You've Reached Sam
by Dustin Thao
Read if you're interested in grief, romance, or books for young adult.
Buy on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
6.8
VerdictRead with discernment
Loading your rating…
Book Summary
After her boyfriend, Sam, tragically dies, 17-year-old Julie cuts ties with their shared life and tries to move on. However, she accidentally calls Sam's old phone number and finds herself talking to him from beyond the grave, giving her a chance to say a proper goodbye.
ALIGNMYREAD RECOMMENDATION
“Christian readers should approach 'You've Reached Sam' with discernment. While it offers an emotional portrayal of grief and the difficulty of letting go, its core premise involving communication with the dead is contrary to biblical admonitions. Readers should be aware that the book's resolution is not founded on a Christian understanding of death or the afterlife. It can be read as a fictional exploration of grief, but without endorsing its spiritualistic elements.”
Biblical alignment
- —Explores the raw and difficult process of grief, allowing readers to empathize with the pain of loss.
- —Highlights the importance of healthy goodbyes and finding closure after a significant loss.
- —Emphasizes the value of cherishing memories and the impact loved ones have on our lives.
- —Promotes healthy processing of emotions, even painful ones, rather than suppression.
Areas of concern
- —The central supernatural premise of communicating with the dead via phone calls is not aligned with biblical teachings, which warn against attempts to communicate with the deceased (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
- —While it deals with grief, the story's resolution is predicated on a spiritualistic concept rather than finding peace or hope grounded in faith or Christian understanding of life after death.
- —Lacks any explicit Christian worldview or discussion of faith in coping with loss, which might leave readers without a biblically sound framework for grief.
- —The focus on continued communication with the deceased could inadvertently encourage unbiblical practices or beliefs in readers.
Written for
Discussion
Reader comments
Sign in to leave a comment.
Loading…