Disclosure: I received this book to review. The post and giveaway form contain affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

Due to both of our busy schedules, my mom and I only get to chat with each other a few times a month. During our last conversation, she expressed how old she felt. She has always worked manual labor to support our family, and it’s really catching up with her. Her body is sore and tired these days, without the strength and vitality of youth to keep her going. Although it’s passed my mind many times, I’ve started thinking hard about the future. What will become of my mom if I don’t take care of her as she ages? Living 7 hours away feels like a lifetime when I can’t be there to do small kindnesses, like take supper to her, or water her garden so she can take a break. For the first time, it’s really hitting me that as I age, so does my mom. How will the future pan out? In the book Then Sings My Soul by Amy K. Sorrells, Nel faced this dilemma with her parents. After the sudden death of her mom, she returned home to find her father easing into a pool of dementia. It’s a situation that many readers will be able to relate to.


It was hard for me to like Nel, which is unusual since I usually root for the main character wholeheartedly. She was a hippie sort of person, with dreadlocks and an artistic nature. I really liked those things about her. Other than that, Nel seemed very selfish and worldly. The book mentioned love affairs and similar suggestive encounters that had taken place in Nel’s life. That came as a surprise to me, coming from the David Cook publishing group. Although Nel went through some changes while she cared for her father, I didn’t see a real change of heart in her core beliefs.

The best part of this book was the background of Nel’s father, Jakob. His traumatic childhood was forever changed by terrible events that took place in the Ukraine, near the time leading up to the Holocaust. I wasn’t familiar with the historic events and details in the story, and it became a fascinating learning path for me. The atrocities faced by Jews during that horrible era of history cannot be fully measured, but Sorrells does an outstanding job of making the reader feel each painful moment in small Jakob’s life. Note that there are several violent incidents described in the book including rape and torture. I wasn’t mentally prepared for that, and it nauseated me to read about it. Jakob’s brother Peter was a true hero in this story, and I would love to see a spin-off story about him.

Then Sings My Soul is available at Family Christian, which offers a wonderful assortment of reading material. You’ll also everything home decor, gifts, and music! The giveaway form below gives you the chance to win a $10 Family Christian certificate. The contest is open to US readers ages 18+. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck!