Kinda Like Grace: A Homeless Man, a Broken Woman, and the Decision that Made Them Family

Reviewed by: G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title: Kinda Like Grace: A Homeless Man, a Broken Woman, and the Decision that Made Them Family

Author: Ginger Sprouse

Publisher: Nelson Books (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.)

Publication Date: 2019

Format: Hardcover

Length: 224 pages

OVERVIEW

Ginger Sprouse’s life changed in a way she’d never have seen coming when she met Victor. A homeless man, Victor had been staying at a street corner by her home for several years, never harming anyone and sometimes apparently dancing. As Ginger learned Victor’s story, God started pushing her toward caring her “neighbor” in ways beyond occasionally giving him food.  The resulting journey made her see faith, grace and family in incredible new ways.

Sprouse alternates between describing events she witnessed to explaining the spiritual ideas she learned along the way, and sometimes summarizing longer events. Overall, the words she uses to describes these spiritual takeaways comes across as cliché, even though the takeaways are always good. When Sprouse describes the events though, she does an incredible job. She recreates what happened with the dialogue, pacing and small but interesting details that the best memoirists and novelists give. The final result is a book that will compel readers to explore new horizons in their faith.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

4 stars

Intended Audience

Christian memoir fans, Christians interested in learning how to “love the least of these” or overcome inner brokenness.

Christian Impact

This book gives a powerful look at helping the least of these and trusting God along the way that few other books provide. Anyone looking for new understandings of Christian charity should read this book.