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The Promise of Jesse Woods
The summer of 1972 was the most pivotal of Matt Plumley’s childhood. While his beloved Pirates battle for back-to-back World Series titles, Matt’s family moves from Pittsburgh to Dogwood, West Virginia, where his father steps into the pulpit of a church under the thumb of town leader Basil Blackwood. A fish out of water, Matt is relieved to forge a fast bond with two unlikely friends: Dickie Darrel Lee Hancock, a mixed-race boy, and Jesse Woods, a tough-as-nails girl with a sister on her hip and no dad in sight. As the trio traipses the hills and hollers, Matt begins to fall for Jesse, and their promises to each other draw him deeper into her terrifying reality. One night, the wrath of the Blackwoods and the secrets of Jesse’s family collide, and Matt joins Jesse in a rescue that saves one life and ends another . . . and severs the bond of their friendship. Years later, Matt is pulled back to Dogwood and to memories of that momentous summer by news of Jesse’s upcoming wedding. He could never shake the feeling that there was more to the story of that fateful night, and he’s determined to learn the truth behind the only promise Jesse Woods ever broke.
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First published July 1, 2016
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About the author
Chris Fabry
211 books671 followersChris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.
Chris' novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, Borders of the Heart, Every Waking Moment, The Promise of Jesse Woods, Looking into You, Under a Cloudless Sky, and A Piece of the Moon, have won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Christianity Today Book Awards of Merit, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.
Chris has also published more than 70 other books, ranging from nonfiction and film novelizations, including the Kendrick brothers' War Room and Overcomer, to novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.
Visit Chris' website at www.chrisfabry.com.
Chris' novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, Borders of the Heart, Every Waking Moment, The Promise of Jesse Woods, Looking into You, Under a Cloudless Sky, and A Piece of the Moon, have won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Christianity Today Book Awards of Merit, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.
Chris has also published more than 70 other books, ranging from nonfiction and film novelizations, including the Kendrick brothers' War Room and Overcomer, to novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.
Visit Chris' website at www.chrisfabry.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
February 9, 2017
Such a beautiful coming of age novel. The Promise of Jesse Woods is set in both 1972 and 1984 in Dogwood, West Virginia. The main characters are a preacher's son (Matt), a girl from a very poor family (Jesse) and the son of a white woman and black man (Dickie). These three form a strong bond of friendship in 1972 when Matt moves from Pennsylvania to Dogwood. This novel was incredibly emotional and had my heart singing and my heart breaking.
The huge amount of time period information added to my enjoyment of the novel. Here's a paragraph example: "There's a preacher on the radio that says the Beatles are trying to hypnotize us and turn us all into Communists. I was listening to 'Hey Jude' the other day and I had the urge to move to Cuba, so there might be something to it."
The main theme of the book is that while we can help others, it's not our role to be another person's savior. That responsibility belongs to God.
It was a beautifully written novel and I was deeply invested in the characters. This is my third Chris Fabry novel and I look forward to reading more of his work.
My gratitude to Rel of RelzReviews and publisher Tyndale for a complimentary copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
The huge amount of time period information added to my enjoyment of the novel. Here's a paragraph example: "There's a preacher on the radio that says the Beatles are trying to hypnotize us and turn us all into Communists. I was listening to 'Hey Jude' the other day and I had the urge to move to Cuba, so there might be something to it."
The main theme of the book is that while we can help others, it's not our role to be another person's savior. That responsibility belongs to God.
It was a beautifully written novel and I was deeply invested in the characters. This is my third Chris Fabry novel and I look forward to reading more of his work.
My gratitude to Rel of RelzReviews and publisher Tyndale for a complimentary copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
May 18, 2016
When I read Fabry's novel "June Bug" I knew I was in the hands of a skilled wordsmith. Then "The Promise of Jesse Woods" came into my hands, and I realized it anew. Fabry takes us back to Dogwood, WV (where he's set several books) and tells the story of Matt both in 1972 when he's fourteen, and many years later in the 80s when he's all grown up and looking back. As an author myself I understand it's a feat for a writer to weave in a present and past story so seamlessly that we aren't jarred as readers, but that's exactly what Fabry does. The suspense builds like the crescendo of a symphony, and Jesse Woods and Matt's other friends and family become full and multi-faceted before our eyes. The Promise of Jesse Woods reminds me of To Kill A Mockingbird in the way it touches on racism, poverty, and justice, but Fabry also weaves in a beautiful faith thread which never feels forced. It's lyrical yet also down-to-earth. Deep yet never overwhelming. This is real-life storytelling that's effortless to read and will leave you wanting more from Fabry's pen.
March 30, 2017
I liked the story a lot. The story gets four stars but the writing style and connecting with the characters fell a little flat and seems more like three. it was engaging-- but I feel like it should have had some more parts to connect and not so much just to tell. since my mom really liked this and recommended it, I'll go with four. xD
June 1, 2020
There are some books that stick with you long after you've finished reading it.
The Promise of Jesse Woods is one of those books for me. Two and a half years after my first read-through, the characters and themes of the story still come back to me in memorable ways. Whenever I'm talking about Christian fiction that's actually good, the book's close to the top of my list. And I've used it as an example in a number of different discussions I've had or articles I've written about Christian fiction over the past couple of years.
