Books

'The Atonement Child' by Francine Rivers

Reviewed by Mary-Jane Donnellan

Contents - Apr 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: 'If Christ is not risen, then your faith is in vain' - Peter Westmore John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family to open in July 2001 - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World Former Townsville Bishop's admissions on liturgy practices - Bishop Raymond Benjamin Is Townsville the model for Ballarat's priest shortage? - Michael Gilchrist Archbishop Curtiss on implementing the theology 'mandatum' - Archbishop Elden Curtiss US parishioners more outspoken about church "renovations" - Zenit News Service Thomas More Centre Summer School 2001: "Building a Culture of Life" - Michael Daniel How to avoid banal, superficial liturgies - Bishop Kevin Manning Rights of unborn are inalienable - Archbishop Barry J. Hickey Tanzania's Father Winfried makes return visit to Australia - Martin Sheehan Letters: Melbourne RE texts (letter) - Barbara Chigwidden Letters: Sponsorship (letter) - Barry O'Brien Letters: Legal action (letter) - Chris Joseph Letters: Inaccuracy (letter) - Fr Michael Kalka PP Letters: Ambiguities (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: ACU Syllabus (letter) - John Kelly Letters: Stations of the Cross (letter) - Charles Bignold Letters: Good responses (letter) - Hyacinth Morel Letters: Dress code (letter) - Raymond de Souza Review Article: A 'silly book' from ACU professor of theology - Frank Mobbs Books: Keeping The Faith: Making a Difference by Wilson D. Miscamble - Michael Daniel (reviewer) JESUS - Jubilee Edition Video - Johanna O'Farrell (reviewer) Books: 'Contraception: The Hidden Truth' by Christine de Stoop - Katie Forster (reviewer) Books: The Apostles' Creed, Defend the Faith and other apologetics topics - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: 'The Atonement Child' by Francine Rivers - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse, by Roland J. Worth - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Reflection: Giving witness to the Gospel of Life - Rebecca van Rensburg

(Tyndale House, 2000, 375pp, S24.95. Available from AD Books)

With so much pressure in today's society, young people in particular are faced with a wide array of moral decisions. They can find themselves in situations in which they need to know the right thing to do.

All too often, however, decisions seemingly representing an 'easy' way out can impact on others in adverse ways.

The Atonement Child draws the reader into the life of a young woman, Dynah, whose faith plays an important role in her life. One day she is violated against her will and in time faced with the terrifying reality that she is pregnant. Faced with such a dilemma in her life, she has to decide whether to keep the child within her, or have an abortion.

Advice is plentiful - from the boyfriend, parents (with their own personal problems), her friends, her own - and in all this, she tries to hear the voice of God, amid the chaos.

The reader is taken on a roller-coaster journey with Dynah, as she is confronted with many issues, sharing the moments with her, her joy, her laughter, her frustration, the tears and her decision. "She is only a child herself" - yet see, the miraculous hand of God work, not only in her life, but in the lives of those she loves around her.

Mary-Jane Donnellan is a Melbourne Catholic writer.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 3 (April 2001), p. 17