If you’re looking for a book that shares the story of Martin Luther’s life and conversion in a way that makes it exciting for teens and younger readers, you’ll love When Lightning Struck! The Story of Martin Luther by Danika Cooley.

The story begins the moment when a young Luther is thrown to the ground by a bolt of lightning. His childhood plays out before him in his mind, and we are transported through time as we read about Martin’s years as a little boy through his time living in a monastery in Magdeburg in his teenage years, and his experience in the university in Erfurt, and his time in seminary.

The same excitement continues in the rest of the book, bringing us through the dramatic events of Luther coming to understand the Gospel and striving to share Christ even though it meant opposition and imprisonment.

What I love about this book is that it is written in prose form, offering plenty of interesting dialogue between Luther and his family members, friends, and fellow priests. It gives insight into Luther’s conflicting thoughts as he yearns to be right with God but finds that what he believes at the time falls woefully short of bringing him peace. It has much detail and covers a lot of ground, bringing us the stories of Luther’s conversion, marriage and family, and his later years of life as his health declined.

All the way to the dramatic conclusion, we can see glimpses into Luther’s doubts and struggles as well as his strong trust in God’s mercy and love.

The author, Danika Cooley, is a friend of mine, so I enjoyed hearing from her through a Q&A about her experience writing this young adult version of the story of Martin Luther.

Q: Why did you decide to write the story of Martin Luther from a young adult perspective?

A: The story of Martin Luther is both really exciting, and really important. There is a lot of confusion today about Christian history amongst Christians, and I want to help teens understand both the history of our faith and the people God has used to teach and lead the Church.

I hope that When Lightning Struck! The Story of Martin Luther educates teens, but I also hope it’s an exciting read for them. I hope Luther’s story makes them curious about the history of our family tree, and about theology. More than anything, I hope teens feel empowered to stand for Scripture.

Q: What was the most interesting thing you discovered about the Reformation while researching history for this book?

A: The Reformation period is fascinating! I learned so many things. I think what was most interesting to me was the many voices calling for reform long before the Reformation. The reason Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses spread so quickly and ignited such change was that scholars, theologians, priests, and the common people across Europe were already longing for a return to biblical teaching.

Q: What is most meaningful to you spiritually about the Reformation?

A: I love the five Solas: Sola Scriptura (By Scripture Alone), Sola Fide (By Faith Alone), Sola Gratia (By Grace Alone), Solus Christus (Through Christ Alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone).

These slogans point to biblical truths that are vital to the way we understand our faith. Though they weren’t all used together until the twentieth century, they were each used in letters by various Reformers to call attention to pillars of Protestant doctrine.

Q: What is one interesting historical fact about Martin Luther that you didn’t know before you wrote your book?

A: You know, his life was fascinating. I didn’t know he had the opportunity to be protected by a number of knights who supported him. Luther chose to stay in Wittenberg as an outlaw and preach the Gospel.

I think in studying Luther’s life and writings, what was most interesting to me was his character as a whole. By the end of my studies, I really felt like I knew Luther. That was a neat experience.

Danika captures Luther’s strong-willed and determined personality well and brings to life the truths of the world-changing, historical events of the Reformation (and the days leading up to it) in a truly memorable way! Enjoy reading this book with your older children and learning something new about the life and ministry of Martin Luther.

Jennifer Thorson
Living Word Lutheran Church
Sioux Falls, SD

Order your copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store