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Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible
Experience the grit and grace of seventeen women of the Bible through creative first-person retellings of each persons story. This book connects preteen girls with the women of the Bible, showing them that they are created in the image of God to do mighty things in this world.
127 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2017
18 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Caryn Rivadeneira
58 books48 followersCaryn Rivadeneira is the author of seven books--for both children and adults. Her most recent titles include Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible and The Story of Noah’s Ark (both SparkHouse Family). Caryn serves on the worship staff at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church and is a proud member of INK: A Creative Collective and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Caryn lives in the near-west suburbs of Chicago with her husband, three kids, and one rescued pit bull.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 7, 2017
I didn't expect to find myself surprised, truly moved, and even in tears as I read "Grit and Grace." Too often women's stories are footnotes, summarized, or altogether skipped. In "Grit and Grace," Caryn Rivadeneira digs deep, telling stories that deserve to be told. She explores these girls' and women's lives and challenges in poetry, prose, and first person narrative. I loved it! My only wish is that this book had been out when my sons and daughters were younger. I think they would have a different (more appropriate, more reverent) view of the heroic women of the Bible. Like all good writing for children, this book doesn't force a message on readers, but invites them to ask questions and to practice empathy. Highly recommend!
July 22, 2017
I selected Grit and Grace by Caryn Rivadeneira for our 9 year old who is headed into the 4th grade. This selection is on par with her reading level and is written in a first person point-of-view. Usually, the character is telling her own story directly to the reader, yet in two instances it’s through a journal/prayer journal, and once in dialogue (Ruth and Naomi).
As I read I picked up on the following themes: God sees me, God can use anyone he chooses, God gives life, God gives strength, Jesus spoke to women, and women/girls have value to him. Even more, He invites us to sit at His feet and learn about Him. I liked all of these messages even if I didn’t always agree with the way the author told each character’s story.
I’ve long been a fan of biblical fiction for the way it provides a view into the culture and traditions of a time period. It does get a little sticky when an author attempts to capture the motives of a biblical character when they are not explicitly stated in scripture. The waters are further muddied when creative license deletes parts of the story (Esther), makes Mary Magdalene’s father out to be a drunk or suggests that The Samaritan Woman became a preacher. Do “Some people believe [The Bleeding Woman] followed Jesus to the cross and wiped his forehead as he was dying” as stated in the “Fast Facts” (pg 110)? I hadn’t heard this and it certainly isn’t in the footnotes of my study Bible. I’m also not a fan of books about heaven tourism and that’s the direction Rivadeneira takes Dorcas’ story. Lastly, who is Dorthy Sayers and what is her theology that the author should quote her so extensively?
Despite its beautiful cover and wonderful premise, Grit and Grace‘s execution left me with too many questions. It ventures beyond the bounds of a storybook and a little too far into fiction to be a solid devotional for our family.
Quotes
“I became a preacher that day at the well. And from then on, nobody cared how many husbands I’d had. They wanted to know what it was like to sit with the Messiah, to have him smile at me and drink from my cup.” The Samaritan Woman
“And yet, I was dead. I knew that. If I would’ve opened my eyes in this new place, I would’ve been surrounded by light. A light that fired up all your senses. Because I could feel it.” Dorcas
The Dorthy Sayer quote used. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7832...
I received this book at no cost from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
As I read I picked up on the following themes: God sees me, God can use anyone he chooses, God gives life, God gives strength, Jesus spoke to women, and women/girls have value to him. Even more, He invites us to sit at His feet and learn about Him. I liked all of these messages even if I didn’t always agree with the way the author told each character’s story.
I’ve long been a fan of biblical fiction for the way it provides a view into the culture and traditions of a time period. It does get a little sticky when an author attempts to capture the motives of a biblical character when they are not explicitly stated in scripture. The waters are further muddied when creative license deletes parts of the story (Esther), makes Mary Magdalene’s father out to be a drunk or suggests that The Samaritan Woman became a preacher. Do “Some people believe [The Bleeding Woman] followed Jesus to the cross and wiped his forehead as he was dying” as stated in the “Fast Facts” (pg 110)? I hadn’t heard this and it certainly isn’t in the footnotes of my study Bible. I’m also not a fan of books about heaven tourism and that’s the direction Rivadeneira takes Dorcas’ story. Lastly, who is Dorthy Sayers and what is her theology that the author should quote her so extensively?
Despite its beautiful cover and wonderful premise, Grit and Grace‘s execution left me with too many questions. It ventures beyond the bounds of a storybook and a little too far into fiction to be a solid devotional for our family.
