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Jesse
Jesse Savorié stood out at the all-white Alabama school known as Jesse Rulam Elementary not because he was dirt poor, or big, and not even because he was gifted in natural and supernatural ways. Jesse stood out because he was black in an all-white school, in a time when slavery was still believed and whites only mattered. The sheer evil meanness wrought by the people of the hick, red neck, Alabama town would have thwarted the plans of most humans. However, Jesse was no ordinary human. He was on a mission that was slowly revealed to him and those who were around him. He was faster, stronger, smarter, and especially, blessed. He used his mysterious abilities to help others and to teach hard lessons, the only lessons that some people can understand and learn from. Amidst the brutality and hatred thrown at him, Jesse shines in football and friendship. If only he can survive the hangman's noose and the forces of evil, his destiny may be realized, and his life may have miraculous effects upon the world he lives in. (Glen Alan Burke)
323 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
9 people want to read
About the author
Glen Alan Burke
3 booksGlen Alan Burke began his writing career doing biographies of deceased people. He has said that the best thing about writing about the dead is there are very few complaints. “If I ever do get complaints, “he has said, “it will be the subject of my next book.” He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance but now finds words much more appealing, and more malleable than numbers. Glen Alan Burke is from rural Northern Alabama.
"Hey everybody, let me speak personally to you a moment about who am I. I was born on a 500 acre farm in rural northern Alabama. I had an idealic Huck-Finish childhood with loving parents, so if I ever go postal in a mall somewhere it’s my fault not theirs.
I have three children, two beautiful daughters (they had a pretty mama) who are both teachers, and a handsome (he had pretty mama too) rugged son, who is trying to figure out what he wants to be.
I’m a Christian, and at a low point in my life after just getting fired as a real estate agent and wondering what I was going to do with my life, my daughter suggested that I try writing. So here I am.
I wanted to write something with a Christian theme, but not necessarily for a Christian audience. I have nothing against those books, except that I know exactly what’s going to happen and how they’re going to end.
So I’ve decided to write Christian based books, but for a non-Christian audience. They’re kind of rough around the edges, so be forewarned if you are a goodie two-shoes type. You probably will be offended. But what audience would Jesus tend to, the choir or the rough-around-the-edges group? So here I am."
talk@glenalanburke.com
"Hey everybody, let me speak personally to you a moment about who am I. I was born on a 500 acre farm in rural northern Alabama. I had an idealic Huck-Finish childhood with loving parents, so if I ever go postal in a mall somewhere it’s my fault not theirs.
I have three children, two beautiful daughters (they had a pretty mama) who are both teachers, and a handsome (he had pretty mama too) rugged son, who is trying to figure out what he wants to be.
I’m a Christian, and at a low point in my life after just getting fired as a real estate agent and wondering what I was going to do with my life, my daughter suggested that I try writing. So here I am.
I wanted to write something with a Christian theme, but not necessarily for a Christian audience. I have nothing against those books, except that I know exactly what’s going to happen and how they’re going to end.
So I’ve decided to write Christian based books, but for a non-Christian audience. They’re kind of rough around the edges, so be forewarned if you are a goodie two-shoes type. You probably will be offended. But what audience would Jesus tend to, the choir or the rough-around-the-edges group? So here I am."
talk@glenalanburke.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 27, 2015
I also found this book when I searched through the offerings at NetGalley. Though historical fiction was not one of my go-to genres, I was pleasantly surprised by what I read in this book. To be honest and fair, the book started slow. It took a few chapters to settle into the world of Matt, the character who told a large portion of the story, and the town of Jess Rulam. Once I reached the third or fourth chapter, the story gained its bearing and continued a steady pace until the final chapter. To say that I wasn't expecting anything akin to the ending would be an understatement.
As mentioned above, the author used first person point-of-view for a large portion of the novel to tell the story through the eyes of Matt, a young, white boy who attended the local school system alongside Jesse, the odd boy who changed people and things wherever he went. There were also a number of chapters which featured third person point-of-view in order to give more history on the events, the town or particular characters. Though the switching between the two distracted me from the story a time or two, I wasn't put off by going back and forth. More than halfway through the novel, it didn't distract me at all.
The characters began showing their depth around the same time that the pace increased. Because this novel was set in Alabama during the 1960's and 1970's, the racial divide was much larger than today. Yes, discrimination and violence against both sides were present in the novel, but used to move the story along and provide context about the town, the people's deep-rooted beliefs and how change scared everyone. True to form the children adapted to change much faster and handled the impacts better than the adults of the town. More profound events were necessary to get them to understand how divisive the hatred or disdain was to the town at large. By the end of the novel, each of the characters had experienced a change that left them much more complex than the beginning of the book.
Overall, I was surprised when I recognized the fact that the book was a retelling of a much older story. Once that realization sunk in, I had to know the ending of the book and whether it came close to the original or not. Different emotions came to the surface at different times. Anger when I read how some of the characters were treated. Sadness when I realized that most of the treatment was based on real experiences. Joy when I saw that people began realizing they needed to change. For me, this novel hit the right buttons for an thought-provoking, enjoyable read. For those who enjoy well-written, updated versions of well-known stories or a book which makes you think, then I whole-heartedly recommend this book.
As mentioned above, the author used first person point-of-view for a large portion of the novel to tell the story through the eyes of Matt, a young, white boy who attended the local school system alongside Jesse, the odd boy who changed people and things wherever he went. There were also a number of chapters which featured third person point-of-view in order to give more history on the events, the town or particular characters. Though the switching between the two distracted me from the story a time or two, I wasn't put off by going back and forth. More than halfway through the novel, it didn't distract me at all.
The characters began showing their depth around the same time that the pace increased. Because this novel was set in Alabama during the 1960's and 1970's, the racial divide was much larger than today. Yes, discrimination and violence against both sides were present in the novel, but used to move the story along and provide context about the town, the people's deep-rooted beliefs and how change scared everyone. True to form the children adapted to change much faster and handled the impacts better than the adults of the town. More profound events were necessary to get them to understand how divisive the hatred or disdain was to the town at large. By the end of the novel, each of the characters had experienced a change that left them much more complex than the beginning of the book.
Overall, I was surprised when I recognized the fact that the book was a retelling of a much older story. Once that realization sunk in, I had to know the ending of the book and whether it came close to the original or not. Different emotions came to the surface at different times. Anger when I read how some of the characters were treated. Sadness when I realized that most of the treatment was based on real experiences. Joy when I saw that people began realizing they needed to change. For me, this novel hit the right buttons for an thought-provoking, enjoyable read. For those who enjoy well-written, updated versions of well-known stories or a book which makes you think, then I whole-heartedly recommend this book.
January 14, 2015
I received an ARC of this book.
Refreshing, uplifting, a joy to read!
Refreshing, uplifting, a joy to read!
January 13, 2026
Genuinely what were the last 100 pages. Started so strong for the first 150 and then just LOST me.. how and why did it become one of those pure flix mega preach movies with absurd inexplicable things happening urgh
November 23, 2020
Brutal and breathtaking, heartbreaking and hopeful. Real life southern strife in the 60s-75 with a faith based undertone.
April 1, 2015
NOTE: I Received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Started reading, but didn't hold my interest. Too many other books to read....I might go back and try to read at a later time.
Started reading, but didn't hold my interest. Too many other books to read....I might go back and try to read at a later time.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews