Shack

The Shack
by William P. Young
read by Roger Mueller
audiobook 7 cd set

This book has a place in every public library, college library, and seminary library as well as in many church libraries (depending on their specific beliefs). This book has been out for a few years now, and it is still in fairly high demand so libraries may consider purchasing it in multiple formats or multiple copies. It is also the kind of book that friends pass around. It has been translated into at least 30 languages and many churches, seminaries, and other groups are reading it for discussions. It is rare that a book of such power and impact as this one comes out. Many critics have compared it to Pilgrim's Progress and Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
I read the book a few years ago, but at the recommendation of a patron I listened to the audiobook and Roger Mueller did a great job! It had been some time since I had read the book and his take on it really brought it to life again. At the end of the CD is an author's note stating that he hopes that it will become a movie some day so more people can experience "The Shack". He even states that he wrote the book in mind of having it be a screenplay and that some screen writers helped him in the editing.
I see that Amazon.com has a number of companion books, some supporting this book and others in opposition to the Gospel it preaches. If a librarian is trying to build a balanced collection these books may also be worth purchasing.
Here is the basic plot: A minister and his family are devastated when 6 year old Melissa is kidnapped and probably murdered while she is camping with her family. The father tries to come to some kind of understanding of why God would let this happen. The author refers to the depression that the father feels as "The Great Sadness". Years pass and the sadness does not go away. Little does Mack know that he is about to have an intense encounter with God in all three of God's manifestations - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His assumptions about God are blown away with surprising and shocking revelations about who God is and how little we perceive about His greatness.
This book is very modern and thought provoking. Beware! Some readers may object to the portrayal of God (which makes for an interesting book discussion). I have participated in public library book discussions for about 15 years. Last year, while discussing "The Shack" was the first time that I have had a patron state her objection to a book then walk out of the room.

Chosen One

Chosen One
by
Carol Lynch Williams
read by Jenna Lamia
book on CD
young adult audience

I am highly impressed by Jenna Lamia's voice on this book on CD. She really nails the tone of the main character - 13 going on 14 year old Lyra. I am so impressed that I am going to search our library catalog to see what else we have with her as a narrator and listen to one of those as my next book on CD for my commute.
This is a tense book with the plot pivoting around one moment in time - teenager Kyra's pending wedding to her elderly uncle. She is mortified that the prophet in charge of her cult has heard from God that she should become a 7th wife in this polygamous society. The whole book is creepy in that we know that there are cults out there in the United States and around the world where this happens. Even in polygamous societies more than 2 or 3 wives is unusual. Kyra knows that her uncle is a cruel man and life will be hard with 6 other wives to serve under. How can she escape this fate? One hero in this book is the bookmobile librarian. Hoorah for the bookmobile and its noble staff!
This book might be too creepy for some readers, but it is at least a little realistic in that this story could be happening somewhere in Utah, Texas, or British Columbia right now. Generally this book and the audiobook should appeal to teenage and adult females.
A note about the cover. Amazon.com shows a book cover of the back of a a girl with a tank top on, bra showing, and braided hair unraveling. This is an odd choice because Kyra and family are always modestly covered from head to toe and tidy in appearance. Near the end Kyra says she will never be the type of girl to have a bra strap showing. Our library received the book on tape repackaged by Midwest tapes. This cover photograph shows a girl sitting in a tree reading a book. Kyra does sit in a tree to read a book often, so this photograph makes more sense, except that Kyra is supposed to be almost 14 and the girl in the photograph appears to be younger. Odd.