The Bottom Line
Anne Kimberly's Dark Well of Decision is a captivating, inspirational fiction novel for young adults that's not only packed with adventure, but also carries a gospel message for teens. The main character, 13-year-old Zoe, wants to believe in the God of her grandmother, but like any adolescent, she's focused on her own awkwardness. It's not until she finds herself in a desperate situation, lost and struggling to get out of a well, that she realizes Christ is the answer.Pros
- Colorful descriptions and inner dialogue.
- Page-turning adventure, leaving the reader wondering, "What happens next?"
- Quick and somewhat easy read with only 139 pages.
- Contains the clear gospel message of salvation, as well as biblical principles and parables.
Cons
- Initially, it's hard to understand just what's happening.
- Perhaps a bit surreal for the average young teen.
- At times, you need to reread passages to understand the plot.
- Too much introspection in the beginning chapter--probably needs more dialogue.
Description
- Genre: Young Adult Inspirational Fiction
- Release Date: 2007
- Author: Anne Kimberly
- Publisher: Highland Press Publishing
- ISBN: 0980035651
- Format: Trade Paperback, 139 Pages
Book Review - Dark Well of Decision by Anne Kimberly
Then when all seems hopeless, she spots a tiny balcony on the wall of the well. It's then that the book shifts into an allegorical, science-fiction mode, and Zoe is rescued by a round miniature couple, Kristo and his wife Kitia. Instead of sinking, she, too, shrinks in size and enters their world of the Noahs, in the land of Jasper. Here she's warmly befriended as the tiny couple welcomes her into their cottage and their petite world. They calm her fears, reinforcing her grandmother's theology that it was God's plan for her to be there and that everything happens for a purpose.
Kristo and Kitia explain to Zoe that her family won't miss her because time is measured in a different way in their world, reminding the reader of one of Rod Sterling's old television episodes of TheTwilight Zone.
The couple takes Zoe on a tour of Jasper. I was especially touched when Zoe walked into the nursery where she saw beautiful babies that didn't cry because they didn't have a sin nature. This part, although dramatic, was confusing, as I struggled to figure out the purpose of the Noahs, wondering if they represented heaven or aborted babies who went to heaven.
Then, one day en route to help at the nursery, Zoe gets abducted and the forces of evil fight against her. After a struggle, she breaks away and magically reenters the real world of her home. But, while hugging her grandmother, she sees shafts of light from her favorite place in the woods. Again, her curiosity gets the best of her as she goes there to check it out.
This time she's led to a banquet table, piled with food, where at the end of the table she sees a beautiful red-headed woman, Sansannah, who seems to read Zoe's inner thoughts and fears. Though at first taken with the beautiful woman, she realizes that looks can be deceiving and again, wrestles with evil forces. In the end, she overcomes, much wiser in spiritual matters.
Besides also reminding me of the popular movie, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, where an inventor accidentally shrinks his three teenage kids, the novel brought to mind the character "Dorothy" from the 1930s classic movie, The Wizard of Oz.
Despite the saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover," the cover does lack professional quality and could be a factor in a potential reader not selecting it.
About the Author
Favorite Quote from the Book
"These things must be seen with spiritual eyes."Venice Kichura is a freelance writer and guest contributor for About.com. Besides writing articles, short stories, and poems, she's a pencil artist who also dabbles in watercolors and acrylics, as well as enjoys needlework, crochet, and knitting. Her main passion is ministering to both Christians and nonbelievers through the printed word. For more information visit Venice's Bio Page.