What is it that's allowed the book to stick with me? Certainly a large part of it has to do with the characters. The novel lacks the cliches and stale character types I sometimes expect to see in the Christian fiction genre, replacing them with real, jagged characters whose flaws sometimes seem insurmountable both for the protagonist and themselves. These aren't the sorts of Christians you may be used to seeing in Christian fiction. But they are the kinds you may have met over the course of your life.
Certainly a large portion of this book's enduring nature for me also comes down to its themes and the way they poke and prod at actual flaws that real Christians struggle with. This isn't another evangelistic tract or feel-good story about how much better we are than others. In some ways, the story may seem to start out this way--but that's only to take a strong left turn into a very different lesson that we need to grapple with and face as Christians: the truth that we weren't meant to become the saviors of others, no matter how much we want them too.
And there are certainly many other elements of the story that have made it continue to stick in my mind. The setting and the way Fabry transported me to the world of Applachian culture. The plot and the way Fabry manages to balance two competing plot lines without letting either overshadow the other. The prose and the memorable turns of phrase he's included within the story.
It's a fine book. More than fine, I might add. The first time I read through the book, I was disappointed by the climax, less for the protagonist's epiphany (which I loved) than in the exact way he came around to that conclusion. But after re-reading the novel, I think I can better appreciate what Fabry was trying to do with it and why he chose to wrap things up in this way.
Two-and-a-half years after I first read the book, it still hasn't left me.
And I doubt it will anytime soon.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Excellent).
(For a longer look at the book and the specific themes it examines, check out an article I wrote about the themes of the book for fiction writers here: https://storyembers.org/how-to-write-...).
The Promise of Jesse Woods is one of those books for me. Two and a half years after my first read-through, the characters and themes of the story still come back to me in memorable ways. Whenever I'm talking about Christian fiction that's actually good, the book's close to the top of my list. And I've used it as an example in a number of different discussions I've had or articles I've written about Christian fiction over the past couple of years.
What is it that's allowed the book to stick with me? Certainly a large part of it has to do with the characters. The novel lacks the cliches and stale character types I sometimes expect to see in the Christian fiction genre, replacing them with real, jagged characters whose flaws sometimes seem insurmountable both for the protagonist and themselves. These aren't the sorts of Christians you may be used to seeing in Christian fiction. But they are the kinds you may have met over the course of your life.
Certainly a large portion of this book's enduring nature for me also comes down to its themes and the way they poke and prod at actual flaws that real Christians struggle with. This isn't another evangelistic tract or feel-good story about how much better we are than others. In some ways, the story may seem to start out this way--but that's only to take a strong left turn into a very different lesson that we need to grapple with and face as Christians: the truth that we weren't meant to become the saviors of others, no matter how much we want them too.
And there are certainly many other elements of the story that have made it continue to stick in my mind. The setting and the way Fabry transported me to the world of Applachian culture. The plot and the way Fabry manages to balance two competing plot lines without letting either overshadow the other. The prose and the memorable turns of phrase he's included within the story.
It's a fine book. More than fine, I might add. The first time I read through the book, I was disappointed by the climax, less for the protagonist's epiphany (which I loved) than in the exact way he came around to that conclusion. But after re-reading the novel, I think I can better appreciate what Fabry was trying to do with it and why he chose to wrap things up in this way.
Two-and-a-half years after I first read the book, it still hasn't left me.
And I doubt it will anytime soon.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Excellent).
(For a longer look at the book and the specific themes it examines, check out an article I wrote about the themes of the book for fiction writers here: https://storyembers.org/how-to-write-...).
December 25, 2017
Well...I don't think I've ever finished a book I so clearly loved (it's 2am and I could NOT put it down) but at the same time hate.
I am so conflicted! Do I love a book because it held my attention? Because the characters are so well done that it was like I was right there with them? Because the writing is gripping and drew on my emotion like few books ever have?
And then close the book hating how the characters kept secrets, manipulated each other, how someone believed that if (in Christian and fatherly love) he made decisions for his child altering his future, that he was actually doing it for his son's own good. Can I hate that true friends walked away from each other in pain? Can I hate that a pastor could be so manipulated by the town bully, but not see how he was doing the same to his child? Or that a sad girl with nothing, having had everything taken away from her except the land left to her by her mother, is not good enough for their son?
Oh, how I was both bothered by how things did NOT work out the way I was sure they would (or should), and fascinated by how I was completely thrown. The author made every moment of friendship, duty, protection and love so fun, hopeful and painfully raw all in one story.
I want to give this 1 star because it made me so mad, but I have to give it 5 stars because it made me think, feel deeply, and (yawn) stay up too late to finish. It can't be bad if all that happens in one book. So five-stars it is.
Maybe when I've had a chance to mull it all over, and after a few hour of sleep, I may write my typical synopsis. There's just too much in the book to do it adequate justice tonight.
I am so conflicted! Do I love a book because it held my attention? Because the characters are so well done that it was like I was right there with them? Because the writing is gripping and drew on my emotion like few books ever have?
