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Katie’s Choice is a simple, readable, Christian fiction novel
about the issues that every teen struggles with today: frustration, despair,
sexual promiscuity, and lack of self worth. The story centers on the
struggles of a mother and daughter, Daria and Katie, who search for
direction in making life-altering decisions that involve personal choice and
morality. Daria develops a strong emotional attachment to a young man and
tries to lure him into a lifelong relationship by getting pregnant. The plan
fails, though, and Daria is left to fend for herself. She chooses to keep
the child and raise her alone.
Eighteen years later, Katie is making the same kinds of poor choices. Katie
does not approve of her mother living with an unemployed man who is not her
husband. Katie views him as a loser and is so anxious to escape this
situation that she begins a sexual relationship with a young man. It seems
she is more bored and dissatisfied with her life than she is at the prospect
of making a commitment to a long-term relationship with him. Katie’s
boyfriend was also never serious about a committed relationship, wanting
only intimacy without obligation or responsibility. When their relationship
dissolves, Katie decides that she will not go through life like her
mother—with the “extra baggage” of a child—and chooses to have an abortion.
Katie’s Choice demonstrates the truth of Numbers 14:18 that when a when
parents set a poor example, their children often will make the very same
unfortunate choices and bear the same consequences. God loves us enough,
though, that the very cause of our problems is often what steers us towards
Him.
While the book is well written and the story line is interesting, I found it
difficult to accept the characters as realistic. Unfortunately, Katie and
those around her come across as sanitized versions of people. Neither the
mother nor daughter is religious, choosing instead an outlook on life that
amounts to little more than “do what you want to do.” Although Katie faces
real moral dilemmas, there are no offensive words or off-color humor; the
dialogue comes off as stilted and bland. “Emotional hogwash” and
“propaganda,” for example, are not likely the strongest words that would
flow into highly charged emotional conversations between a mother and
daughter.
Katie’s Choice, however, could lead to some intriguing discussions between
parents and children. A child who will not listen to parental advice will
likely not listen to advice written by a person who is in agreement with
their parents. This book, however, could be used in an educational setting
as a discussion starter on one of the most basic of bioethical
decisions—choices involving human sexuality and desire.CBHD
Katie's Choice by Tracey Langford; Greeley, CO:
Cladach Publishing, 2003; 436 pages
Bill Van
Wyngaarden, D.Min., is Director of Development at The
Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity in Bannockburn,
Illinois.
Copyright 2005 by The Center for Bioethics and Human
Dignity
The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
CBHD, its staff, board or supporters. Permission to reprint granted as long as The Center for Bioethics and
Human Dignity and the web address for this article is referenced.
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