Writing that matters

pub. date: Nov. 12

This weekend, I dove into a stupendous ARC called ENDANGERED, by Eliot Schrefer. It's about a young woman who...well, here's the blurb:

The Congo is a dangerous place, even for people who are trying to do good.

 

When one girl has to follow her mother to her sancuary for bonobos, she's not thrilled to be there. It's her mother's passion, and she'd rather have nothing to do with it. But when revolution breaks out and their sanctuary is attacked, she must rescue the bonobos and hide in the jungle. Together, they will fight to keep safe, to eat, and to survive.

I LOVED this book. Not just because Eliot's writing is fantabulous but the setting is so rich, so different from my daily life and the lives of most Americans. The conflict is rooted in reality. It stands out in a YA field full of fantasy-drenched, royal-chosen-one MCs, wizards-that-rule-badly with zero basis in reality.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy those flashy debuts with the jewel tone covers. Books like that make me think of blown glass Christmas ornaments, all snazzy and sparkly and glittery. They beckon me to indulge in a world entirely of a talented author's making.

But they're not real. And while it's great to escape occasionally, I don't want to escape all the time. There are plenty of amazing, gut-wrenching stories happening right outside my door. Stories of redemption and love, of hatred and betrayal, of faith and perseverance. Stories based in reality that inspire us - and our readers - to pay more attention, become educated, get involved where we can.

• Katie Davis was eighteen years old  when she visited Uganda for the first time. Shocked by the devastation caused by AIDS, she started an orphanage. She's adopted thirteen (13!) daughters. And she wrote a book called Kisses from Katie. She did all this before she turned 22.
• Four years ago, a group of middle school girls banded together to create One is Greater than None. Inspired by an Oprah show about Ghanese kids being sold for $20, they made it their goal to sponsor, provide medical supplies and raise awareness of this tragedy.
• Winter Vinecki was nine when her dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. She launched a noprofit to help her raise money for prostate research, eventually netting more than $100,000. Her dad died; she continues to use social media to attract athletes to Team Winter by competing in triathlons and races. Last year, athletes on her team raised $250,000.
• The family who lives with the threat of polycystic kidney disease, which is so embedded in their DNA, their ancestry is studded with early deaths. A genetic test can either free them, or signal a life complicated by medical issues.

As writers, it should be part of our mission to tell stories like these because they've got all the elements of great fiction: tension, conflict, life-or-death choices, character development. I'm challenging myself to use what tiny talent I have to construct more than fairy tales. To seek out the truth. To write stories that impact and reflect the real world.

Have a great week.

Books that make me thankful

I'm getting a jump on Thanksgiving by posting some great book recommendations early. This time next week I'll be roasting on a beach in Cancun consuming a pile of mind-candy (ie paperback novels) in between reacquainting myself with my niece and nephews. Oh, and eating enormous amounts of food, snorkeling and touring Chichen Itza. Sounds like paradise, right? I hope so.

Peace Like A River by Leif Enger. The story follows the saga of Reuben Land's family as they deal with the aftermath of Davy Land's retribution against the town bullies. MC Reuben narrates his father's unique faith, his sister's storytelling ability and his brother's struggle with the law. Enger's writing is flawless. His strong setting and character development will pull you in until at the end, reading it is a very sweet sorrow.

Blue Like Jazz by Don Miller. The subtitle of this book is: "Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality", informing you that Miller's essays encompass the deep questions of life. This book changed the way I think about my own faith by confronting the hypocrises in some evangelical circles in a gentle, logical way.

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis. When Katie was 19, she went to Uganda on a mission trip and came home determined to care for the orphans there. She started Amazima Ministries, adopted 14 girls and now heads a staff of international people determined to make a difference for the people of Masese.  This book is the story of her journey from high school graduate to a modern version of Mother Teresa. Every time I read her blog, I'm humbled at God's grace/ provision and Katie's courage in living her faith. Learn more about her here.

Sorta Like A Rock Star by Matthew Quick. Amber Appleton lives on a school bus (Hello Yello) with her alcoholic mom, teaches English to the KDFC (Korean Divas for Christ), routinely dresses her tiny dog, Billy Big Boy, in ridiculous outfits and manages to stay positive despite struggling with homelessness.  When Mom disappears, Amber's despair causes her huge collection of friends - society's misfits, rejects and other outcasts - to surround this amazing girl and her remarkable faith. Amber is one of my all-time favorite heroines, right up there with Emily Starr, Hermione Granger and Katniss Everdeen.

The Space Trilogy by CS Lewis. (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hidden Strength) I first read these books as a student at Oxford University and they're still among my favorite reads. Although the technology and space knowledge is dated (Lewis's hero goes to a Mars populated by various Martians) the unique way Lewis views mankind is not. One of the 20th century's great apologists, this series proves the Narnia Chronicles weren't the only stories Lewis had in him.


So those are my choices. What books have you read that make you thankful?