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Penitence By Kristin Koval: A Story of Tragedy and Forgiveness

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https://amzn.to/4gr4JVJ

Have you ever experienced a tragedy and you’re not sure how you can forgive the person who caused it? Tragedy affects every family. Some families much worse than others. In every tribulation, there is a hope of penitence (forgiveness). In Kristin Koval’s novel Penitence, she explores the idea of love and forgiveness in more ways than one.

About The Book:

Penitence is a drama about a family that experiences the feeling of death in more ways than one. 13-year-old Nora is arrested for killing her 14-year-old brother. Their family is shattered, and it feels like they have lost two children at once. The story unfolds in two timelines. One explores the mother’s past. The other reveals the current times of the daughter. Koval digs deep into the thoughts and feelings of all that are involved. How does one defend their daughter in a courtroom? She was the one caught holding the gun in their own house.

My Thoughts On The Book:

I loved the premise of this book. It made me wonder how a family goes on after the death of a child. Then, it adds the story line of the death being caused by their own family member. The story captured my attention when it featured Nora in jail. I was also captivated during her time in a juvenile detention center. It tugged on the heart strings of this middle school teacher.

I enjoyed the courtroom drama and the police investigation as well. I especially loved that it took place in Colorado. I could picture the perfect small town. It is like so many around this beautiful state.

The backstory of Angie and her past was interesting and added to the story. Her mistakes, past loves, and family problems were a big part of the story. However, I felt that it was just too long and had too many details. I kept wanting to get back to Nora and the present. I was also a little disappointed by the ending. I kept hoping that there was an epilogue.

This book definitely shows one side of a political spectrum. You are either going to love that or hate it. It just depends on your views.

I gave this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed reading it. However, it was a little depressing for me. It also has a little too much of the back story. That being said, there are a lot of other reviewers who loved this book. If you like a strong family drama, you might really enjoy the story.

Extras:

If you like books that take place in jail/prison, you might like:

  1. The Girl in Cell 49B by Dorian Box
  2. The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
  3. The Green Mile by Stephen King

You can buy this book at: https://amzn.to/4gr4JVJ

*If you want to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/

*If you missed my post about my Top Books of 2024, you can find it at: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-that-i-loved-in-2024/

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Koval, and Celadon for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Teaching Tip: Get Your Students Thinking Like MacGyver!

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/124561666@N02/14218019828

What Would MacGyver Do?

Do you remember the television show “MacGyver”? It was one of the great television shows that started in the 1980s. MacGyver was a secret agent who could get out of any problem just by using ordinary objects around him. There’s nothing like hooking your students when you tell them they get to be secret agents!

Getting Started

Choose three volunteers to come to the front of the room. Those three are secret agents who end up in a precarious situation and have to get themselves out of it by collaborating together. Ask three different students in the audience to name an ordinary object. For example, the three objects could be: a rock, a purse, and a pinecone. Then give the “agents” a life-threatening situation (or ask the audience for one). For example: You are hiking in the Rocky Mountains and encounter a zombie. Working together, the three agents act out how they would use the three objects to escape their situation. I usually give them a minute or two to discuss their scene before they start. Remember to discuss what public speaking skills they used after this activity.

Using It In Different Content Areas

Tip: You could also relate the content that what you are teaching. The agents could be locked in a pyramid or tomb, or they could be in a “sphere” with no windows or doors.  Their tools might be something you use in science (microscope, funnel, googles).

Why This Works

If you’re trying to think of a way to engage students in your content area, while also working on their critical thinking skills, then this MacGyver activity is the way to go.  You could change to the title to, “What would a scientist do?” “What would a mathematician do?” “What would a historian do?”  Of course, my favorite part is that it gives students a chance to work on their communication/collaboration skills.

If you’re looking for another great way to engage students for your vocabulary unit, check out my recent post, “Vocabulary Improv.”

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