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Anyone who knows me well knows that I am not, generally speaking, a fan of (current) Christian fiction.  So much of it is shallow, self-congratulatory moralizing in a quality not always worthy of print.  In the case of Tom Davis’s “Scared: A Novel On The Edge Of The World”, this hardly the case.  In fact, finished the book last night (this morning) at 4 am, glued to every page.

Here’s the back cover copy:

Stuart Daniels has hit bottom. Once a celebrated and award-winning photojournalist, he is reeling from debt, a broken marriage, and crippling depression. The source of Stuart’s grief is his most famous photo, a snapshot of brutality in the dangerous Congo. A haunting image that indicts him as a passive witness to gross injustice.

Stuart is given a one last chance to redeem his career: A make-or-break assignment covering the AIDS crisis in a small African country. It is here that Stuart meets Adanna, a young orphan fighting for survival in a community ravaged by tragedy and disease. But in the face of overwhelming odds, Adanna finds hope in a special dream, where she is visited by an illuminated man and given a precious gift.

Now, in a dark place that’s a world away from home, Stuart will once again confront the harsh reality of a suffering people in a forgotten land. And as a chance encounter becomes divine providence, two very different people will find their lives forever changed.

This book is not for the faint of heart, portraying a reality that is graphic and heartbreaking.  As someone who has traveled widely for missions & relief work, I can attest that this book does not overstate the harsh conditions people live with worldwide, many of them easily remedied through responsible, compassionate relationship.  Though written as a work of fiction, Tom’s own first hand experience with poverty, AIDS and other human suffering add an authority and authenticity to the story that is much needed.

The book is available as a free download, but I would highly encourage you to purchase copies today- yes, I said copies, as you will want to give a few of them away.  This is a critical read for those who live in the comfort of our Western affluence, but genuinely seek to know God’s heart for His children worldwide.  Tom provides clear and helpful direction at the end of the book for getting involved responsibly.  I stress responsible involvement because, as those who have traveled to this regions know, well-intentioned Western involvement is not always helpful.  Tom & Children’s HopeChest are very aware of these dynamics, working to act with responsible compassion for lasting change.

While perhaps rough around the literary edges (as would be expected of any first time novelist), the raw emotion and realism of this tale will keep you turning page after page.  Please, buy it today and check out the information at the books official website.

Scared – A Novel on the Edge of the World from Children’s HopeChest on Vimeo.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pm and is filed under Books, Justice, Missional. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.