God*s Will: Based on a True Story($19.99Value)

Description

A troubled teen. A school with secrets. A risky plan. Fourteen-year-old Sam Snyder thinks he is going on a short vacation to visit his godfather. Instead, his adoptive mother drops him off at a Baptist reform school in the backwoods of Missouri. Surrounded by razor-wire fences, violent at-risk youth, and oppressive staff, he quickly realizes that he's not in California anymore. Between fistfights, fire-and-brimstone sermons, and falling in love with a girl that he's never even spoken to, Sam struggles to keep his unbridled tongue and teenage lust in check in hopes of an early release. But when Will--the new kid--is brutally punished, rumors of an escape plan begin to circulate. Sam must decide if he'll join the group of boys who want to take matters into their own hands. How far will he go to find salvation? "This is a gripping novel, thoughtful and dramatically harrowing. An artfully disturbing story, as captivating as it is heart-wrenching." - Kirkus Reviews "A gut-wrenching novel about the perils of faith bereft of love, God*s Will testifies to resilience in adversity, and is a harrowing condemnation of all who choose to close their eyes to suffering." - Foreword Reviews "[Echan] is gifted in using amusing analogies and hilarious descriptions...[He] does a masterful job of tying up the loose ends while injecting some unexpected twists and turns to help keep the reader engaged." - San Francisco Book Review "A compelling story of survival, faith, and religion used for both good and evil...Highly recommended for its thought-provoking considerations of morals, ethics, and faith." - Midwest Book Review "A fantastic and in-depth look at a particular section of teen culture which is often overlooked in the pages of glossy, popular coming-of-age tales." - Reader's Favorite Matthew John Echan is a board-certified behavior analyst and education consultant for emotionally disturbed children and individuals with developmental disabilities. He currently resides in Southern California with his wife, three children, and their small dog. Matthew considers himself a "method writer," and says when he is not writing, he's writing.