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Guardians' Betrayal
GUARDIANS' BETRAYAL is a story written in gentle language about realistic subjects without hiding the facts about the difficulties of an adoptive family and the coming of age of the eldest daughter of two adopted children. The novel is suitable for adults and mature young adults with an interest in adoption.
Seven years after adoption, 17 year-old Shayla gets a Facebook message from her long-forgotten half-sister that turns her world upside down. Shayla is the eldest of the adopted sisters and is graduating; she has a crush on Eric.
Adoptive mom Bernice – an overworked social worker – longs for a vacation with her husband without their four children.
Her husband Tom – a realtor –starts an affair with his receptionist, but she doesn't know.
The message from Shayla’s older half-sister starts off a chain of events, which escalates to a full-blown disaster, when Tom leaves the family. During the eight months of crisis, Bernice, Tom, and Shayla see the events and their actions in completely different ways, and all three players in this story about family relationships act according to their own truths.
Guardians’ Betrayal is a story told from the point of view of the three main characters, with interwoven alternating perspectives of Shayla, her mom Bernice and her dad Tom. The reader will discover that there’s more to an ordinary family than the eye meets, as painful discoveries about the past are faced. Guardians’ Betrayal is a book for adults and mature young adults with an interest in adoption, but can be a good read to anybody interested in family life.
Seven years after adoption, 17 year-old Shayla gets a Facebook message from her long-forgotten half-sister that turns her world upside down. Shayla is the eldest of the adopted sisters and is graduating; she has a crush on Eric.
Adoptive mom Bernice – an overworked social worker – longs for a vacation with her husband without their four children.
Her husband Tom – a realtor –starts an affair with his receptionist, but she doesn't know.
The message from Shayla’s older half-sister starts off a chain of events, which escalates to a full-blown disaster, when Tom leaves the family. During the eight months of crisis, Bernice, Tom, and Shayla see the events and their actions in completely different ways, and all three players in this story about family relationships act according to their own truths.
Guardians’ Betrayal is a story told from the point of view of the three main characters, with interwoven alternating perspectives of Shayla, her mom Bernice and her dad Tom. The reader will discover that there’s more to an ordinary family than the eye meets, as painful discoveries about the past are faced. Guardians’ Betrayal is a book for adults and mature young adults with an interest in adoption, but can be a good read to anybody interested in family life.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2017
About the author
Johanna van Zanten
6 books48 followersJohanna was born in the Netherlands where she lived in Amsterdam after graduating from secondary school. She immigrated to Canada in her early thirties, where she still lives. Johanna lives a nice half year in the sun in Mexico where she wrote her third novel Between A Rock and a Hard Place, a novel based on true events in the Second World War in the Netherlands. A fourth novel will be published in 2024: The Imposter. Who knows how many more novels will follow?
Guardians' Betrayal, her second novel is about a fictional family who adopted two girls. That story begins seven years after adoption when the girls are 12 and 17 and the fun begins.
Her first novel, On Thin Ice, is a book-in-stories about Life, and Dating after Fifty. Her second novel is Gardians' Betrayal, about a complicated adoption, and her third novel is Between a Rock and a Hard Place (2021).
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Guardians' Betrayal, her second novel is about a fictional family who adopted two girls. That story begins seven years after adoption when the girls are 12 and 17 and the fun begins.
Her first novel, On Thin Ice, is a book-in-stories about Life, and Dating after Fifty. Her second novel is Gardians' Betrayal, about a complicated adoption, and her third novel is Between a Rock and a Hard Place (2021).
Thanks for stopping by my site.
Please, add a review or click to add to your To Read list on Goodreads. Thanks so much.
https://histriabooks.com/product/betw...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 26, 2017
This family saga deals with adoption, betrayal, love, teenage angst and second chances.
I’m not a great fan of family / emotional dramas, but this story dragged me in - admittedly not immediately, but after the first 50 pages I was really interested in what happened to the characters. The emotional angst / troubled teenager / adult relationships were well handled and the family reunion elements were moving. The sections dealing with betrayal (in relationships at all ages) were also (sadly) believable.
If you enjoy gritty family dramas this book is worth a look.
My overall rating is 4 stars as I found some of the writing wasn’t tight enough (but that’s a very subjective opinion).
I’m not a great fan of family / emotional dramas, but this story dragged me in - admittedly not immediately, but after the first 50 pages I was really interested in what happened to the characters. The emotional angst / troubled teenager / adult relationships were well handled and the family reunion elements were moving. The sections dealing with betrayal (in relationships at all ages) were also (sadly) believable.
If you enjoy gritty family dramas this book is worth a look.
My overall rating is 4 stars as I found some of the writing wasn’t tight enough (but that’s a very subjective opinion).
December 9, 2017
When life offers second chances…
There are some deep and heavy themes running through Guardians’ Betrayal, but Van Zanten balances them all, just like Bernice handles her busy life with her children. She’s got a husband who is pulling away, no longer feeling she is giving him the adoration he craves (but how can she when she’s both the quintessential mother and social worker rolled into one?), and her adopted daughter Shayla on the precious doorstep to adulthood, dealing not only with issues of drinking and sexuality and shoplifting and cutting but the lure of her original father, who may not be the best role model, wanting to reunite? Bernice remains a compass that stays true north while Shayla and her husband (as well as Shayla’s birth father) struggle, lose their way, and find their way back to a steady and true course, and it is in no small part because Bernice has hung in there and kept the faith and kept it all together that this happens. This is a special novel about holding firm while those you love need to find their way. Deeply touching and life affirming, it is a nod to all those out there who are truly present for those they love, able to be depended on through both the good times and the bad, and it is a highly recommended read.
There are some deep and heavy themes running through Guardians’ Betrayal, but Van Zanten balances them all, just like Bernice handles her busy life with her children. She’s got a husband who is pulling away, no longer feeling she is giving him the adoration he craves (but how can she when she’s both the quintessential mother and social worker rolled into one?), and her adopted daughter Shayla on the precious doorstep to adulthood, dealing not only with issues of drinking and sexuality and shoplifting and cutting but the lure of her original father, who may not be the best role model, wanting to reunite? Bernice remains a compass that stays true north while Shayla and her husband (as well as Shayla’s birth father) struggle, lose their way, and find their way back to a steady and true course, and it is in no small part because Bernice has hung in there and kept the faith and kept it all together that this happens. This is a special novel about holding firm while those you love need to find their way. Deeply touching and life affirming, it is a nod to all those out there who are truly present for those they love, able to be depended on through both the good times and the bad, and it is a highly recommended read.
November 7, 2017
Guardians' Betrayal, by Johanna van Zanten, is a story of a family with adopted children who find themselves in the middle of a life crisis brought upon not only by the return of the children's biological relatives, but also by several personal problems.
The novel balances awkwardly between genres, which complicates matters both in terms of audience and analysis. Perhaps the subject matter would suggest that it is a literary-fiction work, but it lacks the depth, self-reflection, and character realism to call it that. Alternatively, one could conceive it in terms of a bildungsroman novel - arguably the main or at least pivotal character being a teenage girl - but such stories also require a certain degree of narrative depth that is absent here.
The language itself is generally good, adequately describing characters and events without any glaring flaws in terms of syntax or grammar. The plot is generally engaging, keeping the reader’s interest and, paired with the relative simplicity the topic is approached, I expect most people to be able to finish this book and feel content with their time investment.
Having said that (and perhaps inevitably from the point of view of literary fiction, because this is what the subject matter forces the reader to expect), the narrative is a bit too linear and straightforward, lacking the narrative weaving that could take the reader to a journey. Some scene mixing and deliberate withholding of information from the reader would help produce a result with greater affective power. As it stands, there is far too much direct exposition, which makes the characters come off as a bit too naïve, lacking depth and realism. There is too much info on what we see (action), and too little on what we don't (context, inner worlds, self-reflection). Almost all of the latter comes in the form of direct questions posed by the narrator ("Was her relationship with Shayla not as solid as she thought?" "Had she and Tom failed?"), which comes off as distinctly unconvincing and direct, without the subtlety required by the genre. Furthermore, the book is heavy on dialogue, light on descriptions – causing problems in pace, as the narrative plot points and scenes come off as unconvincing. It felt at times that the author was eager to touch upon as many topics as possible (family life, adoption, unfaithfulness, drug abuse, shoplifting, self-harm) but the narrative spreads thin and none of these get the depth required.
All in all, and to partly counter the criticism above, I can’t say this is a bad book. As I mentioned, I expect most people to enjoy reading it – especially those interested in stories about families. But at the same time, it’s an awkward book to place in terms of genre, which makes it important for a prospective reader to understand what it is and what it isn’t.
The novel balances awkwardly between genres, which complicates matters both in terms of audience and analysis. Perhaps the subject matter would suggest that it is a literary-fiction work, but it lacks the depth, self-reflection, and character realism to call it that. Alternatively, one could conceive it in terms of a bildungsroman novel - arguably the main or at least pivotal character being a teenage girl - but such stories also require a certain degree of narrative depth that is absent here.
The language itself is generally good, adequately describing characters and events without any glaring flaws in terms of syntax or grammar. The plot is generally engaging, keeping the reader’s interest and, paired with the relative simplicity the topic is approached, I expect most people to be able to finish this book and feel content with their time investment.
