Shards of Shell

by Michèle Phoenix

[Note: this book was published by Thomas Nelson as "In Broken Places." This is a self-published and earlier edition.] Shelby's life isn't glamorous, but it is predictable -- and that's the way she likes it. A survivor of her father's violence, she has spent a lifetime creating a safe existence devoid of dependence. But her carefully managed world begins to fracture when, under staggering circumstances, she becomes a single mother to four-year old Shayla. In a drastic attempt to escape her childhood's influence, Shelby moves to Germany, but she quickly discovers how intimately linked memory and healing are -- and how honestly she must scrutinize her past in order to aspire to a richer future. As she juggles a new job, a new culture, a new daughter, and the attentions of an enterprising man, Shelby's fresh start becomes a quest for the courage to be not only a survivor, but a prevailer. The story unfolds simultaneously in the present and the past and is alive with deeply human characters, as winsome as they are flawed. Told from Shelbys unflinching and candid point of view, Shards of Shell is a witty, yet profoundly affecting novel about the ravages of abuse and the aftermath of survival. For further information: www.michelephoenix.com

348 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2007

About the author

Raised in France by a Canadian father and an American mother, Michèle is a mentor, writer, and speaker with a heart for Missionaries’ Kids. She taught for twenty years at Black Forest Academy (Germany) before launching her own ministry advocating for MKs and TCKs in 2011. She now travels globally to teach on topics related to this unique people group, consults with international families and organizations, writes articles about TCK joys and challenges for her blog, and hosts the Pondering Purple podcast. Michèle has written five traditionally published novels, as well as Flecks of Gold, a reflection on God and suffering that stems from her journeys through cancer. It is available only through her website.

Reviews

[Cheri Dueck]

Excellent book! A heart-wrenching tale, but Ms. Phoenix has a very delightfully quirky way of describing things so that it is also a joy to read! The really bad part is when it's over -- I miss the characters already and wish I could read more about their lives.

[Ann Adams]

Another exceptional read---Phoenix can touch your heart!