Jennifer Lesher

RAISING JOHN is a story of love, devotion, heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption. We first meet John as a four-year old boy trying to understand why he doesn't have a mommy and just a Grammy. Then we are introduced to Robert who wakes up in a drunk tank with no memory of what he just did and why he needs to post $100,000 bail. He will soon find out he was the drunk driver who killed a young mother, named Mary.

The story begins with Mary as a young child being raised by her parents in what appears to be a loving home and quickly turns into a nightmare for both Mary and her mother, Barbara. The abuse and control over their lives grows as we travel through Mary's childhood. As a teenager, Mary becomes more resentful of her father's abuse and her mother's inability to stop it. Mary moves away to college and we find that she has put herself in the same position as her mother. As the reader, I cringed when I knew Mary was making the wrong choices and could see the red flags that this was not going to be what she wanted.

As we learn Mary's story, we also flip back and forth to Robert's story as he travels through life as a prison inmate. Robert tries to fit in and just wants to do his time and get out of there. But, once he begins to attend AA, he learns the only way to heal may be by admitting to his victim's family that he was wrong.

We also watch John grow up in the story, being raised by his Grandma. All along he knows that his mom died in a car accident. But, when by chance, he finds out the real truth behind his mom's accident, his life and Robert's will forever be changed. Their connection will surprise you.

I found this to be a quick read and without the foul language, I think it would appeal to young readers as much as the adult reader. In fact, it reads more like a YA novel. Since the novel jumps around in time a lot, I appreciated that the chapters began with a heading of time and place so you knew who you were going to be reading about for awhile.

The years of abuse that Barbara and Mary went through were horrific. The fact that Barbara was then able to raise John as Mary would have, showed a deep devotion to her grandson and a fervor to right the wrongs from Mary's childhood. Although Mary didn't get a second chance, Barbara tried to give John the best life possible.

Even though I was a bit frustrated with the ending, it reminded me that life isn't always neat and tidy. We don't always get those happy endings and maybe, this ending for Barbara, John and Robert will be enough.… (more)