Challenging perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, this emotionally resonant drama for readers of Lisa Wingate and Jodi Picoult explores three different women navigating challenges in a changing school district—and in their lives.WINNER OF THE CHRISTY AWARD®When an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has no choice but to open … Ridge has no choice but to open their school doors, the lives of three very different women converge: Camille Gray–the wife of an executive, mother of three, long-standing PTA chairwoman and champion fundraiser–faced with a shocking discovery that threatens to tear her picture-perfect world apart at the seams. Jen Covington, the career nurse whose long, painful journey to motherhood finally resulted in adoption but she is struggling with a happily-ever-after so much harder than she anticipated. Twenty-two-year-old Anaya Jones–the first woman in her family to graduate college and a brand new teacher at Crystal Ridge’s top elementary school, unprepared for the powder-keg situation she’s stepped into. Tensions rise within and without, culminating in an unforeseen event that impacts them all. This story explores the implicit biases impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? Why are we so quick to put labels on each other and categorize people as “this” or “that”, when such complexity exists in each person?
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Oh. My. Wow. I knew when I picked up this book that Katie Ganshert would take me on an emotional journey that would challenge my intellect as well as my mind. And wow, oh wow, Ms. Ganshert did NOT disappoint.
No One Ever Asked follows the journey of three very different women, or are they?
But it wasn’t just these three ladies that captured my attention. That kept me turning the page. The secondary characters were so integral to this story. The issues that Ms. Ganshert tackled were nothing short of amazing. For one, she chose to tackle them. Two, they were done in such a way that not one overlapped the other. I mean we have racial issues, social class issues, sexual harassment issues, etc. Each time she unveiled a piece of the story my mind was whirling, thinking of times I’ve experienced the same or haven’t and understanding what a person could have been dealing with.
If you don’t find an ounce of empathy growing in your heart after reading this book, I’d ask you to read it again. It’s that great. That life altering.
*I received a free copy from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion. I was not required to do a review.
I was looking forward to this book the moment I heard about it. Katie Ganshert has been one of my favorite authors from the moment I finished her first book, so I knew I could trust her to tackle the sensitive issue of racism with grace, honesty and without preaching. No One Ever Asked is not an easy read. I don’t think it should be. It is eye opening and heartbreaking. Ganshert shines a light not only on racism, but with a marriage in crises, sexual harassment, and international adoption. Each character brings their own story to the table, and we are drawn in to all their lives, each of the three women’s struggles no less important than the next. I love books that challenge me, make me think a little harder and dig a little deeper into my own conscience, and this one certainly made me do that. It also made me cry. An absolutely brilliant offering for such a time as this.
I’ve been hearing a lot about No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert, and I finally nabbed a copy for myself, even though I tend to be cautious toward buzzy books. Did it live up to my expectations? Watch and find out: http://www.carlalaureano.com/2minbookreview-no-one-ever-asked-by-katie-ganshert/
This might be a must-read book if you ever want to understand some of the aspects of understanding race in our culture. Although this book looks at the lives of three different women, I think there is enough male perspective that guys might enjoy it as well. As I write this review, I am not completely certain what terms to use that will not seem racial or prejudicial. I am a white woman in my mid-40’s. I have been blessed with friends with many skin tones and ethnic backgrounds. I always want to be respectful of our differences yet not magnify them. I think this fictional book could start many conversations.
Here are some of the topics addressed in this book …
-What it might be like to be a black person (both a teacher and a student) at a primarily rich white school.
-What it might be like to adopt a child who has dark skin when yours is white
-How it might be possible to feed into stereotypes
-What it might be like to be too involved in your community and not involved enough in your own family’s lives
-What it might be like to have grown up surrounded by racism
-How it might be possible to be an accidental racist
-How it might be possible to demonstrate unintentional or even purposeful discrimination
-What it might be like to try to understand another person’s perspective
I definitely do not want to give any spoilers, but I will say that an event is implied earlier on in the book that is not fully revealed until the end. (I had a really hard time not skimming ahead!) This story did not solve every problem. But the author makes you think and makes you ponder. If you read this book with a discerning mind, the pages just might change your perspective forever. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and to WaterBrook for providing me with an e-book copy to read. All opinions are my own!
This book is completely different from what I normally read, but as soon as I started reading it I was hooked! The author shares that the book is based off actual events of school segregation, school violence and shootings; so although this is a clean christian fiction books, it deals with adult content.
The chapters alternate between the views of 3 very different women-but all 3 of these women interact with each other and are all part of the same school district. The book is divided up into a couple of parts and is fairly long-over 350 pages! In chapter 1 there is a tragic event that happens and then the rest of the book takes the reader back 10-12 months leading up to the tragic event.
There were several times I gasped, laughed, cried and felt the same emotions as Jen, Anaya or Camille. I enjoyed reading about the real life struggles of all these women-poverty, race, divorce, medical issues, parenting…these are alot of issues that many families face on a regular basis. It was a great book and I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
Compelling and eye-opening. And convicting. What more can I say?
No One Ever Asked was an intense and extremely thought-provoking novel that authentically dealt with issues prevalent in society today, such as struggles with adoption, racism, classism, teen shootings, and sexual harassment. The storylines followed three different women as their lives intersected through their various levels of involvement in the affluent Crystal Ridge community and school district. The author was not afraid to make her readers uncomfortable in a good way discussing topics that are relevant and divisive in society today. I would recommend this book to others!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
“Forgiveness isn’t a pardon for them, it’s freedom for you.”
WOW, just WOW. We read for many reasons: to escape, to learn, to understand. This book was so much more than I expected! You will feel every emotion reading this. You will be able to relate to the majority of the situations and characters. Well written and heart felt. Please make sure you read the powerful author’s note. This is my first review of 2019.
This story is told by 3 voices. Camille, mom extraordinare, but at what cost? Jen, newly adoptive mom with attachment issues to a 7 yo African American child who has seen too much. Anaya, brand new teacher, who wants to make a difference, but not where she wanted or expected! A wealthy white school is being segregated with students from a failing black school, this maybe the main center of the story, but there is so much more to this book. This book is about racism, adoption, parenting, gun control, love, segregation, sexual harassment, health, disappointments, stereotypes, friendship but most of all Faith. Our mistakes should not define us, as long as we grow and learn from them.
After being turned down for this book a few months ago from NetGalley, I was happy to see it was being offered on Edelweiss. Thank you to Edelweiss and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC. Opinion is my own.
Be the Change!
No One Ever Asked is a deep, thought-provoking story. It was definitely not an easy read and had me questioning my own beliefs as I traversed each page. I’m finding that a story like this is a difficult one to review, so I will just say that I enjoyed the book. It’s well written, well researched, well thought out. The only negative I have is that I wish more of the characters had dealt with their racist feelings/actions. That being said, I very much appreciate Katie Ganshert’s willingness to dive into such a hot, difficult topic and handle it with much grace!
A great read. It studies the ever present problem of racism from both sides while encouraging you to see what you believe.
“No One Ever Asked” is one of those books that require humility to read. I’m afraid I’m gonna jumble throughout this review, but if you don’t remember/understand anything else, please take this to heart: you need humility to read this book .
Each one of us in our day-to-day lives is put in positions of influence one way or another. Honestly, we might not even recognize we’re in it, but don’t doubt your influence. This is one of the reasons this book can be uncomfortable because, as we relate to it, we can think: but I didn’t mean to; what was I suppose to do? what can I do? Start here, by this question: what can I do, and be truly opened to take a step from here.
Throughout this book, the author mentioned many quotes from other books, including one of my favorites:
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – The Lorax
I adore it when I can use this quote with my students (not sure they’re that enthusiastic when their teacher becomes all environmentalist on them haha) because it brings back that idea of influence, making the best of opportunities, being present and opened to care. There are many horrible things going on around the world, and let me tell you a few items that are top listed: prejudice and gossip. It breaks my heart to see this happening, but to live as if it didn’t (even if it’s not “our reality”) is just not practicing empathy.
Personally, I felt like “No One Never Asked” was an invitation to go beyond my preconceptions, to seek more deeply into ideas I was pretty sure I knew everything about. It was a wake-up call that maybe we’re holding tightly to a few misconceptions and being fueled by pride. In a world where arrogance and overconfidence are praised, would we be willing to take the first step and humble ourselves to see and listen to others? To put ourselves in others’ shoes?
Segregation and intolerance kill fellowship and I believe, above all else, this book is a wake-up call to this. It was not a way to point fingers but a tool to approach difficult topics and start asking: where do we stand among this?
Again, this was not a comfortable book because it deals with difficult topics; nevertheless, they are urgent topics because they are related to life, they lead us to not fall again into the trap that empathy comes naturally either than being something that must be awakened, cared for, cultivated and nourished. Not by pushing yourself away, but by bringing yourself close.
Five stars are not enough with which to rate this novel by Katie Ganshert.
After reading her previous book, Life After, I didn’t think it possible that any writer could follow up with anything remotely better. But Katie Ganshert did.
Three woman, Camille Gray; Jen Covington, and Anaya Jones are dealing with school redistricting. Crystal Ridge, a school of mostly middle-upper to upper class white students faces an influx of students of an impoverished school system, tensions arise.
Each woman must face head on the underlying racism in their own minds, plus that of their family and the community. Camille, Jen and Anaya do not feel they hold any racist beliefs until the unthinkable happens…
A failing marriage. A family falling apart. A new teacher. Redistricting.
This novel is thought provoking and will encourage the reader to examine their own hearts regarding some of those most explosive topics of today.
Does this kind of thing as described in this raw, but beautifully written novel actually happen today? You betcha! Look around!
This is just the book everyone and especially adolescents need to read and discuss.
Each person and family in these chapters is dealing with everyday real life crisis! It is a hard but necessary read!
Well done Katie Ganshert!
Just when I think I know my favorite Katie Ganshert novel, she releases another one. And this might be her best yet. Based on true events, No One Ever Asked confronts a myriad of issues from the harsh realities of racism and the increased segregation of our school system to family relationships and transracial adoptions. This is a beautiful story of three very different women and the way their lives intersect for the better. Jen’s adoption struggles were eye-opening and inspiring. Camille’s family issues were realistic and changed my perception of her throughout the book. But Anaya’s story was my favorite. I loved how strong and caring she was and loved being able to see life through her eyes, especially the prejudices inherent in our society.
