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A Sinking Star
Evie Boone just wants to survive high school and keep her sisters safe. When their mother returns home after disappearing for weeks, nothing Evie can do will keep the cops from messing with her plan to lay low. Worse, there's nothing she can do to stop the father who walked out on her and her sisters nine years ago from opening his home to them. As Evie wrestles to salvage her crumbling life, her father and his new family pursue Evie with a gentle love the likes of which she's never known. Are they for real, or is it all an act? Can she ever go back to the life she knew before her mother's arrest? And if she's honest with herself, does she even want to anymore?
348 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2018
10 people want to read
About the author
Chrissy M. Dennis
6 books16 followersChrissy M. Dennis lives in Saskatchewan, Canada with her foster daughters and calico
kitty. She is a full-time mom and a part-time administrative assistant
for Renovaré Canada. Chrissy also loves to read, crochet and, of course, write, trusting the
Lord will use her books for the glory of God and the growth of His kingdom through the
healing work of the Gospel.
She carries a Masters of Divinity in Youth and Family Ministry. She loves working with
teens, and has felt the call of God to minister to the needs of youth in this culture. She
hopes to continue writing, specifically regarding issues relevant to today’s teens, offering a
message of salvation and hope. Her first novel, The Lion Cubs, received positive reviews
and deals with themes of abuse and abandonment.
kitty. She is a full-time mom and a part-time administrative assistant
for Renovaré Canada. Chrissy also loves to read, crochet and, of course, write, trusting the
Lord will use her books for the glory of God and the growth of His kingdom through the
healing work of the Gospel.
She carries a Masters of Divinity in Youth and Family Ministry. She loves working with
teens, and has felt the call of God to minister to the needs of youth in this culture. She
hopes to continue writing, specifically regarding issues relevant to today’s teens, offering a
message of salvation and hope. Her first novel, The Lion Cubs, received positive reviews
and deals with themes of abuse and abandonment.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 19, 2019
A heart-wrenching tale of brokenness and hope
My rating is 4.5 stars
This is one of those books that is going to stay with me for a long time. It is a deeply moving story. Though it is primarily about Evie’s grief and guilt, it is not filled with darkness. There is hope. . .
My heart broke for Evie and her sisters. Dealing with a mentally ill mother and feeling that they had no one who cared about them was so tragic. And then to be shuffled off to their father who had abandoned them nine years earlier? Who then decided to try to act like a dad and discipline them and tell them what to do? Yeah, you know how well that went over.
Poor Evie had had to act as the mother in the family pretty much since their dad left. And though she did a pretty good job of it, considering, her poor fourteen-year-old sister, Sammy, was such a mess. I wanted to shake Sammy and ground her and hug her and help her to get her life back on track. She broke my heart!!
Evie’s ignorance about what God is like caused her to fear judgement from him. Especially because she thought she was responsible for everyone in her family and for everything that went wrong.
I loved the way that Evie daydreamed to escape her reality. She was a story-teller at heart and had made up a story of a star that lost its light and needed to be rescued from where it sank. She told it to Lily often. The author wove that theme throughout in a beautiful way.
While Evie’s journey was hard and there were some ugly situations, I really enjoyed it and am so glad for the opportunity to have read it.
This is a fantastic story for someone who feels they have no hope. Being told from Evie’s point of view, it shows how the truths of God sound to one who feels abandoned and it gently leads the reader to see who God is and His love for us.
Be prepared, though, as there are some dark situations. Underage drinking (not described but you know it is happening) and domestic violence play a small part. They are integral to the narrative and are handled with tact and class.
Read my full review with a Preview Do not post
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
My rating is 4.5 stars
This is one of those books that is going to stay with me for a long time. It is a deeply moving story. Though it is primarily about Evie’s grief and guilt, it is not filled with darkness. There is hope. . .
My heart broke for Evie and her sisters. Dealing with a mentally ill mother and feeling that they had no one who cared about them was so tragic. And then to be shuffled off to their father who had abandoned them nine years earlier? Who then decided to try to act like a dad and discipline them and tell them what to do? Yeah, you know how well that went over.
Poor Evie had had to act as the mother in the family pretty much since their dad left. And though she did a pretty good job of it, considering, her poor fourteen-year-old sister, Sammy, was such a mess. I wanted to shake Sammy and ground her and hug her and help her to get her life back on track. She broke my heart!!
Evie’s ignorance about what God is like caused her to fear judgement from him. Especially because she thought she was responsible for everyone in her family and for everything that went wrong.
I loved the way that Evie daydreamed to escape her reality. She was a story-teller at heart and had made up a story of a star that lost its light and needed to be rescued from where it sank. She told it to Lily often. The author wove that theme throughout in a beautiful way.
While Evie’s journey was hard and there were some ugly situations, I really enjoyed it and am so glad for the opportunity to have read it.
This is a fantastic story for someone who feels they have no hope. Being told from Evie’s point of view, it shows how the truths of God sound to one who feels abandoned and it gently leads the reader to see who God is and His love for us.
Be prepared, though, as there are some dark situations. Underage drinking (not described but you know it is happening) and domestic violence play a small part. They are integral to the narrative and are handled with tact and class.
