Review of Karrie's Thorn

[Erin Dydek]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Karrie's Thorn" by Rev. Cheryl Kincaid.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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11-year-old Karrie Leary is not afraid to ask tough questions, but the adults in her life never know how to answer. Why did Jesus still have scars when he came back from the dead? Why is there so much suffering in the world? Karrie sincerely wants to know, and her life becomes a journey of uncovering the pain and beauty of Christianity. When the hidden abuses she receives from her broken family come to light, Karrie must cling to her faith as she navigates through the foster care system and searches for healing. As she realizes the pain and suffering of those around her, she discovers a way to share her testimony and reveal the truths she has learned along the way.

Prepare for a heart-wrenching coming-of-age narrative in Karrie's Thorn by Rev. Cheryl Anne Kincaid. I loved how this author captured realistic human emotion throughout this thought-provoking book. Behind each persona or façade, there was a genuine person, and I found it easy to empathize with their pain. Even antagonistic forces like Karrie's foster mom, Mrs. Wilson, had eye-opening stories that evoked sympathy when strong personalities could no longer hide their pain. I appreciated that the author portrayed each scenario with sensitivity, making complicated topics like rape and sexual abuse easier to discuss by showing readers the effects of the mistreatment rather than going into the graphic details. Kincaid never excused the drunken behavior of Karrie's father but painted a picture of his wrong behaviors through Karrie's reactions and lingering trauma instead of detailing specific encounters.

The supporting characters who helped Karrie through her journey were my favorite aspect of the book. Karrie's best friend, Lo'laini, helped Karrie develop her ability to protect herself, while Karrie helped Lo'laini become more compassionate. Best of all was the assortment of caring adults who spoke wisdom and guidance into young Karrie's life: Miss Dawn, Miss Sophia, Pastor Mike, Isabella, and many more. Each constructively influenced Karrie, helping her find her way and learn to stand firm in her faith. I also loved watching Karrie grow and overcome her setbacks with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ultimately, I was satisfied with where her journey had taken her, and I appreciated the inspirational moments along the way.

There was nothing that I disliked about the novel. Unfortunately, there were many lingering typos throughout the book. With significantly more than ten errors, I had to reduce the rating. The errors don't detract much from the readability, and the story remains inspirational and cohesive. Therefore, I give Karrie's Thorn three out of four stars.

I recommend this book to readers looking for a novel that explores human emotions and provides thought-provoking insight about why we all suffer various trials in life. The story highlights the pain that unites us all and uses Christian principles and scriptures to guide the reader along Karrie's search for answers. There were no profanities or erotic content, but the book does allude to the treatment Karrie received from her father when he visited her room at night. The writing style is soothing, and the novel reminded me of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. While Walls' book was a memoir, this book is fiction but provides an empathy-inducing story suitable for young adults.

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Karrie's Thorn
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[Lisa Park17]

Karrie's Thorn is an emotional read. Readers have a lot to learn from her experiences. The beneficial tips to heal are worth commending. I'll be picking up a copy. Well done.

[Sarah tianna]

This story is really intriguing and captivating. I know it's difficult times being a young adult, this is the phase where your strength is tested. I look forward to reading this book. Nice review.