The Shack - William P. Young

Released December 2007

www.theshackbook.com


THE SHACK is a success story in its own right. Originally self-published, the novel has gained quite a following. Enough of one that Warner is partnering with Windblown Media to make sure the book reaches people throughout the world.

When his young daughter, Missy, is kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer, Mackenzie Allen Philips slips into an understandable depression. In desperation, he returns to the shack where Missy's bloody clothing was found. It is there that he meets God and is able to discover just why God allows him and others to suffer from such a horrific event.

THE SHACK is an inspirational novel, yet the events are covered with a realism I wasn't expecting. This made it hard to put down. Though, as I read the novel, something happened in this state that made the novel harder to take. A young girl went missing. At first, her connection to a MySpace account was blamed, but the outcome was far more horrific. Her uncle and former stepfather kidnapped her with plans of forcing her into their lurid child sex ring. Instead, she ended up dead and buried in a shallow grave. I'd like to say that things of that nature never happen in my state, but obviously that's not true. Because of these events, I found THE SHACK a little harder to read.

Sadly, tragedy strikes far too often and whatever God's intentions. I always find myself questioning, just as Mackenzie did, why He would allow a young child to be raped and murdered. THE SHACK covers a lot of possible answers to this question and is worthwhile reading.