Book Write-Up: Here, by Jennifer Ball

Jennifer Ball.  Here.  Spring Hill, Florida: Revelation Publishing Company, 2014.  See here to buy the book.

Here is about two teenagers named Abigail and Joshua.  Abigail is a Christian girl with a sociopathic sister.  Joshua, like his father, is a womanizer, yet he attends church.  Their paths cross as a result of a dramatic incident, and Joshua’s life is not the same after that.

The book is in dire need of editing, in terms of style, grammar, and, occasionally, spelling.  But Jennifer Ball is still an effective writer.  Her prose is very detailed.  She was able to draw me into the story, as I wondered how things would turn out for the characters.  She also crafted likable characters, characters with whom I enjoyed spending time.  Abigail was sweet and silly, yet also wise.  Joshua enjoyed the pleasures of seduction but came to have more responsible views on sexuality, and he matured in the course of the book.

In one scene, Joshua’s girlfriend thinks that she is pregnant, and an unpopular Christian girl lectures her on how unprotected (and, sometimes, protected) sex leads to pregnancy.  In my opinion, that Christian girl would have done better as a Christian to have offered to help Joshua’s girlfriend during her pregnancy!  I cannot say that Christians lack love in this book, however.  I think particularly of Joshua’s mother, who made an act of sacrificial love for her son.

Things do not always go smoothly for Joshua, even after he finds the right path and finds his calling.  But he got to joke around with his Christian friends, who also provided him with spiritual encouragement.  This was an enjoyable book to read.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book through Bookcrash, in exchange for an honest review.