Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

Can you imagine being born and raised and not being taught about Jesus? How would that affect your salvation when you are an adult?

Reclaiming Lily is a book that gives you a huge, realistic view of Chinese culture. When Kai was a youngster in China, she knew that she was made to be a healer. After political turmoil ruined her family’s life, her mom is forced to give up the family’s fourth child (Joy/Lily), leaving Joy in an orphanage. Kai, now a Harvard graduate and a medical doctor living in Boston, is determined to reunite with her “lost” sister, Joy. Joy has been adopted by an American family and Kai wants to reunite with Joy – there’s a medical condition that runs in the Chang family and Kai wants to be sure that Joy is not at risk.

This story shows the vast cultural differences between Chinese and Americans. Joy was adopted by a White American family, and her adopted father, Andrew, is a preacher. Joy’s relationship with her parents is difficult and she’s the classic problem child: smoking cigarettes and getting into trouble with the police. Emotional problems run deep within this family and Kai eventually proves to be a welcome reprieve to the tenuous relationship that Joy’s family shares.

I found Kai’s struggle with Christianity the most intense aspect of this novel. Kai was born and raised in China and she does not have a relationship with the Lord. She struggles with understanding the “Christian God” and this book gives a realistic glimpse into the minds of those who are not raised with Christian beliefs – showing why they doubt Jesus.

Can you imagine being born and raised, not being taught about Jesus? Would you be likely to question God more than those who were raised in the Christian faith?

I highly recommend this book as an intense, highly emotional read. The unique story idea as well as the unusual twist near the end will keep you turning those pages, anxious to discover what happens.

Leave a comment and give me your thoughts regarding the bolded questions above – also, if you’ve read this book, I’d like to hear your opinion about it.

~Cecelia Dowdy~