Cori signs up to take a mission trip to Indonesia during the summer after her senior year of high school. Inspired by happy visions of building churches and seeing beautiful beaches, she gladly escapes her complicated love life back home. Five weeks after their arrival, a sectarian and religious conflict that has been simmering for years flames to life with deadly results on the nearby island of Ambon. Within days, the church building the team had constructed is in ashes, its pastor and fifty villagers are dead, and the six terrified teenagers are stranded in the mountainous jungle with only the pastor's teenage son to guide them to safety. Ultimately, Cori's emotional quest to rediscover hope proves just as arduous as the physical journey home.
“The first thing I noticed was the blood. It was everywhere…. It was so much darker than I thought it would be—almost black—until I touched him, and my hands came away red.” (p. 93)
Cori tells her story of the slaughter of a Christian village in Indonesia when a simple missionary trip turns into a fight for survival in Lisa McKay’s My Hands Came Away Red. Dating Scott had interfered with Cori’s relationship with God. She thought a missionary trip might put things into perspective for her. At boot camp she meets her team—Brendan the strong and trustworthy, Elissa the loving pacifist, Mark the unsinkable jester, Drew the droll and sensitive, and Kyle the passionate and brave. But at boot camp she just knows them as her team who tries to work together to get through the obstacle course on time and to smuggle M&M’s past Gary, their taskmaster chaperone, and his wife Diane.
On Ambon, Indonesia, they meet missionaries Tim and Allison, and Daniel, the pastor of the small congregation for whom they are going to build a church. His son, Mani, who is about their age, works with them on Seram building the church. At first, they have a lot of fun and find satisfaction in working on the church, but, as they listen to stories told by Daniel and Mani, they realize that Seram faces tension with its Muslim neighbor village. When an emergency calls Gary and Diane away, the teens remain behind to finish the church.
Then the unthinkable happens! Seram’s sister village attacks killing Daniel and his wife. As they rape and kill throughout the village, Mani takes up the mantle cast on him in his father’s last words of protecting the team and his four-year-old sister, Tina.
For the next three weeks, Mani leads them through the jungle and over the waters as the teens face terror, weakness, and death. He becomes a rock to them- Mani the heroic.
McKay frames the story by having Cori begin the book after the ordeal in Indonesia has ended. She tells the story so realistically at times that I had to remind myself this was a novel. It reads a lot like stories of the lost boys of Sudan. The teens’ emotions, quandaries, and interactions are compelling.
As Cori turns to the scripture for some explanation, Psalm 55, Joshua 1:9, and Proverbs 3:5&6 take on a new meaning to her. But McKay does her readers the justice of having Cori and the others still struggle over why God didn’t stop the murders and why things happened the way they did. Nor are they immediately free of all doubts and struggles. The trauma they face changes all of them, especially Cori.
Lisa McKay has written a compelling, powerful story on a subject too often ignored in fiction; the persecution of Christians. She shows the confusion, the lies, the dangers of vengeance upon vengeance that destroys a people. And she does it well, so well that it doesn’t read like fiction.
