Spirit Within Club
Genre: Middle School age
By: Sahar Sabati
I am not sure how to take this book. It has a great message to share, but it also goes against the message it is trying to share.
Its main theme is to be accepting of everyone, yet the Spirit Within Club didn’t. The author seemed to pick on three groups, but I will not reveal them here. I will let the reader read the book and choose for themselves. There always has to be a bad guy or a group that is bad, yet no one tried to find out why the others were the way the were. If the book’s main idea is unity, then how can we have unity if we choose to leave some out?
I admire the author’s trying to make everyone love the book by buying into what everyone seems to believe–one group causing the problems, but it is not just one group. It is all groups fighting against the others because they believe what they do. She also brought out the fact that it is engrained by the parents of these children, and I will not say it isn’t. Who are our first teachers? OUR PARENTS.
WRITING AND STORYLINE
I believe the author meant this book to be rather religious, and I have no problem with that. I wish more would follow and stand by the morals of a decent society. The students in this book did. The way the students rally around Zeke both warmed my heart but made me cry at the same time. So I cannot and will not say this book is a bad book, because it isn’t. The main theme of accepting everyone as they are is a wonderful one, but maybe revisit what acceptance of all, the way they are and make the difference where you can in others lives. Age doesn’t matter.
For a seasoned writer, the writing could have been better, but if this is the first book the author has written, then they can always improve.
I will close with this. The writer was spot on with only taking one to make a difference and we all must take that first step. Well, seven friends have taken that first step. Who and how many can we add to it?
~Bethanie
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. No monetary exchange was made.
Bethanie's Books--Reviews and Faves 
Thank you for this lovely review! I’m **so** happy you mentioned the discrepancy between the message of acceptance the book is trying to share and the fact that the actions and beliefs of some of the characters reflect exactly the opposite! Its one of the ongoing themes that will be explored throughout the series! Hopefully the writing will get better (this is, indeed, my first book). You made my day 🙂
I’m so glad you liked the review. I must also tell you how pleased I was to see someone tackle this subject. It is my belief that books have the power to change the world. We need more authors with that courage. It is authors, like you beginning, or seasoned, to make a difference. All it takes is one. One person, one step. Thank you for sharing your book with me. 🙂
Och, you and I have the same vision! It’s tough, I won’t lie–books like mine are not easy to write (who really knows what true unity looks like?) and they don’t sell nearly as well as, erm, other genres do (to put it very mildly hahahaha). I’m glad I found you in the vast ocean of the book blogging world, I am definitely going to come to you for reading material!
If something is easy then everyone would be doing it and making millions of dollars, but it is not easy. Writing is hard, but it is an author’s spirit. It is what makes us be who we are. It is what makes a good author and I believe you have that talent. I could see it in your writing. I could see that this book, whether it makes you a millionaire or not, was the beginning of something that could turn amazing. Never stop. I wish you the best Sahar.
You are wonderful. I am humbled. Thank you! ❤
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