Finding Faith

by Terri Ferran

Kit Matthews tries to avoid thinking about God - and her unknown birth mother - altogether. She loves her family and is content with her life in California. That is, until her parents decide to move to Utah, the land of Mormons. New surroundings and culture shock do nothing to help Kit's social life. It is only with the help of Janet, a new friend, that Kit begins to adjust to life in Utah, as well as to the Mormon culture. Janet's older brother, Adam, is more than happy to befriend Kit, but when their feelings begin to go beyond friendship, Kit is torn. Does she really want to devote her heart to a boy who is going to leave her for two years to serve a mission for his faith? Can she support him when she doesn't even believe in his religion? As Kit looks deeper, she realizes that it isn't Adam's faith she needs to come to terms with - it's her own.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Christian Fiction, Religion, Romance, Young Adult, Lds

308 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Of course, I also wrote this book! There is a wee bit of repetitive rambling in it, but that's just my nature showing through! Read it, enjoy it, and then read the sequel, Having Hope, in April 2009.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't usually enjoy books that are too close to real life, especially religious ones. And some of the characters were kind of annoying. But the end was sweet, although could have used at least an epilogue. Too much lead up, then it just kind of ended. I'm just realizing as well that Claire was an unnecessary side story that we were left hanging on. It was just ok.

[Olivia's Bookish World · Rating 3 out of 5]

I typically don't read LDS fiction, but I enjoyed this book.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick light read

[Shayla Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not expecting the free flow of tears from my eyes at different parts of this book!

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm. What to say?

Rating 2.5

This was a very slow-paced story, with a lot of attention to day-to-day details. Some parts of the story are written as journal entires but the pace of the story and the detail level are also about like day-to-day journal entries. That can be good and that can be bad. I struggled with it, particularly initially. I kept waiting for something to happen or for important details to stand out so I could see where the story was headed, until realized all that WAS the story and the whole plot was basically Kit's conversion story. Time seemed to crawl by. The plot seemed to not be advancing pages and chapters on end--until it suddenly did. I do not think this is my type of pacing.

As already pointed out, the tension or conflict in the story is really Kit's learning about and reaction to the LDS church but told in such detail that usually I had to scan-read the doctrinal discussions since I am LDS and already know the doctrine. It seemed the story was intended for a non-LDS audience for all the doctrinal detail that was included.

The delivery of dialog seemed strange. Although the author said it was the Bridger way to deliver rapid-fire series of questions, everyone in the book talked that way. It felt awkward and I really believe the average person cannot hear a string of questions and remember the questions well enough to respond with a string of answers.

Goodreads has let me down once again in that this is a series and it is not labeled there (nor on the book itself) as a series. The story was OK, not something I liked enough to recommend nor would read again. Now I wonder, after suffering through one year of Adam's mission, whether I can just walk off and not read on. On the one hand, the one-year wait was tortuous. I feel I have invested a YEAR of my brain life in this. On the other hand, can I do that to myself again for the next year??Also, the next book's summary seems to go somewhat off this storyline/rut/trench (which seems to necessitate a book 3 to have full resolution). Whether to read on in the series or not, that is the question. I need some quicker resolution than I think I will find in book 2. So not up to that, although I feel I have the right to know how things turn out, after all I have "invested."

In addition to all this, would I even want Adam and Kit to end up together? I really came to like the whole Bridger family, even Justin. However, and even although the story is from her POV, I did not completely connect with Kit. I liked her just fine but was not her "champion" the way I want to feel for protagonists and like I felt for Adam's character, despite not hearing his POV--it was not his day-to-day, play-by-play that I was reading about--and he was often "off screen," away on his mission during book 1.

I guess I will request book 2 and see whether my curiosity has died by the time it arrives and I have read other things in the mean time.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forewarning: have a box of tissues handy, this is a tear jerk-er. Like the title would suggest this is a story of finding faith when the character and situation would least expect it. It is "churchy," but it was just what I needed as depression was closing in on me.
Kit is halfway through her senior year of High school when her family moves from CA to Mormonville Utah. The stories of the Mormon cult shy her away from reaching out and making friends, but she meets Janet anyway and they become fast friends. Janet is a wonderful example of Christlike love in the flesh and her example and those of her family and her older brother Adam help to bring Kit to the gospel. She struggles when Adam goes on a mission to CA leaving her for 2 years, but what is really hard is after getting over her birth mother literally "throwing her in the trash" her Heavenly Father's love for her and her acceptance of the gospel, she deals with the unexpected tragedy of loosing Janet and the questions of "why" haunt her.
She struggles with her faith in what she believes of a loving God that would take someone so good as Janet when she had her whole future ahead of her. She struggles with Adam's return for the funeral and then his leaving again. What she finds to keep in memory of Janet, a cross stitch of young girl kneeling in pray with the statement," When you can't stand, Kneel." puts everything into perspective for her. Then she reads, 1 Nephi 21: 14-16. She knew that her H.F. understood her because he knows that her birth mother forgot her, but knowing from her reminder of her scar from the accident that took Janet, the scars of the Savior for us remind him constantly of us individually. He will never forsake or forget us. In discovering this Kit's faith is solid again and she picks up Janet's act of monetary support of Adam.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually the second time I had read Finding Faith and I liked it even better this time!

