The Pursuit

“So what do I do, Aunt Gussie? I tried just having fun so I wouldn’t feel like I was going to explode, but that didn’t work. I tried to work hard and do everything right, and half the time that doesn’t work either. I can’t even do anything right with Hildy Helen and she’s my twin sister! Everything’s awful! I can’t be in the Argosy Club, I have to pay for the window, Maury Worthington is after me, I think Little Al’s going bad again, maybe, and Dad doesn’t seem to be doing anything about it – and I’m so scared!”

Book: The Pursuit by Nancy Rue, Focus On The Family/Bethany House Publishers, 2000

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 10-14

Subjects: Friendship, Crime, Relationship with parents and siblings, fear, growing up

Summary: When his aunt suffers another stroke, this time worse than the last, Rudy is specifically told to not take on too much responsibility. But his dad also gives all three of the kids more responsibility for things at home since his aunt is ill. When high school activity period club require money, Rudy is forced to get a job. But then an accident occurs forcing him to use his money for that instead! And this at a time when the economy is on the verge of a total collapse.  And as it turns out, the chore he is responsible for at home seems to be beyond his ability to succeed at. High school is much harder than elementary school and he is once more stuck with a teacher who doesn’t seem to like him. Hildy Helen seems to be crying all the time and Rudy can’t figure out why. Little Al keeps disappearing. A boy at school is out to get him. And if all that stress isn’t enough, the mob has decided to do away with Rudy’s dad once and for all and only Rudy stands a chance of stopping them.

Notes: This is the fourth set of books in the Christian Heritage Series. Each set focuses on a particular time period and tells the story of a young boy growing up in that time. This set is about a young boy and his twin sister who have been raised by their busy father since the death of their mother when they were babies. They and their father move in with their aunt in Chicago where they become personally acquainted with members of the mob, become more cultured, grow spiritually and learn about passions and the outpouring of them. In this book, Rudy continues to struggle with how much responsibility to take on as a child. He has to learn to trust Jesus with his fears.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Psalm 56:3 – When I am afraid, I will trust in You.