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About the Book
Book: See You Monday
Author: Kristen Terrette
Genre: Young Adult
Release date: April 30, 2021
Senior year. The homestretch.
Honor student, Grace Warner, had it easy. Popularity, friends, attention from her crush, even a soccer scholarship offer—if only she can figure out her senior project to graduate on time. Getting approval to write about someone’s life-changing event, Grace recruits her sassy grandma as her mentor who can’t wait to tell the crazy story from her childhood.
Events in the early sixties are words in history books to Grace, but her grandma lived them. She witnessed the civil rights movement in full swing, desegregation becoming a reality in her southern town, Martin Luther King, Jr. moving the country with his iconic speech, and the country coming to a halt when President Kennedy was assassinated.
Grace loves finding out her family history but didn’t know the project would have her noticing hardships and prejudices at her school she hadn’t before. When the homecoming court is announced and new kid, Jacob Horton, is nominated as a colossal prank, it brings Grace to a choice, much like her grandmother years before her. God is about to use her in a miracle if she chooses correctly. If she fails, a life could be lost.
“The life God gives us on earth is all about choices. What may seem like a small choice, of no significance or value to you, can be a choice of great magnitude in God’s kingdom.”
Life is about choices, and our choices can change everything – both good or bad. This is a message I’m always drilling into my children, so I loved that this book is geared towards young readers. It’s a book that will get them thinking – which makes this book a great read to discuss as a family!
I loved how the past was beautifully woven with the present in this book. I loved seeing how God’s loving goodness was shown in this book throughout generations. It reminded me of the bible verse Joshua 4:3, 6-7 (below). When we share our past with future generations, it’s a great reminder of God’s faithfulness, and can remind us to trust Him in the present—and with the future.
This book definitely had me reflecting on stories that have been passed down in my family – and how God’s glory can be seen in them. God can use each of us for His glory and purposes, we just need to listen to His voice and obey. Sometimes, the choices we make in life won’t be easy or comfortable, but when we surrender to God’s leading, it’s worth it! Miracles can happen. Seeds are planted. Ripples are started that affect generations.
This book is a must read, and I highly recommend it.
About the Author
Kristen’s passionate about storytelling and helping people take their next steps in their relationship with Jesus. She lives forty-five minutes outside of Atlanta, GA. where she served as a Children’s Ministry Director for many years. With the support of her husband and two children, she now stays home writing fiction and non-fiction. She also serves on the women’s leadership team at her local church and writes for Crosswalk and Wholly Loved Ministries. You can check out her articles and novels at www.kristenterrette.com.
More from Kristen
In most novels, a touch of the writer’s life scatters itself throughout the words—a phrase, the personality of a character, the circumstances of a heartache or joy. These serve as tiny acknowledgements to those who motivated them. But sometimes it’s something much, much more.
See You Monday is inspired by a family, my family, and a little girl, my mother, who went through a captivating, life-shaping course of events during 1963 and 1964. It’s a story of how God awakened her to Him and how, when we follow Jesus—doing what He asks—our choices cause miraculous ripple effects which spread for generations.
Have you ever thought about that? How one choice can change everything? How the course of someone’s life can be altered for good or bad by someone’s decision?
At one point in my novel, my grandmother (her character’s name is Johnnie) makes a choice when my mom (“Sandy” in the story) was a child. Many years later, we find out this choice had lasting effects, reaching as far as a grown man, from my generation, who lived across town—not even in their neighborhood. And this happens all the time. God is always using us in miracles, we simply have to be attuned to Him and willing say yes.
And since this story brings real people to life in the time-lapse back to the early 60s in Chattanooga, Tennessee, I’d thought I share pictures of the actual Lewis/Baron clan.
These photos, taken between 1958-1961, show four generations who lived under one roof. The cutie pie kids are my mother (the oldest/blonde), my aunt (the adorable redhead who steals every scene in the book), and my uncle (the baby). Also, check out the car in the driveway! I wish we still had it.
What’s your story? What ripple effects have your relatives left behind when they said yes to being used by God? What choice have you made that changed yours or a loved one’s course? Maybe something you didn’t realize until years later?
I hope you’ll think through your own family line and the legacy they leave. And be sure to get a copy of my Young Adult novel, See You Monday, to find out how my own family inspired its timely message in the life of Grace, a seventeen-year-old senior in high school.
To celebrate her tour, Kristen is giving away the grand prize package of signed paperback copy of See You Monday, Chattanooga-based “Clumpies” signature ice cream pint pack, Chattanooga-based “The Hot Chocolatier” large box of assorted chocolates, and a $25 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card!!
Disclaimer: Some items contain milk, gluten, nuts, soy, and egg products.
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
One thought on “See You Monday by Kristen Terrette + Giveaway”
Thank you, Elizabeth! I so appreciate your sweet words! I am grateful you “got” the story’s takeaways! This was a terrific write up. Thank you for sharing the Joshua verses! So true!
Thank you, Elizabeth! I so appreciate your sweet words! I am grateful you “got” the story’s takeaways! This was a terrific write up. Thank you for sharing the Joshua verses! So true!