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    Words
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    Words
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    Words
    Ebook424 pages5 hours

    Words

    By Ginny L. Yttrup

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    "I collect words. I keep them in a box in my mind. I'd like to keep them in a real box, something pretty, maybe a shoe box covered with flowered wrapping paper. Whenever I wanted, I'd open the box and pick up the papers, reading and feeling the words all at once. Then I could hide the box. But the words are safer in my mind. There, he can't take them."

    Ten-year old Kaylee Wren doesn't speak. Not since her drug-addled mother walked away, leaving her in a remote cabin nestled in the towering redwoods-in the care of a man who is as dangerous as he is evil. With silence her only refuge, Kaylee collects words she might never speak from the only memento her mother left behind: a dictionary.

    Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury her pain by trying to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, Sierra's control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself.

    Brought together by Divine design, Kaylee and Sierra will discover together the healing mercy of the Word-Jesus Christ.

    Acclaim for Words:

    "First-time novelist Yttrup writes a riveting, emotionally charged story . . . page by page, word by word, this talented author proves the adage 'Write what you know.'"

    Publishers Weekly

    "Ginny takes us on a path from pain and struggle to joy and wholeness as her characters discover that the author of Truth is the way to freedom and healing. Sexual abuse may not be your story, but most certainly you will have someone in your life for whom this is a reality. Read it for them. Read it for yourself. And read it for those around the world who’ve yet to be set free."

    Barbara Wilson, author of The Invisible Bond

    "It's hard to believe this is Ginny L. Yttrup's debut novel. She beautifully and effectively weaves a story of trust, sacrifice, truth, new beginnings, freedom and unconditional love. Here are 334 pages of words that may very well leave you speechless."

    FaithfulReader.com

    "An astounding, debut novel. I haven't read anything this profound, inspiring and life changing since (Francine Rivers') Redeeming Love."

    Finding Hope through Fiction

    "Yttrup's journey of healing, redemption and faith is gorgeous, uplifting, difficult at times, but oh so beautiful and stunning . . . I loved this book."

    Fiction Addict

    "From start to finish Words had my heart and mind. I found myself thinking about the book when I needed to be sleeping. Author Ginny L.Yttrup has truly allowed the truth and the Truth to set her free."

    Live, Learn, Love

    "A captivating story with the message of hope and restoration . . . touch(ing) on a topic that makes me sick and boiling mad. Yttrup writes from the depth of her own life experiences and her stories will resonate with many women and provide hope for their pain."

    Five Star Books

    "This is the type of story that resonates with you long after you've closed the book . . . A powerful, moving story that readers will quickly connect with."

    Cafe Lily

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBH Publishing Group
    Release dateFeb 1, 2011
    ISBN9781433673368
    Unavailable
    Words
    Author

    Ginny L. Yttrup

    Ginny Yttrup is the award-winning author of Words, Lost and Found, Invisible, and Flames. She writes contemporary women's fiction and enjoys exploring the issues everyday women face. Publishers Weekly dubbed Ginny's work "as inspiring as it is entertaining." When not writing, Ginny coaches writers, critiques manuscripts, and makes vintage-style jewelry for her Esty shop, Storied Jewelry (etsy.com/shop/StoriedJewelry). She loves dining with friends, hanging out with her adult sons, or spending a day in her pajamas reading a great novel. Ginny lives in northern California with Bear, her entitled Pomeranian. To learn more about Ginny and her work, visit ginnyyttrup.com.  

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    Reviews for Words

    4/5

    89 ratings32 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The simple title holds such powerful truth. For in this book we find that young Kaylee seeks the memorization of words to escape the terrible reality of life around her - they are her voice when she is unable to speak. Words are her friends when she has none to comfort her. While Sierra a woman tormented by her own failures and shackled by her self-loathing and regret at her choices uses words to express in art her soul's deepest yearning and her heart's deepest fears.

