Believe (Fiction - Young Adult)
Issues of religion and responsibility get a refreshingly thorny examination in this hard-nosed look at a girl thrust into an unwelcome spotlight. Janine was only six when a suicide bombing in Jerusalem killed her journalist parents and many others. In fact, Janine was the sole survivor—or “Soul Survivor,” as the media dubbed her—miraculously pulled from the rubble with hand wounds resembling stigmata. The 10-year anniversary brings back the spotlight, especially when her rescuer, Dave, now a famous religious leader, comes to town. With shocking suddenness, Janine appears to heal two sufferers. Is it possible she truly is a healer? In this perfect read-alike to Neil Connelly’s The Miracle Stealer (2010), Aronson is adamant about keeping things realistic the entire way through, coating the so-called miracles with plenty of skepticism, and instead focusing on the way that Janine is used as a symbol of hope for anyone who needs it—even when things turn out poorly. Nuanced relationships and a refusal to accept easy answers make this a strong, unique look at faith. Grades 9-12. --Daniel Kraus