Jean's Reviews > The Accidental Terrorist: Confessions of a Reluctant Missionary

I was the mission office secretary on our couples mission so I have sat with troubled young missionaries, seeing them with new eyes. Even as a supposedly mature adult with returned missionary sons I had not processed the idea that they were boys trying to do an impossible job.

I love the way Shunn weaves in the story of Joseph Smith, exposing his teenage angst and foibles as he followed in his father's footsteps. In lockstep with tradition, Joseph's life followed the path of magic and treasure digging, while in Shunn's case it was the tradition of his faith to become a serving missionary. Both teenagers found themselves trapped by something larger than either could handle.

Both had active and vivid imaginations - fueling a series of events with far reaching consequences.

Bill Shunn is a word artist - his story is peppered with delicious word pictures. I was entertained, educated and found empathy along with the laughter elicited by his honesty about his own inadequacies. A human story that has the ability to touch any heart.