Words are powerful and they really matter. They can reflect reality or create fantasy. Whether spoken or written, you never know how long your words will stay in someone else's mind. Words can uplift the spirit or diminish and belittle. Taste them before spitting them out into the world. Their ripple effect lasts long after they are spoken or written.
These times we are living through right now cry for people, all people regardless of their point of view on any topic, to understand the power of their words and actions.
So far, the reviews of The Chosen's Calling have been supportive, encouraging, humbling, and powerful. They have touched my heart and encouraged me to keep going. Here is one of the reviews:
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
As someone who isn’t particularly religious, I was initially skeptical I’d enjoy a “spiritual fantasy” set in the afterlife. I have never been a big fiction reader. However, the unique premise positing why kids die and how it could be part of a larger purpose was intriguing. The fact that it is largely geared toward the middle school set - an age group I have considerable experience working with - also piqued my interest. Appealing to that age group is a challenging needle to thread. The story itself is engaging and multilayered and the characters are complicated and well developed. The three protagonists are all imbued with unique personalities, gifts, and flaws. Indeed, as the story unfolds, the flaws of the main characters could often be interpreted as vehicles for moral development or even hidden talents masquerading as deficits - if correctly channeled. This is an especially powerful reminder and allegory for those on the cusp of or in the throes of early adolescence, who are so often riddled with insecurities and roiled by crushing anxiety. The imagery of the training ground of Heaven the author created is both vivid and idyllic and sure to appeal to anyone who appreciates a rich tapestry of imagination. As an educator, I like that the author made a point to integrate broad vocabulary. I also enjoyed how well researched the various symbolism, folklore, and wisdom that was sprinkled throughout. It is true that the story has a theistic foundation, but it’s more broadly spiritual than overtly dogmatic or endorsing of any specific denomination or sect. There are a litany of quotes, passages, and wisdom coming from a variety of religious traditions, holy books, and figures. This is not an easy task, but was navigated adeptly by the author. She clearly went to lengths to be inclusive and demonstrate the universality of not only virtues valued across cultures, but also of the sorrow and jubilation so innate to the human condition. If negativity and dystopian imagery are popular themes in Young Adult literature, The Chosen’s Calling is its antithesis. Parents and educators alike will approve of the positive and social-emotional learning lessons taught, that caring adults are always available to help and guide, and the great emphasis on our shared commonality. Youth will surely appreciate that the author does this gracefully and without being condescending or patronizing in the way teens so readily expect and bristle at. All will enjoy the moments of humor, an utterly endearing dog named Bruno, the action/adventure, and especially the deep emotions in certain chapters. I would challenge anyone to read through the Board of Insights (reviewing each of the protagonists’ lives, including their major mistakes, death scenes, and the subsequent effect on their families) and visitations without getting goosebumps or even tears. Those are moments of powerful, moving literature that are all to real to too many families. And that is, perhaps, the essential crux of The Chosen’s Calling: beauty can rise from ashes, and there’s a deeper purpose even to things that seem senseless. This may provide some solace to anyone who has suffered the loss of a child, sibling, or friend at a young age. Nothing can truly balm their grief, but this story surely tries. This novel, with its powerful premise, well-honed plot, complex characters, and vibrant world is deeply resonant and comes across as having the potential to be the start of a successful literary series or even film. As is the hallmark of any quality fiction, the reader is left wondering: what comes next?
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