That’s the haunting, confusing, unexpected question confronting twentysomething Peter Daniel Young after a friend doubts whether Christianity makes sense of life and has anything to offer. More troublesome yet: the right Christian answers Peter was trained to give since childhood are for questions no one is even asking—including his friend, and even himself.

Which leaves him questioning what he’s always believed — leading to a crisis of faith the likes of which he has never before experienced.

While not abandoning his childhood faith, Peter launches into a journey of exploration and discovery, reimagining faith for his world and questioning what the essence of the Christian message is in the first place. Along the way, he is confronted by rising doubts, encouraged by friends new and old, questioned by those close to him, and challenged to own his faith for himself.

What he discovers is all at once terrifying and thrilling — for this story is the drama of his faith’s death and rebirth.

Written in the self-discovery style of John Green’s coming of age stories, with shades of such classics as C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, J. A. Bouma’s tale is the first story in a fresh, insightful spiritual coming of age series for a new generation wondering if the Christianity they’ve always known still matters in these dynamic times — and whether there might be something more to help make sense of life. Drawing from his own spiritual journey as a young adult, Bouma writes a stirring fable of resonance and truth for those wrestling with deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between.

Whether you are facing your own crisis of faith and wondering whether Christianity still matters, or you know someone who is struggling themselves, discover along with Peter what the Christian message means for him, his family and friends, his life in the Church — and for you.