And then close the book hating how the characters kept secrets, manipulated each other, how someone believed that if (in Christian and fatherly love) he made decisions for his child altering his future, that he was actually doing it for his son's own good. Can I hate that true friends walked away from each other in pain? Can I hate that a pastor could be so manipulated by the town bully, but not see how he was doing the same to his child? Or that a sad girl with nothing, having had everything taken away from her except the land left to her by her mother, is not good enough for their son?
Oh, how I was both bothered by how things did NOT work out the way I was sure they would (or should), and fascinated by how I was completely thrown. The author made every moment of friendship, duty, protection and love so fun, hopeful and painfully raw all in one story.
I want to give this 1 star because it made me so mad, but I have to give it 5 stars because it made me think, feel deeply, and (yawn) stay up too late to finish. It can't be bad if all that happens in one book. So five-stars it is.
Maybe when I've had a chance to mull it all over, and after a few hour of sleep, I may write my typical synopsis. There's just too much in the book to do it adequate justice tonight.
February 19, 2017
I picked up this book as it was in the “new release” rack when I was returning my last audiobook to the library, and needed something to listen to while commuting this week. I liked what I saw in the description, the settings in West Virginia in 1972 and 1984, and the description of the plot. I had no idea that it was a book of Christian fiction, and also I didn’t realize that the author was was narrating his own audiobook, About the narration, the author did a great job and sounded like a pro. About the degree to which Christian faith dominated the book, that was a little heavy handed. If you can get past that, the story is decent and the characters are quite compelling.
I had one big gripe with the book: All of the adults were terrible. Neither of Matt’s parents were even remotely likable. Jesse and Dickey didn’t have decent parents either, and none of the other adults in town are anything other than monsters, as least until Matt gets to high school and meets the drama teacher. The single most likable adult is Matt’s piano teacher, who drinks from a flask during lessons, as she at least lets Matt watch his favorite baseball team in the playoffs on her tv. His own parents seem to enjoy denying him this small pleasure after him dragging away from his old life in PIttsburgh into this joyless hellhole where they interfere with his attempts to make friends. Just awful, and not all that believable.
It was a compelling and fast moving read, but ultimately very unsatisfying. There were big plot holes which didn’t bridge the gap between 1972 and 1984, such as why is Dickey reaching out to Matt to be the one person who tells Matt about Jesse’s impending wedding when Dickey and Matt had never reconciled and Matt doesn’t even bother to see him for the many days in 1984 when he’s in town. Matt goes to visit his weight-obsessed uncle and every member of the Turley family, but not Dickey? That doesn’t make any sense, as well as other things that dealt with the big secret / promise eluded to in the title and every chapter right up to the end. A lot of this doesn’t make any sense.
I didn’t hate it, but I am also also not compelled to track down anything else by the author, unless he’s narrating the audiobook,as that was actually very well done.
I had one big gripe with the book: All of the adults were terrible. Neither of Matt’s parents were even remotely likable. Jesse and Dickey didn’t have decent parents either, and none of the other adults in town are anything other than monsters, as least until Matt gets to high school and meets the drama teacher. The single most likable adult is Matt’s piano teacher, who drinks from a flask during lessons, as she at least lets Matt watch his favorite baseball team in the playoffs on her tv. His own parents seem to enjoy denying him this small pleasure after him dragging away from his old life in PIttsburgh into this joyless hellhole where they interfere with his attempts to make friends. Just awful, and not all that believable.
It was a compelling and fast moving read, but ultimately very unsatisfying. There were big plot holes which didn’t bridge the gap between 1972 and 1984, such as why is Dickey reaching out to Matt to be the one person who tells Matt about Jesse’s impending wedding when Dickey and Matt had never reconciled and Matt doesn’t even bother to see him for the many days in 1984 when he’s in town. Matt goes to visit his weight-obsessed uncle and every member of the Turley family, but not Dickey? That doesn’t make any sense, as well as other things that dealt with the big secret / promise eluded to in the title and every chapter right up to the end. A lot of this doesn’t make any sense.
I didn’t hate it, but I am also also not compelled to track down anything else by the author, unless he’s narrating the audiobook,as that was actually very well done.
November 2, 2016
A seriously good read, one you won't easily forget, as the characters attach themselves to your heart! The writing is flawless, peppered with lovely southern phrases and quirky people. Told from the first person perspective of a young man, looking back at the eventful summer he turned 14 when his family moved from Pittsburgh to Dogwood, W. Virginia.
The story flows well from beginning to the end even though it jumps between two time periods; they are woven seamlessly together. It had me laughing out loud (so often that I had to read aloud sections to explain why), sighing and gasping, feeling angry and sad, sometimes all on the same page. Not a light read as it touches on some difficult subjects, like racism, poverty, bullying and abuse. Stayed up late just to find out how it all resolved. Glad that I skipped the synopsis on this one and just let the story unfold on its own; so much better that way.
A moving coming of age story, heartfelt and timeless, an instant add to my favorites list. Highly recommend! 5+ stars!
The story flows well from beginning to the end even though it jumps between two time periods; they are woven seamlessly together. It had me laughing out loud (so often that I had to read aloud sections to explain why), sighing and gasping, feeling angry and sad, sometimes all on the same page. Not a light read as it touches on some difficult subjects, like racism, poverty, bullying and abuse. Stayed up late just to find out how it all resolved. Glad that I skipped the synopsis on this one and just let the story unfold on its own; so much better that way.
A moving coming of age story, heartfelt and timeless, an instant add to my favorites list. Highly recommend! 5+ stars!
April 6, 2017
There is a good reason why Chris Fabry has won several writing awards; he can write well. This is no light, fluffy, happy-ever-after romance--it's not a romance at all, actually--but a will written, poignant, pithy novel that deals with some challenging issues, including racism, classism, child neglect and abuse among others. Yes, it's a Christian novel, but the Matt Plumlely, both a twenty-something adult and an overweight young teen who has been moved from Chicago to his dad's hometown in West Virginia whose first friends are a black boy, Dickie, missing his father who is fighting in Viet Nam and a "white trash" young girl, Jesse, who spends much of her time caring for her ailing mother and her three year old sister. The past is revisited as Matt returns home after hearing that Jesse is about to marry someone he remembers from his youth; someone from a nasty, hateful family that he is sure Jesse shouldn't be with.
December 4, 2017
I was so sad for this book to come to an end! I adored it. Firmly set in a historical time period, it was unmistakably character-driven with characters that are so sharply distinctive and believable I felt like I was right there on scene with them. Amazing storytelling, powerful message. This novel made me want to cry out of heartache and for joy. Whew! So glad it won a Christy Award in 2017. If you enjoy authors Ann Tatlock or Susie Finkbeiner, you'll enjoy this one too. (I listened to the Audible narration and I would highly recommend it. The author reads his own book and just nails all the voices with their accents and inflections. It definitely added to the experience for me.)
November 8, 2016
Matt is just living a normal life when he finds out his best friend Jesse is soon marrying. Memories resurface from his childhood in the 70s, and Matt quickly heads home to decipher all that is happening.
So, this book wasn't all that bad, I just didn't enjoy it all that much. The reason(s)? The characters were good, but I didn't feel like the main character changed a whole lot by the end of the story like the author was wanting. It just felt like there was a lot of words trying to keep you busy until the end of the book. Generally I enjoy books that go back in time while in present time, but I wasn't much of a fan of it in this book. Though the author was trying to give some backstory on the main character, his friends, and what was going on in the story, some of it just wasn't needed.
I will say Chris Fabry did a good job in describing the settings and characters, but overall it isn't a book that I will be reccomending to everyone as a must read.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction.
Rating 2.7 out of 5 stars.
I recieved this book free from Tyndale Blog Network for an honest review.
May 2, 2017
I am not sure what to write about this book.... I enjoyed reading it but wasn't riveted but at the same time struggled to put it down. I loved the character most of the time but at the same time, just wanted them to grow a backbone, there was only one character who had one during the whole book, then lost it at the very end, and that didn't make sense to me. Over all this book was a really enjoyable read and thought provoking with great character but just missing that extra development within the character to make it a 5 star read.
Note:* To many baseball references that I never understood the significance to the story that just felt like waste of space. (Maybe because I am Australian and baseball is basically a non existent sport here... also why it a World Series if it doesn't involve the world?)
Note:* To many baseball references that I never understood the significance to the story that just felt like waste of space. (Maybe because I am Australian and baseball is basically a non existent sport here... also why it a World Series if it doesn't involve the world?)
July 8, 2018
My first time reading this author and I am enthralled. The storytelling with first person narrative is done really well. The whole story is very engaging and not at all predictable. The childhood friends and their activities during summer reminded me of my childhood days during summer when we used to roam around with cousins in my grandparents' fields. Also, Matt's obsession with baseball reminded me of my obsession with cricket during school & college days. About the ending, .
May 27, 2024
This was a new author for me. And I look forward to trying another of his after this novel. In The Promise of Jesse Woods, Chris Fabry brings together elements of coming of age, right and wrong side of the tracks, true friendship and all of its pitfalls and life lessons about what faith looks like. You will love Matt. And you will recognize the kind of crisis he finds himself in. If you are about the same vintage as I am, you will recognize the time settings (1972 and 1984). And maybe you will appreciate the journey he’s been on before he finds himself where God means for him to be. And it never hurts to throw a little baseball in there just to keep me happy…
February 3, 2024
A long read with an unsatisfying end. The story moved too slow for me, so I skipped to the end and read the last chapter.
The character development seemed lacking for most of the book, then happened all at once.
The character development seemed lacking for most of the book, then happened all at once.
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November 16, 2021Sale alert! $2.99 paperback on Christianbook right now!!! I've heard lots of good stuff about this one!
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https://www.christianbook.com/the-pro...
January 20, 2017
I normally don’t read Christian fiction. This is one of the categories (along with romance) that our book club banned. But somehow, Chris Fabry’s book June Bug made it onto our reading list a few years ago and was enjoyed by most members. So we were willing to forego the ban and add The Promise of Jesse Woods to this year’s reading line-up.
I enjoyed the timeframe of The Promise of Jesse Woods. The book takes place in 1972 and 1984. Chris Fabry does a terrific job of incorporating music, sports and political events of these years.
Matt Plumley is a kid you can’t help but like – overweight, nerdy, sensitive and kind-hearted. He captured my heart when he rescues a horse at the beginning of the novel. Matt’s family moved to Dogwood, West Virginia in the summer of 1972. He makes friends with 2 outcasts – Dickie a racially mixed son of Vietnam soldier and Jesse, a neighbor girl living in extreme poverty.
The biggest problem I had with this book was Matt’s father, a preacher to a small congregation. He is completely unsympathetic to Jesse and her sister Daisy. At one point in the book, Matt’s father covers up a criminal act against Jesse in order to shield his own family.
And most of the other adult residents of Dogwood aren’t any nicer. No wonder Matt’s piano teacher (one of the few kind adults) takes a nip during lessons!
While I didn’t enjoy The Promise of Jesse Woods nearly as much as June Bug, it was still nice to re-visit 1972 and 1984.
I enjoyed the timeframe of The Promise of Jesse Woods. The book takes place in 1972 and 1984. Chris Fabry does a terrific job of incorporating music, sports and political events of these years.
Matt Plumley is a kid you can’t help but like – overweight, nerdy, sensitive and kind-hearted. He captured my heart when he rescues a horse at the beginning of the novel. Matt’s family moved to Dogwood, West Virginia in the summer of 1972. He makes friends with 2 outcasts – Dickie a racially mixed son of Vietnam soldier and Jesse, a neighbor girl living in extreme poverty.
The biggest problem I had with this book was Matt’s father, a preacher to a small congregation. He is completely unsympathetic to Jesse and her sister Daisy. At one point in the book, Matt’s father covers up a criminal act against Jesse in order to shield his own family.
And most of the other adult residents of Dogwood aren’t any nicer. No wonder Matt’s piano teacher (one of the few kind adults) takes a nip during lessons!
While I didn’t enjoy The Promise of Jesse Woods nearly as much as June Bug, it was still nice to re-visit 1972 and 1984.
November 26, 2021
4.5 stars. There was no option but to read this in one day. No option at all. THIS is good storytelling.
October 10, 2018
Review Title: Promise You Will (review of The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry)
Reviewer: Janice S. Garey
*****5 Stars
Anyone familiar with other works by Chris Fabry know he is a master storyteller. In this book he excels in every way. The historical details are perfect because the author lived through those times.
The main characters each represent someone on the periphery of middle class life in the seventies. A strong bond forms between the characters as they maneuver life from the view of the have-nots who learn contentment from inner qualities and creativity.
The tension builds throughout the story with unthinkable disasters happening which expose the young characters to more troubles than it seems possible they can handle on their own. But they have determination to work things out no matter what. And they have promises and secrets to keep.
The biggest secret in this story is how the whole tangled thing will work out. The reader will not know the resolution until almost the very end of the book. You will not rest until you find out what happens to the endearing characters. And the bad guys are tremendously terrible so you will want to see them get what they deserve.
This book would be good for Young Adult readers and all ages above that. It involves some frightening scenes, not graphically portrayed, of sexual violence, and, also, hurtful labeling and harassment of people for their physical appearance.
The church and Christians are shown at their worst and best. The realism of how some people within the church are driven by motives other than following Jesus hits hard. The failings of leadership in allowing such people to dominate church decisions shows how generational sin thrives. The difference that following Jesus makes will give understanding to anyone who is curious about how church is suppose to bless rather than cause harm to vulnerable people.
My husband and I listened to this book on Audible during our commuting hours. It is narrated by the author, Chris Fabry. His knowledge of the characters helped him to fully portray each with great depth. The recording of the story earns 5 stars along with the book.
Reviewer: Janice S. Garey
*****5 Stars
Anyone familiar with other works by Chris Fabry know he is a master storyteller. In this book he excels in every way. The historical details are perfect because the author lived through those times.
The main characters each represent someone on the periphery of middle class life in the seventies. A strong bond forms between the characters as they maneuver life from the view of the have-nots who learn contentment from inner qualities and creativity.
The tension builds throughout the story with unthinkable disasters happening which expose the young characters to more troubles than it seems possible they can handle on their own. But they have determination to work things out no matter what. And they have promises and secrets to keep.
The biggest secret in this story is how the whole tangled thing will work out. The reader will not know the resolution until almost the very end of the book. You will not rest until you find out what happens to the endearing characters. And the bad guys are tremendously terrible so you will want to see them get what they deserve.
This book would be good for Young Adult readers and all ages above that. It involves some frightening scenes, not graphically portrayed, of sexual violence, and, also, hurtful labeling and harassment of people for their physical appearance.
The church and Christians are shown at their worst and best. The realism of how some people within the church are driven by motives other than following Jesus hits hard. The failings of leadership in allowing such people to dominate church decisions shows how generational sin thrives. The difference that following Jesus makes will give understanding to anyone who is curious about how church is suppose to bless rather than cause harm to vulnerable people.
My husband and I listened to this book on Audible during our commuting hours. It is narrated by the author, Chris Fabry. His knowledge of the characters helped him to fully portray each with great depth. The recording of the story earns 5 stars along with the book.
