Mother of Pearl: how far would a mother go for her child?

Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert asks the questions how far would a mother go for her child? Barrie Graeber has a great life. Two wonderful kids, a loving husband and a job as a respected high school counselor in their tight knit community. Suddenly, her teenage daughter, Pearl, seems to unravel before her eyes. Barrie is at a loss how to help Pearl. Nothing prepared her for this helplessness as her attempts to help her daughter fail and Pearl pulls farther and farther away. When the unthinkable happens, Barrie is at a loss how to move forward. Until she discovers a terrible secret about her nemesis, Michael Warren, the football coach. When Barrie decides to go up against the coach, she finds herself without support. Fueled by love for her daughter, she learns to trust in something bigger than herself and fight back. 

Going into this story, I knew it was described as “emotionally riveting and profoundly moving,” so I was expecting emotions. However, this story was more of a roller coaster of emotions. Without giving up plot points, which spoils the emotional impact, it truly was a roller coaster. It is a powerful story of one mother’s determination to do right by her daughter and protect other daughters from the same situation. I loved the Christian faith aspect. It wasn’t overdone. It was a great and honest portrayal of faith and even the resistance to such a faith. I enjoyed all the characters especially Jackie who becomes a source of comfort for Barrie. I also enjoyed the double meaning of the title which is fairly subtle if you aren’t looking for it. I enjoyed this book so much! I highly, highly recommend Mother of Pearl. 

Mother of Pearl is available in paperback and eBook