The Writing on the Wall Hearts of the Children Series Vol. 1

The Writing on the Wall Hearts of the Children Series Vol. 1 by Dean Hughes

This is the follow up series to Children of the Promise....which I have not read. This book stood on its own. I didn't feel like I had to be familiar with the previous series.

The book opens in 1961.......and as the title describes, I think this is a warning of things to come in the next books and American/World history.

The book follows the Thomas cousins; Gene the good-looking, school president, lots of dates but some depth kind of boy, Kathy the p.c. democrat in a largely republican family, Diane the pretty girl that only wants to be cute and grow up to have a 'nice' life, and Hans trapped in West Germany just as they are walled in.......struggling with a bleak life and questions about faith.

Gene wants to live up to his dad Alex. Alex served a mission in Germany where he met his wife Anna. He went back as a soldier and was in the thick of the fighting. He came home and served in the church and becomes a Congressman. Gene becomes class president then graduates and enrolls in the U were he joins a fraternity. He dates Marsha. She many times seems antagonistic towards Gene and thinks he lacks depth.........until he leaves on a mission. Gene serves in East Germany. He finds that he struggles with his faith and the bleakness of non-believers in his area.

Kathy may be young but she reads a great deal and is up on her current events. She wonders why her family, church and community don't CARE the way she does. We spend time with Kathy as she sees the vast churning of emotion and violence surrounding the racial movement in the 60's. Through Kathy the subject of priesthood for blacks, voting rights and other pivotal issues arise. Kathy travels to Mississippi one summer to show she wants to help bring about change.......not just sit at home and support it. Eventually she is bludgeoned by the white police and thrown in jail when she tries to stop the beating of a young black man. She also runs away from home and joins a freedom march. Kathy feels the desperation of the nation as President Kennedy is assassinated and human rights and Vietnam hang in the balance.

Diane is sweet and beautiful. She struggles as what brings her happiness.......dating, clothes, family life and church, clashes somewhat with her mother's values. Diane's mom Bobbi teaches at Weber State and is busy with her job and obtaining her doctorate.........just as she becomes pregnant with their last child Ricky. Diane ends up taking care of a lot of things at home. She also dates Scott, a nonmember. He begins showing interest in Diane's religion. He takes missionary discussions but always puts off baptism. Diane hears rumors of Scott's other life when he isn't hanging out with her.......drinking, gambling and other girls. Scott also becomes physically aggressive with Diane. She decides after some hard thought and a heart to heart with Bobbi, that she will break up with Scott.

Hans is not part of the Thomas family. He is a cousin to Gene. Gene's mother Anna and Hans' father Peter are brother and sister. Hans and his family become trapped in east Germany. Hans becomes angry that his father would never try to get them out before it became too late. Hans tries to escape with one of his friends. They nearly drown and sneak back home. The government still finds out and Hans knows he will pay for the rest of his life. His father is even demoted in his job for Hans' attempted escape. Peter thinks they should remain in West Germany to help build up the church. Life is bleak with little to eat, an oppressive government and lacking living accommodations. At one point Peter decides to try to get his whole family out of Germany but they are snitched on and end up returning home........although the government doesn't find out who they are..........a sign from God Peter determines. Hans is kicked out of school and given manual labor because of his first attempt at leaving the country. He starts to doubt his faith because he doesn't think a just God would want his family to live this way. He finally is admitted back into school where he becomes the top of his class but denounces his religion, breaking his families' heart. As time goes on his little sister Inga is teased for being LDS and refusing to sing part of the Internationale, which denounces a Savior. Hans sees her suffering. He loves her. He agrees to sit through Peter giving Inga a blessing. Peter then asks Hans if he can give him one also. Not wanting to cause more friction in the family, Hans agrees. He is touched by they Spirit. He decides to return to church and investigate his feelings further.

I loved the historical aspect of this book. I can see what a vicious struggle must have taken place back in the 60's to get our nation to this day. To me it seems so unbelievable that in history that current, people thought the things they thought. Okay, not unbelievable, I just don't want to believe it. This book made me question what I would have done if faced with those challenges.

Rating 4 I truly enjoyed the book, characters and historical view but I didn't fall madly in love with anyone in the book. Maybe in later volumes.

Rating G The characters certainly speak in 'Leave it to Beaver' terms.