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This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Somewhere to Belong from Bethany House (March 1, 2010) by Judith Miller

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Judith Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her novels, two of which have placed in the CBA top ten lists. Her first novel, Threads of Love, was conceived while commuting sixty miles to work each day. A co-worker directed her to Tracie Peterson who, at that time, worked down the hall from her. Tracie agreed to read Judith’s  story and directed her to a publisher. Since that first encounter many years ago, Miller has published  numerous books, novellas and a juvenile fiction book, and co-authored several series with Peterson, including The Bells of Lowell, The Lights of Lowell and The Broadmoor Legacy.

In addition to her writing, Judy is a certified legal assistant. Judy and her husband make their home in Topeka, Kansas.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Johanna Ilg has lived her entire life in Main Amana, one of the seven villages settled by devout Christians who believe in cooperative living, a simple lifestyle, and faithful service to God. Although she’s always longed to see the outside world, Johanna believes her future is rooted in Amana. But when she learns a troubling secret, the world she thought she knew is shattered. Is this truly where she belongs?

Berta Schumacher has lived a privileged life in Chicago, so when her parents decide they want a simpler life in Amana, Iowa, she resists. Under the strictures of the Amana villages, her rebellion reaches new heights. Will her heart ever be content among the plain people of Amana?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Somewhere to Belong , go HERE

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Last month, I had the opportunity to read Jantsen’s Gift, by Pam Cope with Aimee Molloy, which is in essence a biography that covers Cope’s journey through grief after the loss of her son Jantsen and how this led her to begin Touch a Life (see link under Cope’s name). It’s a very touching story with the occasional difficult paragraph, meaning in a few spots, we could have hit enter (paragraph breaked) a few more times, and with Molly’s help, you could well need the tissues yourself.

Of course, if you really love children, many, many paragraphs are difficult because much of their stories are heart-breaking, which is a credit to the writers, or perhaps Molloy, who like any good ghost, is nice and invisible in the text, which, if you understand how ghost writing works, creates a bit of dissonance when she shows up in the story line, as usually ghosts write the actual text based on often-verbally communicated material the author who hired them  provides. But the ghost keeps the narrative in her client’s voice even when she ends up a “character” in the story herself, and that’s to Molloy’s credit.

Without prejudice, there is some content some readers may find objectionable,  which includes some cussing (which is mild by secular standards), references to the consumption of alcohol, and the unavoidable, but potentially disturbing details of the horrors of childhood slavery and sex trafficking brothels.  If you have a weak stomach for such things, that’s something for you to consider. Otherwise, I think those are stories that do need told and the authors do so well.

Besides the topics already mentioned, if you’re interested in overseas adoption or concerned about the self-centered materialistic lifestyle that’s currently fashionable in the United States, or overseas missions, especially helping children, you’ll find this informative, edifying, and encouraging. Likewise if you’re struggling with grief.

The authors do a good job of moving the reader and convincing them of the need to act. My critique is that they may not do such a good job of closing the sale. Like many such books I’ve read, the reader is left wanting to do something, but not sure what to do, besides give money, and they shied away from coming right out and asking the reader to donate to Cope’s  non-profit, perhaps at the request of the publisher, I wouldn’t be privy.

My recomendations, unfortunately, can’t include giving to touch a life, as I am concerned about the references in the book to taking care of the children for the rest of their lives. If I understood the intent correctly, I believe this policy is harmful to the children and one of the many, many problems plaguing Africa.  Giving a handout to an adult is keeping that person a child and depriving them of their dignity. The proper path, which I believe the bible depicts,  is to provide him the resources he needs to fish (including fishing lessons) and therefore give him the dignity and pride of an honest day’s living.

Now, should we say, “oops, you’re eighteen now, nothing more I can do for you?” Of course not, but the goal should be to bring the child to a place where they’re able to take care of themselves. That’s what good old fashioned parenting is all about, after all.

Groups I give to and recommend, by the way, include Compassion International, an overseas child sponsorship program, and Kiva, which grants small business loans to impoverished families in third world countries.

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