Into the Fire

Words, the debut novel by Ginny Yttrup, published by B&H Fiction’s Pure Enjoyment line, is an important story for multiple reasons. For those females who’ve suffered at the hands of a sexual predator, Words is a must read. For women who are healing from brokenness caused by sexual abuse or drug abuse or the damage to others caused by these horrors, Words is a must read. For anyone who wishes to view this kind of pain for the value of gaining insights, understanding, and forgiveness, Words is a must read. Finally, Words is a very well-written first novel that plunges a reader into the honesty of pain and the ensuing rocky road to recovery.

A little girl by the name of Kaylee Wren silently tells us the plight of living with a sexual predator after her drug addicted mother leaves their sorry cabin to go the grocery store and never returns. Before coming to this place with this boyfriend, Kaylee spent some of her childhood with her maternal grandmother and mom going to school and living “normally”. However, this latest boyfriend of her mother’s changes Kaylee’s life forever. Kaylee lives under the constant threat of sexual terror and has stopped speaking her words out loud. One of the few useful things left behind by her mother is a dictionary of which Kaylee makes constant use, silently expanding her vocabulary and using those words for mental shelter when life is at its worst. She has one refuge where she goes when she’s sure he won’t be back for awhile. Inside this giant redwood where fire has charred part of its trunk, Kaylee makes her private place with little things that mean so much.

Sierra Dawn, her pseudonym which does little to change who she is, is a professional artist who carries the full load of her past pain as a crippling burden. Her punishment upon herself is never enough, and the love and prayers of her parents and her best friend can’t seem to penetrate this self-imposed exile from forgiveness and distance from a Savior she once knew a long time ago. We eavesdrop on her struggle to keep her penance in place and her hardened heart secure.

When Kaylee’s and Sierra’s worlds collide in the shelter of the redwood tree, life begins anew for both of them.

The strengths of this novel lie in the writing and characters, the realism of trauma portrayed on the page, and the wonderful application of Jesus as the Word. Unique and compelling, this story will not only provide meaningful reading but healing properties for those who’ve been forced down horrible roads of abuse and those who’ve unwittingly plunged themselves into other avenues of self-destruction.

It’s not an easy read, but it’s a worthwhile book, an important entry into CBA Fiction.

Father, you’re always in the healing business. Thank you for giving Ginny such wisdom and insights along the journey of her unending healing on this earth. Please continue to watch over her and bring great joys into her life. May she continue to write for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.