In her newest novel, Fountain Hills author Sylvia Burke continues to explore a young man’s journey to discover life, faith and family in the “City of Gold.”

2025: City of Gold follows the adventures of fictional teenager Daniel Jordan as he becomes part of the President’s Youth Council, a group of high school graduates chosen to redesign the country’s educational system, especially at the high school level.

Daniel, the main character, develops a gym-health program for teens, especially obese teens where they are given a trainer at the beginning of each school year who develops individual exercise and eating programs for each high school student.

The second novel in the series continues on the trilogy’s themes of changing America. The book’s setting represents a country that is becoming more global and secular, and overall less tolerant of Christians, the author said.

“It will challenge you to think about your own life, America, the world and the future,” Burke said.

The author describes her second novel as a “wake up book,” one that will motivate people to reflect on the current ethical state of America, including faith, morals and mass media.

As Burke’s second novel unfolds, Daniel meets fellow Youth Council member Lydia, who is involved with developing a video to be shown in high schools to help students understand and support the societal changes.

As Daniel and Lydia are confronted with making choices based on their faith or government mandates that violate their faith, they find themselves thrown into jail and likely facing death.

Through a supernatural escape from prison, the couple is on the run attempting to reach Canada and a safe zone.

The protagonist struggles with issues of self-identity and faith as he sees the world in which he lives battle between moral and immoral values.

The book has a powerful message for both Christian and non-Christian readers, the local author added.

She said fans of the popular trilogy and movie The Hunger Games have enjoyed her novels as they are full of “page-turning adventures.”

The author said that with the proper resources, she would enjoy turning the three-part fiction series into a video game or movie to express her message through a new medium.

Readers can look forward to the release of the trilogy’s third book later this year.

The final novel will reflect Burke’s knowledge on the end times, a Bible topic she studied for three years prior to writing the trilogy. In addition, readers can expect a surprise ending.

“Love…well, I don’t want to give away book three,” she said.

Burke has been married for 52 years and resides in Fountain Hills and Bozeman, Mont.

2025: City of Gold is available at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.