In this fast-paced, thought-provoking debut novel, McKay, a psychologist who works with humanitarian relief, explores injustice, religious reconciliation, suffering and faith through the eyes of an 18-year-old girl whose mission trip goes tragically awry. For Cori and a team of Christian teens, building a church in Indonesia sounds like a fun project. After an overly long prologue, McKay describes how they journey to the island of Seram and bond with the Indonesian villagers. However, even as they put the finishing touches on the newly built church, Muslim and Christian tensions flare, culminating in a horrific tragedy witnessed by Cori and her friends. They flee through the mountainous jungle, hoping to escape the escalating hostilities. McKay's carefully chosen words, devoid of unnecessary sentiment, lend power to her story. The external hardships the characters face on their trek are secondary to the internal struggles they battle over how a loving God could let terrible things happen; and why their sacrificial choice to give up a summer to help others would cost them more than they ever dreamed. While written from a Christian perspective, McKay gives an evenhanded treatment to Muslims, showing that violence and hatred transcend religious boundaries. This is one of Christian fiction's best novels of the year. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
15 of 15 Reviews Showing:
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Elizabeth (Ringgold), August 20, 2009
This book was fantastic! I did not want to put it down - the author made the characters come alive. It was also an eye opener for the turmoil in Indonesia. I look forward to the next book by Lisa McKay!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sarah Herrington (Dallas TX), August 05, 2009
This was a page turner and an amazing book. I read it while on a mission trip. I cannot begin to praise this book enough. I hope she writes more!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ashley Wiese (Pensacola, FL), March 09, 2009
This book is amazing. I currently attend a Christian college, and all of my friends want to read it too. It's definitely going to be passed around the dorms a couple of times. I recommend it to everyone.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Anna (MD), January 20, 2009
This book is the BEST christian book I have read. It's alive with action, God and Romance all in one. It is finominal!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Gigi Hoffman (Oregon), December 26, 2008
Eighteen-year-old Cori wanted to get away after her high school graduation. Things were complicated and confusing with her boyfriend, Scott, so she signed up to go on a ten-week missions trip to build a church on a small island in Indonesia.
After several weeks on the island, the church is completed, but an event leaves the group of teenagers away from their team leader and his wife for a few days. No biggie. However, during those couple days, a conflict that has been festering for years erupts between Muslim and Christian villages on a nearby island. The result? The new church gets burnt to the ground, the villagers are mercilessly slaughtered, and the teens are stranded in the forest with the pastor’s seventeen-year-old son.
The group must hike through the forest, find a way off the island, and get to the airport on the same island where the political and religious violence is occurring. The team goes through many trials and difficulties, questioning all the things they thought they knew.
This has to be one of the best books I’ve ever read (and I read a lot). Ms. McKay made the characters incredibly realistic. They questioned and doubted their personal beliefs; they didn’t just accept things and be happy. It was deep, thought-provoking, and beautifully written. A must, must, must read for everyone!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Della Welemirov (Vista, CA), November 02, 2008
I completely forgot this was a work of fiction! I felt as if the characters were real, their experiences were my experiences. their fears my fears!
Lisa McCay was given a gift from God to write stories which can bring the experiences to life and teach at the same time.
Many cudos to you Ms.McCay!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jim Boyd (Honolulu, Hi.), August 03, 2008
When a young missionary goes off to another culture, they often face challenges that they were ill prepared for. Challenges that can shake their faith . . .even the strongest of faith. Survival often depends on someone to reach out and rescue them. In her journey, Cori meets several people who reach out and help her to realize that they are not alone.
This book accurately describes the exciting and horrifying journey that many young missionaires/pastors face.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Karilyn Eastvold (Springfield, IL), February 08, 2008
Great book! Not only is it exciting and captivating in story and characters, it also lends an understanding to how difficult it is for the family and the missionary to re-enter life together. One wanting to know everything, the other feeling that they would never understand. Been there.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sharon K. Souza (Lodi, CA), January 21, 2008
My Hands Came Away Red is an exceptional story, written by Lisa McKay, a wonderfully fresh voice in Christian fiction. I loved the realism with which the story was portrayed, as well as the emotion that drew me into this incredible drama. I also loved the growth that took place in each of the characters. This was not a predictable story, with a predictable ending, and I so appreciate that. Lisa McKay obviously drew from her professional/ministerial experiences to weave this heartwrenching tale. I look forward to more from this gifted writer.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Deborah (Portsmouth, VA), January 10, 2008
Word of mouth promotion really does work. That's why I picked up this book, because of all the good reviews I had heard about it. And I was not disappointed at all. This book is intense. The story will linger in your mind for days. It's not a story to enjoy lying on the beach. You need to be in the right frame of mind to read this book. I've always wanted to go on a missions trip. It is on my list of things to do before I die. So while reading this book, I did get a little of what could happen if I went to someplace like that part of Indonesia. The missionaries who live in remote areas like this are to be commended for the bravery they show trying to spread God's word. The teens in this book are wise beyond their years. I don't know if I could have been as strong as they were if I was put in the same situation. It was heartbreaking to read about the emotional turmoil they were going through just trying to get home. It was just incredible about everything they went through: from seeing killings, running from snakes and wild boars, trying to overcome malaria. It's like an extreme version of Survivor for Christian teens. Even though the characters in this book are teenagers, the subject matter is quite serious so at least older teens should be reading this. It was also sad to see how the two religions are at wars with each other. It's devastating to read about Christians acting in such a brutal way against others especially since we are taught to love everyone. Obviously those people are not the best representatives of Christianity.I agree with others that this was one of the best Christian fiction books published in 2007. Lisa McKay has made her mark in the publishing world. I encourage everyone to read to this book. I guarantee it will have a major impact on you.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sherrill Tomasino (Temple Terrace, FL), January 08, 2008
This was an outstanding book. I thought it might be a little "young" for a grandmother, but not so; it was a thrilling book. It was like reading a "behind the scenes" story of the daily news. The vivid word pictures and the solid, factual content make it a true winner. Try it--you'll not be disappointed!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sharon B. (Woodbury, MN), January 02, 2008
What an excellent read and so impressive that it's Lisa McKay's debut novel! It truly was one of my best Christian Fiction reads from 2007 (and I read a lot!). The adventure of the six Mission trip participants and the two Indonesians is like a roller coaster. Plus, the emotions of each character are vividly felt and the graphic violence was so real - without being gory. One can really sense each character's growth through the challenges that they experience and how their lives & their perspectives have taken-on new depth. I agree w/ the other Reviewer that this book spans the ages of readership; I've just recommended the book to my teenage daughter and she loves it already (only @ Chapter 4). I hope Lisa McKay will write more!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Becky (Texas), December 26, 2007
EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT book!! I'm an avid reader and when I saw this was a missions book, I was in! I've been on several mission trips, but none as terrifying as this. Lisa does a masterful job of developing the characters who are each believable. I found myself going along on their trip and feeling the emotions they felt. Great book! I highly recommend it.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sue Vodicka (Aiken, SC), December 11, 2007
I consider myself an avid reader of Christian fiction, and have to agree with the previous reviewer that this is the best book I've read in 2007. I felt I was experiencing Cori's journey alongside her. There wasn't a pat answer for the hard questions that came up and there isn't a sugary finish. Just a realization that faith isn't a sit in church on Sunday thing- it is in the dark moments we all have. Great book and I hope we get many more from this author.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by N J Mollet (Melbourne, Australia), September 05, 2007
Frustrated by pressure she feels from her former boyfriend and confused about her future direction, Cori jumps at the chance to participate in a missions trip to Indonesia.
Boot camp introduces Cori to her team mates, Kyle, Elissa, Mark, Brendan and Drew and leaves her exhausted and blistered and yet unprepared for the horrifying reality the team faces when a conflict between Muslim and Christian villagers destroys the newly constructed church and decimates the village.
Led by young villager Mani, grieving the slaughter of his parents, the team escapes into the treacherous Indonesian jungle with fear, anxiety and despair lacerating their faith in each other and God.
To say I was blown away by the intensity and power of Lisa' McKay's debut novel is an understatement! Cori's voice is clear and emotive and her internal struggles throughout the entirety of the book bespoke a genuineness of character rarely found. Lisa beautifully describes the village and draws you in to the looming tragedy with stunning prose. I experienced the heart pounding fear and desperation of her characters to such an extent that I had to put the book down to give my heart a rest! It was only for a minute however as the fate of the village and the team held me captive.
While most of the characters are in their late teens this book's appeal extends far beyond readers of the same age. Lisa has drawn characters with exceptional depth and accuracy and handles issues of God's sovereignty in the midst of human tragedy without trite or pat answers. The authority and realism Lisa's career of providing psychological and spiritual support to aid workers, gives authority and realism to a story that is second to none. Cori's journey, through emotional and physical turmoil is not to be missed.
I have no hesitation in stating that my hands came away red is the finest book I have read this year and I hope it is the first of many from this Australian author.
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