Arion and Argo are sixteen-year-old twin brothers who were shipwrecked fourteen years earlier with the Captain on the island of Terrene, where everything is a dull gray because a volcano had erupted there. Even the forest is dark and dangerous. But now the Captain has a chance to go away to his home on the island of Bluestone, promising to return one day for them and encouraging them to be ready for him by staying on the beach and not going into the forest. Yet, as time passes Argo grows tired of waiting and begins looking for fun in the forest and becoming more content with Terrene. Will the Captain ever return as he promised? And what will happen to Argo?

Coming Home is obviously intended to be an allegorical tale for young people about the second coming of Christ. Author Max Lucado explains the meaning. “In the Bible Jesus Christ tells us that he is preparing a place for us in heaven, and that he will come back for us someday. He tells us that this world is not our home and we must be ready for his return. But sometimes we grow weary of waiting for Christ’s return. We start to think that maybe this world isn’t so bad after all, and we get sidetracked by its fun distractions. Sometimes others try to convince us that what Jesus teaches us is not true, that he is not coming back, and that we should just forget about what he says and go have fun.” By reading the book, children can learn powerful lessons about faith, patience, repentance, and God’s great mercy. ( )