"A mixture between "The Screwtape Letters" and a Nancy Drew novel, "The Forces Within" takes a poignantly authentic look at spiritual warfare - albeit disguised as a metaphor. A group of high school freshmen find themselves taking refuge in an old abandoned mansion deep in the woods. As mysterious occurrences begin to take place, the teenagers realize that the battle is for their lives - and their hearts. A shocking reminder of a too-often overlooked battle, this book is desperately needed to educate today's generation. Although this book deals with a heavy topic which can take some guidance to understand, it is specifically aimed at young adults and approaches the issue in a way relevant to our lives. This book was the fifth in Stacy Padula's Montgomery Lake High series. The appeal of the series is in the finely developed minutiae of the social web that is Montgomery Lake High. The relationships between the high schoolers in these novels run the gamut from soulmates to enemies. There are uplifting friendships in these novels, as well as self-destructive relationships, backstabbing, and sabotage. The drama which ensues will keep readers turning pages until the very end." - Mackenzie Wells, University of Georgia
"Ms. Padula weaves together the natural and spiritual worlds in a very skillful manner. The story is action packed, entertaining, and extremely thought provoking. There were more twists and turns than a labyrinth, yet through the story is a clear thread tying it all together. Stacy Padula has addressed very real issues facing teens and adults alike in both the physical and spiritual realms. She brings social issues like peer pressure, cliques, substance abuse, and sex into perspective--and supplies the answer. Overall, the book is well written. It was a page-turner that I could not put down. One of the best books I've read in several years. I would say that this book is a must read--especially for fans of Frank Peretti. I dare say that Stacy Padula has taken the baton of the spiritual realm books from Mr. Peretti and is running with it." - Loren, Wakulla Correctional Facility
"I recommend The Forces Within to all teenagers, especially those who are currently struggling with identity and social pressures. It would be useful to read the other books in the MLH series before reading The Forces Within to fully understand the characters and their relationships to one another. The story is filled with suspense and drama, something that kept me glued to each page. High school is a time for teenagers to discover themselves and this story does a great job of describing some difficulties that are very relatable, and how to get through those daunting situations." - Elizabeth Harvey, Emerson College
