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Kerana is being sent to Earth to begin her duty as an Eldurian. Hers are a perfect people, without flaw and without sin, never experiencing the fall of man. Created by God to shepherd His people on Earth, they remain in the shadows, unnoticed. Kerana looks human, speaks like them, and has been taught to act like them. Above all her mission is to serve the humans. Arriving on Earth, Kerana meets Eli at school. He is an ordinary human, with a father suffering from alcoholism, and a past that threatens to ruin his life. A star scholarship lacrosse player, Eli has to forget his true passion and live in a shell that doesn’t let anyone in. Until he meets Kerana. They find themselves intertwined in a connection that neither can quite explain. When this connection puts the two of them in danger, they find comfort and protection from each other. When Eli discovers that there is more to Kerana than just her stunning looks and grace, the Eldurians and their home planet of Eden may not remain a secret for very long.
Paperback: 275 pages
Publisher: Koehler Books (July 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1940192218
ISBN-13: 978-1940192215
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 0.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #3,061,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #83 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Religious > Christian > Science Fiction #385 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Religious > Christian > Fantasy #2490 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy
Age Range: 12 - 17 years
Grade Level: 7 and up
(Full disclosure: I know the author personally, but have endeavored to keep this review as unbiased as possible.)Homecoming is a strong entry into the young adult/new adult world, and gives us a very interesting and non-standard look into the concept of the Divine and other heavenly beings.Kerana, one of our two protagonists, is a being known as an Eldurian. These beings still live within the grasp of the Garden of Eden; they are perfect beings who live in the presence of the Divine, referred to in the book as Adonai. As an Eldun (a young Eldurian) coming of age, Kerana is tasked to go through the Portal to Earth, and live among the humans. As the Eldurians are protectors of sorts for the humans (not quite guardian angels, but it seems the next step down) this allows them to live among their wards and learn their ways.Eli, our second protagonist, is one of these humans. He's entering college, battling with a difficult home life, and generally trying to make his way as any freshman on campus might. And then Kerana walks into his life. Even in human form, Kerana is brilliantly beautiful and...well, Eli is male. The plot spurs as one might expect, with the added twist of "I can't really tell you I'm not human, can I?" thrown into the mix.There is an inexorable connection between the two, and it tosses them into more than one difficult situation throughout the book. I'm not keen to spoil the plot for you, because I think it's better experienced than told, but what happens through the book puts the belief of both protagonists to the test...as well as their faith in each other.Kerana is a likable character, complex without being complicated; Eli is a fascinating character, troubled and confused over so many things--typical of people that age. Hasbrouck manages to make the book very Christian-oriented (though it's never explicitly stated that Christianity is present) without coming off as heavy-handed; if anything, the Eldurians are the most heavy-handed, and I would expect that of beings who live near Eden. Adonai, when he appears, is suitably present and helpful while at the same time being irritatingly non-forthcoming. (Not unlike the God of the Christian Bible.) Hasbrouck has an excellent hand at imagery, and paints the locations of her scenes well. And up until the end, I was not entirely positive I knew how the story would end. (Or rather, how it would get to where I expected it to end.)The writing is simple, occasionally overwrought, but easy to follow; while it makes the book an easy read, it hinders the storytelling at times. Some times it felt like important situations were getting brushed-off treatment; other times I didn't understand the detail being put into certain pieces. Another trouble I ran into was that while I enjoyed the perspective switching back and forth from Eli to Kerana, I noticed that the voice did not always change with it. Kerana was consistently formal (fitting with her being an Eldurian) but Eli would lapse into a similar tone, which doesn't suit him at all. Knowing that this is Hasbrouck's first book makes me lenient about such things, but it is to be noted.My main trouble with the book is the final conflict Eli faces. While difficult to discuss without spoiling plot, Hasbrouck takes something that is clearly very deep-rooted in Eli's heart, only mentions it in passing through much of the book, brings it screaming to the forefront near the end, and before the end of the chapter where it's mentioned...has resolved it. Given that this is something that Eli says has bothered him for quite some time, it strikes me as incredibly hard to believe--even in the face of a deity telling me the truth--that I would simply up and reverse my thinking that quickly. There's a good third of the book left after this happens; I would have much rather seen Eli struggle with what he learns, and come to terms with it when it proves absolutely necessary.I enjoyed the book as a whole. It has its flaws and strengths, just like many other books before it and surely after it, but it is an interesting story told well, which is truly an excellent goal to shoot for. I have heard talk that Hasbrouck is planning on writing at least one follow-up novel to Homecoming, and I'll be looking forward to reading that one as well. With her premier project this strong, I have high hopes for the next.
As captivating as it is informative, Homecoming by Kate Hasbrouck is the new "Biblestory" for the ages. The vivid imagery Hasbrouck creates in the mind of her readers makes you feel like you're standing right next to Eli and Kerana while they're facing the adversity in a world that neither one seems to completely understand.Making the Garden of Eden and a civilization without sin into a relatable piece of YA fiction allows Kate Hasbrouck to entertain and teach today's youth with a story that embodies the foundations of Christianity.This is a phenomenal book written by a truly amazing author who was given the gift to weave morality, integrity, and the endless facets of unconditional love into her words.The sequel in this trilogy can't come soon enough!
WOW,!!! this young writer is so good, I cant wait for her next book, I am not a kid , Im almost 80 !! Its a book any parent can give a young teen (after you read it!). Its the kind of book that trasports you right into the pages, her descrptions are like seeing what she is saying......and it is wonderful....
Homecoming by Kate Hasbrouck is a unique fantasy/Christian allegory sort of novel. It almost reminded me of the few YA angel fiction stories Iâve read. Yet it was different.Kerana is an Eldurian, sent to earth to protect and help the humans. Eli is a broken young man, just trying to get through day-to-day college life. Theirs is an unlikely story. Incredible things are bound to happen as the worlds of Earth and Eden collide.I enjoyed the beginning and middle parts of this story well enough. The story concept was intriguing and I liked Kerana. Eli was a little bit harder to like, but as his story progressed, he grew dear as well. The end-ish of Homecoming was especially interesting and made me come to really like the story. Iâm quite excited for the sequel now!! :-)The allegory/spiritual parts of this novel were incredible. Though Iâm not sure how I felt about every little detail; overall, it was amazing. The Trinity. Meeting Adonai. Glimpsing His home. Feeling His love for Kerana and Eli. Seeing their child to Father relationships with Him. Some of it was simply mind-blowing. For the most part, I loved this allegory of God and His boundless love, and my soul has been truly touched.Also, the theme of surrendering oneâs destiny, relinquishing control of oneâs life to your Creator⦠Simply powerful. I love a novel that teaches something, stirs your soul, reminds you, helps you in your walk with God. And Homecoming did that.Oh...Kate Hasbrouck has a lovely imagination! :-) I really enjoyed some of the parts and things of Eden. Would love to elaborate, but I suppose you should read them for yourself! :-)Iâm not a huge fan of this type of fantasy. Supernatural beings (that arenât actually angels in this case), perfect non-fallen sort of humansâ¦that kind of thing. I still donât know my exact opinion of Kerana and her people. And hmmmâ¦they werenât so perfect in the end. But in any case, itâs a thought-provoking concept. And I felt that God was glorified through all; so thatâs great!I would say give this poignant tale a try and see what you think! Itâs a fascinating idea. It brought across a beautiful message. I canât wait to see what happens next!
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