Faith and Forgiveness

Over the course of the novel, Esther struggles to understand how the Christian faith may or may not be able to aid her healing process and growth beyond the trials of her past. After her parents move her family to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, her stepfather Tom forces Esther to get involved with their church's youth group and choir. Rather than finding a safe place and an accepting community, however, Esther feels further isolated by her Christian peers. Because all of Esther's questions feel just as inexplicable as the Christian faith, Esther struggles to accept her stepfather's religion as her own.

"When it seems like there are too many questions that will remain unanswered math is my solve-ation. Tom would prefer me to find salvation in Jesus, but that seems really hard" (8). Instead of leaning on the principals of the Christian tradition, Esther...