May 2, 2022
Even though the ending left some things to be desired (it did it's job, it just didn't hold up against the grandness of the rest of the book,) I'm still going to put this in my top best books list. The main reason is probably just because the writing is brilliant. I would almost put this on a level with the likes of Bradbury. The prose, the subtext. Oh, it's so so good. I also found the theme really thought provoking. The protagonist is trying to help out a troubled girl in his backwoods neighborhood. He 1/3 truly wants what's best for her, 1/3 just has a crush on her, and 1/3 has a savior complex. I found his desire to make people better very relatable and the way he his motives and actions are sometimes right and sometimes not really makes you think.
Note: this novel also deals with sexual and spiritual abuse. I'd say it's handled pretty well, but it's definitely dark and the writing is so emotionally-strong throughout the book that it may be hard for those with past trauma in these areas to handle.
Note: this novel also deals with sexual and spiritual abuse. I'd say it's handled pretty well, but it's definitely dark and the writing is so emotionally-strong throughout the book that it may be hard for those with past trauma in these areas to handle.
June 20, 2023
This was a slow read for me at first, but it picked up as the themes deepened. A heart stirring drama about forgiveness, lost love, prejudices and healing. Four star
November 27, 2023
There's something irresistible about a man truly loving a woman
July 3, 2016
This was such an absorbing story! And to think I actually deliberated over whether to request it for review! When you pick up this book (and you really want to, believe me) make sure you have a few hours to yourself to read it, because you won’t want to put it down.
To begin with, the writing in this novel is superb. It has vitality, a fantastic use of imagery, and a wonderful way of capturing the essence of a character or a situation with one or two well-chosen, and often pithy, observations. And some of those observations prompted sudden outbursts of laughter from me – so beware if you are reading in public. You may get some funny looks!
The story is narrated in the first person from the point of view of Matt Plumley, and alternates seamlessly between Matt's return to Dogwood in the present (1984, for the purposes of this novel) and the year that Matt and his parents moved from Pittsburgh to Dogwood when he was 14 (the year 1972). Matt strikes up a friendship with Jesse and Dickie the day he arrives in Dogwood, but their friendship is tested from the beginning by the differences in their circumstances. In Matt’s own words, Dickie’s mixed-race ancestry was ‘a knapsack full of rocks on his forced march through his childhood’, and Jesse’s situation is one of utter poverty unlike Matt has ever known.
Despite Jesse and Dickie’s status as outcasts, they become Matt’s closest friends in those early weeks, and part of the beauty of this story is the way in which moments of light-heartedness – of childhood innocence and idyll – float to the surface of waters muddied by the harsher realities of Jesse and Dickie’s lives. Then one night, with Dickie snoring ‘like a chainsaw with the croup’ in the background, Matt and Jesse exchange secrets and a promise. Unfortunately, some secrets are just too big to be contained.
In the present, Matt returns to Dogwood to find it's not so easy to talk to Jesse, and everyone, Jesse included, thinks it would be better if he just returned to Chicago and left the past in the past. And when he gets an emergency call to return to Chicago, he begins to think perhaps that would be best after all.
There was something really mesmerizing about this story. I was thoroughly immersed in the events taking place at whatever point I was reading, but at the same time, I could feel both the past and the present story lines building, piece by piece, drawing me like a magnet towards two climaxes that I knew I would not be able to fully predict. And even if you do venture to predict them, I can guarantee you will be second guessing yourself all the way to the end.
If you’re like me, you will likely have a mixture of emotions when the novel concludes. There is a sense in which I felt like this story closed just as another was ready to begin, but then that, too, is part of the magic of this story, and perhaps all our stories in a way. In any case, this is fabulous read – in some ways reminiscent of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and in others, a story all its own.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
To begin with, the writing in this novel is superb. It has vitality, a fantastic use of imagery, and a wonderful way of capturing the essence of a character or a situation with one or two well-chosen, and often pithy, observations. And some of those observations prompted sudden outbursts of laughter from me – so beware if you are reading in public. You may get some funny looks!
The story is narrated in the first person from the point of view of Matt Plumley, and alternates seamlessly between Matt's return to Dogwood in the present (1984, for the purposes of this novel) and the year that Matt and his parents moved from Pittsburgh to Dogwood when he was 14 (the year 1972). Matt strikes up a friendship with Jesse and Dickie the day he arrives in Dogwood, but their friendship is tested from the beginning by the differences in their circumstances. In Matt’s own words, Dickie’s mixed-race ancestry was ‘a knapsack full of rocks on his forced march through his childhood’, and Jesse’s situation is one of utter poverty unlike Matt has ever known.
Despite Jesse and Dickie’s status as outcasts, they become Matt’s closest friends in those early weeks, and part of the beauty of this story is the way in which moments of light-heartedness – of childhood innocence and idyll – float to the surface of waters muddied by the harsher realities of Jesse and Dickie’s lives. Then one night, with Dickie snoring ‘like a chainsaw with the croup’ in the background, Matt and Jesse exchange secrets and a promise. Unfortunately, some secrets are just too big to be contained.
In the present, Matt returns to Dogwood to find it's not so easy to talk to Jesse, and everyone, Jesse included, thinks it would be better if he just returned to Chicago and left the past in the past. And when he gets an emergency call to return to Chicago, he begins to think perhaps that would be best after all.
