'Every Waking Moment' by Chris Fabry

At the risk of sounding trite, there really are some stories that stay with you after you read them, and Chris Fabry's Every Waking Moment is one of those books.  And while initially I was a bit put off by Fabry's changing the focus every few chapters---causing the font to change and the characters to switch-up, I soon became used to it.  It worked. In fact, it was necessary.

The story is about Treha, an unusual young woman who was abandoned as a small child.  After being raised in foster homes, she develops a unique gift which she puts to good use at the retirement home where she works.  She's able to make the hardest-to-reach residents to respond---to talk, laugh and comprehend her. It's almost magical.

What not clear, though, is how she does it.  Where does she come from?  How will the writer explain her physical disabilities? Why was she abandoned and what will become of her when her job is threatened? Turns out there's a mystery with a pharmaceutical company, tensions with a particular character in the retirement home who stirs up the residents and employees, and difficult situations concerning the sympathetic director of the home.  They all blend together beautifully which causes me to believe that Fabry gave his heart to the writing of this story. It couldn't have been written quickly and without great care.

It's very touching and I gladly recommend it.

(i received this book free to review from tyndale)