      In a dungeon of anger, self-hate and unforgiveness Sierra has locked out others in her life. She is so blinded by her accuser that she can not see the free gift of grace and love lying at her feet, she can not hear it in her best friend's conversation or her parent's concern. She can not bear the thought of coming face to face with herself and her choices that led to the loss of the most precious gift given to a woman.

      Kaylee abused and neglected clings to her dictionary and reads the words soaking them up as food. They are her escape in the middle of the attacks perpetrated on her, they are her solace in times of loneliness, they are her comfort in moments of fear. She stores them in a mental file cabinet - a security blanket from the horrendous life of abuse she endures day after day.

      These two are drawn together by divine design. Their paths cross and The Word is released into their lives in His fullest power. For it is this Word (Christ) in whom freedom is found. Through the prayer and constant watering of the word Sierra is re-introduced to the Savior she had shut out and is healed and set free. In turn The Word is released in her life and overflows into Kaylees eventually leading to redemption and restoration.

      This is a highly emotional, well-written story. Although is specifically deals with sexual abuse and drug use I believe that the truth of the power of the Word is applicable to any woman with a wounded spirit - and their are many. Throughout the book the author points to the fact that The Truth sets us free. God's grace and love is so prevalent in this book that it would be difficult to read it and overlook God's great love and compassion for each of us no matter our past mistakes, our circumstances, those terrible lies spoken to us, or those things done to us that were beyond our control. It is evident that this author experienced God's grace first hand. She has done an excellent job at penning a story that is very healing to a shattered heart.

