Montgomery Lake High The Battle for Innocence, Book 3, (Paperback)

“The Battle for Innocence” by Stacy Padula explores the temptations that teens start facing as early as middle school. The novel takes place two years in the past when our main characters in the Montgomery Lake High series were in middle school. This change allows us to see how the relationships within the different cliques formed. Going into the past provides readers with background knowledge about how characters, such as Cathy, have changed. At the beginning of 7th grade, Jon and Chantal are both devoted Christians who try to live their lives walking with Christ, but as romantic drama, drugs, and alcohol start appearing all around them, they will need to make the best choices to stay on that path. Chantal feels torn between Jon and Andy, unsure of who God is trying to point her to. Will Chantal heed Cathy's advice and stay away from Andy, or will she succumb to her jealousy? As Jon's best friends, Chris and Jason, fall farther into a life of alcohol and partying, Jon struggles with if he should keep trying to be a light in their lives or leave the temptations surrounding him. “The Battle for Innocence” reminds teenagers of the importance of staying true to themselves, especially when their friends start walking down a different path than them.