My favorite part of this book is its inspirational theme. I thought Kit's conversion story was extremely well written and realistically portrayed. I find that too many LDS books use "sudden" conversions as the easy way to explain someone's faith. But this seems completely unrealistic to me. I believe that most converts, like Kit, have to struggle and work to grow and develop a testimony and that it doesn't necessarily blossom overnight. I loved seeing how Kit's relationship with God gradually changed over the course of the book and how exciting is was when she finally "found her faith". I think this story would be appealing and beneficial to anyone who is struggling with their own faith.

I also just really love Kit's personality! I like how sarcastic and sassy she is and how she doesn't put up with anyone telling her what to do. She is also extremely stubborn and funny, but in a good way. Terri (the author) thinks Kit may be too whiny in parts but I actually appreciate that I'm not the only one who whines!

In addition, the other characters were each unique and likable in their own way. I adored Janet and hope that everyone has that good of a best friend sometime in their life. I found Claire naively sweet in spite of her hard life. I liked Adam's brother who teased Kit to her limits. And of course I can definitely see what attracted Kit to Adam. He is confident and fun and completely loyal to her without being judgmental.

Finding Faith will make you root for Kit, laugh and cry with her, and definitely keep you wanting more!

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit that this was a nice, simple story. Very specific on the doctrine of the church and very detail oriented.

I did have a few issues with how the book was written. The characters were all a little bland. Everyone asked multiple questions, which I find quite annoying. Most people that are having a conversation ask a question and wait for the answer. Yes, it was said that Janet's family all asked multiple questions, but Kit's family did it too as well as almost everyone Kit talks to in the book.

I didn't like how Kit suddenly lost interest with her family after meeting the Bridger family. When I joined the church, I didn't stop spending time with my family and only spend time with members of the church. Her family had been so supportive of her in her schooling, making friends, getting a job, dating, and even joining the church. Once Kit met the Bridger's, they became these background characters that didn't mean very much.

And then there was Kit's conversion story. She seemed to get baptized because she couldn't think of a reason not to and because one of the sister missionaries teaching her gave up her own family for the church. Kit didn't seem to have a deep spiritual confirmation that it was the right thing to do. It didn't seem that she had a spiritual experience until the very end of the book when she realized that she needed to support her boyfriend on a mission instead of being selfish and wanting him to be home for her. She was that way from the time he left for his mission, not just after the car accident .

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first time author has done an excellent job of telling the story of a young almost 18 year old young lady that moves with her family from Ventura, California to Logan, Utah, where Kit's dad gets a job teaching at USU. Kit finds it hard fitting in with the "Mormon populace", but soon finds true friends with Janet and Adam, strong young stalwarts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When Adam leaves for Ventura to serve a 2 year Mission, Kit doesn't know if she can survive with Adam gone. With Janet and her older other brother Justin (just home from his Mission) they are able, along with Adam and the entire Bridger family, help keep Kit grounded and help to build her Testimony of the Gospel. She tends to waver in her faith when she's hit with a major trial, but when she remembers what Janet has told her, that "If you can't stand it, kneel," she is able to find that faith she needs. I really enjoyed this debut novel from Terri with two R's and am looking forward to her sequel, Having Hope, due next Feb. I highly recommend this novel to anyone that enjoys reading about a young woman finding faith in her struggles in finding herself.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it interesting how much this book speaks to me in terms of character, setting, and plot. Maybe it's because I've grown up in Mormon-dominated Utah myself and been surrounded by others of my faith pretty much my whole life. Kit's experiences as a so-called outsider were somewhat eye-opening. There is an unfortunate tendency in a culture dominated by one religion or one way of thinking to exclude outsiders but at the same time Mormons can be very welcoming as well. I was happy to see this in the Bridgers, the LDS family that takes Kit under their wing. This story feels very real with the ups and downs of growing up and finding one's own way in life.

This story is full of heart, family, and faith. There is a good amount of LDS doctrine weaved into the story but it doesn't slow the story down. I found the author did a fine job of explaining LDS beliefs in an understandable way. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a contemporary story about family, friends, and faith.

[Nasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a really good book, it kept me interested and i actually set my own record for the fastest time i have EVER read a book in, i read this book and 1 day and for me that amazing. im actually wondering if there is a second book to this one, i wont to find out more about what happen's to Claire, Kit and Adam and maybe justin they all sound like interesting characters. this book would hit the top 5 charts for mormon movies if it was every made into one. Terri Ferran is an awsome writter and i hope to read more from her.

[Emmeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so sad for me and it made me think of my best friend and if anything happened to her, i would cry myself to sleep everynight. I cryed like a baby just thinking about it. Even though the charecters don't even exist it seemed like i did and i wanted to talk to Kit. haha aint i weird?? I have never read a book having it me in first person and i really liked it because it makes you understand the character more and her personallity then it does 3 person. Beth--thanks for telling me about this book. I'm looking forward to reading the second one.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is told in the first person and for some reason, it really make it more personal for me. I felt like the story was being told to me by a good friend. I think it also helped (for me) that the story took place where I grew up, so it was easy to visualize these places and events. That being said, it's about a girl, Kit, who moved from California to Utah and is suddenly immersed in the LDS culture. I liked how she did things for herself and found things out for herself, not letting anyone push her into it.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is why I gave it a 3. I really felt like this book was good in the beginning, but became very long and drawn out, to the point that I was hoping it would end soon. If a book does that to you, the author has written too many words and said too little in those words. I appreciate the fact that there was conflict of finding faith for the main character. It wasn't so much that it took her forever to find it, it was the fact that the story line kept me uninterested after so long. I will still give her second book a try to see if she improves at all.

[Amber Ashton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this author's writing style. She chose to tell the story strictly from the first person, which felt more real. I also felt much more connected to the character in her book than other characters. Perhaps because she was a girl who was noticed for her brains, was tall, and happened to be studying accounting at USU.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is in the LDS genre and I would give it a 4 plus (for that genre)! The basic plot was not anything to crazy, but I laughed out loud for the whole first half of the book and cried like a baby through the end. I think the author did a great job of weaving everything together even though the story itself is rather simple.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was kind of predictable, but in a good way. Very LDS novelish, but that's okay...I enjoyed the "shocker" at the end, but I still want to know what happened while she waited for the rest of Adam's mission. Kind of left me hanging...oh, wait. I just realized there IS a sequel. Guess I'll have to read it!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a surprisingly realistic LDS fiction book. I don't usually read LDS fiction because most of it seems too far-fetched. I'll admit I didn't read the book cover to cover, but flipped through it to get an idea of all the plots and how they worked out. I liked it enough reading that way to follow up with the sequel, Having Hope.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a nice easy read. You find yourself caring about the characters including the whole Bridger family and you end up feeling like you're a regular friend of the family. Nothing out of the ordinary happens, it's a regular book about regular people, but you feel as though you know all of the characters personally in your own life.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I worried about reading a novel about finding faith. Having finished, I understand it came at just the right time. I needed to remember to look back to my own belief, faith and knowledge that our Savior knows and loves us. Prayer and faithful reading of the scriptures should be a constant in our lives. I hope that Kit & Adam continue their story. Excellent book!

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book!!!! Inspiring, Uplifting, Entertaining, you name it! My mom actually wrote the book so if you want a copy of it signed let me know!!! Seriously though, even if she wasn't my mom I would still love the book! :) REad it to find out what it's about people!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once i reminded myself this was a youth book I was able to enjoy it a lot more. The dialog in the book is very simple and had the effect of being cheesy instead of real. It did have a twist that I was proud off. But you can't complain to much about an easy read with principles.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh such a cute book, i finished it in a day i loved it. But i wasn't to found of the end i men it was good but i like it when they are like they all lived happily ever after and they tell how many kids they had or whatever but other than that is was good.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not much of a reader of LDS fiction, but this was recommended by my RS president...so I read it just to be nice. I actually liked it. It kept me interested (and awake -- which is always a plus). There must be another book coming, because it's pretty open-ended.

[Sunny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a great YA book, though adults may also enjoy it. I appreciated the reality of finding one's very own testimony, and how the author included the hard uncertainties, validating those who question.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished it and i luved it! i was a little hesitant to read it cause it looked pretty boring, but it is exciting and ROMANTIC(yes emmeli, and he sounds HOTT!) from the very beginning! I totally recommend it and can't wait to find the next! wheres the nearest library...? :))

[Sonia Webster]

im sooo happy there's finally a book on a missionary !! I'm waiting for one and he's home in three and a half months.. a book on a girls wait and boys (written like the book Flipped) would be awesome... but I do love this book (:

[Lisa E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical LDS fiction, but there were a couple things I didn't expect. Didn't like how things got wrapped up at the end, and how some things weren't completely wrapped up.