Awakening: by Claudia Cangilla McAdam: a review of a remarkable book

If you are looking for the perfect book for your teenage daughter to read during this Lenten season, I have found it.

Awakening by Claudia Cangilla McAdam is the story of a teenage girl, transformed, during an illness, back into the time of Jesus, on the Wednesday of Holy Week.

In the present time, the main character, Ronnie, has faced a devastating lose and is questioning the reasons for sacrifice and death. When she awakens in the year 33 AD she realizes it is her chance to stop the Crucifixtion of Christ. She can not make sense out of the fact that there is any reason for suffering and self-sacrifice, but as she accompanies Jesus on His path throughout Holy Week, she begins to realize why Jesus had to die.

This book is an easy read for a teenager, and is a real page turner. I read it in just a couple of sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. It would make a perfect Holy Week read aloud to enjoy as a family. Even children as young as 9 or 10 can get a lot out of this book, especially as a read aloud. Because the book follows Scripture closely, there are many aspects of the Passion to talk about as you read it as a family.

This review was written as part of the Catholic Book Reviewer program from the Catholic Company. Visit the Catholic Company to find more information on Awakening.