Desert Fire

By Shannon Van Roekel

A straight-from-the-headlines novel revealing God's love in the midst of horrific conflict and personal turmoil

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0825439221
• ISBN13: 9780825439223
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Kregel Publications
• Length: 303 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Challenging novel.....

This book combined with the episodes of ER, I recently saw, just sort of shocked me at how awful it really is over there. This book is an incredible work of art! Julia- a young reporter is assigned to a IDP camp in Darfur. She meets a missionary couple working there, a midwife and nurse, who are giving their time and lives for these people. Intent on exposing the real evil about the people responsible for the genocide, they go "undercover" in burqa's to record and tape an interview with a leader of the responsible group. The result is kidnapping and murder, but in the midst of it, Julia is called to wonder how the Christians can trust God when everything is so horrible. She is trying to deal with her past, a father in prison, writing from the grave, a mother who is loser...drifting from man to man, and yet it all seems so small when she is facing children who have lost limbs, parents, entire families. This book will challenge you to look beyond yourself, to wonder if there is more you should be doing for the world out there. This is for sure more than just a novel!!!

Desert Fire by Shannon Van Roekel

Shannon is a gifted writer and I really got drawn into the characters in this book. I found it powerful reading that touched raw nerves and resurrected emotions I'd put on the bench; I know from talking with Shannon about her next book project, that much of what she writes is based upon things that she has seen and experienced for herself, firsthand. That's why this story reads with such authenticity, which I found truly refreshing. While this is a faith-based, factual, fiction book that clearly and unashamedly lays out the truth in Darfur, in addition to some basic truths about Jesus Christ and what it means to follow him, it also communicates a great story that needs to be told, heard and acted upon. It is cross-cultural and cuts across different religious beliefs in a way that is real and non-judgemental at the same time and accurately represents much of what we find in the world today. It's relevant and "good stuff" for followers of Christ, seekers and those who don't believe, or don't know what they believe, about God. Not preachy, it tells a moving and fast-paced story, full of unexpected twists and turn, about the terrible suffering and oppression going on today in Darfur; which leads the reader through a compelling immersion in the " behind closed doors", unspeakable terror that happens there daily -- causing the enlightened among us to look inside ourselves, ponder our own easy and overindulged lives and ask, "What can I do to help here, or elsewhere?" Then, Shannon lays out in her Author's Note, specific, realistic and meaningful ways that each of us can do something to help the people of Darfur. Excellent and well worth the read -- can't wait to read the next book that takes Julia and Joel to another place that will test her in many new ways. Stay tuned to find out where this is. Bravo, Shannon and good luck on the coming book.

Desert Fire calls readers to action

If you're like me, you've averted your gaze from anything that would distract you from your daily preoccupations with being comfortable and successful. I find it easy to look the other way when a homeless person comes into view or immediately think of something else when the pastor preaches on generosity or personal sacrifice. Well, I started reading Desert Fire (bought the book for my daughter and niece - thanks, Shannon, for autographing them!), expecting to be able to set it aside after a while and move on to other things. It's now way past midnight, and I just finished the book. And I have to get up for work later this morning. Shannon kept me from averting my gaze from the suffering that has been going on in another part of the world because the she lets us see through the eyes of two characters, Julia and Joel, who spent their lives looking the other way and being only tangentially involved in meeting this world's true needs. It was easy to identify with these characters that don't see beyond the limits of their five senses. Shannon then gradually introduces readers to the larger context, that there's a God behind it all who desires to use us as instruments for relieving suffering. Desert Fire is therefore a call to action clothed in a story well told. Great job, Shannon!

DESERT FIRE by SHANNON VAN ROEKEL

A journalist, Julia Keegan, was sent to Darfur to find out what's going on so she could write about the violence and genocide going on in all the villages. While she was there, a young attorney named Joel Marteens, shows up with information about her father who died in prison while serving a long sentence. Julia didn't want to hear about her father because she never knew him, she was very bitter about it and could not forgive him. At the end she learned how to forgive because of close friends she met while on assignment in Danfur and finally found peace. This book would be a great gift for everyone on your list because it has something that everyone can relate to. It's truly a wonderful read. Lorraine

Have you heard what's happening in Darfur?

The most popular Christian fiction in America today concerns stories about Amish people. Desert Fire is definitely not set in an Amish community. But it is about a group of people who, like the Amish, live simple lives without many modern conveniences. Desert Fire tells the story a people who want to live, work and raise their families in peace. Unfortunately the people of Darfur reside in Sudan, a country where their government is paying mercenaries, the Janjaweed, to eliminate them. The same government gives license to the Janjaweed to rape women and children, murder entire families and destroy villages making the area inhabitable. In Desert Fire, Julia is sent to Sudan as a magazine correspondent to write about the plight of the victims of genocide in Darfur. Woven through the book is the story of Julia's own broken relationship with her father and his attempt to seek her forgiveness. Desert Fire is a story of love, friendship, romance and a forgiveness that can only come from God, while it challenges us to be moved with compassion for Darfur. Grab this book, a cup of tea and find a comfortable chair and travel to Sudan with Julia, let your eyes be opened and your heart be touched.