What do you think?
Rate this book
Grace Interlaced
On Mother's Day Sunday, twelve-year-old Virginia had two little brothers. On Monday, she had one.
Twelve-year-old Virginia is the babysitter on Monday night while her parents go to help in a campaign plan to raise money for the Red Cross.. Big sisters often become babysitters at a young age. Virginia knew she was supposed to ensure the safety of her three charges, her two younger brothers and their pastor's toddler son. She watches a fire destroy her house, hears the gathering crowd's wild speculations, sees the firefighters' efforts, and wonders when her parents will return.
Virginia feels the consequences of having rescued only two of the three little children. She wishes she had died in the struggle to get them out. She clings to hope for all of them to be rescued and prays to a God she thought loved little children. The fire causes Virginia to disconnect from emotions, lose trust in crucial relationships, and build a protective wall around her heart. Only God and repeated interventions can break through grief, guilt, anger, blame, and fears.
Twelve-year-old Virginia is the babysitter on Monday night while her parents go to help in a campaign plan to raise money for the Red Cross.. Big sisters often become babysitters at a young age. Virginia knew she was supposed to ensure the safety of her three charges, her two younger brothers and their pastor's toddler son. She watches a fire destroy her house, hears the gathering crowd's wild speculations, sees the firefighters' efforts, and wonders when her parents will return.
Virginia feels the consequences of having rescued only two of the three little children. She wishes she had died in the struggle to get them out. She clings to hope for all of them to be rescued and prays to a God she thought loved little children. The fire causes Virginia to disconnect from emotions, lose trust in crucial relationships, and build a protective wall around her heart. Only God and repeated interventions can break through grief, guilt, anger, blame, and fears.
Audible Audio
Published May 14, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Heslinga
9 books79 followers I have written educational articles based on best teaching strategies, curricula for churches schools, and college classes, and done presentations at conferences national and international on cross-cultural communication and teaching. In eight different years, I trained teachers of English in remote areas of China. A series based on a common first question in northern China for a visitor is, Did You Eat? The first book in the series, China Sweet and Sour is out in 2025 spring. The second book China Spicy and Salty will be out in Nov. 2025.
I am on FB as Author Virginia Heslinga and also on a Business page, time2create.info and an individual page Virginia Heslinga.
Grace Interlaced, presents a memoir of a fire that happened at night in a house where a 12-year-old babysitter (me) took care of 3 boys, 8, 7, and 2. We might all have died. 3 survived.
My historical novel, Wounded Dove, reveals the turn of the century, 19th to 20th struggles of a young family from Denmark who settled in Worcester, MA. The polio epidemic of the early 1900s hit their family hard. Overcoming is a way of life, but even when life seems to even out and offer safety, heartbreaks and a predator require courageous action.
The Did You Eat series first book, China Sweet and Sour: 2004, invited readers to journey with an American teacher who is unhappy in job changes, angry at God, and looking for a constructive outlet, the wilder the better so she signs up to teach in a remote area of China. Beyond the Great Wall are stories of missteps, laughter, and transformation.
Virginia Heslinga serves as an Associate professor of Humanities for Anna Maria College of Paxton, Massachusetts in their online programs. She has worked for more than four decades teaching students, ranging from pre-school to grad school, alternative schools to home schools, from Appalachia to Inner Mongolia, Monterrey to Istanbul, face-to-face, hybrid, and online, ASL to ESOL, research, and creative writing. She has also mentored teachers around the United States and globe.
I am on FB as Author Virginia Heslinga and also on a Business page, time2create.info and an individual page Virginia Heslinga.
Grace Interlaced, presents a memoir of a fire that happened at night in a house where a 12-year-old babysitter (me) took care of 3 boys, 8, 7, and 2. We might all have died. 3 survived.
My historical novel, Wounded Dove, reveals the turn of the century, 19th to 20th struggles of a young family from Denmark who settled in Worcester, MA. The polio epidemic of the early 1900s hit their family hard. Overcoming is a way of life, but even when life seems to even out and offer safety, heartbreaks and a predator require courageous action.
