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Little Lost Nun
What happens when you do the wrong thing for the right reason? In this relatable story of the restorative power of friendship, two girls-Nina, who has everything, and Tabitha, who has almost nothing-find the strength they need to heal from a very sad day with the help of nuns both little and life-sized.
Little Lost Nun :
From the back
How can one little peg doll have the power to heal two broken-hearted girls? Nina, who has everything, and Tabitha, who has almost nothing, wrestle in parallel with the fallout from a sad morning. A bad day sets these two good girls at odds, but the help of nuns both little and life-sized sets both girls on a path of restoration and healing. Journey with the girls and the little lost nun as they discover what it means to be found.
Little Lost Nun :
From the back
How can one little peg doll have the power to heal two broken-hearted girls? Nina, who has everything, and Tabitha, who has almost nothing, wrestle in parallel with the fallout from a sad morning. A bad day sets these two good girls at odds, but the help of nuns both little and life-sized sets both girls on a path of restoration and healing. Journey with the girls and the little lost nun as they discover what it means to be found.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 9, 2021
Sweet story of redemption, faith, and overcoming. Content warning of abuse. Thank you for the loan, my dear friend!
August 26, 2021
Little Lost Nun is a lovely story about prayer, humility, forgiveness, and second chances. The author, Melinda Johnson, has created a story that beautifully brings together so much of what Christian parents hope to teach their children on their path to Heaven.
Nina and Tabby are two new friends who visit a monastery one morning with their mothers. While there, a little peg doll in the image of St. Tabitha goes missing from the miniature church in the monastery garden. As the story unfolds, each girl must work through her own feelings about the little doll and its place in her own life. Tabby, whose own mother is neglectful and consumed by her own sins, fails to show her daughter the love and compassion her daughter needs. She blames everyone around her for her own misfortunes, causing Tabby to steer clear of her whenever possible. Nina, on the other hand, is guided by her patient, loving mother. Nina’s mother encourages her to pray for her friend as she works through her feelings toward Tabby and the missing doll.
The book is not long--less than 100 pages (including a glossary of terms and discussion questions) but because the story is short, it held the attention of my ten year old son, who had never heard of a peg doll or a gerontissa (the wise elder who lives in a monastery.) This is a beautiful story to read and discuss with children, either in a home or Sunday school setting.
I was sent an advanced copy of this book from Park End Books in exchange for my honest review.
Nina and Tabby are two new friends who visit a monastery one morning with their mothers. While there, a little peg doll in the image of St. Tabitha goes missing from the miniature church in the monastery garden. As the story unfolds, each girl must work through her own feelings about the little doll and its place in her own life. Tabby, whose own mother is neglectful and consumed by her own sins, fails to show her daughter the love and compassion her daughter needs. She blames everyone around her for her own misfortunes, causing Tabby to steer clear of her whenever possible. Nina, on the other hand, is guided by her patient, loving mother. Nina’s mother encourages her to pray for her friend as she works through her feelings toward Tabby and the missing doll.
The book is not long--less than 100 pages (including a glossary of terms and discussion questions) but because the story is short, it held the attention of my ten year old son, who had never heard of a peg doll or a gerontissa (the wise elder who lives in a monastery.) This is a beautiful story to read and discuss with children, either in a home or Sunday school setting.
I was sent an advanced copy of this book from Park End Books in exchange for my honest review.
August 31, 2021
Little Lost Nun is a beautiful story of redemption by Melinda Johnson. This book is rich in imagery, “coins of sunlight” among my favorites. Many times as we read this book aloud as a family, I had to stop to read parts again because it was just so stunningly lovely.
More than the artistry of words, however, Johnson has weaved forgiveness and redemption, as well as the power of prayer and the help of the saints into a powerful work that had a few of my family members (myself included) in tears, and my heart sighed, content in the lesson learned and God’s goodness to us that is demonstrated in sweet Tabby’s life.
As a homeschool mom, I was particularly grateful for the glossary and discussion questions that are included. As a family, we were able to utilize this book as a jumping off point for discussion about motives, understanding those around us, monasticism, and forgiveness, as well as the use of symbolism used in the characters’ names.
Little Lost Nun has us yearning to make our first pilgrimage to a monastery and build our own miniature Orthodox village.
I received a free copy of Little Lost Nun in exchange for my honest review.
More than the artistry of words, however, Johnson has weaved forgiveness and redemption, as well as the power of prayer and the help of the saints into a powerful work that had a few of my family members (myself included) in tears, and my heart sighed, content in the lesson learned and God’s goodness to us that is demonstrated in sweet Tabby’s life.
As a homeschool mom, I was particularly grateful for the glossary and discussion questions that are included. As a family, we were able to utilize this book as a jumping off point for discussion about motives, understanding those around us, monasticism, and forgiveness, as well as the use of symbolism used in the characters’ names.
Little Lost Nun has us yearning to make our first pilgrimage to a monastery and build our own miniature Orthodox village.
I received a free copy of Little Lost Nun in exchange for my honest review.
January 6, 2026
Just finished this sweet little book by @meljohn2000 as part of a middle school book club project and loved it! It’s a very easy read- I read it in an afternoon- but so many beautiful lessons and theological topics were brought to light. It has some tough subject matter, but it’s very relevant to our times and incudes a poignant lesson for many of our girls who don’t know the treasure they have by being able to go to church every Sunday. (And maybe us grow ups too!) Left me in tears!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews