The Atonement Child

By Francine Rivers
Tyndale House, $19.99

ISBN 0842300414


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Abortion issue challenges readers in Rivers's novel

Review by Karen K. Hiner

Raised in a loving Christian home, Dynah Carey has never questioned God's goodness. A student at New Life College, all her -- and her parents' -- dreams are coming true. She is engaged to Ethan Goodson Turner, the most eligible and promising ministerial student on campus, and is a top student herself. They will marry after Ethan graduates with honors in the spring. Then the unthinkable happens -- rape -- and Dynah's life will never be the same.

Dynah has always accepted the pro-life concepts her parents, church, and Christian college teach, but when faced with putting those concepts to the test, questions torment her. Why did God allow this to happen? What has she done to deserve this punishment? Will the people she trusts be there for her or simply offer to look the other way if she decides to have an abortion? What if she no longer fits neatly into Ethan's image of her as the perfect minister's wife? Will Dean Abernathy be more concerned with Ethan's future and the reputation of the college than the crucial decisions Dynah must now make?

Dynah asks advice of a minister, but he is already facing a lawsuit for advising another young woman, and refuses to tell Dynah what the Bible says about her situation. Surely, her parents will support her as she decides what to do, but Dynah's crisis brings up unresolved issues that threaten to destroy their marriage.

The Atonement Child gets a bit heavy with pro-life rhetoric as the author addresses almost every possible aspect of the abortion issue through Dynah's situation, as well as through the flash-back experiences of her mother, grandmother, and others. The grandmother's story suggests that abortion is not right even when the mother's life is in danger.

But The Atonement Child isn't just about abortion. It is about grappling with the issue of why bad things happen to good people. It is about trusting God in the most difficult circumstances. And it is about having the courage to do the right thing, even when others want you to take the easy way out.

Francine Rivers does a superb job of reminding the Christian community to respond not only with compassion to women facing crisis pregnancies, but also to help them find answers to the hard questions. Her numerous bestselling novels challenge readers to apply Christian principles to their lives.

Rivers received the Rita Award for best inspirational romance in 1995 and 1996. Her Mark of the Lion series has sold over 250,000 copies, and her more recent The Scarlet Thread sold over 75,000 in the first six months.

Karen K. Hiner is a reviewer in Spokane, WA.

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