When this book arrived in my mailbox, I wasn't really sure how I was going to react to it. When I write a review, I normally prepare the header, information readily available from the book itself, and then begin the review. In this volume, the pages are not numbered; I had to count them myself. It wasn't so much of a job -- 13 pages of text, 13 pages of pictures, cover price of $14.95. At over a buck per text page, this has to be the most expensive book I've ever owned.

The focus of the book is a young girl named Sarah. She and her father are fond of working together in their garden, planting pansies and watching them grow. During these times together, her father has an opportunity to share some thoughts about faith and patience.

Sarah grows up, and begins to stray from her religious upbringing. Finally, she becomes pregnant. The question: what does her family do? How do they handle this crisis? Sarah's father remembers the lessons learned from the planting of the pansies, and embraces his daughter, and new grandchild, with a love that itself brings healing to the young woman.

If it all sounds a bit soppy, you're right, it is. The book is written by an adult, but it seems to be written for children. There is an economy of words (guaranteed by a mere 13 pages of text?). In a sense, this book is more an illustrated short story than a book.

But soppiness aside, there is at least one serious lesson taught here. As has been discussed recently in several venues, the idea of losing one's chastity, and the road back to wholeness, is in constant evolution within Mormonism. While it may have been an assumption on the part of the writer, there were no explicit confession and repentance on the part of Sarah. Instead, the father covers his family with his prayers and his desire for healing.

It is the embrace of Sarah's family, not explicitly her own desire for forgiveness, that brings about the happy resolution of the story. This was something of a surprise. It unites the entire family in the consequences of the act, and draws them all closer together. Good, as they say, came from a fall. I very much liked this scenario, and commend it to all who are living such a situation.

The illustrations, by Melissa Ricks, are competent, but not spectacular.

I have some doubts that many of these books will move off the shelves at $15.00. They should reach the remainder tables in short order.

Jeff Needle
jeff.needle@general.com