Deftly written, and containing equal parts sadness and hope.

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	• The Kindness of Strangers Katrina Kittle Harper Perennial, 2007 - 400 pages average customer review:based on 32 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

So real

I work in "Oakhaven" and the mention of local businesses and "crossing the river to get to the hospital" were all very real to me. I am aware that child abuse knows no demographic but Kindness of Strangers made it all personal for me. It has helped me stop denying and start looking around for possible dangers to my grandchild.

Deftly written, and containing equal parts sadness and hope.

I began this book and finished it in the same day because,
cliched as it sounds, I could not put it down. Ms. Kittle
did not editorialize about any of her characters, though the
temptation to do so must have been strong. There was no
avoidance of painful subject matter, yet there was not one gratuitous word in this book. Although the author's innately
grounded personality shines through in Sarah Laden, we see her as she is, warts and all, and still embrace her. I found myself reminded at times of the best of Jodi Picoult's writing, though more in spirit than in style or content. Writing dialogue seems a great strength for the gifted Ms.Kittle, and whether the dialogue takes place between adults, children, or a combination, it all rings true. There is a generosity of spirit in the
"good" characters that is tempered by their self-doubt and faults. The descriptive passages in which she presents the
"bad" characters are truly terrifying, despite our understanding of how they came to be so despicable and dangerous. There is
such a fine line between teaching our children caution rather
than paranoia that many of us are lost as to how to warn them
about those who prey on children. Ms.Kittle understands this,
and I am certain that this book will spark discussion in many
families that might otherwise not be handled as well, or, sadly,
not handled at all. In the end, we are left with hope and
with a belief that second chances are deserved by many, but
not necessarily by all. The ONLY reason I gave this book 4 stars
rather than 5 is because I wish that it had gone on for a few hundred more pages.

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epitome magazine says "Read This!"

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS by Katrina Kittle / William Morrow Press / 2005 / 978-0-06-056474-2 / 390pps / $24.95

When an elementary boy tries to kill himself, people look for reasons. What they usually find is horrendous.
Jordan is the quiet, skinny, pale boy who is best friends with the youngest of Sarah's two sons. Sarah is recently widowed and runs a catering business out of her home. She has catered "parties" for Jordan's parents on numerous occasions. She is close friends with Jordan's mother. When police investigate Jordan's reason for attempting to take his own life, the small town where they all live is thrown into a confusing denial. None more so than Sarah.
How could a child pornography ring have possibly been operated right under their noses? And by such respected, outgoing members of their community as Jordan's parents? Hindsight leaves everyone feeling nauseated, terrified and incredibly guilt-ridden. Nearly every child in the neighborhood has had contact of some sort with the Kendricks. Nearly every one of them were being groomed for future "parties." This is not a Stephen King novel. There is nothing sci-fi or fantasy-based. In near graphic detail, we are filtered into Jordan's life via his own suppressed memories and through the collected DVD's found in the police search. This is not a pretty picture.
His father skips town, his mother is thrown in jail, and Jordan has nowhere to go from the hospital so is foster-placed with Sarah. What evolves is a long, hard, tumultuous journey into trust and eventual love. With incredible insight, Kittle writes through the voices of Sarah, her son's Nate and Danny, and through Jordan with pure emotions and concise legalities. Revelations bring a family on the brink of their own destruction back into a tight, supportive unit that helps each other heal and move slowly, but surely, forward.
What started out as (I thought) a sappy story soon became an amazingly illuminating read that could easily serve as educational, were it actual nonfiction. In honesty, I could not put it down..even so much as taking it to lunch with my husband and reading it before the food arrived. Painful, poignant, promising....and, unfortunately, more than possible.
Kittle writes from Dayton where she also teaches middle school theater and English. This is her third novel.

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A real grabber!

This book took hold of me and I couldn't put it down. Although the subject matter may be a bit much, it is told with such class and style you can't help but dive into it.

We have a woman who lost her husband two years ago. Still dealing with that pain, Sarah drives by her "best friend's" son walking in the rain, late for school. She decides to stop and give him a ride. He says he has to use the restroom and runs to a port-a-potty. After a few minutes of waiting, Sarah discovers that Jordan has tried to take his own life. She rushes him to the ER. There they discover an abused young man. Sarah still has Jordan's backpack, full of discs documenting the sexual abuse.

Her son Nate, whom she is having troubles with surprises her, and befriends Jordan. He is the one that suggests Jordan come live with their family while the trial is going on for Jordan's parents.

What happens is heartbreaking but Sarah and the boys make it through. Read when you have time to finish it in one sitting.

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WOW!!!

I had little idea what this book was truly about when I picked it up but I am glad I did. I loved it. LOVED IT!!!! As a therapist I work with children who have been sexually abused and I also work with sexual offenders. The author did her homework people! It was accurate and I have a deep appreciation for the realism and not the sensationalized versions I so often see in fictional books. I was in supsense, sick to my stomach, angry, saddened, relieved, and touched by the entire book. I lost sleep but not because I was thinking but because I couldn't put the book down! If I never read another book again I can be proud I read this one. AMAZING!!!

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, page 5, 6, 7

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