Kourtney's Book Review

Information:

Title: Like Dandelion Dust

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Publisher: Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Place & Year of Publication: USA, June 2006

Number of Pages: 361

Where I Found the Book: At my house

Story Review:

Rip Porter has always wanted a son. After he’s released from a five year sentence to prison (for domestic violence) he finds out that his wife, Wendy Porter, was pregnant when he was in prison. But she gave up their baby boy a few days after he was born because she was scared to be a single parent and because she didn’t want Rip to hurt him. But now that Rip finally knows about his son he wants the boy back and a judges quick decision makes it possible.

Little Joey Campbell is the sweetest little boy that Jack and Molly Campbell could’ve asked for when they adopted him as a newborn baby five years ago. Joey loves his parents and couldn’t have gone to a better home than there in Florida with the Campbell’s. He’s got everything a little boy his age would want. Including his dog named Gus. But now his biological parents want him back and there’s nothing the Campbell’s can do to keep Joey. Or is there?

Jack Campbell is a very successful man and very smart. He devises a way to get out of the country and hide somewhere with Joey and Molly where no one will find them, so they can keep Joey.  His plan goes smoothly and just when it’s about to work someone or something stops them.

Will Joey stay with the Campbell’s, the only family he’s ever known? Or will he have to go live with his biological parents? 

The book is titled “Like Dandelion Dust” because when the Campbell’s are thinking of their plan to keep Joey they see Joey pick up a dandelion and blow the dandelion dust (seeds) away. That’s when they decide to disappear like the dandelion dust. It’s also titled this because in the book both families (Campbell’s and Porter’s) learn that sometimes the greatest love is in letting go - like dandelion dust. The theme of this book is family issues that get thrown at us unexpectedly and how God can help us get through them even if we don’t think it’s possible.

Christian Perspective:

This book was written from a Christian perspective.  I think that Jack and Molly Campbell could’ve relied on God more as they were going through the custody battle but as the story progressed they started to see God more clearly in what was happening to them. The Campbell’s also had very close friends who were strong Christians, and that helped the Campbell's. But I’d say that the one who trusted God the most was Joey. Even though he didn’t understand what was happening he still had a strong faith.  And he always ended his prayers with “Gee this name, amen” instead of “Jesus name, amen”, because that’s what he heard whenever someone else said it!

My Thoughts:

I chose to read this book because it sounded like a good story and very interesting and I’ve read other books by Karen Kingsbury and I knew that she was a very good author. I liked this book because it’s about something that could happen in real life and how God can always help get us through it, and also because God and Christianity were considered important in the story. It was an amazing book and I couldn’t put it down! Karen Kingsbury is a very skillful writer who puts in good details. I would encourage others to read other books written by her! I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys reading because it’s a longer book, to someone who likes kids because this story is about Joey and he’s only 4 ½ in the story, and to someone who likes reading realistic fiction because this is something that could happen to a family in real life.