The Kindness of Strangers

by Katrina Kittle

Paperback, 2007

Status

Available

Publication

William Morrow Paperbacks (2007), Edition: English Language, 393 pages

Description

On a quiet street in the suburban Midwest, a popular, seemingly stable family keeps a terrible, dark secret behind closed doors -- a secret that will have life-changing consequences for all who know them Sarah Laden, a young widow and mother of two, struggles to keep her family together. Since the death of her husband, her high-school-age son, Nate, has developed a rebellious streak, constantly falling in and out of trouble. Her kindhearted younger son, Danny, though well behaved, struggles to pass his remedial classes. All the while, Sarah must make ends meet by running a catering business out of her home. But when a shocking and unbelievable revelation rips apart the family of her closest friend, Sarah finds herself welcoming yet another young boy into her already tumultuous life. Jordan, a quiet and reclusive elementary-school boy and classmate of Danny's, has survived a terrible tragedy, leaving him without a family. When Sarah becomes Jordan's foster mother, a relationship develops that will force her to question the things of which she thought she was so sure. Yet Sarah is not the only one changed by this young boy, and as the delicate balance that holds her family together begins to falter, the Ladens will all face truths about themselves and one another -- and discover the power of love to forgive and to heal. Powerful and poignant, The Kindness of Strangers is a shocking look at how the tragedy of a single family in a small suburban town can affect so many. Katrina Kittle has created a haunting vision of the secret lives of the people we think we know best. Through gripping and heartrending storytelling, The Kindness of Strangers shows that even after the most grave injuries, redemption is always possible.… (more)

Rating

(214 ratings; 4.1)

User reviews

LibraryThing member karieh
It still seems odd to me that my first “don’t want to put it down” book of the summer is one that deals with such a dark and disturbing subject. As I was sitting on a dock, enjoying the LONG awaited sun, I kept wondering why I was so eager to be reading this book when the main subject turned
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my stomach. And yet? I kept reading.

Something about the characters, something about the flow of the words…even though the characters are pretty stock, the words are well-chosen but neither beautiful nor outstanding…there’s something about “The Kindness of Strangers” that I couldn’t resist.

(OK – I’ve been trying to avoid spoiling the big reveal in the book since it’s not on the dust jacket…but I will probably have to pull the rabbit out of the hat here or I’m going to sound like an idiot. So – SPOILER ALERT!)

Jordan, an only child from what seems like the perfect family in what seems like the perfect small town in Ohio, is the victim of such horrendous abuse from his parents that at times the situation seems ridiculously far-fetched. It’s not, though, as news stories can attest…it’s just on the very, very far edge of believable. If one can get past that and suspend disbelief enough to accept the story, the idea of what this boy was forced to endure is heart wrenching.

“It was Wednesday night. Wednesday. He was safe on Wednesdays. He could relax and pretend they were a normal family. He was in his room, studying math. The intercom clicked on and his mom said, “There’s somebody here for you.” Who? He knew it wasn’t Danny. Not anymore. Billy Porter? Billy sucked at math and asked Jordan to help him all the time, even though he wouldn’t even sit with Jordan at lunch. Would Billy actually come to Jordan’s house just for the math homework? Jordan didn’t think anything of it because it was Wednesday. Bad things never happened on Wednesdays, so he’d walked downstairs right into it. When he saw the new people, a man and a woman, and the lights set up, he’d even stuttered, “B-but it’s Wednesday.” The couple laughed. His mom and dad laughed. And their laughter broke something in him. Or maybe fixed something in him, because he’d decided not to be “a good, good boy,” and he’d fought it, which he hadn’t done since those first times. It took all of them to hold him down.”

This was the most gut-wrenching and eloquent part of the story for me. The idea that a little boy who had endured so much physical and mental anguish at the hands of people who professed to love him, could pretend to be part of a normal family for one day a week, held on to that one day a week…until even that small piece of safety and normalcy was ripped from him…just breaks my heart.

