The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry

The Passion of Dolssa is a YA fiction novel by Julie Berry. It was on Publisher's Weekly list of top YA books for 2016. Set during the Inquisition, Dolssa is on the run for sharing her love of Jesus in her home. After she watches her mother burned at the stake, Dolssa escapes and is later rescued by three sisters.

Sex: One man has lustful dreams of Dolssa. Several women are prostitutes. Their occupations are hinted at but never described in detail.

Language: Mild.

Alcohol/Drug Abuse: Jobau is a drunk. The three sisters own a tavern and people come there for their homemade beer. Botille is slightly intoxicated by wine at a party. Two village men drunkenly attack a friar.

Violence/Gore/Death/Frightening Scenes: Several people are burned at the stake. Dolssa spends the entire book hiding from people who are looking to kill her for heresy.

Final Note: Dolssa is accused of heresy for performing miracles in the name of Jesus. People come to her house to hear her share about Jesus. But, Dolssa often refers to Jesus as her "beloved" or her "lover." No one else can see him but her. But people remark that she's "in love" and call Jesus her "beau." This will probably bother most Christians. Besides that, the book accurately shows the horror of the Inquisition and how the smallest things escalated to the deaths of innocent people.

Comments

My 2020 5 Star Reads

I'm a few days late, but here it is! My top books from 2020! Because of quarantine, I was able to finish 321 books - 83,718 pages. I decided to organize my favorites by genres so they are easier to pick out for those who care! 😊 Middle Grade: -All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker -New Kid AND Class Act by Jerry Craft (graphic novels - 1st two books in the same series) -Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina -A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee -To Be a Slave by Julius Lester (Nonfiction) -Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds -Mistakes Were Made and We Meet Again by Stephan Pastis (Timmy Failure series) -Guitar Notes by Mary Amato -The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden -The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon -Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus AND Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (1st two books) -The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQUeen (Historical fiction) -My Year in the Midd...

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Dorothy Must Die is the first book in the YA Dorothy Must Die series by Danielle Page. Amy Gumm wants to escape. Her mother is an alcoholic and everyone at school seems to hate her. But when a tornado strikes and sends her from Kansas to the Land of Oz, Amy discovers she's much stronger than she originally thought. Dorothy has taken over Oz and the love of power has left her evil. Now Amy, the new girl from Kansas, must fight Dorothy, and hopefully bring the magic back to Oz. Sex: None. Amy comments on how seductively Dorothy dresses. Language: Strong. Drug/Alcohol Use: Amy's mother is an alcoholic. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several deaths, some gruesome. There's also several battles and fighting. Final Note: While it was an interesting concept and retelling, I didn't particularly care for this book. The language was needlessly strong and the story wasn't as captivating as the original. This is part of a series and I don't in...

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Waiting for Normal is a middle grade fiction novel by Leslie Connor. It is a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and the recipient of many other young literature awards. Addie has waited her entire life for normal. But she never knows what she's going to get when it comes to her mother. Her mom is either all in and fully present, or long gone and completely absent. Addie's mother is bipolar. Sex: No sex. Addie doesn't know who her father is, but she's close to her stepfather. Her mom is often out late for business dinners with men. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Addie is frequently neglected by her mother. There are a few intense scenes but it's nothing inappropriate for middle grade readers. Final Note: This book has been on my list for awhile and I just now got around to reading it. I'm glad I did! Again, I truly bel...

The Rapid Reader

Search This Blog