There was something really mesmerizing about this story. I was thoroughly immersed in the events taking place at whatever point I was reading, but at the same time, I could feel both the past and the present story lines building, piece by piece, drawing me like a magnet towards two climaxes that I knew I would not be able to fully predict. And even if you do venture to predict them, I can guarantee you will be second guessing yourself all the way to the end.
If you’re like me, you will likely have a mixture of emotions when the novel concludes. There is a sense in which I felt like this story closed just as another was ready to begin, but then that, too, is part of the magic of this story, and perhaps all our stories in a way. In any case, this is fabulous read – in some ways reminiscent of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and in others, a story all its own.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
August 20, 2025
BOOK REVIEW: THE PROMISE OF JESSE WOODS // CHRIS FABRY
MY THOUGHTS: My mom and I read this one for our bookclub, and I'm glad we did! Not only did this one catch my attention right off, it kept it. The writing made it so easy to just keep reading; I barely needed to think at times. The story was set in a short span of time, but it filled so much of it. I loved the back-and-forth, the message hidden in its pages and the way it became clear at the end. A story of friendship, resilience, loss, overcoming, and a God who saves and fights for us.
CONTENT: Light. Slurs, death of parent, poverty, attempted sexual assault
WHAT I LIKED: While this wasn't a typical historical fiction, I really enjoyed having a contemporary look into the past time. This book also pushed my buttons, but in a good way!
GENRE: Contemporary Christian Historical Fiction
PAGES: 432
RATING: 5☆
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS?: Yes yes yes!
MY THOUGHTS: My mom and I read this one for our bookclub, and I'm glad we did! Not only did this one catch my attention right off, it kept it. The writing made it so easy to just keep reading; I barely needed to think at times. The story was set in a short span of time, but it filled so much of it. I loved the back-and-forth, the message hidden in its pages and the way it became clear at the end. A story of friendship, resilience, loss, overcoming, and a God who saves and fights for us.
CONTENT: Light. Slurs, death of parent, poverty, attempted sexual assault
WHAT I LIKED: While this wasn't a typical historical fiction, I really enjoyed having a contemporary look into the past time. This book also pushed my buttons, but in a good way!
GENRE: Contemporary Christian Historical Fiction
PAGES: 432
RATING: 5☆
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS?: Yes yes yes!
September 17, 2016
Matt Plumley is the new kid in the town of Dogwood, West Virginia. What makes his situation more difficult is that he is overweight, awkward, and to top it off, he is the Preacher’s Kid. Who will be looking to be his friend? As with most teenage friendships, it is usually other outcasts who befriend an outcast. The cool kids never have the time or the inclination. Dickie is the mixed race son of a soldier in Vietnam and Jesse Woods lives in more poverty and depravation than Matt has ever known. Matt’s parents do not encourage either of these friendships. During that summer in the 1970s, they enjoy riding their bikes all over town. Matt feels accepted and content. The problem is that there are many secrets. Matt doesn’t want anyone to know, Dickie especially, that his brother is a draft dodger who fled to Canada. Jesse doesn’t want anyone to know that her mother has died and she and her sister are alone. To add more intrigue to the plot, Matt’s father lives his life trying to appease a powerful member of his church who is bullying the whole neighborhood.
Fast forward twelve years, Matt is now a college graduate working as a counselor with at risk youth and keeping his options open for acting opportunities in Chicago. He gets a call from Dickie telling him that Jesse Woods is getting married. Feeling he must rescue her from making a mistake, he returns to Dogwood to try to stop the wedding. Matt envisions himself as Jesse’s savior. As he, his father, and Jesse are forced to face choices they made in the past and motivations for the future, the books comes to a satisfying conclusion.
This is the first book I have read by Chris Fabry and it won’t be my last. The writing is beautiful and the story is great. While it goes back and forth between 1972 and 1984, it is never difficult to follow the transition. It is a book with much to consider and would be a great book for a book club.
I received this from The Book Club Network in exchange for my opinion.
Fast forward twelve years, Matt is now a college graduate working as a counselor with at risk youth and keeping his options open for acting opportunities in Chicago. He gets a call from Dickie telling him that Jesse Woods is getting married. Feeling he must rescue her from making a mistake, he returns to Dogwood to try to stop the wedding. Matt envisions himself as Jesse’s savior. As he, his father, and Jesse are forced to face choices they made in the past and motivations for the future, the books comes to a satisfying conclusion.
This is the first book I have read by Chris Fabry and it won’t be my last. The writing is beautiful and the story is great. While it goes back and forth between 1972 and 1984, it is never difficult to follow the transition. It is a book with much to consider and would be a great book for a book club.
I received this from The Book Club Network in exchange for my opinion.
