Question of Yams

by Gloria Repp

Kuri's father plants their yams in the usual way, except for one thing. He does not pray to the spirits. He says, "Behold, God is mighty," and he doesn't seem worried at all.

Kuri is afraid, because the Head Men warn that terrible things will happen. He wonders whether they are right.

After a while, the rains don't come and a snake bites him, and he wonders some more. Are the spirits punishing him and his family? Does he dare to be like Father? Does he dare to trust only in God?

Genres: Christian, Fiction, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Geography, School, 2nd Grade

67 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

About the author

Bedtime? Story time! Gloria Repp’s earliest memories center on the stories her father told at bedtime. “What kind of story would you like tonight?” he’d ask, taking her onto his lap.

She always had an answer, different every time: “About a princess. And a lion. And maybe a horse—a brave, kind horse.”

After she learned to read, Gloria found stories on her own, but the ones she told herself seemed the most satisfying. Her mother died, her father remarried, she was sent away to school, and on many nights she treated herself to another imaginary adventure.

She became an omnivorous reader as the years passed, and finally she recognized what she’d always wanted to do: write down her stories for children to read.

She studied the craft of writing juvenile fiction and then began. Her three children seemed to like her stories, so she took the long road to publication and found that others liked them too. Since then, she has taught creative writing, worked as an editor, and written more books—for children, teens, and adults.

Many of Gloria’s books reflect her love for wilderness, and she says that the oceans, mountains, and forests of her childhood in Hawaii and Canada provide an inspiration she has never outgrown.

Recently, she has been exploring the New Jersey Pine Barrens, an incomparable wilderness of woods and rivers, bogs and ruins. One memorable spring evening, she listened to its frogs and found them irresistible. Before long, the hours of tramping through abandoned cranberry bogs bore fruit, and she began to dream of stories about a tiny Pine Barrens Treefrog named Pibbin.

Pibbin’s adventures have taken shape, young readers enjoy them, and each year she goes back to the Pine Barrens for more. The Tales of Friendship Bog continue.

Reviews

[Angie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little story, based on a true incident, that I highly recommend! Although it's told simply and appropriately enough for kids, the strong and simple faith of these new believers stirred my heart and encouraged me. The depth of understanding gleaned from that one verse, "Behold, God is mighty," the determination to live life in all its phases for God, including planting yams "the Christian way," the willingness to stand strong against fierce opposition--all beautiful, beautiful lessons just as relevant to us in the West as to the Africans who inspired this story. <3

Content--talk of spirits and attempting to appease them (shown to be wrong); a boy is bitten by a snake

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, it is very simple seeing it's a child's book but it has an amazing message about the Lord that I believe it's for all ages!

[Kristin Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

a children's book based on a true story in Papua New Guinea

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved this one about a boy in Papua New Guinea.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, written for beginning readers in grades 1 and 2, is delightful as a first chapter book. I love Christian missionary stories and this one does not disappoint. Set in Papau New Guinea, a little boy named Kuri watches as his father listens to the missionaries and believes what they tell him from “God’s Carving,” the Bible. Kuri’s father decides to give up the gods which are believed to help the yam crop grow and trust in the Almighty God. He meets with resistance from the village leaders who predict punishment from the gods. And then, Kuri is bitten by a deadly snake. This story will show young readers what it means to live by faith and what it means to trust in God, no matter the circumstances.

[Daniel Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Know this one from the title. Heard it often at one point, but don't think I've read the book before. What probably happened is that my older brother read it, but then we changed curricula by the time I reached its reading level (2nd grade-ish?), and I didn't ever get around to reading it on my own... until now.

From the cover I thought it was set in Africa. It's actually in Papua New Guinea, not far from some of the other South Pacific islands I've been reading about. It follows the family of a young boy named Kuri (KOO-ree). The titular Question of Yams is whether the crops will grow healthily enough to be used in Kuri's favorite soup that his mother makes. The question arises when Kuri's father Amok decides to plant yams according to the customs of missionaries instead of adhering to his village's traditions. But hardships befall the family, and this book shows how they persevere through it all. Especially Amok, a prime example of faith in the face of adversity. Scriptures about Job, who remained faithful despite misfortune, fittingly accompany the text.

Kuri's family is the focus of this book. I think I wanted to know more about how the other villagers fared, because one of the hardships is a drought in the area. It seemed to me that the story ended well for all. I liked it!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book came with our homeschool curriculum, and my little boys enjoyed it. They easily could've read it themselves. It's perfect for early readers (big font, few words on a page). And it has a strong Christian message.