The Did You Eat series first book, China Sweet and Sour: 2004, invited readers to journey with an American teacher who is unhappy in job changes, angry at God, and looking for a constructive outlet, the wilder the better so she signs up to teach in a remote area of China. Beyond the Great Wall are stories of missteps, laughter, and transformation.
Virginia Heslinga serves as an Associate professor of Humanities for Anna Maria College of Paxton, Massachusetts in their online programs. She has worked for more than four decades teaching students, ranging from pre-school to grad school, alternative schools to home schools, from Appalachia to Inner Mongolia, Monterrey to Istanbul, face-to-face, hybrid, and online, ASL to ESOL, research, and creative writing. She has also mentored teachers around the United States and globe.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 2, 2025
This poignant novel follows twelve-year-old Virginia as her world shatters in a single, devastating moment—a house fire that leaves one child lost and her heart forever changed. As the big sister and caretaker, Virginia’s sense of responsibility turns into unbearable guilt, and the trauma isolates her from those she loves most.
What follows is not just a story about tragedy, but a powerful exploration of how grief can silence joy, rupture trust, and build walls that seem unbreakable. Through Virginia’s journey, the narrative tenderly explores how emotional wounds often run deeper than the eye can see—and how healing comes not in a flash, but in slow, steady moments of grace.
What follows is not just a story about tragedy, but a powerful exploration of how grief can silence joy, rupture trust, and build walls that seem unbreakable. Through Virginia’s journey, the narrative tenderly explores how emotional wounds often run deeper than the eye can see—and how healing comes not in a flash, but in slow, steady moments of grace.
December 10, 2025
A sharp, unsettling look at a young girl crushed by a single moment that reshapes her entire world. The story captures Virginia’s guilt and emotional withdrawal with clarity, avoiding melodrama and focusing instead on the slow, difficult work of rebuilding trust and facing trauma. The spiritual thread is handled with restraint, showing how repeated nudges toward grace cut through the walls she builds. Brief but weighty, it’s a grounded portrait of grief, responsibility, and the long path back to hope.
April 12, 2024
This is a wonderful memoir of tragedy, consequences, reactions to grief and ultimately healing and forgiveness. Healing can be a life long journey as can forgiveness of self and others. In our current quick-fix mindset, society fails to give credit to or even try to work on long term solutions. I think the reader will find the depth of experience and emotions that can be found in such an approach.
October 16, 2023
Honest, inspiring, and encouraging look at trauma, loss, grief, spirituality, and thoughtful living written by a woman of strong faith. Beautiful in so many ways and although I am fortunate to know the author a bit this felt like a gift and I’m so appreciative of her sharing her life’s story and journey with us. A great read as well as a great resource.
September 19, 2025
This story grabbed me from the very first line. The author captures Virginia’s pain and guilt so vividly that you feel like you’re standing beside her watching the fire. It’s heartbreaking but also full of hope, showing how God’s grace can heal even the deepest wounds. A powerful and emotional read.
October 7, 2023
This memoir, written by a woman of deep faith, will pull you in on the first page. The author has lived an interesting life, influenced by a childhood trauma. Her story of living through the trauma, finding peace and forgiveness is inspiring and uplifting.
May 2, 2025
This book is a great read. It is a powerful story of tragedy, suffering, healing and forgiveness that is an example to everyone that is dealing with extremely tough circumstances. It is inspiring to see how ones faith in God can overcome even the most difficult of circumstance. Great Job!
December 19, 2023
I really enjoyed following Virginia's story...right to the last sentence. I couldn't put it down. This is a wonderful book of grief and healing and God's faithfulness in our lives.
April 4, 2024
An amazing personal story of loss, grief, grace, and forgiveness.
February 28, 2026
What this woman went through and how she survived it definitely shows God’s work and compassion.
December 18, 2023
A beautifully written book that shows how tragedy can shape the person you become! Virginia Heslinga is one of the most creative and caring teacher you could ever meet.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews