Title: Like Dandelion Dust
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Major Themes: Adoption, Family, Grief
Synopsis: When they receive news that the adoption of their now four-year-old son was illegal and he must be returned to his biological parents, Jack and Molly Campbell are determined they’ll do whatever it takes to fight for their family and keep their son.
A friend offered Like Dandelion Dust to me several years ago, and I decided I wanted to try it because although I’d heard of Kingsbury’s books for years, I never got the chance to pick one up. I recently had time to pick up this book, and I’m so glad I took the time for it! It isn’t the greatest story I’ve ever read, but I thoroughly enjoyed following along with the characters and discovering what happened next.
Publisher’s description:
When Joey Campbell’s biological father is released from prison, the four-year-old faces a life no one could’ve planned. His father wants custody, and a judge’s quick decision deals a devastating blow to the Campbell family: Joey must be returned to his biological parents. In a haze of grief and disbelief, the Campbells watch their adopted son pick a dandelion and blow the feathery seeds into the wind. Watching the seeds drift away on a breeze, Jack Campbell conceives a desperate and dangerous thought. What if they can devise a way out? They could take Joey and just disappear. Ultimately, both families will learn that sometimes the greatest love is shared by letting go—LIKE DANDELION DUST.
My thoughts:
I’ve always had a soft spot for stories of adoptive families and their children. So to have that be a focal point of this book was special. I was also intrigued by the plot twist of having the adoption revoked…that’s not something you see very often in adoptive fiction, I don’t think!
There was a lot to enjoy in this book. I found myself relating to both mothers in the story, and I loved the way Joey’s adoptive parents loved their son—that was super special. There was one character I frequently got annoyed with—and wanted to whack a few times—but at the same time, the way this story is told feels possible, and I appreciated that.
Some elements of the story were slightly far-fetched, and while that kind of thing can tend to annoy me at times, it didn’t end up being as frustrating as I expected. This was a fairly predictable read, which in a way is somewhat disappointing, but overall, it was written well enough to keep my attention and make for an enjoyable reading experience.
I wouldn’t rate Like Dandelion Dust among my top favorite Christian fiction titles of all time. It isn’t one of those stand-out books that you love so much that you end up almost forcing all your friends to read, too. But if you are looking for a cozy, feel-good story from a Christian perspective, I’d recommend you check it out. It’s worth taking the time to read once.
WARNING: One character was physically abusive in the past, and this comes up multiple times (there are a few instances of abuse throughout the book, too—ch. 18, 23, and 28 have some descriptions). Characters lie occasionally. There are some married kisses. Chapter 2: A woman thinks about how she cheated on her husband. Chapter 4: A man says “Last night was amazing” to his wife; mention of women’s period. Chapter 6: Woman remembers getting drunk. Chapters 7, 18, and 24: Drinking. Chapter 25: Seeing a chicken being killed.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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