      Thank you B&H Publishing for this review copy.
    • 4/5
      Words by Ginny L. Yttrup Story I feel is about two in one. One is following Kaylee who is a child and being raised by a man. There is a lot of abuse and I love how this story meets the other story: Sierra.She's a woman who has lost a child and bonds with the girl and fears for her life when she finds she is not where she should be. They converse with each other but not by words.Love how her actions are able to save Kaylee and they bond further and are so relaxed with one another.Love how her mother is there for her and how she doubts she can continue with progress she has made with Kaylee.Super love the words Kaylee finds, the ones running through her head to avoid what is really going on with her and how it makes the days go by. She just wants her mother to come back to her.Like hearing of the plans of Kaylee's mother but she gets sidetracked....such struggles in her life.Glad to hear Katheryn's side to the story-hadn't expected it would be included. Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
    • 5/5
      I purchased this book last year and I finally decided to read it a couple of weeks ago. It’s a book that truly drew me in from the very first page. Sierra is a woman, who is a recovery drug addict, and has not yet forgiven herself for the consequences of her choices. While she struggles to find peace and truly give herself to God, she meets a little girl Kaylee. Kaylee is a special little girl and my heart ached for her as I read her story. Ginny Yttrup truly does a remarkable job in describing the emotions and thoughts of a little girl, who is absolutely broken. Kaylee is the little girl, who could easily have slipped through the system, since she is non-verbal and at times, seems unresponsive. However, God brings Kaylee and Sierra together through a series of events, and shows them His love and grace.Words is a book that will pull at your heart, have you cry for the pain and suffering Kaylee experiences, and rejoice when she not only finds her voice, but finds a family and self-acceptance. I absolutely loved this book and Ginny Ytrrup truly leaves no stone uncovered as she brings to light abuse, addiction, foster/adoption, and new beginnings.I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a great Christian fiction book, works as a family therapist or social worker with abused and neglected children, and addictions. It’s a fantastic read and deserves to be on everyone’s TBR list!
    • 5/5
      This was such a powerful book. Kaylee Wren is a young ten year old girl abandoned by her mother. She is left with her mother’s boyfriend. When the mother doesn’t return the boyfriend burns all of the mother’s possessions and most of Kaylee’s things. She is left there for him to do with as he pleases, and he does.Kaylee clings to a dictionary and two other books left by her mother. Two books “he” doesn’t know she has. She has stopped talking. She keeps her words in her head. This is the one place he can not find them and take them away. She is a survivor. As I read I wondered how she was still alive. She was hungry and dirty. She holds out hope that her mother will come back for her. She even tells her self that her mother has amnesia. This is how she deals with the situation.The imagery and use of metaphors is wonderful. The author uses the redwood tree and its resilience to explain how Kaylee is a survivor. In the story, when Kaylee can steal away from the cabin, she hides in the base of a redwood tree. She keeps those things she holds most dear in that tree. It is here that Sierra, an artist, finds her. The meeting of these two is not by chance. Sierra is dealing with the anniversary of her own daughter’s death. Twelve years earlier she had given birth to a daughter who lived only nine days. Drugs she took while pregnant was the root cause of her daughter’s death. Sierra has been running from the pain and from God for a long time. With Sierra’s painful past, and Kaylee’s current pain, only God could bring two dysfunctional people together to show how God can heal. Kaylee uses words to protect her and help her heal. Seirra dives into her art. She talked about building layer upon layer, yet after Kaylee entered her life she begins to peel away layer after layer of her past.It is proof that a person must deal with the past instead of holding it in, if they are to ever begin the healing process. Forgiveness must be given for complete healing. We see both Kaylee and Sierra dealing with their past. We also see that they have learned that dealing with their past through God’s helping love is so much easier. This is a book I highly recommend. Don’t let the topic of sexual abuse scare you away. The messages of hope, forgiveness, redemption and love are more than enough to combat the scary topic. This powerful book will take you on a rollercoaster ride you will not soon forget.
    • 4/5
      I finally finished a book I started months ago. Words, by Ginny L. Yttrup, started with a woman struggling with her past. Sierra, an artist who creates her works from the memories of her pain, is still struggling with the death of her baby daughter 15 years prior. She blames herself since at the time she was a drug addict and the baby died a couple of weeks after birth. One day while out hiking she sees a little girl. This child was out in the middle of nowhere and clearly uncared for. After many attempts at finding this child again she does find her and finds that the child is being abused.Kaylee, doesn't know where her mother is, but knows she must have amnesia or she would have come back to this cabin to get her instead of leaving her with him. She is able to find solace in her books, particularly a dictionary that was her mother's. Kaylee loves words and has a great memory. However since her mother left, she is unable to speak. She sees the woman with the dog when she is out by her special tree one day.That meeting led to Kaylee's rescue from the cabin and her eventual placement with Sierra. How this situation heals them both and not only do Kaylee's words save her, but The Word does most of all.Overall, readable, but definitely would land in the Christian Fiction section. At the end, the religious aspect seems a little thrown at the reader, as if it was a point that was going to be made regardless of where the story went. But, I enjoyed this title. Both of the main characters were compelling and well written.
    • 3/5
      This book kept me pretty interested throughout and ended up being quite a nice story. I almost didn't continue reading it due to the amount of religion, especially at the beginning (God is mentioned a lot in the beginning which can turn you off if that is not your thing). During the middle religion isn't in the story too much which kept me reading, but it does creep back in quite a lot at the end. The book has a good story and characters, and had potential to be very good if it took out some parts.
    • 3/5
      This book made me cry when I read it, I was so engrossed in their story. There's little Kaylee, who has tried so hard to be strong in the face of a childhood that no child should really have to live through. Her mother, for reasons Kaylee doesn't understand until close to the end of the book, has abandoned her. Her mother's last boyfriend burned everything that belonged to Kaylee and her mothers, that he could find, but wouldn't let Kaylee leave. He told her she had to stay, in case her mother came back, which Kaylee believed, more than anything. So she stayed with this man who neglected to pay the bills, who only occasionally brought food home for her to eat, who abused her emotionally, physically, and in other ways. Kaylee withdrew, refusing to speak to anyone, spending the days that she could sneak away hiding in the woods, and the nights cowering under her thin blanket, listening to him.And then there's Sierra. She has lived the past 12 years with the sure knowledge that mistakes that she made, when she was young, caused her own infant daughter to die, and she hasn't been able to let go, or get past that. Until the day she sees Kaylee, practically a feral child, in the woods. Kaylee's plight gives Sierra the chance to really help someone else, and together, the two of them heal each other (even if Kaylee isn't aware she's helping Sierra as much as Sierra is helping her).The book isn't perfect. The pace of the story stumbles from time to time, and the religious bits can get annoying if you don't want them. But it is heart-wrenching, in a good way, and worth the read.
    • 1/5
      I wasn't expecting the emphasis of this book to be Christianity. That for me just made it difficult to read and for the life of me I was pleased when it was over. Unless you have some understanding of the religious aspects of the novel - which are overpowering - you'll be lost in this novel. I was very interested in reading the story of the characters but that became a smaller aspect of the narrative than Christianity.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. The characters, the setting. And the author speaks in a language that makes you feel like you are there. Sierra is so kind and becomes so open, and Kaylee although she has been through so much at such a young age, is so strong, and the type of girl you want to hang out with. Despite not speaking, she really draws the reader, and everyone around her in. Also, I wish I could SEE Sierra's art. Pete is a giant teddy bear you just want to cuddle up with, and have him take care of you. It is set on the coast, so there is a lot of oceans, mountains and everything in between. And the author paints it with such vivid colors that I would like to go visit one day.Now I have thrown many a book across the room, when I found they came on too heavy too fast with Jesus. I felt was it forced on me. If you are a Christian, you don't need that, and if you aren't, it's just going to turn you off. This book did NOT do that, and it made it a pleasure to read, as it just built up slowly throughout. There was a little bit of a heavy moral at the end, but it came on slowly, and you could see it coming. Over all, I liked this book, and was sorry to see it end. Will definitely read more by this author in the future. =D
    • 5/5
      This book is intense. At times it is hard to read but you just keep going because you want to know what is going to happen. Words is so well written and the characters stay with you for a long time. I don't think I will ever forget this book and will probably re-read it at some point. I definitely recommend this one.
    • 5/5
      About the Book: Kaylee has been left with Jack, an abusive boyfriend of her mothers. She is only 10 years old and believes Jack when he tells her she can't leave as her mother will be back to get her sometime. She is repeatedly molested by him and has stopped speaking because of the trauma. Instead, she collects words in her head - words that she finds in a dictionary that she and her mother used to look at together.Jack leaves Kaylee alone for long portions of the day, and she is pretty good at remembering his work schedule - so even though she wanders in the nearby redwood forest she is always home before he is. She has found a safe haven in a burnt out redwood tree. In this tree, inside a circle of pinecones, no one can hurt her. It is here that she first sees Sierra.Sierra is an artist who has lived alone since the death of her baby daughter 12 years before. She had been a drug addict and her newborn baby, Annie, died because of it. She had been raised in a Christian home, but had wandered far off that path. She was still close to her parents, but refused to let go of the guilt and remorse of her daughter's death. It is on the anniversary of Annie's death that she thinks she sees the ghost of a little girl peering out of a redwood tree, when it is in fact Kaylee.Although she leaves that day without investigating further, with the encouragement of her best friend Ruby, she ventures back to the spot to see if it was really a little girl. She can't help but wonder what a little girl would be doing out in the woods by herself. Kaylee feels pulled back to the spot to see if Sierra will return as she had been crying and Kaylee is curious as to why. What neither one of them realize is that they are both being nudged by God towards each other. My thoughts: I really liked this book alot. Being a mom, I totally understood Sierra's need to find Kaylee and see why she was in the forest alone - and once she did, to follow up and try to learn more. You could feel Kaylee's struggle to speak, but also realize her reluctance is because she may have to answer some tough questions about things she doesn't want to talk about. It contains a great lesson in forgiveness and how God loves us, for us, regardless of what we might have done, and the importance of allowing God to do it His way, even when we don't think it is the right way.
    • 1/5
      For the life of me, I could not get into this book. I may have been held up by the fact that I never really enjoy Christian books - and wasn't expecting this to be one - but I just couldn't enjoy it. This is the story of a young girl who was abused and as a result became mute and a women who is struggling to overcome the saddness of losing her daughter in the past.
    • 2/5
      Like some other reviewers - I wasnt expecting a Christian themed book in the mail - but was interested in reading it because of the plot outline. I must say i enjoyed the book but will admit to skimming through the sections that i felt to be too preachy. However, it was all most too upbeat of a story considering the subjects that are adressed. The two main characters are quite believable but i feel that the plot was not. Everything was wrapped up much too nicely. I think the author wanted to tell a story showing that a person can overcome any obsticle - this can and does happen - but the plot would have been stronger if Yttrup had her characters struggle more with their problems
    • 4/5
      Words by Ginny Yttrup wasn't what I was expecting. As with all LTER books, I am always excited when the book arrives in the mail. It was while I was reading the back cover of the advanced reader copy I had in my hands that I realized I had requested, and won, a Christian novel. The premise of the novel still intrigued me and I like to consider myself open-minded so I opened the book and started reading.The story focuses on two characters - 10 year old Kaylee Wren and 34 year old Sierra Dawn. Kaylee's story is heartbreaking. She is living in an old, dilapidated cabin in the woods with her mother's abusive boyfriend, Jack. Kaylee's mom disappeared one day and hasn't been seen since. Kaylee thinks her mom has amnesia and doesn't remember that she has a daughter. As for Jack, Jack is a nasty piece of work that doesn't just restrict his abuse to verbal assaults or slaps. Kaylee lives in fear of when he returns to the cabin but she is afraid that if she runs away her mom won't be able to find her. In part due to the traumas she has faced, Kaylee no longer speaks. She is mute.The artist Sierra has her own inner battle - a heavy substance abuser during her college days but now clean for the past 12 years - she continues to blame herself for the death of her infant daughter, Annie. On the anniversary of the death of Annie, Sierra makes a trip up into the forested area where Kaylee spies her unobserved. This happenstance event turned this into a page-turning novel with Sierra reaching out to connect with Kaylee in the hopes of helping her and the sudden reappearance of Kaylee's mom. Told through alternating voices, Yttrup has done an amazing job developing her characters and presenting defense mechanisms victims of abuse rely on as coping mechanisms as well as the doubts people experience when they find themselves in situations that they feel are beyond their depths. Yttrup manages to describe the abusive situations poor Kaylee endured without going into necessary details. It is a disturbing enough topic to take in without having to deal with graphic details. I can see Yttrup's experience from working with women wounded by sexual trauma presented here in her debut novel. For a Christian novel, I felt that the the tie-in to to religion as a beacon for hope and guidance was kept to a minimum, expect for in the ending. Overall, better than I was expecting. A good first novel.
    • 5/5