Having said that (and perhaps inevitably from the point of view of literary fiction, because this is what the subject matter forces the reader to expect), the narrative is a bit too linear and straightforward, lacking the narrative weaving that could take the reader to a journey. Some scene mixing and deliberate withholding of information from the reader would help produce a result with greater affective power. As it stands, there is far too much direct exposition, which makes the characters come off as a bit too naïve, lacking depth and realism. There is too much info on what we see (action), and too little on what we don't (context, inner worlds, self-reflection). Almost all of the latter comes in the form of direct questions posed by the narrator ("Was her relationship with Shayla not as solid as she thought?" "Had she and Tom failed?"), which comes off as distinctly unconvincing and direct, without the subtlety required by the genre. Furthermore, the book is heavy on dialogue, light on descriptions – causing problems in pace, as the narrative plot points and scenes come off as unconvincing. It felt at times that the author was eager to touch upon as many topics as possible (family life, adoption, unfaithfulness, drug abuse, shoplifting, self-harm) but the narrative spreads thin and none of these get the depth required.
All in all, and to partly counter the criticism above, I can’t say this is a bad book. As I mentioned, I expect most people to enjoy reading it – especially those interested in stories about families. But at the same time, it’s an awkward book to place in terms of genre, which makes it important for a prospective reader to understand what it is and what it isn’t.
September 12, 2018
Subtitled _What Happens Seven Years After Adoption?_, Van Zanten’s new novel explores new territory. Suffering from malnutrition and neglect, sisters Shayla and Abby were adopted by their social worker Bernice Harrison when their mother died. With her background, Bernice was well-equipped to help the girls and her own family, husband Tom and two young sons, adjust to their new family. However, as the story opens, seven years later, cracks are beginning to emerge.
The story is narrated in the alternating voices of Shayla, Bernice and Tom. Each is struggling to stay above water. Shayla is navigating the terrors of adolescence: mean girls, first love, self-doubt. Sensing that his family is drifting away, Tom becomes involved in an affair with a much younger co-worker. Bernice finds herself suddenly a single parent of four children while trying to juggle Shayla’s problems and the other three children’s dismay at Tom’s defection.
It’s a good story, and an important one. Van Zanten writes with authority and compassion for all of them. I appreciate her even-handed approach. There are a few times when the dialogue tips slightly into social-worker-ese, but for the most part is authentic.
With this unusual and emotional story, Van Zantan reminds me of how helpful it can be for writers to find a new area to explore. Of course, a good writer can make even the most common plot feel new again, but how exciting to find something so original! Anyone with an interest in family dynamics or adoption will enjoy this story.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
The story is narrated in the alternating voices of Shayla, Bernice and Tom. Each is struggling to stay above water. Shayla is navigating the terrors of adolescence: mean girls, first love, self-doubt. Sensing that his family is drifting away, Tom becomes involved in an affair with a much younger co-worker. Bernice finds herself suddenly a single parent of four children while trying to juggle Shayla’s problems and the other three children’s dismay at Tom’s defection.
It’s a good story, and an important one. Van Zanten writes with authority and compassion for all of them. I appreciate her even-handed approach. There are a few times when the dialogue tips slightly into social-worker-ese, but for the most part is authentic.
With this unusual and emotional story, Van Zantan reminds me of how helpful it can be for writers to find a new area to explore. Of course, a good writer can make even the most common plot feel new again, but how exciting to find something so original! Anyone with an interest in family dynamics or adoption will enjoy this story.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
November 24, 2017
Berenice and Tom both have good jobs, and two pre-kindergarten sons. A marriage made in heaven, until Berenice, an experienced social worker, attends the funeral of the mother of two sisters who are in foster care. Allowing Shayla and Abby to stay with their birth father is impossible, even if he wanted them; he is a drunken drug-addict, but at ten and six the girls have no chance of adoption unless…
Berenice persuades Tom that two daughters will complete their family. Berenice knows adoptive children go through a honeymoon period when they try to please their new parents, but when they feel secure they kick against the boundaries, but she fails to warn Tom.
Shayla is seventeen before a contact with a member of her birth family brings her into conflict with Berenice, and pushes her closer to sleep-around friends and a pot-smoking boy, and away from Tom who is already the target of a predatory female…
Guardians’ Betrayal is a fascinating in-depth look inside an ordinarily successful family when the pressure is on and stresses combine that could rip six lives apart.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I’m delighted to say I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I recommend it to all readers who enjoy a clean read, an intriguing plot, and a soupçon of suspense.
Berenice persuades Tom that two daughters will complete their family. Berenice knows adoptive children go through a honeymoon period when they try to please their new parents, but when they feel secure they kick against the boundaries, but she fails to warn Tom.
Shayla is seventeen before a contact with a member of her birth family brings her into conflict with Berenice, and pushes her closer to sleep-around friends and a pot-smoking boy, and away from Tom who is already the target of a predatory female…
Guardians’ Betrayal is a fascinating in-depth look inside an ordinarily successful family when the pressure is on and stresses combine that could rip six lives apart.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I’m delighted to say I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I recommend it to all readers who enjoy a clean read, an intriguing plot, and a soupçon of suspense.
December 1, 2017
You have to many symbols that seem it shouldn't be on the book. Otherwise, it is a great story about they losing their mother at a young age. Now they with the foster system, they met their dad who came to the funeral. Don't want to spoiled the rest. Yet there more that came in a shock in the matters.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews