Book Reviews by Elizabeth A. White

After a brief set up chapter, the story’s heroine, Shauna McAllister, is involved in a car accident that leaves her in a coma for months. Why is this relevant? Because Shauna’s father is one of the leading Presidential candidates and, prior to her accident, Shauna came upon information which, if true, would destroy everything her father has worked to create and derail his campaign.

However, after coming out of her coma Shauna finds herself suffering from amnesia; she doesn’t remember any of the potentially damaging information she was planning to confront her father with. Yet, during the course of trying to reconstruct her memories she has to deal with various shady characters who think she knows / remembers more than she does and who have a decided interest in her never regaining those memories. From the boyfriend she doesn’t remember, to the doctors who treated her with experimental drugs during her coma, to the uncle who seems to be a bit more than just her father’s business partner and advisor, Shauna’s every move is shadowed and she doesn’t know who to trust.

The “catch” of the story is that, as a result of her accident, Shauna discovers that she has acquired the ability to read and steal people’s memories. She first discovers this while kissing her alleged boyfriend (hence the book’s title), but later comes to learn she has to do little more than touch someone to utilize her new talent. Unfortunately this potentially interesting plot device is never fully utilized. The story twists and turns around on itself in an attempt to seem complicated, but really just spins its wheels with a main character who, even having a recent coma as an “excuse”, engages in far too many questionable – if not downright ill advised – activities.

I had heard such great things about Ted Dekker, but I was tremendously disappointed with this offering. Maybe co-author Healy had more influence on the overall tone of the book than he did and I should give one of his solo efforts another try, but this was not what I had expected.

Rereleased to coincide with the 10 Year Anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, Rachel’s Tears explores the Columbine tragedy through the prism of the incredible life of Rachel Scott. Rachel, who lost her life on that fateful April 20th, was a person of extraordinary courage and faith.

Everyone knows, or should know, the basic story surrounding the shootings at Columbine High, but reading about how deeply those fateful events affected a single family presents the tragedy in a different light, one that is incredibly powerful and, at times, painful to read. Rachel Scott was killed during the massacre at Columbine, yet she met her end as she lived her life, with a sense of peace, grace and acceptance, all made possible by her unwavering faith in God.

Looking back at Rachel’s journals, it is apparent that she was a young person of uncommon strength, confidence and faith. It is also apparent that as early as 11 months prior to the shootings Rachel had a sense that her time on earth was short… she actually wrote a journal entry stating she knew this would be her last year. Yet, she went on to thank the Lord for her time, promising she had lived life with a sense of urgency and purpose, getting as much as she could out of the time she had been given.

The overriding themes explored in this work, faith, forgiveness, and finding the strength to carry on in the face of unspeakable tragedy are unquestionably powerful. As demonstrated by Rachel’s desire to start a “chain reaction” of love by practicing random acts of kindness and compassion, as well as her affirmation of her faith in God even when literally staring down the barrel of a gun, they become almost painfully moving and life affirming.

Few ever achieve the level of peace and acceptance with their lives that Rachel did, nor do they experience such a purity of heart in their desire to be spiritual and establish a personal relationship with God… the story of Rachel’s life, and the ripple effects of it on all those whose lives she touched, is both humbling and motivational.