Our protagonist, Kuri, is a young boy who lives in an African village where missionaries have converted his father to Christianity. It's customary to pray to the spirits when planting your yearly yams, but Kuri's father prays to Jesus instead. He gets pushback from the village Head Men, who warn him that the spirits will blight his crop.

The book is about what happens to Kuri and his family. Does God come through for them?

I like that this book shows that, after becoming a Christian, your life isn't perfect, but you have God to turn to when tough times come. I also really liked how Kuri's father prays for the Head Men instead of expressing hatred.

This wasn't overly satisfying in the plot or character departments, but for a Christian kids' book, it stands above the crowd.

[Rosie Gearhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written at around a second grade level with large font and black and white illustrations, this children’s missionary story is based on true events in Papúa New Guinea. The young protagonist, Kuri, watches as his father defies the traditional tribal custom of praying to the spirits before planting his yams and instead prays to the Christian God. Over the course of eight short chapters he learns to trust God no matter the outcome. Though it does have a good ending, I appreciated the line spoken by Kuri’s father, “God will do what He wants to about the rain. Perhaps He will give us a good crop of yams. Perhaps not. He is the mighty One. But even so, I will not go back to the old ways.”

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's about a 3rd grade reader level of book. I was pleasantly surprised when they took a story about a boy and his family learning to trust God over the tribe leader and did so in a uplifting non-denominational Christian way. So often books are very obviously opinionated to the specific belief of the author and this one isn't. Regardless of which Christian faith you are a part of this is just a great story. My son loved it.

[Amanda Weeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

After disliking the first two books from my shelves by the same publisher, I was surprised to actually enjoy this one. It's a short, simple story -- but the simplicity worked in its favor. The message of trusting God wasn't preachy, and because it was based on true events the story was plausible. Meg picked it up and started reading it after I finished, so this one might be staying on my shelf.

[Nichole Ostrander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple missionary tales about trusting God to provide. I liked and want to read more about this story. As I this this story is simple and therefore missing a sort of flow. That being said it was cute story and I am glad that I read it.

[Dienece Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a missionary retelling of a boy whose father decided not to pray to the spirits before planting their yams. He prayed to God instead. A great book for introducing missions to kids and culture.

I loved this book as a kid and loved reading it to my kid.

[Linnea Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to Lincoln summer of 2018. Was not a hit. Too foreign.

[Becca Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great short story about a boy who experienced the power of prayer and turning away from evil spirits. It was easy-to-read and entertaining as a read aloud.

[Jamie Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my son's 3rd-grade homeschool curriculum.

[Coco and Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good!

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool book really short. Told about how a family found God.

[Sydney Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet but impactful.

[sillynichegirl sy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect level for my 4-6 yr olds. Read in one sitting because they wouldn’t let me put it down!

[Crystal Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book about the power of God that I read as a child and loved to share with my sons.

[6thbreed · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars)
A Question of Yams may have had the target age range of 6-7 year olds, but it has a wonderful truth and story that is applicable to all ages. There are mentions of evil spirits in the book, but it shows that Christ Jesus has complete power over them. Overall, an awesome read with an amazing message. 5 stars for younger readers.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I started in first grader with the class. I don't help everyday so I never got to read the whole story. I only read two of the chapters and wanted to know what the story was really about. It was about Kuri and his father. They had always believed in God's to help them with the planting of their crops. This is until the missionaries came to town and told Kuri's father about the one true God. Kuri was nervous because other towns people were threatening Kuri's family that he would make the gods mad and that bad things would happen. In all it showed who the one true God truly is. A great story about missionaries and trusting in God even though others around you don't.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in simple language, but still a very powerful story, we find out what happens when someone tries to change the old ways, and to follow God. For such a short book, there is quite a lot of action, and trying to keep to a limited vocabulary list never bogs down the story. A very enjoyable read!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was for a much younger audience than I, but it was still really interesting. I picked it up despite the audience intended, because it is a missionary story based on true events. It was worth the read.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of how one man's new faith in God changes the way he plants his garden and the repercussions of his choice. Some insight into missionaries and bible translators as well as the culture of a people in Papua New Guinea.

[Jamey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the short, but powerful story of a family who found faith in God and held on to it even amid the disapproval of their village. They had to trust in the Lord many times, but He ultimately came through for His glory.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We all enjoyed this quick read.

[Tom Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with a deep understanding of Christian prayer.

[Hillvan]

520L