Other than Jordan, the other compelling character is Nate, the oldest son of Sarah, a friend of Jordan’s mother. Nate is the perfect age between child and adult to let us see the struggle he has to both relate to Jordan and try and help him. He tries to alternatively be Jordan’s friend and be a surrogate parent figure…and for a boy who’s father has recently died…it’s quite a struggle.

When Nate breaks the rules and visits Jordan in the hospital – the nurses and doctors start to remove him from the room.

“Jordan said, ‘I want him to stay.’”

“Nate felt a combination of victory and terror at those words.”

And later, when Jordan comes to live with Nate and his family:

“Nate walked away, but he didn’t want to go into the house, so he sat in the sandbox and thought about his dad. He thought his dad would approve of their fostering Jordan, but he also knew that they would never have done it if Dad was alive. There wouldn’t be room. And he didn’t mean room in the house, but that there wouldn’t have been room inside them, inside their lives. They wouldn’t have known they were strong enough to do this.”

At times beautiful, at times so appalling (in subject matter) that I seemed barely able to stomach the words my eyes passed across. It absorbed me for a few days and something about the story stays with me. Something…

I do think, however, that the journey for the characters and for the reader would have been FAR more fulfilling had the prologue been omitted. Knowing how the story ends makes the achievement of getting there much less satisfying. The characters have no idea if and how they will endure – and neither should the reader.
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LibraryThing member amandattown
A difficult book to read, but also a difficult book to put down. The author manages to write a beautiful book about a horrid subject.
LibraryThing member pdebolt
Jordan Kendricks suffers unspeakable atrocities by those who should be keeping him safe. This is a difficult book to read because it is reality for many children. As an advocate for foster children in the juvenile court system, I know that the statistics cited are all too true and that each of us
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has a responsibility to protect any child whom we suspect is a victim of any form of abuse. There are many truths in this book and the bad news is that there are monsters among us. The worst news is that they look just like us. I applaud Katrina Kittle for bringing this difficult subject to light, and I hope it will have a lasting impact on our awareness.
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LibraryThing member shelleyraec
A must read if you can deal with the subject matter . An emotive,compelling tale of the horrors of abuse and how it affects not only the child but also the people it touches. Despite the grim situation, it is incredibly well written with compassion yet without couching the horror in coy terms. It
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is honest which is sometimes difficult to read, it can make your heart hurt. This issue is so often exploited for shock value or tabloid fodder. There is no sensationalism in this story - but raw truth. The characters that are able to share their unique perspective really draws out the complex reactions to abuse experienced in the wider community but without the characters losing their individual identities. Their emotions and motivations come across as genuine. They are ordinary people who have to cope with a tragic set of circumstances while still living their lives.Dont write this off as fiction, it is very grounded in reality.This book reminds you that this does happen, it is likely happening in your neighborhood and pretending it doesnt or ignorning it, is why it happens. While it may be hard to read about, it is even harder for children to live.
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LibraryThing member Lallybroch
Wow! I am surprised to say that I loved a book about childhood sexual abuse, but this book was wonderful! While a difficult subject, it is also a terribly important one too. This book takes a compassionate, thoughtful look into a terrible reality. Each chapter is told from a different characters
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point of view which helps show that abuse affects all those involved very differently. The characters are riveting and you can't help but be pulled in by their story.
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LibraryThing member stephaniesmithrn
I was so hesitant to read this book because of the disturbing subject matter, but Kittle does such an excellent job writing about sexual abuse without sugar coating it, but she also doesn't alienate the reader. The characters are so well developed that you just ache for them. There is a good
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balance between the despairing parts and the triumphant ones, so you really feel compelled to keep reading. This book has such a great sensitivity. I really loved this one!
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LibraryThing member lecia1167
This is a difficult book to read in the sense that it deals with sexual abuse of a child by a parent. While the book my falter in some places, overall it gives a unique insight from the child's perspective as well as a friend of the family.
LibraryThing member nm_skyz
This book was hard to read at times, but so worth it and completely amazing. It deals with our assumptions about others, child sexual abuse, and family dynamics.
LibraryThing member MsGemini
I could not put this book down! Although the story was about a very difficult subject the author pulled me in and I became connected with the characters.
LibraryThing member msimelda
Excellent. It is a tough read about pedophilia; but the characters make you want to read until the end. I started and finished on a three hour drive.
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Excellent, well-written book. Amzaing subject but author did a wonderful job. Read it.
LibraryThing member TiffanyAK
I absolutely loved this book. It is without a doubt one of the most heartbreaking books I've ever read, but also the most heartwarming, in an alternating pattern that varies throughout the book. Dealing with the aftermath of horrible child abuse in a way that is honest and real, there is no
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sugarcoating of facts to be found here. Obviously, things aren't blatantly described, but the author has no problem discussing the issue. But, at the same time, this is not a story about child abuse, but rather a story about triumph, survival, and the love and support of a family.