      This book was AMAZING! Very, very good development of characters. I really felt connected to them. I loved little Kaylee and my heart just wept for her. I kept hoping she would just knock "him" over the head with a frying pan and run. In the beginning I didn't think I would like or connect with Sierra, but I did! I actually fell in love with her too. I thought this was a very well written book, very well put together, nicely organized if you know what I mean. It wasn't too long or short in places. Nothing was lacking. It seemed like everything was just right. I read the first 4/5 in one sitting (I couldn't put it down!) I read the rest the next day. This is a very heavily religious book. Lots of quotes from the bible, Sierra's faith in Jesus is what took her to the end and gave her the strength to help Kaylee. I read another review that said she didn't like it because she didn't know it was a "Christian book". That's one of the things I do like about it. Even though it is very strongly about faith in Jesus and "The Truth will set you free" it still does not feel "preachy" to me, it just seems like a part of the story. It feels like Sierra's strong faith belongs. And I can identify with that because that is the first thing I do when I am doubtful - Pray! This is a very clean (although it is about child abuse, sexual and physical, and may be upsetting to some people) Christian, faith based book. Thank you so much "LibraryThing Early Reviewers" for sending me this book to review! This is the best one I have received from them yet!
    • 5/5
      My Review: When I started this book, I knew that it is considered Christan fiction / contemporary, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The first thing I thought of was, oh I hope this book isn't anything like The Shack. I've read that book, and did not enjoy it whatsoever, so I was really hoping that this would be different. And let me tell you that Words is NOTHING like The Shack. Yes, Words is about about finding God and understanding how He works and finding the truth and therefore freedom through Jesus, but it was done differently. Words is about Kaylee, a 10 year old whose mother left her in the hands of a dangerous man. Kaylee doesnt speak, she just collects words. Also, Sierra, a 34 year old who is grieving the death of her daughter 12 years ago. The two complete strangers who have lived very different lives are brought together on the anniversary of a death, and together they will learn some of their life long secrets.Honestly, I could not put this book down, though at times I wanted to because my emotoions were all over the place. Reading the story and seeing the pain and hurt Kaylee has been through, though never really grapich was difficult.Everything about Words, the story and the characters is believable and honest and because of that you will feel so much toward the characters. You will feel sorry for Kaylee and you'll want to save her from the nightmare that is her life. You will feel strong for Sierra and will her to do the right things and choose the right path.Yttrup is writing at it's best, she is phenomenal, and this heart-wrenching book will pull at all of your emotions.
    • 5/5
      I stayed up to the early hours engrossed with this book and found it a very moving account of the 2 lead characters: a young girl muted by the abuse she suffers and a young woman still struggling to move on after her daughter died 12 years before. The 'words' of the title are evident in the internal dialogue of the minds of both, particularly Kaylee who has spent a large amount of time reading the dictionary and investigating words related to her own experiences, but was also tied in with the Biblical/Christian element of the story with ideas of redemption ever present.I do feel that this story may have elements that non-christians struggle with but I do believe that the gradual growth of the relationship with Sierra and Kaylee is beautifully told and thus I would recommend all to give it a go. For those who have a faith the added dimension may make the difference between it being a 3/4 star and 5 star book.
    • 2/5
      I should point out that I find it very difficult to give this book a fair and unbiased review. This is American Christian fiction, and had I known this earlier I wouldn't have requested a copy of the book. This is a story of the coming together of an abused young girl and an ex-drug addict, and the relationship which grows between them (under God). The plot is quite simple and, after the first few chapters of preaching, it's rather easy to see where this story is heading. Personally, I felt that Yttrup's conclusion (aside from being a bit too happy ever after for my tastes) didn't do justice to the weighty themes of abuse and recovery (redemtion) that she's attempting to tackle. That said, if it were possible to remove the incessant Christianity from this book, I think I would have perfectly enjoyed the story. Aside from a bit of clunky dialogue, Yttrup's writing isn't half bad for a first novel and the story moves along at a reasonable pace. Her main characters were decently fleshed out too. As it is though, I finished the book with a sigh of relief, feeling like I'd just been beaten over the head with a big Jesus-stick.
    • 4/5
