Alas, I am here to report that it was not only non-preachy, but completely full of amazing characters and amazing, thought provoking messages. Was religion a topic that was in the book? Absolutely, I think it would be impossible not to have it involved when it's a book about someone immaculately conceiving a child. Rest assured that it is in no way going to overpower the book or try to get you to believe in any religion in particular, or any religion at all. We needed to clear that all up, because I know a few people have been a bit hesitant to read because of the religious concerns, but one needn't worry. There were a few moments in the middle of the book that felt just a tad slow, but overall, it was very well done.
What made this book so special? Let's discuss:
- Mina Mina was just a fabulous main character, and I was so able to feel her emotions throughout the book. She was obviously upset and scared and feeling like her world was collapsing around her. She had moments of despair and weakness (as you would) and moments of incredible strength and bravery. She was so believable, and to be honest, reminded me a bit of myself in high school, minus the miraculous pregnancy. One of my favorite things about Mina was that while she was upset about her boyfriend being a jerk about things, she was much more concerned about her friendships and family relationships. That was a huge win.
- Everyone else So obviously, I loved the characters who stood by Mina. Her mom was an absolute rock. I hope that I can be as good of a mom as Mina's mom was. Mina's sister Gracie was amazing, her friend Hannah was amazing, her OB was amazing, all supportive of Mina, even if they didn't know exactly what had happened. There were characters who were introduced as the story went along who were so wonderful to Mina, and there were characters who grew so much as the story went on.
- The realization of so many characters that they could support Mina and show kindness even if they didn't quite know if they could believe her. Listen, I probably wouldn't have been able to unequivocally believe Mina's story. But, I would like to think that I could show her kindness and support, which some people were so, so wonderfully able to do.
- Online and in-person bullying is portrayed in an eerily accurate way. Sadly, this stuff happens over all sorts of things, and I have absolutely no doubt that the way Katelyn portrayed the bullying would have played out very similarly if this was a real world story. It's so easy to hide behind a computer screen and/or a crowd mentality, but to judge, threaten, harass, and scare a teenage girl? Never acceptable, no matter what the circumstance. Unfortunately, in the culture we live in, this kind of thing happens far more often than it ever should (which, for the record, would be never).
- This isn't just a story of a miraculous conception. Yes, that is a part, of course. But to me, it was more a commentary of how we treat each other, how we can have faith in people without having to fully understand what is happening, and how we can be braver than we'd ever imagine possible. These are really powerful messages, and when told through a beautiful, life-affirming story, they become even more profound.
Bottom Line: Immaculate was about a pregnant virgin, yes. But it was about much, much more. The messages were lovely and deep, and had me thinking about both how I'd react in the situation, and how I would act toward someone else being in the situation. Immaculate is a fabulous, unique, and thought-provoking debut.
*Copy provided by publisher for review*
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight