I belong to the American Christian Fiction Writers book club and recently Something I am Not by Cher Gatto was chosen for our monthly read. It was a book I Could.Not.Put.Down. And one I haven’t been able to get out of my mind. It’s that strong of a book.
Here’s the back cover copy:
A father who never loved him…
A woman who stole his worth…
And a brother he couldn’t protect.
Where does someone run in the face of his deepest shame?
Billy McQueen works hard to keep his life together … and concealed. At seventeen, he dreams of an escape from the barroom, his father’s manipulation, and the advances of his father’s girlfriend. However, on his eighteenth birthday, Billy is introduced to a younger brother he never knew he had. An eight-year-old who is barely capable of navigating the corrupt world of his father’s boxing club.
In order to secure his freedom, Billy must fight for it. To save his little brother who is next in line for the slave trade … he must die for it.
SOMETHING I AM NOT is for anyone who has ever questioned who he is, why he is here, and whether the world would be a better place without him.
My take:
This was a powerful and relevant story. While published for the general market, it has a strong Christian message but isn’t preachy at all. It offers a look at how people grieve differently, and how easily we can be deceived.
I hurt with Billy as he suffered one loss after another. It is hard to believe there is such evil in the world as depicted in SOMETHING I AM NOT, but unfortunately, human trafficking touches all aspect of our lives. This book offers a sometimes gritty look into the slave market, but it also offers a message of hope. SOMETHING I AM NOT is a book that will stay with you a long, long time.
Leave a comment by Monday night telling me if you ever read edgier Christian novels, and I’ll enter you in a drawing for SOMETHING I AM NOT. Winner will be announced next Tuesday.
AND, I’m interviewing the author of SOMETHING I AM NOT, Cher Gatto, over on the Suspense Sisters blog. If you hop over there and leave a comment, I’ll enter you in a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card!
And the April winner of a book from my library is Tim Johnson!
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Comments 44
I haven’t read too many gritty or edgier Christian novels but enjoy quite a few genres so would love to try reading this book. Sounds like a good one.
Wow, I love the title to this book! It sounds like a touching book. The focus of human trafficking is usually focused on female so this sounds like an interesting point of view. The House on Foster Hill also deals with human trafficking and Terri Blackstock has a series that deals with drug addiction and rehabs. Thanks for the review, I’m hopping over to check out your interview.
Author
So glad you stopped by here, Jessica! I’ve read The House on Foster Hill, but haven’t read Teri’s books. Both are fantastic writers.
I believe the first book is called Intervention. In the author’s notes writes about how God pulled her daughter out from this path and the battles the family faced. It was very encouraging and inspiring.
Author
I’ll check it out, Jessica. Thanks for lookin it up.
Author
Mindy, this book will stay with you. Thanks for stopping by.
Author
It is, Mindy, and thanks so much for the lovely review you did of Justice Delivered! It is much appreciated.
This sounds like something I would enjoy reading. Thank you for sharing. Blessings
Author
I think you will, Lucy! Thanks for stopping by.
Author
I think you would, Lucy. Thanks for stopping by.
I read more than one genre and am not afraid to try something gritty. I have read The House on Foster Hill as mentioned above. Human trafficking seems to becoming a more visible issue these days. It would be interesting to read a male victims version.
Author
It was very interesting reading from the male perspective, Perrianne. Thanks for stopping by.
I am excited to read this book! It’s amazing to me all the areas of abilities that The Lord has given you!
Author
Thank you, Betty. And thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I don’t think that I’ve read a lot of edgy Christian fiction, but I’m not opposed to it. What one person may call mild is another person’s version of edgy. I do remember reading one of Lynette Eason’s Blue Justice series, and that one dealt with human trafficking. It was an excellent read!
Author
I remember that book, Karen. It was good. Thanks for stopping by.
I have not read much edgy Christian Fiction, but this one sounds good. Thanks for the info.
Author
You’re welcome, Jackie. Thanks for commenting!
I’ve read a few CF books that would be considered “edgy,” especially in suspense. This one sounds really good. I just read an interview with this author and already had the book on my mental “maybe” list. It just moved up a notch!
Author
It’s a deep book, Regina and I think you would find it hard to put down. Thanks for stopping by.
I recently read ‘Gone Too Soon’ and while not very edgy, it was very relevant in today’s world. This one sounds like a must read! Please enter my name in the ‘hat’. 🙂
Author
Betti, you are entered! I think Something I Am Not is a must-read! Thanks for dropping by.
I’ve read a few books of this nature. Some have seemed more for a general audience that dabble near the edge of a Christian message in the hope to draw Christian readers but there is no real Christian message. Others have a message if you can wade through whatever else the story might include.
Author
I agree, Edward. Thanks for stopping by.
lf edgy just means difficult topics, our church library has some of those. If it means language, etc., we don’t include those in our collection. We do have books on human trafficking on our shelves.
Author
To me, edgy is dealing with topics. I simply won’t read a story with curse words in it. Thanks for commenting!
I read a book years ago about a young woman caught up in drugs and prostitution, not of her own will, who feels hopeless and unloved until another woman introduces her to God. It has stuck with me over the years but I can’t remember the title. I believe it was a book written by Karen Kingsbury. Looking at her books it might be Divine. It was a touching book. Anyone have an idea?
Author
It sounds like a Karen Kingsbury, but I don’t know which one, Gloria. Thanks for commenting.
I’ve read some but not too many. Thanks for the chance to win this book.
Author
You’re welcome, Faith! Thanks for stopping by.
Actually, I consider your latest book, “Justice Delivered”, as being on the edgy side. I know there are many subjects that make us uncomfortable, but are worth gritting our teeth and plowing through. When presented in a Christian light, these can be very helpful to our social awareness, and even our faith. For that matter, there are some stories in the Bible that could be considered edgy.
Author
Thanks for the kind words, Tim. And thanks for stopping by!
I finished a Love Inspired Suspense by Jodie Bailey just this week called “Hidden Twin” that dealt with the heroine exposing a human trafficking ring. The first one in this series was “Mistaken Twin” and I’ve read both. Not sure if I have read what you would call edgier Christian books, because I tend to be very picky. I figure if something starts bothering me in a story, i can always put it down and not finish it.
As for “Something I Am Not”, I would try it to see if it’s something I’d enjoy 🙂 I’ll be popping over to the Suspense Sisters blog to read the interview. Thanks for letting us know, Patricia!
Author
Thanks, Trixi! And thanks for reminding me I have a post up at Suspense Sisters. It’s been a hectic two days. lol
I read and enjoy edgier Christian fiction.
Then you will enjoy Something I Am Not, Caryl. Thanks for stopping by!
I do enjoy reading some of the “harder” Christian fiction. Our Savior came to a dark and sinful world where slavery was normal and women were not treated with dignity and worth. So I think that the ugliness of human souls do not surprise Him.
Author
Jesus elevated the position of women which was radical in that time. And I often read the edgier books, too, Phyllis. Thanks for commenting.
For some unknown reason some of the Suspense Sisters blogs will not let me comment. But I enjoy reading edgy novels that deal with more real life situations because life is hard
Author
I’ll include your name in the drawing for the Suspense Sisters, Gail. I don’t know why that happens, either…it happens to me sometimes. :=)
To answer the question about reading “edgier” Christian novelists, I would have to say that sometimes I do and sometimes I have. A few types of “edgier” books are some by Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers and even Cara Putnam’s ; Delayed Justice. I usually end up crying during some of the character’s stories and I grieve for that characters pain. Life can imitate art at times and it is not always pretty. I guess the thing I gain most out of these “edgier” stories is a compassion and a grace that God reminds me all of us need every day. I usually end up praying for those in our world who are mistreated, abandoned, and hurt because the narrative has been so enlightening. As long as there is the hope of God in the midst of the novels drama, I can make it to the last page. 🙂
Author
So thankful for your tender heart, Diane. It’s a great book that prompts you to pray for victims similar to the characters in a book!
I thank you for taking on this dark subject matter. Katylee @ Cox.net
Author
Random dot org has determined you’ve won Cher’s book, Mindy! I’ll let her know. Thanks for commenting!