      Well, not at all what I thought it was going to be. I had quite a wait for the book to arrive,(probably due to Christmas, snow and UK postage!) so in the meantime I have been reading reviews by others and when I found out it was Christian lit I have to admit I thought 'oh no', but was I ever wrong. Yttrup can write! I was absolutely hooked by Kaylee's story. She was the star of the book for me and Ytrupp has given her such an authentic voice. There are religious references throughout the book, and just ocassionally, especially towards the end, they verged on the intrusive - although there are only a handful of characters in the book, the quotes from the bible came from nearly all of them which I found unrealistic. However, do not let this put you off if you don't usually read books with a religious bent. The main characters are flawed and they are so much the better for this. Sierra in particular, even when she re-baptises herself finds herself struggling with choices that are clearly the wrong path.More than anything this is 10-year-old Kaylee's tale. Abandoned and abused she stops speaking, The reader though is privy to her thoughts, and they are heart-rending. The little girl with the giant vocabuary will steal your heart away. I could not put this book down, her story is abosultely harrowing. I could see this book easily making it on any general fiction bestseller list and would definitely recommend it to others. I love words almost as much as Kaylee does and this aspect of the book will appeal to everyone who enjoys a wonderful read and collecting words.
    • 4/5
      When I first received this book and saw that it contained religious content, I shook my head and thought to myself, "What in the world have I gotten myself into". Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-religion whatsoever, but Christian fiction isn't the genre that I typically read and I dislike books that are very "preachy". Surprisingly I did enjoyed this book and I was grateful to discover that while the religious aspect was definitely there, it wasn't as "preachy" as I thought it would be. It is easy to be caught up with both Kaylee and Sierra's stories (though more so Kaylee's, I had a bit more of a difficult time connecting to Sierra) and it is an extremely moving story. I am quite surprised at the emotion I felt while reading this book, I haven't felt such emotion since reading "The Lovely Bones" and "The Time Traveler's Wife". If the slightest bit of Christian references bothers you, then I would not recommend this book to you, however if that really isn't a concern, then I would say that this is a book that you must check out!
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book and found it a real page turner. The two main characters are both flawed for very different reasons, yet there are comparisons within their stories and their coming together is very moving. Ten year old Kaylee has been abandoned by her addicted mother. She lives in the most appalling of circumstances, where she is physically and sexually abused. Sierra lost her only child twelve years ago because of her own drug addiction. Now clean, she still grieves for her loss and blames herself for what happened. They meet by chance and their lives change forever.This is Christian fiction at it's best. It deals with difficult subjects and tries to find sense in our human frailties. I found myself totally absorbed by these two characters and Sierra's (and subsequently Kaylee's) reawakening to the peace and truth that belief brings. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      I was captivated by this story from the very first sentence. Kaylee and Sierra are both such broken characters that you can't help but wonder how (or if) they'll be able to heal. For anyone who has ever experienced feelings of emotional pain, guilt, anguish, Ms. Yttrup's descriptions will speak to you. I'm not an overly religious person so books of that theme aren't usually something I go for but this one fully kept my attention until the very end.
    • 5/5
      I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers on Library Thing. I found the book very easy to read, even though it deals with heavy and emotional subjects. The author uses the point of view of two primary characters to tell the story. One of the views used is Kaylee's, an abused child who was abandoned by her mother. The other view is from the woman who discovers and rescues Kaylee. The two point of views gives the story something different for the reader and at times is like reading two stories. The author effectively expresses the abuse suffered by Kaylee without being overly graphic and descriptive. This book is a Christian book with many references to Jesus and the power of healing through His love. The Christian aspects to the story line enhance the book and helps the reader see the journey the characters are on and the peace they find in the end.I really enjoyed reading this book and will be recommending it to others!
    • 5/5
