Joan of Arkansas
ISBN 9798991418379
ASIN B0F1XZNT4J
ASIN B0FBS3CGDG
Wow! What an incredibly moving story. I had a terribly hard time putting this book down. And the few times I did it was disappointing. I was hooked from the very beginning.
The description of this volume states:
““Terrified, I do it anyway...”
Joanie Smith’s mom is a heroin junkie who prefers a pet hamster to her own daughter. Joan of Arc’s dad once got drunk and demanded his sons kill their Drown that witch! But other than dysfunctional families, what else do these teenagers have in common? Because Joanie’s grandma has been insisting they’re so much alike for years.
Join Joanie as she faces challenges large and from caring for a sick grandmother, to dealing with an abusive mom, to battling bullies at school—all while dealing with the flutters of first love and finding her unique voice in the most crucial human rights movement of our time. Get to know a different side of the infamous Joan of Arc while you’re at it—the ordinary peasant whose dad tried to force her into an arranged marriage; the simple farm girl who faced exclusion from peers and cried to go home to her family after proving herself as a soldier.
Figure out for yourself what these young women have in common and ponder how you too—an ordinary person—can be used by God (if you’re willing) to do the extraordinary.”
About the author we are informed:
“Sarah Robsdottir is a Catholic convert and a homeschooling mom to seven growing sons. She writes often for Aleteia.org and published her award-winning debut novel Brave Water in 2022 with Voyage Publishing. Keep up with her at www.sarahrobsdottir.com.”
My youngest daughter and I have had a devotion to Joan of Arc for a long time. For me going back a few decades. For her, Joan was chosen as her confirmation saint. We have read a few books together over the years. I knew almost nothing about this book; a long time reader of my blog asked me my thoughts and was surprised I had not read it yet. I admit the cover is intriguing and I started it knowing almost nothing about the book. It did not disappoint. I have recommended it to a few people while reading it and hope my daughter will give it a go. This is Robsdottir’s sophomore offering and it is excellent.
The characters are wonderfully written. It does an amazing job of capturing secondary school today; and also the desire for social media interactions. It deals with addiction, abortion, illness, and family. The plot is heart wrenching and yet also inspiring. It is a book that will stay with readers long after they read it.
Not one I would recommend for all youth but for almost any young adult or adult. It is a faith filled story about living in hard situations and hard times. Way better than a lot of when I read when younger, and one that will challenge readers! This is an excellent read.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
Other books about Joan of Arc:
Books by Sarah Robsdottir:
Brave Water
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