Read my full review with a Preview Do not post
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
May 6, 2021
"I used to tell my sisters this story I made up. It's about a sinking star."
Evie Boone is only seventeen, but she's the one who takes care of her two younger sisters and her mentally ill mother. Never mind her own dreams of going to law school some day. Evie has to hold everything together, has to be the responsible one, the mother. But how can she hold things together when she's just a teen herself, and when everything is falling apart? When Evie's mother is arrested and she and her sisters go to live with their father, whom they haven't seen in nine years--not to mention his second wife and her son--it seems like life couldn't be more out of control. Evie is desperate to get everything back to normal, but is the normality she knew before actually what she wants? And could it be possible that the father who left when she was eight still loves her and her sisters? Maybe, but he'd better not try to tell Evie or her sisters what to do. And what's up with this God that her dad and his family talk about?
How can I review a book that broke my heart over and over, made me want to cry, squeezed my chest tight with anxiety, and then slowly put the broken pieces back together with beautiful and unrelenting love? There was a time while I was reading that I had to stop and calm down, take a step back. When Evie was walking on eggshells, I felt like I was right there walking on them with her. "She had to be careful. Every word, every gesture needed to be considered and calculated. Any mistake, any wrong word could be like yanking the pin from a grenade." Oh, indeed. I knew what she meant. Was there no hope in the midst of all the darkness? But then I carried on, and there was hope. Beautiful, redeeming hope and unfailing love. I think I will never forget this story. And it makes me so thankful to the One who "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Evie Boone is only seventeen, but she's the one who takes care of her two younger sisters and her mentally ill mother. Never mind her own dreams of going to law school some day. Evie has to hold everything together, has to be the responsible one, the mother. But how can she hold things together when she's just a teen herself, and when everything is falling apart? When Evie's mother is arrested and she and her sisters go to live with their father, whom they haven't seen in nine years--not to mention his second wife and her son--it seems like life couldn't be more out of control. Evie is desperate to get everything back to normal, but is the normality she knew before actually what she wants? And could it be possible that the father who left when she was eight still loves her and her sisters? Maybe, but he'd better not try to tell Evie or her sisters what to do. And what's up with this God that her dad and his family talk about?
How can I review a book that broke my heart over and over, made me want to cry, squeezed my chest tight with anxiety, and then slowly put the broken pieces back together with beautiful and unrelenting love? There was a time while I was reading that I had to stop and calm down, take a step back. When Evie was walking on eggshells, I felt like I was right there walking on them with her. "She had to be careful. Every word, every gesture needed to be considered and calculated. Any mistake, any wrong word could be like yanking the pin from a grenade." Oh, indeed. I knew what she meant. Was there no hope in the midst of all the darkness? But then I carried on, and there was hope. Beautiful, redeeming hope and unfailing love. I think I will never forget this story. And it makes me so thankful to the One who "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
November 18, 2018
Every once in a while a book comes along that is so dynamic it can change the life and perspective of the reader. This is what A Sinking Star by Chrissy M. Dennis has done for me. It is the journey of a young girl who desperately loves her family and has focused her whole life on their safety and care. However, carrying this burden all alone will prove to be her undoing and come close to destroying her. Will the love of a family and their strong faith save her from this destruction?
Written in easy to read short chapters, this book would be a wonderful addition for a young adult and adult audience as well. I highly recommend it for a youth-oriented book club as well as a youth study group as it brings many of the problems facing young people today to the forefront. It also supplies the hope that is imperative in the lives of our youth as they struggle to mature without relying on the love and strength of an ever-present Lord.
Chrissy M. Dennis is a youth pastor who has written her books to glorify God and to share His healing work. The voices of her characters are authentic as well as the interrelationships that evolve throughout the book. An excellent read. I look forward to what other gems this author has to share.
Written in easy to read short chapters, this book would be a wonderful addition for a young adult and adult audience as well. I highly recommend it for a youth-oriented book club as well as a youth study group as it brings many of the problems facing young people today to the forefront. It also supplies the hope that is imperative in the lives of our youth as they struggle to mature without relying on the love and strength of an ever-present Lord.
Chrissy M. Dennis is a youth pastor who has written her books to glorify God and to share His healing work. The voices of her characters are authentic as well as the interrelationships that evolve throughout the book. An excellent read. I look forward to what other gems this author has to share.
July 4, 2019
A powerful story that will touch your heart
This was a very moving, well written book! A story of three sisters overcoming a difficult upbringing and learning where their worth comes from. Watching them struggle through the cruelties life throws at them is jolting, but knowing the Truth is just around the corner is encouraging. The author did a great job showing the sad realities of many households but also, thankfully, the rescuing power and healing of God’s love and forgiveness available to us all.
This was a very moving, well written book! A story of three sisters overcoming a difficult upbringing and learning where their worth comes from. Watching them struggle through the cruelties life throws at them is jolting, but knowing the Truth is just around the corner is encouraging. The author did a great job showing the sad realities of many households but also, thankfully, the rescuing power and healing of God’s love and forgiveness available to us all.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews