Christian Fantasy for Teens

What if the world you thought you knew was only the world they wanted you to see?

What if you had powers beyond human comprehension, but the one thing you wanted was always just out of reach?

What if a hidden war between Light and Darkness is raging all around you?

Welcome to The Sword and Story Podcast—where we help Christian families find exciting, faith-filled books for their boys.

Our mission is to raise strong, courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God. Join us on a quest to discover stories that inspire our boys to grow into godly young men.

I’m your host, Laurie Christine. I’m an author, bible teacher, wife, and mom to four wild, wonderful, boys. I’m the author of the Dragon Slayer Bible Series, adventure-packed biblical fiction and devotions for middle-grade boys. 

Our guest author today is Mindy Hite.

Mindy Hite is the author of The Lighter Bearers series and the host of the Light Bearers in Training podcast. She’s a homeschool mom of three boys and lives with her family in Texas.

Our special guest interview is with Mindy’s son, Cooper Hite.

Cooper Hite is a 14 year old avid reader who reviews books for teens! Check out his website www.CooperHite.com. You might find a great book to read!

The Light Bearers series

Christian Fantasy for Teens

The Light Bearers is an a Christian fantasy series for teens beginning with The Awakening.

What if the world you thought you knew was only the world they wanted you to see?

Life is hard for a high school teenager with no friends, sibling issues, and an absentee guardian, but Sarah pins her hopes on an upcoming trip to bring her closer to her sister. Instead of finding restoration, she stumbles upon a darkness that most of the world doesn’t even see. A darkness bent on consuming The Light and destroying humanity.

When Sarah enters a realm outside of time and her powers are revealed, she must learn to trust the voice inside her and the stranger with the piercing blue eyes if she has any hope of saving her sister…and the world.

More Books by Mindy Hite

TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW 

The Light Bearer series by Mindy Hite

Laurie Christine:

Mindy Hite, welcome to the Sword and Story Podcast.

Mindy Hite:

It’s great to be here, Laurie.

Laurie Christine:

We’re excited to get to know you a little bit. I love connecting with fellow boy moms. I’d love for you to introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are and your family.

Mindy Hite:

Absolutely. I enjoy meeting fellow boy moms as well. When people say, “Well, I have one boy and two girls,” I’m like, “It’s just not the same.”

I live in Houston, Texas, with my husband of 21 years. I homeschool my three amazing sons, ages 14, 12, and 9. I’m also an author of YA fantasy fiction, a speaker, and a podcaster.

Laurie Christine:

I absolutely agree. The more boys in the family, the more the chaos exponentially increases with each additional boy.

Before we talk about your books, I’d love to talk about parenting for a little bit. All of our listeners have boys, whether they have one or two or three or five or ten.

What do you love most about raising boys?

Mindy Hite:

My boys are so much fun. They bring me joy all the time. Even when there’s a mess to clean up, they somehow make me smile. I’m grateful because I think God knew exactly what I needed with my three boys.

The thing I love most is how protective they are of me. My little warriors have gone from defending me in Iron Man costumes against invisible enemies to being able to literally defend me. They’re all black belts in Taekwondo.

Laurie Christine:

Wow. That’s amazing. Black belts are impressive.

Mindy Hite:

My oldest two are second-degree black belts, and my nine-year-old is a first-degree black belt.

Laurie Christine:

That’s super cool.

Two of my boys wrestle, so they’re constantly trying to put me in a headlock or an armbar. They could definitely take me down. My 13-year-old certainly could.

Mindy Hite:

For sure. I’ll go in for a tickle on my 14-year-old, and he’ll block me with a Taekwondo move. Most of the time they don’t wrestle me, thankfully, but they wrestle each other every day.

Laurie Christine:

That’s what boys do. They wrestle.

My husband will come into the room and say, “Boys, let go of your mother.”

It’s how they show affection right now. They’re physical and full of energy. They’re hesitant to give me a hug, but they’ll put me in a headlock. I’ll take that.

Mindy Hite:

I’ll take it too, as long as they put on deodorant.

Laurie Christine:

Exactly. Please put on some deodorant.

My son and I went to a homeschool convention last spring and stayed in a very shady Airbnb. We could hear people in the apartment next to us making noises all night. I told my son, Oliver, “Don’t be scared. I’ll protect you.”

He’s 13, and he looked at me and said, “Mom, I’m way stronger than you. I’m the one who’s going to have to protect you.”

And I thought, yes, that’s absolutely true.

Mindy Hite:

Exactly. I’ve already given my boys full permission. If we’re in danger, go for it—even the things they tell you not to do in Taekwondo.

Laurie Christine:

It was a revelation. We had arrived. I was no longer physically able to protect him from much of anything.

We love boys. They’re so much fun, but they also bring a little chaos. What would you say is one of the biggest challenges of raising boys right now?

Mindy Hite:

My 12-year-old is only six months away from turning 13, and he just passed me in height. They all felt bad when they passed me up, but I told them, “You don’t want to be 5’3″ like Mama. Grow.”

As for challenges, there are a few.

I feel like the word “teenager” has become almost a four-letter word. Teenagers get a bad rap for everything they’re experiencing and going through. I wanted to change that, so I started talking with my oldest son before he became a teenager.

I told him, “I want the teenage years to be a blessing in our household. I don’t want them to become an excuse. I want this to be a time when we give each other grace and understanding.”

One of the biggest challenges is what we affectionately call the “testosterone monster.” My oldest will sometimes rage or become overwhelmed by emotions. Their brains and bodies are flooded with testosterone, and it surprises them too.

We’ve made a point to talk openly about it. When he says, “I don’t know why I did that,” I remind him that God is using this season to shape him into a godly man.

Part of that means helping them learn healthy ways to manage it. Activities like wrestling and Taekwondo give them a physical outlet. Some boys need to go for a run. It’s about making space for them to process what they’re experiencing.

If my son raises his voice at me, he’s usually quick to come back and apologize. He’s already hard on himself, so I don’t pile on. I say, “I forgive you. Let’s pray about it. Let’s talk about it.”

Teenage boys don’t naturally love talking about emotions, but we’re raising our boys differently. Their emotions are heard and seen. We don’t want them wondering what’s wrong with them. We try to keep things out in the open.

I make time for conversations and prayer. I remind them it’s okay to pause before speaking. They don’t have to say the first thing that comes into their minds.

The other major challenge is technology.

The enemy wants every bit of their attention and focus. Because I homeschool my boys, we start our day with the Bible. We do devotions, worship together, and if someone is struggling emotionally, we can pause the school day and pray.

Honestly, if we encounter Jesus and spend time in Scripture, it was a good day—even if we never got to math.

Technology is incredibly distracting. If a boy sees a screen, he’s looking at it. It doesn’t matter if I’m working on a grocery list.

We limit screen time and are very protective. My boys don’t have cell phones. We’ve had open conversations about why. The enemy is trying to steal, kill, and destroy, and technology is one of the tools he uses.

Those are probably the two biggest challenges with teenage boys. For both, I always take them back to Scripture. If we’re talking about taming the tongue, we go to James. I want them to understand why we believe what we believe. It’s not just because I said so.

Laurie Christine:

You said so many good things.

I love that you framed the teenage years positively. I did the same thing and thought, “Teenagers are coming. It’s going to be terrible.”

But honestly, I’ve really enjoyed having teenagers. I get emotional thinking about them leaving home someday.

It sounds like you’ve built a great relationship with your boys—one where there’s open communication and trust.

I completely agree with your challenges. Helping kids navigate big emotions is hard. They don’t always have control over how they feel, but they still need to be responsible for their actions.

I understand that you’re upset, but you don’t get to punch your brother because you’re upset. You don’t get to talk to me that way. Let’s figure out how to handle those emotions.

Technology has been a challenge for us too. Our kids haven’t had cell phones either. My oldest is 15 and doesn’t really need one. My 13-year-old is heavily involved in wrestling and other activities, so we’ve had to figure out ways for him to communicate with us.

We got a family phone he can use when needed, but that created new challenges because then our older son wanted to know why he couldn’t use it.

Every family makes different decisions. We’re all doing our best, seeking God’s wisdom and grace, and praying that the Lord protects our kids.

Let’s talk about your book series, the Lightbearers series. Tell us about the themes and overarching story.

Mindy Hite:

The Lightbearers series came from a very unexpected place.

I’m actually a doctor of physical therapy. English was never my favorite subject, and I never dreamed of becoming a writer. But God gave me a dream one night that felt so real. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Every time I thought about the characters, my heart would race. I felt the Lord saying, “Write.”

I spent six months telling God no before finally sitting down to write. In one week, I wrote 10,000 words, which became the beginning of The Awakening.

I see stories like movies in my mind and try to capture them on the page.

The Lightbearers series explores salvation, found family, relationships, belonging, and fighting for what’s right. That’s why I believe it appeals to both boys and girls.

The central conflict is light versus darkness. I think we’re living in a time when darkness is becoming more visible, and believers need to be equipped to stand firm.

The stories are allegorical, which makes them accessible to readers who might avoid something labeled Christian fiction. The books are completely clean and rooted in biblical values.

The heroes on the side of light are called Mithraels. They’re strong warriors who fight for the light. The villains are shape-shifting shadows called Tarots that deceive by taking on different forms.

My sons especially connected with those fantasy elements. They loved imagining themselves as Mithraels fighting against the darkness.

The first book follows Sarah, who is awakened to the light. The second book introduces Mitch, who is also awakened to the light, and readers get to hear his perspective as well.

The audiobooks are especially fun because my husband voices Mitch.

Ultimately, the series is about training ourselves to be lightbearers—followers of Christ who stand against darkness.

Laurie Christine:

I love that it’s an allegory with deeper layers of truth and theology underneath the fantasy.

Can you give us a synopsis of Book One?

Mindy Hite:

Sarah is a teenage girl struggling to find where she belongs. She feels disconnected from the world around her until she meets a mysterious stranger with piercing blue eyes who seems to truly see her.

She soon discovers another world where darkness appears to be winning. As her powers awaken and she enters a realm outside of time, she must learn to trust the voice within her and the stranger guiding her.

The story becomes a battle for survival as the forces of light push back against the darkness.

Sarah’s sister chooses darkness, creating a contrast between following the light and following evil. The later books continue that journey as Sarah fights to rescue those she loves and bring them into the light.

The third book, The Reckoning, centers on the truth that one day every knee will bow. The reckoning is coming for everyone.

Laurie Christine:

I love that.

One question our listeners always appreciate: Is there any romance in the series?

Mindy Hite:

There is a touch of slow-burn romance throughout the series, but there’s no spice. The most readers get is a kiss in Book Three.

The fantasy elements remain very much at the forefront.

Laurie Christine:

Great. Here’s the back cover description for The Awakening:

What if the world you thought you knew was only the world they wanted you to see?

Life is hard for a high school teenager with no friends, sibling issues, and an absentee guardian. But Sarah pins her hopes on an upcoming trip to bring her closer to her sister.

Instead of finding restoration, she stumbles upon a darkness that most of the world doesn’t even see—a darkness bent on consuming the light and destroying humanity.

When Sarah enters a realm outside of time and her powers are revealed, she must learn to trust the voice inside her and the stranger with the piercing blue eyes if she has any hope of saving her sister—and the world.

Where can readers find your books?

Mindy Hite:

The easiest place is my website. Everything is available there, including the audiobooks. The books are also available on Amazon and through some other retailers.

Laurie Christine:

You also have a free prequel available, correct?

Mindy Hite:

Yes. Readers can get it by signing up for my newsletter. It’s about Sarah’s parents and takes place before the events of The Awakening.

Laurie Christine:

Should readers start with the prequel?

Mindy Hite:

They can read it anytime. It was released after The Awakening, but it works either way and adds extra depth to the characters.

Laurie Christine:

Before we go, we have another special guest. Your son Cooper is joining us to talk about something pretty exciting.

Tell us a little about him.

Mindy Hite:

Cooper is more mature than his 14 years. He helps me record podcasts and audiobooks, and he’s always the first person to read my books.

He’s also incredibly honest.

He became frustrated by series that started out strong but later included content that went against biblical values. He decided to create a book review website to help readers avoid those disappointments.

He’s reviewed dozens of books and built an impressive resource for young readers.

Special Guest Interview: Cooper Hite

TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW 

Clean Reads, Cool Builds

Book Reviews by Cooper Hite

Laurie Christine:

Cooper, welcome to the Sword and Story Podcast.

Cooper Hite:

Hello, Laurie. Thanks for having me.

I really enjoy reading, and I’ve read many series that seem fine at first. But as I get further into them, the author ends up including something that goes against God’s design.

I hate when an enjoyable series gets ruined by something that never needed to be there in the first place.

I wanted to help people avoid those cringe-worthy landmines by creating a book review site where readers can know ahead of time what they’re getting into.

Laurie Christine:

I love that. You’re only 14 years old, and you’re helping other kids and teens find books they can enjoy without worrying about unexpected content.

Tell us about the website. Where can people find it?

Cooper Hite:

My website is called cooperhite.com, and the brand name is Clean Reads Cool Builds.

Laurie Christine:

I’m browsing the site right now, and there are a lot of great books and authors featured there.

How many books have you reviewed?

Cooper Hite:

There are around 50 reviews currently posted, but I’ve actually reviewed more than 125 books.

Laurie Christine:

That’s amazing.

Tell us about your rating system.

Cooper Hite:

I use emojis.

The ratings range from the X-eyes emoji, which means the book contains things against God’s design and shouldn’t be read, all the way up to the star-eyes emoji, which means it’s an incredible book that I couldn’t put down.

Laurie Christine:

I see the emoji key on your site now. That’s fantastic.

Do you have a favorite book or series?

Cooper Hite:

My favorite series is my mom’s series.

Besides that, I enjoy books by a lot of Christian authors. I like Jeremiah Friedli’s books, C.J. Milacci’s books, and Karen Norton’s books.

I also enjoy some non-Christian series. Gordon Korman is a great middle-grade author, and I really enjoyed The Wild Robot series.

Laurie Christine:

I love that your mom’s books are at the top of the list.

That’s also great confirmation that 14-year-old boys enjoy the Lightbearers series.

You’ve reviewed a wide variety of books, and I think our listeners will find your site incredibly helpful.

Cooper, thank you so much for joining us and sharing about your website.

Cooper Hite:

Okay, thank you so much.

Laurie Christine:

Talk to you later.

Cooper Hite:

You too. Bye.