Sarah Laden, a recent widow struggling to now raise two boys entirely on her own, has her world turned upside down when a shocking secret is discovered about her long-time friends, the Kendrick family. Faced with the possibility that she may not have really known them at all, and that the woman most responsible for her recovery after the death of her husband may have had a far darker motive for her actions than Sarah could have ever imagined, the already fragile balance that is her everyday existence now seems to be more difficult than ever before. And when the Laden family makes the decision to add another child to the family, the traumatized young Jordan Kendrick, things become even more complicated yet. What hope is there for this family to survive, and can they find the happiness together that seems to have been missing for far too long?

For anyone who has ever followed the news, you know that the most horrible crimes are often committed by the seemingly most unlikely people. Friends and neighbors are almost always heard to say after the truth is discovered that they "had no idea" and "it can't be true, they're such nice people". It was good to read a book that takes this real-life rule to heart. The 'bad guys' here aren't the creepy or strange people that everyone steers clear of. Rather, they're seemingly normal family people who volunteer at school events, participate in their community, and are seemingly good friends or acquaintances to many people, all of whom have no idea of the truth until the police get involved. This book will haunt you, educate you, and hopefully let you understand the deeper issues a bit better. Yes, there are times that you want to grab one of the characters and slap them out of their denial, until you think about how you would feel in their position. For better or worse, the emotions and reactions in this book are true to real life, as unfortunate as that can sometimes be.

Without any doubts, this book definitely warrants 5/5 stars. This is one for the keeper shelf.
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LibraryThing member Eliz12
I give the author credit for writing a mostly compelling tale (I read, though certainly not passionately, about 3/4 of the way through, then skipped to the end, which came as absolutely no surprise). Yet there is very little I liked about this book.
The story is painful and often predictable (more
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often than not you know exactly how things will turn out). The characters are all more than familiar: the parents who seem to be nice, but are actually horrid; the lonely widow; the snarly teen ager; the police officer with a good heart. For the most part, this is the book version of a soap opera.
This is not good literature, not even fun and light reading.
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LibraryThing member annekiwi
An excellent book dealing with very taboo subjects, incest and child pornography. Jordan Kendrick has been subjected to sexual abuse by his parents and their ring of friends for the last 4 years, since he was 7. One day it becomes too much and he attempts suicide but is rescued by a former friend's
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mother. Told in the voices of Sarah, the woman who rescues him, Nate, her son, and Jordan, the victim. This is a very well-written and compelling story, but not one that can be easily discussed. Somethings are so powerful that they defy description. I thought the author very deftly handled writing about a very touchy subject without being too graphic or purient, and still getting into the psychological aspects of many of the parties involved. I can't say it's a favorite because it was disturbing, but it gets 5 stars for being a well-written story.
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LibraryThing member lauriann
A Horriffic Crime is dealt with in a sensitive, readable manner. With chapters alternating between point-of-view characters, this is a compelling page-turner. One cannot help but to reflect, "Could I be as strong and as giving as Sarah?"
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
Sarah, a widow with two children, is struggling to hold together her family amidst her catering business. When driving home through the rain, she finds her best friend son Jordan, stumbling around with his backpack. She picks him up and is forced to rush him to the hospital after he attempts
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suicide. Her oldest son Nick, finds numerous cds inside Jordan's backpack. The CD's document the child sex abuse of Jordan and other children by his father. Despite Jordan's protests that his Mom is innocent, there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. In an act of extreme kindness, Sarah and her family decide to foster Jordan as he is healing and dealing with the upcoming trials.

