Unlike the first book, this book addresses the issue of sexuality squarely in the face.  This, of course, was why some disapproved of the book.  I had a different reaction.  I remember being around that age, and going through so much of the emotional road Lilia traveled, but going through it blind.  I had a horribly wrong view of intimacy, and I struggled because of it.  Lilia's story matched so well to my experience, I believe if I had read this book while I was that age, my decisions would have been a whole lot better.  This book satisfies some curiosity of the teenager not with shallow teen aged intimacy, but good examples of love and commitment by parents.  It shows that it's possible to do what's right, why we should do so, and plays out the rewards of those who do.  It also shows how Lilia's feelings and desires change through time and experience.  And it shows all of this under the loving, guiding Christian hands of Lilia's parents and grandparents.

Lilia's life is truly transformed in this book, from the role of the fun-loving farm girl, to the station of competent and passionate celebrity and artist -- though she can't seem to get rid of that kiddish streak, one moment showing all the maturity of an adult, and the next disappearing to pull yet another outrageous (and sometimes dangerous) prank.  She leads people to Christ in one scene, and throws deafening fits the next.  The story makes it seem like that's just part of who she is...or perhaps it's the job of her beau to tame her.  He gets furious at times with her antics, but deep down seems to not ever want her to change...or at least not to lose that fire that makes her so amazing.

Over all this is a well written story, but somewhat incomplete on it's own.  You'll definitely want to read Innocence: Simplicity of Spirit first, or you just won't understand the enormity of Lilia's gifts.  I love how her parents stay solid in her and their lives, but also show their humanity by changing their judgments when needed.  Lilia's character becomes much deeper and more real than ever.  Whereas the first book bounced back and forth among the lives of Lilia's loved ones, the loved ones stay somewhat stagnant in this piece, causing the reader to follow Lilia's story closer and with more interest.  It also thoroughly showed the hardships of the talented and successful.  Theirs is not a perfect life.  It's very easy to empathize with Lilia, and every mishap teaches an important lesson about life, from a Christian-in-the-real-world perspective.