July 14, 2016
Once again, Chris Fabry has offered up a poignant, moving novel with his latest release, "The Promise of Jesse Woods". Flashing back and forth between past and present, Fabry drew me deep into the lives of Matt, Jesse and Dickie. There are many books that I've read where these alternating story lines simply don't work - but this is not one of them. Rather, each viewpoint contributes to the other and makes for some addictive reading as I could barely put the book down in my quest to see how things would unfold. I was mesmerised by Jesse's plight as she has to be big sister and mom and friend all rolled into one, and I can't imagine having to deal with the heart-wrenching events that she does. Now, I have to say that I was rooting for a particular ending to this story, one that didn't exactly happen. But by the time I turned the final page, the ending did indeed feel right in its realism. That said, you know how some stories just leave you with an ache on this inside? "The Promise of Jesse Woods" is one of those stories. Fabry has succeeded at creating characters that are as real as you and I, and you will hurt and cry and rejoice right alongside of them. Even better, real faith in Jesus permeates this book, and makes it all the better for it.
I truly encourage you to pick up a copy of this wonderful novel for yourself, and immerse yourself in this excellent story of Matt and Jesse. You will be so glad that you did! 5 out of 5 stars.
An egalley has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Tyndale, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
December 9, 2016
ARC received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway
I couldn't put this book down until I finished it; it was absolutely riveting! Matt Plumley and his family moved to Dogwood, West Virginia when his father was called back to his home to pastor a church there. Right away, I thought for sure that I wouldn't like this book and didn't want to read it. I don't enjoy being preached to in a book that I'm voluntarily reading. This book was definitely not preachy. The characters asked valid questions about the "whys" of life. The pastor wasn't the most "Christian" person in the story. In other words, it looked a lot like real life.
This is the story of promises that Jesse made to Matt as they were growing up together. Matt had to return to Dogwood to be sure that all of those promises were the truth of his childhood or the truth as he thought it was during his childhood.
I really enjoyed this book and can see it being made into a movie.
I couldn't put this book down until I finished it; it was absolutely riveting! Matt Plumley and his family moved to Dogwood, West Virginia when his father was called back to his home to pastor a church there. Right away, I thought for sure that I wouldn't like this book and didn't want to read it. I don't enjoy being preached to in a book that I'm voluntarily reading. This book was definitely not preachy. The characters asked valid questions about the "whys" of life. The pastor wasn't the most "Christian" person in the story. In other words, it looked a lot like real life.
This is the story of promises that Jesse made to Matt as they were growing up together. Matt had to return to Dogwood to be sure that all of those promises were the truth of his childhood or the truth as he thought it was during his childhood.
I really enjoyed this book and can see it being made into a movie.
April 20, 2023
This was a new to me author and I have to say I didn’t love the book. I had a hard time reading the book and connecting with any of the characters. I also ended up skimming through the many baseball scenes and descriptions because it would get boring to me.
Something I didn’t like is that even though several of the characters are supposed to be Christian, they really don’t act like it because they still have a lot of prejudices and see other people as beneath them so that was really disappointing to read even though towards the end some do somewhat redeem themselves.
What I did like about the book was the initial friendship between Matt, Dickie and Jesse, and it was interesting reading about their past and how it affected their present/future.
I do have to say that the ending surprised me and caught me a little off guard but I appreciate the fact that it was different from a lot of books.
Something I didn’t like is that even though several of the characters are supposed to be Christian, they really don’t act like it because they still have a lot of prejudices and see other people as beneath them so that was really disappointing to read even though towards the end some do somewhat redeem themselves.
What I did like about the book was the initial friendship between Matt, Dickie and Jesse, and it was interesting reading about their past and how it affected their present/future.
I do have to say that the ending surprised me and caught me a little off guard but I appreciate the fact that it was different from a lot of books.
October 27, 2020
I really enjoyed my journey with Matt. This book was well-crafted and the characters and character development were portrayed incredibly (I thought). I've heard others say this was slow-paced, and perhaps it was at times. But I enjoy this kind of book, one that doesn't follow the natural pattern of novels and isn't always flowing along quickly. I really thought a lot about the book after finishing it. The ending was not what I expected, and it was not all that satisfying to me. Perhaps it was meant to make the reader feel that way. I'm still unresolved on that issue. But you get the point - this is a book that will make the reader think about man and his nature, and about ourselves and why we make the decisions we make. It's a good read for older teens and above in general, I think, due to some more mature content and themes, although it was fairly clean.
September 20, 2017
This is my first book to read by Chris Fabry. And I found his writing to be superb. It is an easy book to read and it flowed very well. I loved the childhood memories the hero had. It made me think of visiting my grandmother's home in the country when I was a little girl. Which made me smile, while other parts of the book had me tearing up. I did hope for a little different ending. I had to realize this isn't a romance. that it's women's fiction. There is a very poignant inspirational message that culminated at the very end and left me searching my own heart. I really did enjoy this book and I do recommend it for anyone who loves inspirational women's fiction.
March 18, 2023
Wow!! That's all I can say. Just, wow!
I loved everything from the characters to the setting, and the themes were 👌🏻
Picking it up, I had a feeling that I would cry by the end, and I did. In fact, I feel like I'll have to read some "fluffy" books for a while, because I can't handle another emotional rollercoaster so soon after this 😂
I loved everything from the characters to the setting, and the themes were 👌🏻
Picking it up, I had a feeling that I would cry by the end, and I did. In fact, I feel like I'll have to read some "fluffy" books for a while, because I can't handle another emotional rollercoaster so soon after this 😂
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