Quotes
“I became a preacher that day at the well. And from then on, nobody cared how many husbands I’d had. They wanted to know what it was like to sit with the Messiah, to have him smile at me and drink from my cup.” The Samaritan Woman
“And yet, I was dead. I knew that. If I would’ve opened my eyes in this new place, I would’ve been surrounded by light. A light that fired up all your senses. Because I could feel it.” Dorcas
The Dorthy Sayer quote used. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7832...
I received this book at no cost from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 11, 2017
Two of the best gifts we can give our daughters: heroic role models and permission to ask tough questions. Grit & Grace offers both to young readers.
I loved this from the introduction: "My favorite thing about the Bible is that God gave it to us to be wrestled with and wondered about." Why didn't someone tell me that as a young girl with a LOT of questions?
I grew up in a tradition that valued accepting Jesus, and accepting the Bible as true, not something to be questioned. It also valued patriarchy, so the "Bible stories" I learned were of Abraham, Noah, Joshua, Joseph, Jacob. I didn't hear about Sarah, Deborah, Hagar, and other women in the Bible, their courage, leadership, strength--so I'm glad this book boldly tells their stories, in a compelling, well-crafted way.
I wish this book had been around when I was a girl--but I'm glad it's here now. Love the various angles the author takes with the stories of heroic women of the Bible, and the questions that follow each chapter are thought-provoking and encourage critical thinking, not rote answers.
I'd highly recommend this book not only for girls but for boys as well, so that they learn that the heroes of the faith are both men and women, young and old, rich and poor.
This would make a great book to read for family devotions, because of the excellent discussion questions that follow each short chapter.
I loved this from the introduction: "My favorite thing about the Bible is that God gave it to us to be wrestled with and wondered about." Why didn't someone tell me that as a young girl with a LOT of questions?
I grew up in a tradition that valued accepting Jesus, and accepting the Bible as true, not something to be questioned. It also valued patriarchy, so the "Bible stories" I learned were of Abraham, Noah, Joshua, Joseph, Jacob. I didn't hear about Sarah, Deborah, Hagar, and other women in the Bible, their courage, leadership, strength--so I'm glad this book boldly tells their stories, in a compelling, well-crafted way.
I wish this book had been around when I was a girl--but I'm glad it's here now. Love the various angles the author takes with the stories of heroic women of the Bible, and the questions that follow each chapter are thought-provoking and encourage critical thinking, not rote answers.
I'd highly recommend this book not only for girls but for boys as well, so that they learn that the heroes of the faith are both men and women, young and old, rich and poor.
This would make a great book to read for family devotions, because of the excellent discussion questions that follow each short chapter.
August 11, 2017
I read this book in my (lay, volunteer) role as spiritual formation director at our church. I thought I would skim through just to give it a thumbs up or thumbs down but instead I read it cover to cover in one sitting. I loved the way Rivadeneira used solid scholarship as a foundation for her imagination to fill in details about these women in the Bible. I also loved the different approaches each chapter takes with drama and storytelling taking turns. I even teared up at her description of Mary at the cross. I have recommended this book for the tweens at our church as a way to get them into the Bible and provide some fodder for discussion. And I should add that although this book is about women of the Bible, our 9-year-old son also really loved it. Highly recommend.
August 7, 2017
In the pages of this book, young readers will find real-life superheroes - brave women who met the challenges they encountered with creativity, honesty, and trust in God. Author Caryn Rivadeneira brings women like Hagar, Leah, and Esther to life with her lively, relatable storytelling skill. The book introduces readers to women who have met the same kinds of problems faced by modern girls (and boys!), and will inspire them to take on the challenges they face in their own lives with both grit and grace. Highly recommended!
January 17, 2018
Disclosure One: I was given a comp copy of this book for review.
Disclosure Two. I am not a Christian. I have, however, extensively studied Judeo-Christian mytho-poetic literature. I read a wide range of works regarding religion and spirituality. My interest in religion in general is on a sociological level regarding how religion is used to shape society. In particular, how religion is used to convey societal expectations on the adherents.
One of my fundamental problems with modern Christianity is that it so often refuses to acknowledge the horrible treatment of women in Biblical stories in any meaningful way. The same individuals so quick to condemn Muhammad’s marriage to Aisha don’t seem to have too much trouble with the rape of Hagar, for example. When the issue of how women are treated does come up, it is generally spun in a way that dismisses the behavior of the men and celebrates the women…obeying…and accepting what has happened as “God’s plan”.
And that ultimately is my problem with Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible. The fundamental “heroism” of half of the women presented is: horrible things happened to me, but in the end, it was okay because I prayed, and God gave me children.
The stories told in this book are important ones, as are the women depicted. The author notes that one of her reasons for writing this book was the severe lack of literature that focused on the women of the Bible available for pre-teens and young adults. Most of the available books for the age group focus on the male characters from the Bible, with the women left to the margins. So highlighting these women is a noble goal. But the trite, first-person narratives are so ridiculously presented as to be offensive on their face.
From the story of Queen Esther, immediately after explaining how King Xerxes had dismissed his wife for refusing to dance for his friends:
“And (I’m a little embarrassed to admit this-I hate to brag), one of the women they found was me.”
Yes, it is always something to brag about to be kidnapped from your home and forced to marry a madman. But okay.
A certain level of simplification is required to present these complex stories in a way that pre-teens will find engaging and accessible. However, the presentation is so hilariously oversimplified that these women are stripped of any real value. Only a handful of the stories demonstrate anything close to true heroism, such as Miriam risking her life by approaching the princess to help save the baby Moses.
The author apparently was aware of this problem from the start, as she points out in her Introduction that the lives of women in the ancient world were very different from our own. But instead of actually addresses this issue in a way that might truly demonstrate the genuine uniqueness of these women, it is mentioned more as a cushion to deflect future criticism.
This book should have been a powerful presentation of the women in the Bible who are so often pushed off to the sidelines. Instead, in too many cases, it is just another whitewashing of events meant to teach women subservience.
Disclosure Two. I am not a Christian. I have, however, extensively studied Judeo-Christian mytho-poetic literature. I read a wide range of works regarding religion and spirituality. My interest in religion in general is on a sociological level regarding how religion is used to shape society. In particular, how religion is used to convey societal expectations on the adherents.
One of my fundamental problems with modern Christianity is that it so often refuses to acknowledge the horrible treatment of women in Biblical stories in any meaningful way. The same individuals so quick to condemn Muhammad’s marriage to Aisha don’t seem to have too much trouble with the rape of Hagar, for example. When the issue of how women are treated does come up, it is generally spun in a way that dismisses the behavior of the men and celebrates the women…obeying…and accepting what has happened as “God’s plan”.
And that ultimately is my problem with Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible. The fundamental “heroism” of half of the women presented is: horrible things happened to me, but in the end, it was okay because I prayed, and God gave me children.
The stories told in this book are important ones, as are the women depicted. The author notes that one of her reasons for writing this book was the severe lack of literature that focused on the women of the Bible available for pre-teens and young adults. Most of the available books for the age group focus on the male characters from the Bible, with the women left to the margins. So highlighting these women is a noble goal. But the trite, first-person narratives are so ridiculously presented as to be offensive on their face.
From the story of Queen Esther, immediately after explaining how King Xerxes had dismissed his wife for refusing to dance for his friends:
“And (I’m a little embarrassed to admit this-I hate to brag), one of the women they found was me.”
Yes, it is always something to brag about to be kidnapped from your home and forced to marry a madman. But okay.
A certain level of simplification is required to present these complex stories in a way that pre-teens will find engaging and accessible. However, the presentation is so hilariously oversimplified that these women are stripped of any real value. Only a handful of the stories demonstrate anything close to true heroism, such as Miriam risking her life by approaching the princess to help save the baby Moses.
The author apparently was aware of this problem from the start, as she points out in her Introduction that the lives of women in the ancient world were very different from our own. But instead of actually addresses this issue in a way that might truly demonstrate the genuine uniqueness of these women, it is mentioned more as a cushion to deflect future criticism.
This book should have been a powerful presentation of the women in the Bible who are so often pushed off to the sidelines. Instead, in too many cases, it is just another whitewashing of events meant to teach women subservience.
August 19, 2017
True Grit’s Mattie Ross is one of my favorite female characters; so I was intrigued, especially in a book about Biblical heroines, when the author used the word grit first, then grace. I purchased it for my granddaughters, and yet as well written children's book go, this is not just for girls but meant to empower the women (and men) reading it with their girls.. First impression, this is unlike the version I heard in Sunday school or for that matter the one I was taught in women’s bible studies. It caused me to thumb through the bible to look more closely – always a good thing.
I have a thing for first sentences and Rivadeneira does not disappoint. Here are a few: The chapter about Leah begins, "I have a complicated family.” I burst out laughing. The Rahab chapter (certainly tricky to maneuver), “My house was a good place to hide.” Understatement of the year! And finally, in the one on my favorite biblical sister duo, Martha says about Mary, “Ugh. My sister is driving me nuts. Again.” I realize that is three sentences but it helps perhaps frustrated older sisters to de-saint Mary a bit and instead tells the true story of an annoying little sister.
Finally, I loved that Rivadeneira calls girls (and the adults reading with them) to be curious and ask questions about the women of the bible. When I read it to my granddaughters, I want them to see that they can be the grace-filled and yet gutsy girls God meant them to be.
I have a thing for first sentences and Rivadeneira does not disappoint. Here are a few: The chapter about Leah begins, "I have a complicated family.” I burst out laughing. The Rahab chapter (certainly tricky to maneuver), “My house was a good place to hide.” Understatement of the year! And finally, in the one on my favorite biblical sister duo, Martha says about Mary, “Ugh. My sister is driving me nuts. Again.” I realize that is three sentences but it helps perhaps frustrated older sisters to de-saint Mary a bit and instead tells the true story of an annoying little sister.
Finally, I loved that Rivadeneira calls girls (and the adults reading with them) to be curious and ask questions about the women of the bible. When I read it to my granddaughters, I want them to see that they can be the grace-filled and yet gutsy girls God meant them to be.
September 15, 2017
In Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible, author Caryn Rivadeneira steps into the shoes of fifteen women and re-imagines their stories. With a powerful foreword by Sarah Bessey, this lovely book draws the reader right into the lives of these women, so that you become part of their stories too.
I have to say that this book is so wonderful that I read it through in one sitting. Grit and Grace certainly deserves a place in the hands of your daughters, your sons, and on the shelf in every church library.
I have to say that this book is so wonderful that I read it through in one sitting. Grit and Grace certainly deserves a place in the hands of your daughters, your sons, and on the shelf in every church library.
March 21, 2018
Grit and Grace retells the stories of 15 + women of the Bible. The women are gutsy and brave but each story is unique. For me there is a lesson that each woman may respond to God's call in her own unique way. The "Think About It" after each story encourages meaningful reflection and the "Prayer Prompt" encourages growth in prayer life. Caryn Rivadeneira has written an inspiring book for girls that is a reminder that God loves them and has a purpose for them as he did these women of the Bible.
December 31, 2017
Caryn does a beautiful job of bringing these women to life with all their strengths, weaknesses, virtues, and flaws, and demonstrating the amazing work of God in their lives. She doesn't shy away from tough subjects, but she does handle them with the care and discretion appropriate for the age group. Best of all, I finished the book with a clearer picture of Christ and His awe-inspiring love and compassion. I will be recommending and giving this to families with young girls!
September 6, 2017
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. It is a cute idea for kids, I think the age is a bit limited because anyone older than 8 or 9 may think the book is talking down to them. I did very much like the idea of focusing on women in the Bible that may otherwise get ignored by modern conversation and religion. Good effort and I would definitely give it to a kid to read.
January 10, 2021
Great book for girls (and any person) to be introduced to midrash with these Heroic Women of the Bible. I appreciated how Caryn invites us to the lives of the women she presents. The questions at the end help us dig deeper and the prayer prompts are a good way to incorporate our own prayers into the stories.
October 6, 2017
Finally a great book about women in the Bible! This book was full of hope for me as a 25 year old finding her place in the world. And will be a book I recommend for young girls to read as well! I wish there would have been something like this book for me in mid Elementary school!
November 15, 2019
I thought it was a good book in the since it got me to think about how these women’s lives really were and what they went through. I just think it maybe was a little too dramatized to say it’s a “Bible book”. It does have some mature topics in it as well so wouldn’t recommend for young girls.
November 14, 2019
I have read, and given this book as a gift to several young women!
April 18, 2022
Wonderful! Short chapters of
testimonies of the
women of the Bible from first person perspective. My children and I really enjoyed this book.
testimonies of the
women of the Bible from first person perspective. My children and I really enjoyed this book.
August 21, 2025
I count myself blessed to have found this book, I had to dig around to locate it, but such a treasure.
September 16, 2021
What a lovely book for young girls about women in the Bible. The stories are embellished based on what life was like at the time, and the author included both facts from the Bible as well as the actual Bible passages, most of which I read. I’m a big fan of strong women in history and the Bible, and this actually introduced me to some new ones. And I thought Mary and Martha’s chapter was extremely well done.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews