“Loser.” The whisper followed him, but other voices answered back.
“Shut up, Taylor.”
He climbed onto his bunk, laid his head on the pillow and stared at the dark ceiling. Was his talent really that unusual?
You. Are. Awesome. The words echoed inside his head, each one emphasized as if Matt really meant it.
If I’m so awesome, why doesn’t Mom want me anymore? Why did dad leave?
Loser.
Book: Hear No Evil (Rustic Knoll Bible Camp) by Mary L. Hamilton, Hope Springs Books, 2013
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Boys 13-16+
Subjects: Divorce, stepparents, bullying, abuse, friendship, God’s Faithfulness
Summary: “I don’t want you living with me anymore, Brady.” And with those words, 13 year old Brady’s mom walks away, leaving him at camp, broken and confused. The week doesn’t get much better from there. Sure, Steve, the long time camper who is blind takes Brady under his wing and befriends him. The pastor speaks words of hope and a God who wants him, wants a relationship with him. But all along the way he has to put up with Taylor’s bullying, Steven’s pushing to perform in the talent show – and invite his mom, and his own tormented thoughts. How did he drive his mom away? What can he do to make it all better again? How far will Brady go to try to fix the brokenness and what will be the cost of his attempts?
Notes: Hear No Evil is the 1st in the Rusty Knoll Bible Camp series. The first book introduces a group of about six campers and each of the three books in the series tells the story of one of the boys at camp and experiencing life change through his experiences at camp and the nightly chapel messages.
This book deals with a kid whose dad abandoned him and his mom years ago and whose mom is now abandoning him as well. The character learns of God’s faithfulness to love him and never leave him. A very adult issue is also dealt with when an adult woman chooses to stay in an abusive situation hoping to be able to change the man. I highly recommend this book and the others in the series.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi
John 14:18 - I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Hebrews 13:5-6 – Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I enjoyed it!