find a practical plan to connect with God and put God first in their daily lives. Refuel is a great resource for students as they begin to create their own schedules and set God first in their lives. Buy it HERE.
The Story of Jesus
What better gift for your students than the story of Jesus? This book tells Jesus’s story in accessible language and shows the impact and significance of Jesus’s life. Buy it HERE.
Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli
Some of the best advice you can give your graduating seniors is that it’s okay to make mistakes – it’s how we learn! Especially when it comes to our faith. Messy Spirituality will help students understand that God meets them where they are at and can work within your messy life. Michael Yaconelli suggests that perfection doesn’t define our faith and we can find Jesus amongst the other messy people around us. Buy it HERE.
Lose Your Cool by Zach Hunter
Students are capable of incredible things and graduating high school opens up the entire world for their next steps. How do we encourage them to live out their passions? Lose Your Cool helps students look at what they spend the majority of their time on and what is most important in life, even if that might not be what society says is cool. Zach Hunter encourages students to pursue the passions in their life, so they may ultimately lose their cool and change the world. Buy it HERE.
Red Letter Revolution by Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo
“What if Jesus really meant what he said?” Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo have a conversation about the red letters in the Bible – Jesus’s words. Through different lenses, Claiborne and Campolo call readers to live a life that reflects Jesus’s clear message of sacrificial love. This is a great gift for students, as it challenges them to fully embrace the words of Jesus and shares the truth of Jesus in a convicting way. Buy it HERE.
The Ultimate Guide to Being a Christian in College by Jeff Baxter
Graduating high school can be really exciting – but also really daunting! Students have to navigate a completely different life in college, which includes their faith. Send your seniors to college with this great book that gives them tips for building a solid foundation for their future ahead. Buy it HERE.