Sheep’s Clothing
Note- this is a copy of a review I have done on Tigersue’s Bookshelf. I thought it was appropriate to also post it here, and fitting for the guidelines of the blog.
Sheep’s Clothing is a chilling tale by Josi S. Kilpack. For a novel published by Deseret Book in LDS bookstores it is one that someone of any religion, and belief could pick up read and completely be engulfed in the weaving of the mystery and knowledge of what is about to unfold in its pages. I am not sure what I expected when I started the book, but I did not expect to be so completely involved that I finished in a few hours. I started it late yesterday, and finished it this morning before breakfast.
I have a teenage daughter, and a teenage son. I will expect them to read it and I want my husband to read it. Anyone that is concerned with the threats of online predators should read this novel. It is stunning to read this and expect like most mysteries that you know who the predator is, that the family should know, that he should be someone interacting with them often. Instead you are as drawn to the fact that this is a complete stranger, not just to Jess, but her family and to you the reader. They are secure in their own beliefs that this could not happen to them, but the family dynamics are such that it can. It draws on everyone’s belief that normal life is a protection from harm. It does not matter the home life, it can be wonderful, and still a child can be caught in this trap of anonymity online.
Unlike most stories by LDS authors, this novel does not incorporate the church as a main part of the story, but rather these are people that just happen to be LDS. Their faith and belief although part of their everyday life, they also tend to forget as we most do, what power we can turn to. I think that is something that all people of all faiths can relate to. That is not to minimize the power of the gospel in the book because it is there as I would expect, but it is not preachy, not in your face, and any non member should be able to understand what is discussed.
I really enjoyed this book as reading it felt like a good Mary Higgins Clark novel. I love how each chapter starts with either an email or a journal entry. I appreciate her depth of research to make this believable. There is the email lingo that teenagers use, more mature emails in grammar and spelling. She educates and entices in each chapter. As you read you can see where the parents go wrong, how signs are missed and ignored. You see how manipulation increases to the point of complete estrangement between mother and daughter. I can not express what I felt as a completed the book, other than everyone with children should read it.
We need not fear the internet but a good healthy dose of respect and caution are always in order.
I give this a strong 4 stars.
I have to say thank you to Josi Kilpack for asking me to read and review this book. I am honored and touched that she would ask this of me, someone she has never met, only read my blogs.
It sounds as if it just feeds on the already unreal hysteria surrounding internet risks. There are many risks (both spiritual and temporal) that are much more likely to occur in the normal American household.
I am sorry but we don’t ever seem to get worked up into an hysteria when our good LDS (or other religious) families neglect serious scripture study, true intimate prayer, and dedicated service to the Kingdom of God. We pooh-pooh those things as not being as dangerous as internet surfing and anonymous online predators. Most children who get caught in those horrendous stories we hear about have disinterested or lazy parents that don’t do their job. Sorry to be so blunt but that is how I feel.
Comment by Michael — June 28, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
Actually, I will disagree to an extent. You are right that we tend to ignore the things we need to do and teach our children. What this book does is enforce the idea that we, as parents, need to be aware of what our children are doing, in all aspects of life. Are they happy with what activities they are doing, what is going on with their friends. We should not be caught up in the feeling that all is well, just because we are doing our best in our homes, that we are trying to have family prayer, that we read our scriptures that we do everything we can in our power to protect our family.
I do not think that all children caught up in things are because parents are lazy or don’t care. That is like saying that only kids make wrong choices that have parents that are not spiritual enough. Doesn’t fly with me.
Comment by Tanya — June 29, 2007 @ 10:06 am
To throw in my two cents here — first of all, the Internet is a much more pernicious tool than we commonly realize. If everyone were to open up and share their secrets, you’d be surprised how many “good Latter-day Saints” are addicted to Internet pornography. The only reason why we think it’s not that big of a threat is because people are ashamed and keep it in the dark. There’s a reason why the Ensign has published so many articles warning about the Internet over the last few years. It’s not an unreal threat — it’s very, very real.
Second, from the point of view of an author, you can’t write an interesting book about a family who doesn’t read their scriptures. If that’s all that happened in the book, no one would buy it and no one would read it. You have to include conflict, you have to show consequences, and you have to show redemption in order for the book to not only sell in the LDS market but for readers to recommend it to other readers.
I have read this book and felt it was not only well done, but an accurate portrayal of what can happen, and to a devoted LDS family as well. But I’m not commenting so much to defend the book as I am to point out that we can’t bury our heads in the sand concerning the Internet. Like I said before, if everyone’s secrets were brought out into the light, you’d be amazed at the high percentage of LDS men and women are caught up in this sort of sin.
Comment by Tristi Pinkston — July 2, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Thank you Tristi, you are very right. There are so many problems that exist in many forms. My husband is someone that works with sexual predators so he understands this issue very well.
We were discussing it the other day, the internet is not something to be feared, but something to be respected and understood.
Comment by Tanya — July 2, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Sounds like an interesting book. I think I will check it out. Thanks for the post.
Comment by lds gift shopper — July 26, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Is this available at Deseret Book or Seagul Book now? It sounds very interesting….or when all of your family is thro’ reading it could we borrow it?
Comment by MomR — July 30, 2007 @ 1:50 pm