However, what amazed me the most in this book was the complexity of each storyline. Their stories are so well-developed that Anaya, Camille, and Jen each could have their own book. But, instead of their stories suffering from being shared, their stories beautifully intersect and enrich one another, creating a compelling picture of a divided community on its way to healing. Life doesn’t give us one struggle at a time and each woman faced multiple problems simultaneously throughout the book. In a world where even contemporary fiction has a tendency to become fantasy, it is always refreshing to meet characters that struggle. Characters that have flaws but don’t let their flaws define them. Characters that inspire you to persevere and believe and “be the change where you’re at.” And that’s exactly what I get every time I read one of Katie Ganshert’s novels. I loved this story and, as with most of her novels, I cried at the end. Because at its core, it’s a story of broken people becoming whole and completely free in Christ. We cannot escape the past, but through Christ, we can all experience freedom.
No One Ever Asked, by Katie Ganshert, is one of the most thought-provoking novels I have ever read. The questions it raises, and the themes it explores are powerfully intense, necessary, and timely. This well-written novel is gut-wrenchingly raw and honest, yet it is not without hope. It made my pulse race. It made me think deep, hard thoughts. It made me cry. It made me angry. It moved me and shook me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it.
This novel bravely and boldly explores very difficult and sensitive topics such as personal prejudice, institutional racism, sexual harassment, gossip, anger, hatred, and hypocrisy. Even still, I couldn’t turn away. I found the stories and perspectives contained within this novel to be incredibly compelling, because Ms. Ganshert has skillfully crafted believable characters who are vulnerable, flawed, and achingly real. I truly empathized with each one of them in turn, seeing myself, for better or for worse, in each of their stories. I saw myself reflected in their eyes. I saw their truth in my own heart. I saw my feet standing in their shoes.
When fiction can make us explore our own hearts, our own motivations, our own insecurities, and our own fears, it is an incredibly marvelous thing. When fiction can nurture positive change, then written words become something profound and meaningful. This book and its many poignant themes reminds us all that assumptions can be dangerous, empathy is life-changing, and forgiveness can lead to healing and reconciliation.
No One Ever Asked is a novel worthy of careful attention, thoughtful contemplation, humble reflections, and honest discussions. My fervent recommendation of this book could not be more sincere, earnest, or resolute.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. A review was not required. The review I have written contains opinions that are entirely my own.
“Be the change where you’re at.”
Anaya Jones is a new hire at a predominantly white upper class elementary school. Determined to make the best of a given opportunity, she struggles to push aside her own fears and misconceptions so that she can meet the needs of her students, whose parents are disgruntled about the forced integration of ethnically diverse students from a failed lower class school district. Anaya is black.
Jen Covington and her husband have just adopted a little girl from Liberia. Feeling overwhelmed with the complexities of instant parenthood, Jen fights feelings of despondency and inadequacy when Jubilee has a difficult time adjusting to her new life. Jen and Nick are white.
Camille Gray is an active member of her community, pretending that all is right in her world when nothing could be further from the truth. After her three children are thrust into racially tense circumstances as a result of regional integration, her responses vary from what she thinks she is “supposed” to say, to what she actually believes she needs to say.
All three women’s lives converge in unexpected ways as normalcy is reconstructed along the path to mutual respect. “No one ever asked” their opinion in the beginning, but in the end, they find that the truth really can set them free. Read along as Katie Ganshert deftly navigates the shark infested waters of equality, diversity, and expectancy within the chapters of this deeply inspiring story.
I received a copy of this novel from the author and publisher. The opinions stated are entirely my own.
No One Ever Asked is a story that touches on topics that are very relevant in today’s society. Sexual harassment, racial prejudice, unequal opportunities, gun control, infidelity, the inability to conceive and the struggles to adopt. Reading this book is like opening a newspaper or watching a newscast!
Author Katie Ganshert has created three unique female characters and gives voice to each of their points of view. Camille, Jen and Anaya are honest in recognizing the challenges before them and accepting the struggles they face. They are good but flawed; strong and yet weak; and even when they fall they find the way to get back up.
I found No One Ever Asked to be a hard book to read because it caused me to wonder. I have always prided myself on being non-judgemental and free from prejudice but this story made me question if this is really true. This isn’t a happy book but it does offer hope and I believe that No One Ever Asked will be discussed over and over again! I highly recommend it.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher but I was not required to post a review. These are my honest opinions.
Thought provoking, emotional roller coaster that leaves your heart bleeding for what just isn’t a story but is truth that is still in existence. Not an easy read as it deals with profound subjects in a raw and emotional way. Issues that we may not want to face but that leave us changed for the better when completed. You may feel raw and open when done, but well worth your time. Engaging characters that you feel pulled into their lives and will be thinking about for days afterwards. Very well written with empathy and faith woven throughout. This is a book that will be on my top 10 list for 2018 and highly recommend as a must read. I find no words to truly describe how this book left me feeling.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.