Dandi Daley Mackall

I'M SO SORRY HOPE, the suspense was crazy in this book. There were so many times where the suspense was off the charts, to the point where I was sitting on the very edge of my seat. I had low expectations for this book but it turned out to be amazing!

This book is about a shy girl in a small town living a broke style life. The conflict in this book is about a murder that happened in town and for so long it goes unsolved and can’t figure out the culprit.

This book gives you a perspective of how it would be like living with a poor family and don’t have much to live off of. It also shows how a person’s spirit for family can go so far to protect one another. The only time it feels like they are safe is when they are together doing things as siblings.

This book is really suspenseful and for some it might be nerve racking. Because the main character and the other characters in the book really live with a life threatening lifestyle. For example, Hope has gotten followed, threatened, and chased throughout the story of the book. She also gets involved with a murder case which her brother is accused of.

I think the theme of the book is about the need to give extra care to the voices of the disabled. Because this boy who was accused of murder couldn’t speak, he also had a fidgeting problem that could lose control sometimes. So when he was accused of murder, he couldn’t defend himself in any way and was wrongfully accused of murder.

I recommend this book because it does a good job of making you want to flip the next page because you have to know what happens next and it’s super suspenseful so it keeps you more interested in what happens. Although, sometimes the suspense just isn’t enough, they contribute to the theme by still letting the reader know and learn about the characters and their lives. So, if you want to read a book that has a lot of suspense and surprises, this would be a wonderful book for you to read.… (more)

Summary: 40 reflections through the eyes of women who followed Jesus to the cross and witnessed the resurrection.

Through most of church history, when speaking of the company who followed Jesus, the focus is upon the men, either those who became apostles, or Judas the Betrayer. We hear less often of the women. There was a company of women who traveled with and assisted Jesus, including providing out of their means, showing hospitality, and crucially remaining present until his death, and coming to his tomb on Sunday to finish preparing his body, hastily buried. Notably, women were the first witnesses to the risen Jesus, and condescendingly disbelieved by the men until Jesus himself set the record straight.

In this book of Lenten devotions, Dandi Daley Mackall looks at the final journey, and a few other events through the voices of the women who encountered and accompanied him. We hear from Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus Susanna, Joanna, wife of Chuza, the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha of Bethany, and Salome (the mother of James and John) Each of the reflections are preceded by scripture related to the reflection, the reflections are two pages long and followed by a few reflection/application questions. The text is also broken up with well-drawn illustrations, mostly floral.

Some of the most moving for me are those of Mary the mother of Jesus, particularly at the cross. Through her, we hear the mockery of her son, and the stunned wonder with which she addresses a young priest, “Do you not yet understand the scriptures or the power of God? The Messiah comes to die for the sins of us all?” Mary thinks of how the Son, her sons provides for all humanity, yet wonders humanly how she will be provided for with him gone. Then Jesus speaks to her, “Woman, behold your son: and to John, “Behold your mother.” And she knows the Lord will provide.

I wish I could have gotten a review out before Lent (sorry Paraclete Press!). I’ve certainly been grateful for these imaginative yet biblically grounded reflections that help me appreciate the role of the women in Jesus’ life. If nothing else, get these for next year!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.… (more)