Book Review
Scattered Links
by M Weidenbenner
Thirteen-year-old Oksana lives on the streets of Russia with her pregnant mama and abusive aunt—both prostitutes. When Mama swells into labor, Oksana makes a decision to save herself from abandonment, a decision that torments her forever. But her plan fails when her aunt dumps her in an orphanage before she has the chance to say goodbye to her mama or tell her the secret that haunts her.
Scattered Links is a story of family and the consequences that come from never learning how to love. It’s a story of a girl’s inability to bond with her adopted family and the frustrations that follow.
How can a child understand the mechanics of forming a healthy relationship when she never had a mother who answered her cries, held her when she was frightened, fed her when she was hungry, or loved her unconditionally?
Only when the child meets a rescued abused horse, and recognizes the pain in his eyes, does she begin to trust again.
"CAPTIVATING! SCATTERED LINKS takes you down the street of nearly any Eastern European town, arm-in-arm with the orphaned. Michelle has captured the beauty and horror millions of children live everyday. The attention to detail is impressive. Having lived in a post-Soviet country for a time, visiting orphaned children, this fictional account rings with truth, from the heart-wrenching pain of abandonment to the realization of self-worth, and the love family and faith brings. Thank you for such an uplifting book, appropriate for the young reader, as well as adult. May your heart be encouraged, as mine was." - Kim de Blecourt, speaker and award-winning author of "Until We All Come Home: A Harrowing Journey, a Mother's Courage, a Race to Freedom"
“Scattered Links is a novel that pulls its characters from the gutters and, in the end, celebrates the tenacity of the human spirit.” A reviewer comment.
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Michelle grew up in the suburbs of Detroit with five brothers. She enjoys writing her novels and encouraging writers and readers alike. She is living her dream writing stories of real people searching for their dreams and confronting their fears, showing the passion of the characters' plights, often giving her the ability to show the reader the 'other' side of the story. When she is not writing she enjoys life on the tennis court and is known as “Queen of the Rim Shots.” Her debut novel, CACHE a PREDATOR, a geocaching mystery. was launched in July, 2013 and has been an Amazon best-seller in the crime/thriller category. Her other works include: Willow, Scattered Links, Kelly’s Story, Eclair Series, and The Vision in a Kiss. She has won contests in both The Writer’s Journal and The Writer’s Digest. Love is Just a Word (Scattered Links) was a bronze medalist is the 2010 Frasier Contest, a 2011 semi-finalist in the ACFW Genesis Contest, and won the Aspiring Writer’s Contest withe THE READING ROOM, 2013.
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Our Book Review
A deeply moving story of an innocent young girl called Oksana, through no fault of her own, lives in a poverty stricken part of Russia called Kazak. Living with her pregnant alcoholic mother and her aunt they are driven by hunger they steal and beg what they can, her mother and aunt turning to prostitution just to keep a roof over their heads. I say a roof but where they live is a cold concrete derelict squatter. When her mother gives birth, knowing that her aunt cannot afford another mouth to feed Oksana has to make a desperate heartbreaking decision just to survive. Following which without any warning or farewell to her mother, her aunt drags both Oksana and her baby sister to an orphanage with absolutely no intention of returning.
With feelings of abandonment they enter a world of further lost hope with only one intention of being reunited with their mother. Life in the orphanage is harsh but in time her baby sister Natalie is adopted by an American couple but Oksana rushes in tears to the meeting not to be parted with yet another family member, luckily the couple see the heartbreak and make the decision to adopt both. But can Oksana overcome her feelings of betrayal to her mother and allow the love of this family to be part of her? Can she believe in what they say and trust them, after such a harsh upbringing in Russia?
The way the author progresses with the story compelling, you cannot fail to be touched by reading this book. You are drawn to Oksana, feeling her desperation throughout this truly emotional read, the sadness of a child in a horrid and cruel adult world is immense. Yet joys of hope as her life takes a positive turn if she could only accept the genuine kindness from the people around her.
What I didn't realise while reading the book is the whole story is based on the author's own adoption experiences, bringing the strong harsh truth of Russia's orphans to light, which inspired her to write this brilliant work of fiction.
Completely and utterly recommending this high quality read by, you will not want to put the book down.
Our Rating
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Sharon x
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