Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the World

6/27/2009 11:52:00 AM by Shauna

by Tom Davis

I previously reviewed Tom Davis's nonfiction book Red Letters: Living a Faith That Bleeds and was impressed by his passion for serving the least of these and the practical ideas he shares for taking action and effecting change. Tom serves as president/CEO of Children's HopeChest, which is dedicated to taking care of orphans and widows in their distress through care points and other efforts in Africa and Russia. In his first novel, Scared, Tom tells a compelling, thought-provoking tale about life in a small village in Swaziland through the eyes of an orphan and the jaded, broken American journalist whose life she changes.

Scared is not an easy book to read, and it realistically shines a spotlight on atrocities that many people would rather not think about: poverty, starvation, AIDS, rape, brutality, and unspeakable suffering. As the publisher's note says, "Some scenes will grip and haunt you, some passages you will want to run away from--but this is real life."

The main character, Stuart Daniels, was inspired by the story of photographer Kevin Carter, who committed suicide soon after winning a Pulitzer for his horrifying photo of a starving child in Sudan. Stuart is haunted by the images of human suffering and brutality that he has photographed and won recognition for. On a last-ditch effort to save his career, he takes an assignment in Africa, where years before he witnessed and survived a massacre by rebel troops in the Congo. He begins to see hope and find a purpose where he least expects it.

Adanna is a young Swazi girl who suddenly finds herself responsible for herself and her younger siblings when their mother dies of an illness that no one dares to name. She is a poet and finds comfort in her gift and her dreams, and she is also a teacher. As a mother of two daughters who aren't much younger than Adanna, I'm unable to think about her without tearing up, especially knowing that she too was inspired by a real person and that there are so many other real, flesh-and-blood girls in the world who have experienced the same suffering as this fictional character.

Tom's style of prose is straightforward and direct, occasionally with more telling than showing, but he does well with his first foray into fiction. He successfully weaves a compelling, heart-breaking story with memorable characters and a powerful message that will stay with you long after the book's conclusion. You can see the promo video for Scared below.


Tom doesn't preach at you, hit you over the head with his message, or try to make you feel guilty. He does inspire you to take action, but he doesn't leave you hanging and feeling hopeless and miserable about the situation. An appendix includes practical ideas for taking action.

I recommend Scared and encourage you to read it for yourself and find out more about Children's HopeChest. I especially challenge you to read Scared if you're afraid it will be too sad or make you uncomfortable. The publisher, David C. Cook, is offering Scared FREE until July 10! Click the image below to sign up to receive a PDF download of this important, potentially life-changing book for you and 3 friends.




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