Audrey Hebbert’s debut novel, Green Light Red Light, is the story of a quest to evangelize the communist ridden country of China. Teenager Erika Slade, along with mentor and friend Monica Moore, travel to the foreign land of China with other volunteers from the English as a Second Language China Group (ESLCG).

It is Erika’s first time in China, but Monica has gone there every year for the past several years to ‘claim China for Jesus’ under the protective guise of an ESLCG volunteer along with several others.

While on their mission to evangelize China, Erika discovers the dangers of being a believer in this strange land. The Chinese teach communism, and enforce their way of living with possible imprisonment and torture for those who oppose it, ultimately forcing the believers in China to worship in secret.

Erika, Monica, and some of the other believers witness a man’s arrest simply because of his faith in God. The members of group join hands in a circle on the sidewalk and diligently pray for the man and his family while bystanders inquisitively observe.

As Monica, Erika and the others help the Chinese sharpen their English speaking, they also introduce them to a loving Savior who cares for them unconditionally.

The teenager Erika, who starts off a little conceited, (as some teens are) establishes friendships among the Chinese, learns from them as much as they learn from her, and grows spiritually as a result of traveling to China. She spends the entire summer there and like the Chinese, witness many miracles.

“I always assume I have a green light to talk about Jesus until God gives me a red light,” Monica said. That was all the explanation I needed for derivation of the title.

Green Light Red Light brings the freedom I have to worship without worry into perspective. I am now adding the safety of the Chinese believers to my list of prayers. God Bless China!

Reviewed by: Takiela Bynum