This book was extremely powerful and moving. It deals with a very difficult and hard to comprehend subject, the idea that your closest friend isn't who you thought she was. That she could allow and perhaps even participate in the sexual abuse of her child. Due to the heavy topic of this book, I would have to say that it wouldn't be for everybody. It definitely wasn't a casual or "beach" read.
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LibraryThing member debissot
Wow! What a great book! I couldn't put it down. Definitely a dark subject, but it was very nicely done.
LibraryThing member maryintexas39
A chilling and thought-provoking read.
LibraryThing member roxyrolla
A really fantastic book, it gripped me from the first page! My only gripe is with the several typos I noticed. The characters seemed truly authentic. I am impressed with how the author dealt with such a disturbing topic in a way that could keep me reading, although at times it was difficult.
LibraryThing member Erin.Mast
It was difficult to put an actual rating on this book. I had no idea what I was getting into when I began reading. It hit close to home, almost too close at times. There is no better book to read than one where you can connect with the characters. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster and
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truly brought tears to my eyes on more than one occassion. Be certain you are ready for the tears this book will bring out!
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LibraryThing member Clx.Bkwrm
A mother and her two sons still getting over their grief for the death of their husband and father are thrown into a world where a little boy will change their lives yet again. Fellow readers, this book may be difficult to read on, but just like in life, there is a better ending to this horrific
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tale.
Katrina Kittle has written such a powerful book where a grief-stricken family gets thrown into the world of child pornography by a family close to them. You see the change, pain and growth of not only the mother, Sarah Laden, and her sons, Nate and Danny, but also of the little boy who suffered through so much abuse, Jordan. There were moments I found this book very difficult to read, so much that I had to put it down for a couple of days and then go back to it. Kittle writes in such a way that you really can't just abandon this family as they try to get through this tragedy, especially Jordan who was hurt the most. If you want a powerful read that will proves there is a happy ending, even in the most horrific times, then I recommend this book.
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LibraryThing member janismack
I liked this book. Fast paced, compelling story of a family who helps boy who has survived a terrible ordeal.
LibraryThing member GR8inD8N
Definitely not for every teen. But this amazing novel shows how healing kindness can save families, and how families can be made up of strangers with a commitment to care for one another. Much graphic content regarding child abuse and sexual slavery. Written for adults, but there are some teens who
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would enjoy this read.
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LibraryThing member LorettaR
Another book (3rd one) I loved reading by this author. Although the subjects of child sexual abuse/incest and child pornography are sensitive and difficult, Katrina told this story with her usual compassion and grace. The characters are endearing, and the story is both heart wrenching and
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heartwarming.
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LibraryThing member LaineyMac
The subject matter of this book (incest, child sexual abuse, suicide, and the death of loved ones) makes this book something that isn't for everyone. Kittle's characters mostly ring true, though the angry teen who so quickly morphs into the compliant, civic minded young man was a bit of a stretch.
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Her insight into the warped thinking of an abused child was provocative and sad.
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Awards

Dayton Literary Peace Prize (Longlist — Fiction — 2007)
Great Lakes Book Award (Winner — Fiction — 2006)

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2005

Physical description

8 inches

ISBN

9780060564780
Page: 0.2263 seconds