Helpful Score: 18
Wow. I hated this book. I loved this book.
I hated the story. I hated that people like this exist/ed - her parents, the teachers, her older brother. Where do these people come from?
The writing was simply amazing. Julia has real talent and it shows. I had no idea the first sentence in the epilogue was coming. Tears sprang to my eyes for David, for what he had and what he lost. What a sad end of the book. Having said that, my copy had an interview with the author that made me feel better about it *laugh*
I was WAY invested in this book from the get go... she pulls you in, and even after it's over, won't let you go. I finished reading this last night and I simply couldn't come write about it until now. I needed time to think about it, to get over my anger at her teachers - and her family. Her parents... what horrible people.
I hated the story. I hated that people like this exist/ed - her parents, the teachers, her older brother. Where do these people come from?
The writing was simply amazing. Julia has real talent and it shows. I had no idea the first sentence in the epilogue was coming. Tears sprang to my eyes for David, for what he had and what he lost. What a sad end of the book. Having said that, my copy had an interview with the author that made me feel better about it *laugh*
I was WAY invested in this book from the get go... she pulls you in, and even after it's over, won't let you go. I finished reading this last night and I simply couldn't come write about it until now. I needed time to think about it, to get over my anger at her teachers - and her family. Her parents... what horrible people.
Helpful Score: 10
I read the book three weeks ago and I cannot get it out of my mind. Heartlessness and cruelty, all in the name of Jesus. Riveting. Harrowing. And somehow, the author is not bitter. The story is above all about love.
Oh my gosh! I read this in two days. Undoubtedly THE most depressing book I have ever read! Maybe it just hit too close to home for me since my son is African American, but how in God's name anyone could mistreat, hurt and BEAT children like those supposed "parents" did is beyond me. Poor David - what a horrid, sorrowful life that child had, and despite it all, he remained hopeful and relatively cheerful. It broke my heart. That this was done in the name of religion is abhorrent. That this goes on today in the name of religion is even more abhorrent. I am absolutely SICK from reading this. I will repost it, get rid of it and try to erase its horror from my mind, but I doubt I will ever be able to.
Helpful Score: 8
A chiller. A true account of a missionary family more intent on religious teachings than caring for the family.
Helpful Score: 7
A compelling book, but it was difficult to read through the awful stuff this author and her brother went through.
