Like Dandelion Dust - Book Review

Book Review: Like Dandelion Dust
Author: Karen Kingsbury
2006: Center Street Publishers

Karen Kingsbury is a popular and respected author of Christian fiction. She has a way of creating a drama and presenting the basic human need for God and Jesus Christ without being pushy or making the reader feel as if they are being whipped with the Bible.

Kingsbury's books are easy reads full of conflict that ultimately lead to peace, regardless of the circumstances. I believe her books can be enjoyed by Christians and non-believers alike. She knows how to write an engaging story, especially for women.

Like Dandelion Dust is no exception.

Molly, Jack, and their young five year-old son Joey are living the ideal American life. Jack has a good job with an income that allows Molly to stay home with their adorable son and enjoy the best life in West Palm Beach has to offer. Molly is amazed every day at the charmed life she feels that she and her family lead.

Things only get better when Molly's sister Beth and her family move from Seattle, Washington to Florida. The sisters always dreamed of raising their families together and now their time has come.

The way Molly sees it, life couldn't get any better...until their idealic world is shattered. Joey was adopted, everything was final and legal as far as Jack, Molly, and the Florida court system knew.

It wasn't until Rip, Joey's biological father, is released from prison following a five year stint for domestic abuse that he finds out he has a son. His wife, Wendy, forged his name on the adoption papers to avoid raising a child on her own and keep the child out of the way of Rip's volatile anger.

When Rip learns that he has a son he challenges the adoption based on the forged signature and threatens to tear a precious little boy from the only parents he has known for five years.

Molly and Jack can't believe their world is falling apart. They can't imagine life without Joey; he is their son. They are the only parents he has ever known, but the legal system isn't working in their favor.

Your heart will break with Molly and her husband and you may find yourself fighting unfamiliar emotions as they struggle to find help or figure out what to do.

Molly's sister tries to direct her sister toward faith, but Molly and Jack have never put much thought into their relationship with God, and He doesn't seem to be working in their favor right now.

Get your hands on a copy of Like Dandelion Dust and you may read it cover to cover in one sitting. Allow Kingsbury to lay the groundwork in the first few chapters, then you will be hooked.

Like Dandelion Dust has been dramatized in a movie to be released September 24th. They couldn't have made a better choice for Kingsburry's first movie. I'm sure this will be a captivating movie.

If you plan on watching Like Dandelion Dust based on the Kingsbury novel I recommend watching the movie first. I have a feeling the movie will be good, but the book is even better. (That's usually the way it goes.)