NavPress Publishing Group, 2006, 208 pp.,
$13.99, www.navpress.com
Our youth groups are increasingly populated with fatherless young men, and it is imperative for youth workers to understand the unique difficulties they face. Donald Miller, the best-selling author of Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows What, and Through Painted Deserts, collaborated with John MacMurray to compile this book.
Miller, who was raised by a single mother, shares insight and addresses a number of issues he believes young men growing up without a father will face. His candor is endearing as he shares his own struggles with identity and manhood. Using a wide range of stories and illustrations, Miller connects the reader with the heart and yearnings of the fatherless male. Ultimately, he paints a picture of a God who wants to father the fatherless and help them grow into maturity.
For the vast number of youth workers dealing with fatherless young men, To Own a Dragon provides valuable insight into their world, shining light upon the unique struggles and issues they face. For any man, young or old, who has grown up without the consistent presence of a father in his life, Miller’s words can help heal wounds as he guides his fellow fatherless down a path that ends in accepting the benevolent fatherhood of God.
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Review By: Benji Bruneel, Journalism student at Northwestern College, Roseville, MN
