"If you enjoy reading parenting blogs, my guess is that you will really like reading this book." - Charise, blogger, on reading Lonely Girl, Gracious God

Review done by Charise

As a former special ed teacher who has worked with autistic childeren, I was more than happy to review Lonely Girl, Gracious God by Lauri Khodabandehloo, but I wasn’t expecting anything earth shattering. I’ve read and heard many stories of autism, and I didn’t expect this one to be very different.

Well, Lonely Girl, Gracious God surprised me.Almost right from the start, Lauri’s brutally honest writing gripped me. She doesn’t gloss over anything. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows – including feelings of guilt, despair, and devastation – are put out there for the reader without hesitation and with an amazingly reflective attention to detail.

If you enjoy reading parenting blogs, my guess is that you will really like reading this book. I am fascinated by the windows that blogs provide into other people’s families, regardless of how their parenting style might differ from mine. Lonely Girl, Gracious God offers a similar kind of window. It is a powerful memoir that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

This book is categorized as an inspirational book – and with Lauri’s perseverance and faith running as an undercurrent throughout the story – that label certainly fits; but it is far from being sugary sweet. This author, who has contributed stories to the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, is definitely not afraid to share the gritty details of trying desperately to balance raising four children with a stressed marriage and an autistic daughter.

I have a very special place in my heart for children and families that have special needs, but even without that predisposition, I know that the strong dichotomous themes of tragedy and triumph, despair and hope, and hardship and miracle would have touched me deeply. I couldn’t put this book down over the course of a four day vacation, and I recommend it to anyone who has a special interest in autism or Christianity, but also to any mama out there who can identify with highs, lows, and constant surprises of parenting.

BUY IT!

You can buy Lonely Girl, Gracious God on Amazon for $11.89.

Disclosure: Our reviewer received a free copy of Lonely Girl, Gracious God
for review from sponsor but all opinions expressed are that of the reviewer.
We try to seek out only products we think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
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Photo Credit: Author