Category Archives: Faith-Based/Religious Element

Uncultured: The Children of God Cult

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Mestyanek Young grew up in the Children of God cult (often referred to as ‘the Family’). Her experience there is horrifying. Her childhood traumas are so numerous, it’s hard to understand how the cult even exists. Why don’t its members run the other way? Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Crossroads Pastor Chuck Mingo begins the work of combating racial injustice through the church after he feels called by God to do so and gives an honest sermon about his own experience with racism (he’s Black)—experience that most of the white parishioners don’t comprehend. Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Cherished Belonging is Boyle’s fourth book. Again, he looks at how love (“Cherishing is love fully engaged. Cherishing is tenderness in action.”) is our job, how it is active, and how it resolves troubles. And again, I am amazed at his capacity for cherishing, his ability to walk the walk of genuine Christian calling. Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

That Librarian by Amanda Jones

Posted on January 13, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

That Librarian is a memoir by Amanda Jones detailing the defamation and death threats she has had to endure after speaking in the public comments portion of a Livingston Public Library meeting in July 2022. She makes clear that her speech … Continue reading →

Posted in banned books, Biography/Memoir, bullying, censorship, Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The False White Gospel by Jim Wallis

Posted on January 4, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Wallis seeks to show, through scripture, that Christian nationalism is not Christianity at all, but simply racism with a side of misogyny. Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Circle of Hope by Eliza Griswold: Christian Mission

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

What does it mean for a church to be anti-racist? Is it simply to follow the example of Christ? Is it to explicitly work against racism by protesting police brutality (this is the period of George Floyd’s murder) and exploring the reasons behind the largely White makeup of the congregation? Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rift by Cait West: Christian Patriarchy

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

“This is a story of chaos, of fragmentation, hidden beneath the facade of a happy family. This is a story of escape and risk and making it all worth it. This is a story of psychological, emotional, financial, and spiritual abuse. This is my story of survival.“ Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

Sapphic Romance: Enemies to Lovers She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen came to my attention through an article in the Sojourners newsletter. Sojourners is a left-of-center interdenominational Christian organization that works towards social and racial justice.  I’m reading books … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who are the Helpers, Anyway?

Posted on June 16, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

A review of “The Well-trained Wife” and book challenge/ban news A Well-trained Wife A Well-trained Wife details Levings’ descent from strict Baptist to Gothard woman (think the Duggars) to Calvinist following the model of Puritan Jonathan Edwards. Levings quotes “Sinners … Continue reading →

Posted in banned books, bullying, censorship, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Grief, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Ash to Ashes

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

From Ash to Ashes by Krishna Tuli Arora is the story of an immigrant Sikh family in Long Island, New York during the 1990s. It moves through multiple POVs, but is centered on the life of protagonist Mira. I picked … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Multicultural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment