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Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as the high school counselor in her close-knit community. Without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed by friends and lashes out.
Nothing prepares this mother for the helplessness that follows when her attempts to steer her daughter back on course fail and Pearl shuts her out . . . or when she discovers the unthinkable about her nemesis, the football coach.
Emotionally riveting and profoundly moving, Mother of Pearl brings us into the heart of a mother bound by an incredible burden, who ultimately finds she must recognize her own vulnerability and learn to trust in something much bigger.
"Heart-wrenching yet filled with grace and hope, Kellie Coates Gilbert's Mother of Pearl is beautifully written and a book that needs to be read by everyone with a child or grandchild. Novel Rocket and I give it a high recommendation." Ane Mulligan, Sr. Editor Novel Rocket
"A story that could have come from today’s headlines, Mother of Pearl is a compelling, thought-provoking debut. With impeccable prose, Kellie Coates Gilbert kept me turning the pages in this high-stakes story of one mother’s quest for healing and justice." - Carla Stewart, award-winning author of Chasing Lilacs and Stardust
"Kellie Coates Gilbert's debut novel kept me turning pages and on the edge of my seat. Wonderful, richly-drawn characters who drew me to their hearts despite their flaws. Mother of Pearl carries a sobering message but it's deftly threaded through a story that is anything but sober. I will eagerly await Gilbert's next offering." -Deborah Raney, author of the Hanover Falls Novels series from Howard/Simon & Schuster
"Gilbert’s debut novel is a force to be reckoned with. Mother of Pearl will pluck at the cords of every reader’s heart and refuse to let go until the last page. The story shines a light in the dark places of an issue too often over-looked. There’s a desperate need for awareness regarding this sensitive topic, and Gilbert’s Barrie is a mother who is willing to stand her ground in the face of the fiercest opposition. A heart-twisting tale that readers won’t soon forget."—Elizabeth Goddard, Carol Award winning author of The Camera Never Lies
"Kellie Gilbert's debut novel is a beautifully written, moving story about the vastness of a mother's love for her daughter. Highly recommended." Lisa Harris, Christy Award Finalist
"A cautionary tale for our times, Mother of Pearl is a compelling journey through loss and longing, grief and redemption, crime and justice. Kellie Coates Gilbert unfolds her story with the sensitivity of a skilled writer." – Lisa Wingate, National bestselling, award-winning author of Dandelion Summer and Blue Moon Bay
"From the deepest recesses of her heart, Kellie Coates Gilbert pens her debut novel – Mother of Pearl. It is a story about love, family, tragedy and loss that the author writes with an immeasurable depth of passion and skill. Beautifully and compellingly written, this heartbreaking - yet heartwarming story goes beyond the norm, allowing us to touch the very soul of depression and grief. And to come out the better for it. This story will remain with me for many years to come." - Nancy Jo Jenkins, author of Coldwater Revival
"I started and finished Mother of Pearl in one night. There is no better endorsement than simply not being able to put a book down. And I couldn't put down this first time authors debut novel. I was totally engrossed." - Tina Sloan, Author of Changing Shoes, and television star of Guiding Light
Kellie Coates Gilbert in her new book, “Mother of Pearl” published by Abingdon Press brings us into the life of Barrie Graeber.
From the back cover: “The day my precious Pearl entered this world, I said goodbye to my heart. It would not be the last time.”
School counselor Barrie Graeber’s world shatters when her teenage daughter sneaks out in the middle of the night and is killed in an automobile accident. Amidst her grief, nothing prepares her for the news that Pearl was pregnant at the time of her death and that Barrie’s nemesis, the high school football coach, is responsible.
Barrie vows to do whatever it takes to bring the sexual predator to justice. But when the prosecution accepts the popular coach’s plea bargain, Barrie feels forced to seek her own retribution, placing her marriage at risk and damaging her family and career relationships. Absolute truths and convictions are put to the test, and Barrie must recognize her own vulnerability and find the grace to re-examine her need for vengeance and her trust in God.
This is a book that should be made into a TV movie. “Mother of Pearl” is filled with tension and many twist and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story is about sexual predators and the effects they have on the families of the young people they prey upon. A predatory attack upon an innocent young girl sends her spinning into self-destructive behavior that the parents don’t understand the reason for. When Barrie finds out that Pearl was pregnant when she died she and her husband are shocked. In the hands of a less skillful writer this book could degenerate quickly. However, Ms. Gilbert is highly talented and keeps, not only the story moving, but she keeps it at a high level of quality. Mother of Pearl” is about taking vengeance. Barrie wants to take her own when it seems the courts fail her. However that begins to do all kinds of damage to her relationships. So she finally has to put up her hands and give her desire for vengeance over to God who said that vengeance was His. The last ten pages of this book will keep you reading as fast as you can. Ms. Gilbert makes you care for all the characters and their journey. This is also just plain fun and exciting as well. Don’t start this book late at night because it will cost you sleep.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Anonymous
Posted September 4, 2012
My parents know the author
KelliN
Posted September 1, 2012
Oh, I loved this book! Just as the summary says, it is emotionally riveting and profoundly moving. I cried and cried while reading Mother of Pearl (outright crying while reading is a rare thing for me). I was sitting on my couch during my baby's nap time, with a box of tissues next to me. The book was just so moving, I could not hold the tears in. I don't think I would have been so affected, but for the fact that I am a mother now and could really identify with Barrie. That's not to say that Mother of Pearl was a depressing book. There were sad events, to be sure, but ultimately the book was uplifting and ended on a positive note.
Mother of Pearl is written from Barrie's perspective---which I loved. I've read so many coming-of-age stories written from the teen's point-of-view, it was nice to read one from the mother's perspective. Except that Mother of Pearl was much more than a coming-of-age story. It was about so many things: the relationships within a family and extended family, people dealing with overwhelming loss, and people growing in faith (or coming to faith for the first time). Gilbert writes about a messy situation---one that is becoming all too common in our society, and how it affects one family, and the community as a whole.
I loved reading about all of the relationships in Barrie's life. From her relationship with her husband and children, to her interactions and troubled past with her own mother, to her friendships with her coworkers, every interaction served to enlighten the reader to Barrie's character. She changes so much throughout the novel, and grows in ways she never thought possible. I loved how she transformed from someone who shied away from Christians and inwardly groaned whenever someone brought up God or faith, to someone who comes to lean on God in all things. By the end of the book, Barrie's view on the world is totally transformed, through events which are horrifying but ultimately strengthen her and mold her into a new person.
Gilbert's pacing was excellent. Mother of Pearl covers about a year in time (I'm approximating here) without feeling like the story jumped around or moved too fast or too slow. The story moved at just the right pace, which kept me reading long past the time I thought I would stop.
I was so, so happy with the ending of this book. I loved the way Gilbert handled the events that concluded the story. She turned the focus towards inner change, and ultimately, activism on Barrie's part. I loved seeing the glimpse into the future and how Barrie becomes an advocate for troubled teens. I'm trying hard not to say too much because I don't want to give the story away.
If you're a fan of contemporary fiction, women's fiction, or Christian fiction, this book's for you. If you typically shy away from Christian fiction, be advised that the faith element is subtle enough for those new to the genre to like the book. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to read more from Kellie Coates Gilbert!
Anonymous
Posted August 30, 2012
This book is just plain and simply put.....FANTASTIC!!!! This author is very talented!!! Can't wait for her next book! J.C.
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Posted September 29, 2012
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Overview
Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as the high school counselor in her close-knit community. Without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed by friends and lashes out.
Nothing prepares this mother for the helplessness that follows when her attempts to steer her daughter back on course fail and Pearl shuts her out . . . or when she discovers the unthinkable about her ...