Leslie

She would pack everything up, grab Penny, and go. But where? With no job, no home, where could she and the baby be safe? Would she have to keep running forever? And then, almost through a mist, she heard the voice of Steven Sawyer. “There are few neighbors… the house is in an isolated setting…” A vision of a rustic sanctuary rose before her eyes. But it was insane! She couldn’t do it! And yet, what choice did she have?

Book: Leslie by Jeanne Anders. Bethany House Publishers, 1987

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 18-25

Subjects: Showing love to others, compassion, honesty

Summary: Leslie will do anything to protect the baby of her dead twin sister. When she got word that her sister was gone and the father was in jail but planning to seek out the baby, she knew she had to hide. The problem comes when the doctor who sees Penny right after Leslie rescues her assumes Leslie to the one who neglected her and forces her to end her job – the only hope of providing for Penny. He also offers another option for her though – go and care for his aunt – with the condition that she not reach out to those around her. He wants his aunt to agree to move to the city with him – not find life again in the country. Leslie and his aunt both have too much compassion for the hurting to let it go that easily, but Leslie’s secret and Penny’s safety are at stake if she doesn’t.

Notes: This book is primarily a romance story. The series – SpringSong books is geared at teens supposedly, but the character is an adult – a young adult, but definitely not a teenager. The message running through it is compassion and God’s will. Steven and Leslie both have compassion on the hurting, but Leslie is eager to do something about it and Steven can’t quite get there. It’s kind of complicated, attempting to tie in forgiveness as well, in order to explain why Steven won’t go back and serve the community he was raised in that desperately needs his skills. Overall though it is good, the characters are praying and seeking God throughout the story, making for good role models. The mistakes they make are turned over to God for forgiveness and help in righting them.

Recommendation Scale: 4

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 25:40 - The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me".