      This is one amazing book! It is about a girl who is abused by her mother's ex boyfriend and a woman who had a history of drug abuse and how they turn each others lives around. The story could so easily have been overly sentimental and schmaltzy, but it wasn't at all. It was fantastically written, it made me cry, laugh and a whole heap of emotions. I can say it easily, but it's the best (and only - so far!) book I've read this year. I have a feeling it will remain as such for a good while yet.By the way, I'm not particularly religious, and I found that part of the story no more distracting than any other 'spiritual' books I have read.Very highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      I got this as one of November's ER books. I didn't realize that it would have religious content, and even though I'm not very religious, the content didn't bother me, or even really take away from the story in anyway.The story follows Kaylee, an abused and abandoned child, and the women who discovers and rescues her Sierra. Both character work through their issues together, and in the end find a peace. This book is best for those who enjoy Christian fiction, but if your open minded enough to read book despite that also, this one is a good one. I enjoyed it and I won't rate it according to whether or not I realized it was religious. Good story...makes you feel like if that little girl could push on after all that, that perhaps there is a higher power at work.
    • 2/5
      The premise of this book had potential, but I just could not get into the plot or the characters. Almost every chapter is told from one of the two main characters' (Kaylee and Sierra) point of view. Based on this style (hearing the story simultaneously from two very different perspectives) I expected pretty strong character development, but was disappointed. I didn't really feel like I "knew" either of them. The chapters were very short and not very descriptive. The other main factor that detracted from the book for me was the Christian aspect. I quickly tired of the biblical references and the reliance on God and/or Jesus to provide guidance and strength. You have to be a person of pretty strong faith to believe that prayer will get you through some of the deep emotional and physical trauma portrayed in this novel. It was a quick read and I was interested enough in the story to want to finish the book and get closure on the plot. However, I expected deeper development and more description to help me feel a stronger connection to Kaylee and Sierra.
    • 2/5
      Drugs are bad, child abuse is bad, Jesus is great. I received this book through Early Reviewers. I thought it sounded interesting - a story of a girl suffering abuse who didn't talk, but yet was obsessed with words - the simply irony appealed to me. Although it was listed as general fiction, it turned out to be a Christian book. Personally, this was quite a turn off. I expect that those who enjoy Christian literature will enjoy it. It is well written and the little girl's story is compelling, but if you do not enjoy books that end with the characters finding themselves saved through Jesus' words, then I recommend skipping this one.
    • 4/5
      This book was a surprise. It's not the usual subject I like to read but the further I read the more interested I got. Although it is ostensibly an account of an abused young girl this was not the impression the book left me with. This was about the regaining of faith in Jesus and using his strength to overcome adversity and the power of words even though not spoken.It is the story of a young woman (Sierra) who has lost a child of her own through her addiction to drugs and the healing process of finding a young girl in the woods who needs her help to escape from her abuser. A very moving story which also illustrates a love powerful enough to be selfless.
    • 3/5
      This is a powerful book that brings together Kaylee Wren and Sierra Dawn. Kaylee is a young girl suffering horrific abuse and neglect. Sierra is a torn woman, battling her own demons - the death of her baby due to drug abuse. Finding solace on the anniversary of Annie's death, Sierra drives up into a redwood forest and catches a glimpse of a scared, tiny girl. Feeling drawn to the girl, Sierra continues to go back to the redwood where she forms a bond with the silent Kaylee. Determined to help Kaylee escape the traumatic life, Sierra lets go of her guilt and lets faith take over.I didn't realize when I got the ER book, how much of a Christian novel it is. God and verse play a big part in the book, especially with Sierra. For me, this was a bit of a turn off in an otherwise powerful book.
    • 4/5
      First and foremost, this is straight up Christian fiction. It should not be listed as general fiction. The religion aspect gets very heavy-handed, especially in the last third of the book, and quite repetitive. The occasional quote or reference might have slipped by in general popular fiction, keeping a trust in God theme without it being overpowering, but the same lesson is hammered over and over to the point where it detracts from the story. Which happens to be a really good one. The characters are well-written. You feel that you know them, and mostly care about them in the way I think the author was striving for. Though occasionally the voice of the little girl (Kaylee) becomes too identical to that of the woman (Sierra) - even using the same phrases and inflection, which didn't feel quite right. I especially liked the character of Kaylee, and her obsession with words. Reading the dictionary and Emily Post as an escape from an untenable situation made her an incredibly likable and sympathetic character. Sierra was a little harder to like, she was a bit scattered, but I think that was the point. Maybe we were supposed to find her just as she was finding herself. I did question the machinations of the Child Welfare System - things seemed to move quickly and easily in a way I wouldn't expect to be true. Overall, it is a good story, a touching and moving plot, characters you want to root for, but if you aren't Christian or aren't interested in overtly religious themes, then you need to pass on this one.