Winner of the 2011 RBY Scott Award from the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies/Société canadienne des études bibliques The God of the Bible favors a national people, Israel, and this is at the cost of the other nations. In fact, not being Israel usually means humiliation or destruction or simply being ignored by God. Reading the text “with the grain” or placing oneself within the chosen’s perspective may seem very well until one considers the unchosen. There is much regarding the unchosen that has not been explored in scholarly research, but in this important work, Lohr attempts to make sense of the question of election and nonelection in the OT as a Christian interpreter and with a concern for the history of interpretation and Jewish-Christian dialogue. He also corrects a Christian tendency to read election and nonelection as love and damnation, respectively, a perception that is altogether foreign to the OT itself. The unchosen are important to the overall world view of Scripture and, although election entails exclusion, and God’s love for the one people Israel is a love in contrast to others, it does not follow that the unchosen fall outside of the economy of God’s purposes, his workings, or his ways. The unchosen often face important tests of their own and have a responsibility to God and the chosen, however much this idea defies modern-day notions of fairness. It is a central idea of Scripture that already appears in the original call of and promises made to Abram and something that, if ignored, places our larger understanding of God at risk. Equally important, if contemporary faith communities (both Jewish and Christian) form their understanding of “the other” on a faulty reading of Scripture regarding the unchosen, chaos and hatred can ensue. The political and religious climate of our contemporary world has never presented a more important time to get this matter right. Scholars and students alike are finding Chosen and Unchosen to be an indispensable resource as they mull over these difficult questions.

Katharyn Blair crafts a fiercely feminist fantasy with a horrifying curse, swoon-worthy sea captains, and the power of one girl to choose her own fate in this contemporary standalone adventure that's perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and Seafire, and for anyone who has ever felt unchosen. For Charlotte Holloway, the world ended twice. The first was when her childhood crush, Dean, fell in love—with her older sister. The second was when the Crimson, a curse spread through eye contact, turned the majority of humanity into flesh-eating monsters. Neither end of the world changed Charlotte. She’s still in the shadows of her siblings. Her popular older sister, Harlow, now commands forces of survivors. And her talented younger sister, Vanessa, is the Chosen One—who, legend has it, can end the curse. When their settlement is raided by those seeking the Chosen One, Charlotte makes a reckless decision to save Vanessa: she takes her place as prisoner. The word spreads across the seven seas—the Chosen One has been found. But when Dean’s life is threatened and a resistance looms on the horizon, the lie keeping Charlotte alive begins to unravel. She’ll have to break free, forge new bonds, and choose her own destiny if she has any hope of saving her sisters, her love, and maybe even the world. Because sometimes the end is just a new beginning.

Emily Monroe may be a lot of things, but one thing is for sure, she is NOT the Chosen One. Now that the truth about Emily and the Chosen One has been revealed to them, they are reeling and things will never again be the same for Emily at Big Burger. The Chosen One rebels, learning the truth about her family and the Mayor strips her of the mantle of the champion of Big City. While the new hero of the city, Mega Girl, makes dangerous decisions, the Chosen One must learn to be a normal person and get a new job.

In 2016, award-winning Minnesota-based photographer R. J. Kern made portraits of youth contestants at Minnesota county fairs. Each participant—some as young as four years old—had spent a year raising an animal, which they had then entered into a 4-H livestock competition. None of the youths who sat for him had succeeded in winning an award, despite the obvious care they had given to their animals. The Unchosen Ones depicts the bloom of youth and the mettle of the kids who grow up on farms, reminding us how resilient children can be when confronted with life's inevitable disappointments. The formal qualities of the lighting and setting endow these young people with a gravitas beyond their years, revealing self-directed dedication in some, and in others, perhaps, the pressures of traditions imposed upon them. Kern's beautiful portraits capture a particular America, a rural world, and a time in life when the layered emotions of youth are laid bare. Four years later, in 2020, Kern returned to photograph his young subjects. The most recent photographs show how the children have grown into adolescence or young adulthood: some of them have continued to pursue animal husbandry, while others have developed other interests. It is likely that some of these kids will not choose to continue running their family farms—an unpredictable and demanding way to make a living. These diptychs are punctuated by lush landscapes of the farms that are their homes. As Kern made the second group of photographs, he asked his young subjects what they had carried forward from their previous experience. What were their thoughts, their dreams, and their goals for the future? How would they fit into the future of agricultural America?

Kayla Green is a strong and powerful white witch by birthrite. Little does she know that there is more in store for her then just her mundane life of living with Steve for the sake of her three very talented children. Strange and powerful dreams (or so she thinks) occupy her mind most of the day while the children are at school. As soon as the new neighbors move in more things start happening that are way out of Kayla's control. A strange man named Artemis for one. Her family starts dying around her. Her life goes out of control. How will everything end up? Who all will wind up meeting an untimely death as Kayla walks down the path of her Unchosen Destiny.

Life in the twenty-first century is designed for comfort-just look around. We have upgrades for everything-airfare, tickets to the big game, and even our phones. But what's the real cost of comfort?

Everyone believes he's the Chosen One. They've made a horrible mistake. Cynical farmhand Nathelion Nightshadow could use a change of scenery. So when a madman claiming to be a wizard mistakenly identifies him as a hero foretold in prophecy, he eagerly plays along for a free and adventurous journey. But he would have stayed home if he'd known the flattering title came with such deadly baggage. Joined by a ragtag band of followers with more lofty ideals than common sense, Nathelion marches toward a noble destiny he borrowed for personal gain. But as they draw ever closer to the Chosen One's fate, the skeptical imposter begins believing in something bigger than himself. Especially when that bigger thing is an ancient evil that wants to sever his limbs. Will Nathelion's little white lie get his party killed and destroy the world? The Unchosen is the witty first novel in the Queen Beyond epic fantasy series. If you enjoy unlikely heroes, sweeping storylines, and madcap comedy, you'll love Simon Markusson's satirical tale. Buy The Unchosen to watch a peasant outsmart fortune today!