Seasons of Salvation

by Elizabeth Mangrum

The students piled the packages high on the porch, rapped quickly on the door, and then secreted themselves nearby. Finally, a sleepy-eyed little boy opened the door and stared wide-eyed at the mountain of Christmas presents. Santa's sleigh crashed right here on my porch! In this heartwarming, feel-good story based on an actual event, distrust, abandonment, and lack of hope give way to love and service in an early morning seminary class full of problem kids who help their teacher pay an overdue debt of gratitude. Seasons of Salvation is about a young girl abandoned at birth. It's about a mother finding a daughter. It's about a group of ordinary students caught up in doing extraordinary things. And it's about everyone who wants to make a difference in the world.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Fiction, Christmas

179 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Lisa]

This book was recommended (and loaned) to me by my MIL.

It is (loosely) based on a true story, as told to the author. I didn't expect much from it, but as it came highly recommended (and is a quick read) I read it despite my misgivings. All things said, it is a pretty good book. The message is sweet and simply put. The writing is direct and honest. Not the next Great American Novel, but overall, it was a good use of a couple hours.

Recommended for teenagers, mothers, and people who like sappy feel-good books.

[Kim Dennis]

4.5 stars

I had read several reviews talking about how this was not the most well-written book, so I went into it prepared for that. Most of it wasn't as bad as I expected (except the phrase "me and _______" -- that one drives me crazy.) So taking the writing out of it, the biggest reason this wasn't straight up 5 stars is that I don't know what "based on" implies. In an author's note at the end, he says that most of the characters were fictional. I wanted a bit more detail in that realm.

The biggest reason I rounded up is because this story had me in tears several times. I'm not one who cries a lot, but I was really touched by this story. It was so sweet. It makes me want to be a better person and do better at reaching out to those who need my help.

[Lacey]

A sweet story of love and redemption at Christmas time! Cheyenne is a teenager about to age out of the foster system. She never thought she would have a family or be adopted, but then she met NIchole and Richard. They want to adopt her and her life will never be the same. Such a great story any time of the year and even better that it is based off of a real life story! Will be rereading this one for sure!

[Anna]

A cute quick holiday read. The first half was better than the second, which wrapped things up a bit too quickly. The changes of heart and behavior of Cheyenne and Harrison were both a bit abrupt, but not completely unbelievable. I wanted Nichole to tell her own story rather than hearing about it from Jake. The twist at the end was a fun and unexpected way to end the story.

[Janet]

Lovely story based in truth about faith, love and kindness

[Danni]

this book was amazing.

[Dorry Lou]

I found this book better than I thought. I especially liked the fact it was based on a true story. It was an uplifting story in many ways.

[Colleen]

Some really sweet moments in this Christmas story!! Dialogue often felt unrealistic, but some heartwarming moments made for an enjoyable read.

[Amy]

So the writing on this one was not great. I did like the story, the redemption of the characters and the fact that it is based on a true story. I realize that the author's main job is as an attorney and his background is in engineering, so I can see why his sentences are so short, concise and to the point. There wasn't a lot of detail or pretty language (which is usually okay with me, but this needed more). I don't regret reading it. It was a quick read with a good message, just not pretty. It is LDS based and so might appeal to those who are LDS, but the theme can apply to anyone. A nice Christmas story, just not the best written book I've ever read.

[C. Leete]

This is a really heart felt book. It is about a girl who goes through a lot of foster homes. She is 17, and this is her last chance to be with a family before she is just on her own.... She starts to like the family, and the people at her school, are actually starting to care about her. She's never encountered people caring.... she isn't quite sure what to think of it all. Then finally she lets her guard down, and she becomes the girl that her 'parents' always knew she could be. :)

[Stacey Christensen]

My sister gave me this book and she said it was really good. Well I finally read it and it is pretty good. I didn't expect it to have a mormon theme but it does. It is also about an event that happened at Cottonwood High in SLC. All in all it had a really good message and it was a good read.
Kind of a feel good message wrapped up into a Christmas story. It was nice....

[Alisa Lambertsen]

I love this book. It shows that a person can change no matter what has happened in their life. Jake is a person that I would like to know. This story really inspires people to be the best they can be. It teaches how to forget yourself for the sake of others. It teaches to look at who people are not what they are. I love this book because it shows the reality of what people can be.

[Allison]

A fun quick read... had me choked up a few times. The moral of the story 'don't give up on someone because they appear to be broken'. The Spirit can lead you to those in need, if you are willing to listen. I liked this one :)

[Jennifer]

This book had a good message. The writing was OK. It was a little bit too "high school" for me, but that's the target audience. The book was quick reading, and I felt it was worth the time it took to read it.

[Susan]

This is a good Christmas book about an orphan and a egoist rich kid who are seniors in high school. It had me choked up through most of the last half of it. This is Mangrum's first book, so he needs some improvement in the writing style, but I thought it was a really good book.

[Jamie Hargreaves]

This book was written by a family friend of ours. It is really good, and easy to read. It's also based off a true story, which makes the book very inspirational.

[Katherine Woodin]

With the right effort we can all change and become better. A heartwarming story.

[Juliewillford]

Good book. Nothing spectacular yet it was a fun read that kept my interest from start to finish.

[Shannon]

A wonderful inspiring LDS Christmas Story about learning the joys of giving.

[Jordan]

This was a great book. it teaches the true meaning of Christmas and love.

[Valerie]

I loved this book! It had even more meaning to me because it was set at my high school.

[Rita]

Another amazing story based on a true story. wow!!

[Kelly]

this book was mega cheese but not in a good way, its only redeeming quality was that it was based on a true story.

[Viola]

If you want to know what I think about the books I read, go to my blog: violasbookblog.blogspot.com.

[CompassBookRatings]

See full review with rated content analysis at

http://www.compassbookratings.com/rev...

[Madison]

There were some cheesy parts, but overall it was an excellent book.

[Christa]

I really loved this book! It was definitely a life helper! Anyone who is having a hard time, this book shows that service will help you with your hardships. :)

[Karijean31]

this was so inspiring! loved it!

[Allison Dunlap]

It started out very compelling but it progressively got sappier. By the end I was a little gagged by the syrup

[Leslie Lamb]

I like it for the example it gives us of how we can do service and change lives.