Book Review – Awakening

Awakening by Claudi Cangilla McAdam

This is a small book (149 pages) that helps you to see the last days of Christ on earth “up close and personal,” through the eyes of a teenage girl.

To be honest, it took me a while to get into it. The last chapter, though, was brilliant (in my opinion). My 25 yo daughter, on the other hand, liked it from page 1.

In a nutshell, this is a story told by a teenage girl (Veronica) who lives in the present day with her mother. Her father and brother had been killed fairly recently. Her mother is a devout Catholic but Veronica is a skeptic. Through some trick of fate, Veronica finds herself, her mother and her close friends transported to Jerusalem, 2000 yrs ago. It seems that she had been born and raised in that long ago time and place, however, she remembers that she’s actually from the 21st century. This is indeed an interesting predicament to find yourself in!

As it happens, it is Holy Week in Jerusalem…the original Holy Week. Veronica meets the people behind the names we have all come to know, including Jesus.

This book is good for any age starting with about 12 years old. It’s target is probably about 13 through 16 years.  And, since it’s a story told through the eyes of a teenage girl, a young boy probably wouldn’t be too interested unless it’s read aloud to the family. It would be especially good reading during Lent as a way of visualizing how the events unfolded and what the people were really like…as well as why it all happened.

Have you or one of your children read this? If so, please let us know YOUR opinion.

Manya

This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Awakening.