Book Review and Giveaway: The Mustard Seed by Peter Svondy.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge,from the author, via the Buzz Plant for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

And now a book based on personal experience and the Bible...

Synopsis:

Sara, a ten year-old girl in a small California country town, startles her family when she seems to bring a dead bird back to life. Most of her family scoffs at such childish “imagination.” The exception is her Grandpa Sam, a Green Beret Vietnam veteran whose gruff exterior masks a passionate devotion to his grandchildren. Then Sara inexplicably begins to heal people afflicted with dire conditions. A boy who had been paralyzed for years suddenly walks. A blind girl can now see. A little girl in the final stages of cancer is suddenly free of all symptoms. Despite the attempts of her family and her doctor to shield her from publicity, Sara is thrown into the limelight and becomes an unlikely media celebrity, her story going viral. Ironically, she insists all the while that the work is done not by her but by Jesus — whom she sees walking on the lake near Sam’s ranch. At first, most of her family, like nearly everyone else, assume only mundane causes for these wonders and see coincidences and fantasies rather than miracles. Even Sam begins to think the doctors may be right in ascribing Sara’s visions and works to “natural” causes. Until one central question occurs to him:Was Sara alone in seeing Jesus?

Sam needs to find the answer. Because in the strangest twist of fate, it turns out Sara’s life may depend on it.

In an ending that is as healing as it is unexpected, Sara’s faith proves to all who care to attend to it to be more powerful and life affirming than the presumed certainties of science and even of death itself.

Review:

We all know the parable of the mustard seed from the bile. The author takes that parable and modernrizes into a story that is not only authentic, but one that speaks to the heart. .As the mother of a 3rd grader, Sara's reactions were ones that Miss Grace would have. In fact, reading it from a mother's perspective, I could very well relate to how Sara's family handled the situation. Much like the butterfly effect, this story speaks to what can start with something so small, yet have so many ripples. The story is interesting , moving and one that makes it great for family reading and discussion. It's perfect for reading around Easter, and teaching our kids about renewal and Jesus's love for us!

About the Author:

A former documentary and commercial filmmaker, Peter Szondy is an internationally published poet, educated at the University of Vienna and Loyola Marymount University. He lives in Ojai, CA.

About the Book:

The Mustard Seed was inspired by a dramatic and moving incident in the life of G.M. Mercier and his grand-daughter, causing him to write the original story in the form of a screenplay. G.M. Mercier was steeped in spiritual activism from early childhood. His mother was a prominent church administrator. Mike is a successful screenwriter and has helped fund over forty independent films. He lives in Lake Elsinore, CA.