Spirit Flyer Series

Another book series I grew up with that impacted me greatly as a child was the Spirit Flyer series of books by John Bibee.  I remember getting to church early sometimes since my parents were in the orchestra/choir and wandering around the church library looking for something interesting to read.  They had a fairly decent kids section, but generally I would just be on the lookout for these eight books.

Yes, that's right, these are Christian kid's books.   The analogies they have for Christianity may not be as subtle as C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien, but they're also not super preachy books either.

In the Spirit Flyer series, there are a group of people who have Spirit Flyer bicycles.  Old, ugly bicycles with big balloon tires that the other kids mock.  However, the Spirit Flyer bicycles (and the associated accessories), when properly used give kids strange powers like the ability to fly on their bike E.T. style or to get an early warning horn like Spider-Man's spidey-sense.  The trick is that the kids have to learn to trust the bikes and as they do, they start to learn more about the bike's creators (The Three Kings) and the Deeper war between the Three Kings and Goliath Toys (who aren't who they seem to be).

Each book follows a similar formula: the main character of that particular book gets a Spirit Flyer.  The kid starts learning about the bike's amazing powers.  The kid gets in trouble due to the Spirit Flyer (either they misuse its powers or are made fun of for having it).  They ignore the bike and start following Goliath's Toy's current evil plan.  They get into incredible trouble.  Their bike, the Kingson, or other Spirit Flyer owners come rescue them.  They learn their lesson.  They help stop Goliath Toy's evil plan.

Yet, even knowing that formula and that it holds true pretty consistently, it doesn't really matter.  There is plenty of action, real-life issues kids deal with, and the quotes from The Kingson are so memorable that I still use them to encourage myself to this day.  Sure, they may not be direct quotes from Jesus, but I feel like they are things he would've said.  "What I call worthy is worthy.  What I love  is lovable."