Title: The Girl and the
Golden Leaf
By: June N. Foster
A CBM Book Review
10.0 out of 10.0 stars
“An unforgettable journey,
full of adventure, suspense, mystery, and despair to triumph, The Girl and the
Golden Leaf, will forever touch your heart, as the book uniquely touches on
many injustices and social issues that span the globe – namely children in
poverty and slave trafficking” ~ CBM Christian Book Reviews
The Girl and the Golden Leaf
by June N. Foster delivers the adventures of Tia and Finn, twins, now just shy of
sweet sixteen, set in the Appalachian Mountain country, near a place called New
River. Tia and Finn are inseparable, and now after the death of their parents,
both are taking care of their two younger brothers. The telling of their
adventure takes a dramatic twist, turns to despair, touching on several global
issues, namely human trafficking and poverty.
Tia, a sweet scrawny girl and
her twin, Finn, fun-loving and joyous, are both Irish through and through with
sprinkles of honey in their strawberry hair and green eyes flecked with gold
and blue hues. Finn is adventurous and animated, Tia, is quiet, subdued and
loves spending time with family. Both have been touched in different ways after
hearing of their parents’ accident. Both reflect their age, and after a turn of
events, Tia finds hope in a happening in the woods, as the Lord seems to communicate with Tia with signs that will delight the reader. (Resonating in the
pages are sayings that come to mind, such as “Too good to be true and Listen to
your gut instinct,” come to mind.)
The author has weaved a
fast-paced novel to wake up those in slumber to some real global issues
concerning those living in poverty (mainly children), without clean water or
food, and born into the harsh reality of being born in a poverty-stricken area
where kidnapping and sex-trafficking are prevalent. Foster poignantly states,
“It is now our time to make a difference.” This is the purpose of her book, to
inspire those who have the means to help in any way they can and to not ignore
the poor and disadvantaged of the world – especially women, children and
orphans who are an easy prey for traffickers. (Brief statistics in the back of
the book are alarming.)
Addressing such issues
through each chapters such as: the loss of innocence, rape, homelessness,
poverty among third world countries, kidnapping and sex trafficking. Her book
is unique in that it gives a hearty novel to read with subliminal themes
running throughout. She intertwines hope in the Lord, citing some scripture,
with a criss-crossing of biblical principles of one will sow what they reap,
with a worldly view on life, speaking of a thought-provoking question: Is
one doomed to fate in the world or do their choices somehow play for good or
bad in one’s life? She uplifts readers as well by providing hope in the
Lord’s Word that “lights our path.”
Her question is, “Will we
stand idly by and ignore those in need?” The Girl and the Golden Leaf gives
a resounding answer of hope through Tia’s character. Tia, once able is going to
help those in need.
June Foster, in her Author’s
Notes, asks, will you?
*(This is not a book for
children or minors, as it addresses issues such as rape and has some profanity
contained within it. Recommended for mature audiences.)