The Kindness of Strangers
by Katrina Kittle
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 801)
Read in February, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
everyone
THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS by Katrina Kittle / William Morrow Press / 390pps / $24.95
When an elementary boy tries to kill himself, people look for reasons. What they usually find is horrendous.
Jordan is the quiet, skinny, pale boy who is best friends with the youngest of Sarah's two sons. Sarah is recently widowed and runs a catering business out of her home. She has catered "parties" for Jordan's parents on numerous occasions. She is close friends with Jordan's mother. Whe...more
When an elementary boy tries to kill himself, people look for reasons. What they usually find is horrendous.
Jordan is the quiet, skinny, pale boy who is best friends with the youngest of Sarah's two sons. Sarah is recently widowed and runs a catering business out of her home. She has catered "parties" for Jordan's parents on numerous occasions. She is close friends with Jordan's mother. Whe...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
Well, this book was an unexpected read. In many ways. We went on a trip and I forgot to bring my book (the current "list" book is The Inheritance of Loss and I am having a terrible time getting into it. Just don't care, don't feel involved or engaged. So...perhaps my subconscious made me forget to bring it? Who knows? UPDATE: I've abandoned Inheritance of Loss. Too many other more interesting books to get it. If anyone adored it and wants to lobby, I'll listen), so Mac picked someth...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
The book is told in the third-person, but the chapters rotate from the perspective of a widow of two (Sarah), her oldest high-school aged son (Nate), and the 11-year old son of a friend (Jordan). As Sarah struggles to keep her own two sons in order, a devastating secret is revealed about Jordan's family. While the "secret" is not discussed in the book-flap summary, it comes to light fairly quickly - so I don't feel like I'm spoiling anything by saying that the horrible truth is that Jo...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
Although the back of the book attempts to summarize without hinting at content, my friend Cecily actually recommended this to me specifically because it was about childhood sexual abuse. If that is something you prefer not to spend free time thinking about, then don't read this. After working at a sexual assault crisis hotline for 3+ years, however, I'm sort of inclined to think that because silence surrounding child victims is almost as significant a form of oppression as the abuse itself, that...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
I have to first say I picked this book up because I just had to have something - anything to read. Nothing was readily at hand that seemed to be all that interesting during the holiday time and the kids home for 2 weeks.
The thing that made me pick it up was that it deal with family and mentioned that the main character had boys. I have 2 of my own and so I threw it in the shopping cart.
I'm glad I did! Katrina Kittle had a wonderful voice and developed each character with such care tha...more
The thing that made me pick it up was that it deal with family and mentioned that the main character had boys. I have 2 of my own and so I threw it in the shopping cart.
I'm glad I did! Katrina Kittle had a wonderful voice and developed each character with such care tha...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in October, 2007
Not bad, not bad...but not good, either. One does have to admire the author's guts in tackling such a touchy subject: incest/child pornography. Avoiding graphic details and gratuitous description, the author still manages to tell her story without it feeling like a cop-out. Unfortunately, "not being a cop-out" does not equal "a great read".
The best way I can describe the writing is "immature": Kittle has a ways to go before she's ripe. The characters are coo...more
The best way I can describe the writing is "immature": Kittle has a ways to go before she's ripe. The characters are coo...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
No one
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2007
You know you're reading a great book when you start thinking about its characters and their story in your free time. This book completely consumed my thoughts. Although the subject matter may turn some readers off--the story deals with incest and child pornography--the author handles it with an immense amount of compassion and poise. I felt so attached to the characters in this novel, and Kittle (a middle school English teacher!) didn't hold back; there were constant shocks and twists in the ...more
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
4 comments
Read in July, 2008
This is one of those books that stays with you long after you have read it.
A powerful narrative told from the alternating perspectives of three main characters; Sarah, the mother, Nate, the older son and Jordan, the neighbor boy around which the story unfolds. Although the subject content of sexual child abuse and child pornography (and often detailed descriptions of such) can be tough to take at times, this personal and often eye-opening book is one I would definitely recommend if nothin...more
A powerful narrative told from the alternating perspectives of three main characters; Sarah, the mother, Nate, the older son and Jordan, the neighbor boy around which the story unfolds. Although the subject content of sexual child abuse and child pornography (and often detailed descriptions of such) can be tough to take at times, this personal and often eye-opening book is one I would definitely recommend if nothin...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
This was a book my friend Jen lent me to take on my honeymoon (ummmmmmmm). I didn't get around to reading it then, but figured I would give it a shot now. This book was disturbing because it deals with such a sensitive topic: severe child sexual abuse and child pornography. It's not always easy to read because of the subject matter, but it did appeal to me because I work in children's services; although I've never dealt with children who have been so grossly mistreated as in this book, I have...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
recommended to Kim by:
I read another novel by the same authorThis review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Read in August, 2007
This is a novel which creeps up on you, the writing allows the story to come out, and the author doesn't get too caught up in being wordy to forget where the novel is going with its message. Sarah is our main character, and deals with loss in the family while raising two sons alone. A chance meeting with a neighbor throws her tentative order of life out of balance, but she finds strength within herself and her family, and this is her journey.
It is well written about subject matter that h...more
It is well written about subject matter that h...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
Sarah Laden, recently widowed, is horrified to learn that her good friend has been accused of child abuse. The victim of the abuse is her son Danny's good friend Jordan. When Sarah's elder son Nate suggests that they should become Jordan's foster family Sarah agrees.
This was a very moving and realistically written story about child abuse. The subject matter was sad and disturbing but the story was moving and well told. The details of daily life were vivid, the characters were very rea...more
This was a very moving and realistically written story about child abuse. The subject matter was sad and disturbing but the story was moving and well told. The details of daily life were vivid, the characters were very rea...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
Kyle recommended this book with a big warning attached... I could not put this book down, but the subject matter is appaling, and I rerally couldn't reccommend it to anyone else with out them judging me.
Sooo... I read it, and I could not put it down. With out giving away too mnay details, it really is VERY heavy subject matter and really makes you almost sick. But at the same time, you have to know the rest of the stroy, and what is going to happen with Jordan.
I started the book on a F...more
Sooo... I read it, and I could not put it down. With out giving away too mnay details, it really is VERY heavy subject matter and really makes you almost sick. But at the same time, you have to know the rest of the stroy, and what is going to happen with Jordan.
I started the book on a F...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
The back of the book was a little misleading - I had no idea this was about a child who was sexually abused by his parents. Even though the subject matter left me a little squirmish at times, I was not able to put the book down. I read it in a day. This is a topic that people prefer to avoid because it's uncomfortable. I think when it comes to children it's extremely important for us to be aware, to educate ourselves, and to be proactive on this topic. I admire the strength and selflessness of S...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
A very disturbing story about what can go on behind closed doors. I read it after a friend had reccommended it with caution. It takes me forever to read a book, but I finished this in about 4 days. I could not put it down. Although this is fiction, it surely challenges your emotions as you know this stuff happens in real life.
A young boy trapped in a child pornography ring hosted by his parents, tries to kill himself, but is saved by his mother's closest friend, Sarah, a widowed mother of tw...more
A young boy trapped in a child pornography ring hosted by his parents, tries to kill himself, but is saved by his mother's closest friend, Sarah, a widowed mother of tw...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Another wonderfully written story, but not for one with a faint stomach. Kittle brings her readers into the lives of a family of three who feel as if they've been falling apart ever since the father passed away two years ago. But then the stomach turning truth about a classmate and friend brings them into a reality they never expected and will potentially bring them together if they are able to put aside their own problems, insecurities, and issues and bring this tormented child into their home....more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
