Customer Reviews

Gideon's Gift (The Red Gloves Collection #1)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gideon's Gift is not one story, but two. It is the story of Earl Badgett, a man who lost his wife and daughter, and, consequently, his reason for living. And, it is the story of Gideon Mercer, an eight-year-old girl with Leukemia, who wants a special gift for this Christmas - a miracle, but not a miracle for herself, a miracle for someone else. Christmas is a time for miracles, and when Earl and Gideon meet at a homeless shelter, Gideon may just get her wish.

I must say that this is one of the most touching books that I have read in a long time. Indeed, I doubt that it is possible to read it without becoming choked up. This is a very heartwarming tale that will touch your heart and your soul. I highly recommend this book!

I just loved this book! I am not a fiction-reader, and if you check out my other reviews, you'll see that I'm very picky about my fiction! Most of my reading is Christian non-fiction.

Having said that, you MUST READ THIS BOOK! The author does an excellent job of decribing Gideon's sweet spirit, her parents' love and concern for their sick daughter, and the homeless man Earl's toughness and depression and his giving up on life.

Before buying a book (or checking one out at the library), I look at how it's laid out. This book beckons you with its blue typeface and the motif of the gloves at the beginning of each chapter.

Most of all, you have to read this book for the amazing story. This book WILL become a Christmas classic. It is poignant, gentle, and touching without being saccharin. If you're looking to read a good story that will stick with you for a long time to come, without investing hours of reading time, this is a must-read for you!

I would highly recommend giving this book as a gift - perhaps before Christmas? The message is one of God's miracles and hope and what happens when you BELIEVE.

Please check out my other reviews of Christian books!

Gideon is an angelic little girl who is dying with cancer. However, just at Christmas, in the season of miracles, she gets one, remission from her disease. Determined to spread the joy, she uses all she has saved to buy a cynical, homeless man a pair of red mittens, hopefully replicating the ones he lost, and with their loss, lost hope and faith. Somehow, the used mittens she is able to buy are the very ones that he lost. Then, life turns for the worse, and Gideon needs another miracle. Her cancer is back, and worse than ever. Will there be another miracle, or will she join the angels for whom she is named?

**** As always, Ms. Kingsbury delivers a story that warms your heart through the tears pouring down your face. Closing one of her books never fails to leave the reader untouched and with a new lease on life. I also encourage readers to take time to read the author's message at the end and support the projects mentioned so as to help bring miracles to more people. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Oh wow. I have no words to describe this story and how it touched my heart. I read the last quarter of it through tear-filled eyes.

I am going to have both of my daughter's read it because I can't think of another story that exemplifies the true spirit of Christmas as powerfully as this one does.

I'll always remember that Christmas miracles happen to those who believe. And I happen to have a pair of red gloves that were given to me by a friend that won't let me forget.

This book was great. It brought to life the true meaning of Christmas. To "Believe". Truely enjoyable and able to sit and read in one sitting. Can hardly wait to read the next one.

Gideon's Gift may be a small book, but there is nothing little about its message of hope and the miraculous. Give yourself a gift. Read Gideon's Gift.
--Robin Lee Hatcher, author of Firstborn

I loved this book! I read it and really enjoyed it. It's about faith and hope and redmeption. It's very moving and touching. It's a great story, just like "The Ultimate Gift." It's very sweet. It made me cry on some pages, and it made me feel inspired. I had goosebumps on my skin from reading the sad chapters. Gideon is a wise, beautiful little girl who is very sick and is loving and giving. No matter how much pain she goes through, she can still be kind and nice to other people. And loving. She gives a old homeless man who isn't very nice to her a gift for Christmas. At first he dismisses her, but in the end when he sees what she gave him he is sorry for his sin and repents. He even saves her life. Gideon gave him hope, something he hadn't seen in many years and it changed him. Her only wish was for him to believe in God again, to believe in anything worth believing in and to find faith and happiness again. Her wish is granted. Gideon is nice to strangers who make her cry, who make her feel sick when she already in remission. She is patient and kind and sweet and a angel. She finds the good in others, instead of the negative. She is worried about her parents more then herself. The old man is homeless, selfish and rude. He hasn't believed in anything since his wife and daughter died. He thinks nothing of greater things, like why we're here on this earth and what life is really truly about. He is changed by one little girl, who is selfless and kind and earns enough money to buy him a little gift which changes him. Gideon's illness is sad, and it makes me cry to think such a sweet, beautiful person has to endure such pain. She's a gorgeous person with a fabulous personaity. When she bleds or has to deal with needles or hurt, it makes me sad because she has such faith for such a little person. Gideon follows Jesus's exmaple of helping others and putting other's needs before our own. This book made me realize how powerful love and truth are. Jesus didn't come to earth to make people selfish and mean, he came to earth to show people the way and truth and the light. He came to help people understand what is truly important in life and what it means to live life to the fullest and to show people love. Gideon knows this very well, and believes in God and loves him and wants to be more like him. This book is powerful, moving and sweet. A perfect book for adults and children and anyone who needs to understand what love and giving really is.

Short story that leaves you feeling a little better about this world!! Karen Kingsbury is a wonderful writer - I highly recommend any of her other books as well!!

I got this book as a library loan for my Kindle. I have been wanting to read something by Karen Kingsbury and thought I would give this a try. I really enjoyed reading this book. It's a very touching story about belief, reaching out to others, and that God, through others, can help heal a broken heart and broken life. A timely message for everyone no matter the time of year.

This wonderful novella from author Karen Kingsbury is destined to become a Christmas classic. It is heartwarming and inspirational in its story of belief in miracles by a selfless young girl with leukemia, and a man haunted by his memories living on the streets of Portland, Oregon. Short yet touching, it will hold a special place among Christmas stories once read.

Gideon Mercer is an eight year old girl with a gift for bringing out the best in those around her. She is selfless and kind. When she dreams of the perfect Christmas and prays with her father for some kind of special miracle this year, it may have to transpire soon; little Gideon is running out of time. But prayers can be answered, and a miracle will present itself in the form of Earl Badgett.

Earl has been living on the rainy streets of Portland so long he has lost touch with humanity; his only connection to the past a pair of red gloves. Only at night when he puts them on does he recall his two girls, wife Anne and daughter Molly. They are his only reminder of happier times. What happened to Earl is heartbreaking and very plausible in Kingsbury's hands, her gift for making stories like this of faith and hope utterly convincing on display.

When Gideon and Earl meet at the mission she senses what that miracle could be. I will not reveal what transpires between Gideon and Earl but this novella opens upon the joyous occasion of a wedding and slowly reveals how faith and a Christmas miracle brought all the parties involved there. This is a sweet and heartfelt story of hope that will make you want to do good to others while we still have the time.

Short and touching, it does not have to be Christmas to enjoy, but its brief length and sentimental message make it perfect for the busy holiday season when the hustle and bustle of shopping for friends and family limit our time. A nice gift to squirrel away for someone special.