Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury*a review and Giveaway

About Unlocked
Before You Take a Stand ... You Got to Take a Chance. Holden Harris is an eighteen-year-old locked in a prison of autism. Despite his quiet ways and quirky behaviors, Holden is very happy and socially normal---on the inside, in a private world all his own. In reality, he is bullied at school by kids who only see that he is very different. Ella Reynolds is part of the 'in' crowd. A cheerleader and star of the high school drama production, her life seems perfect. When she catches Holden listening to her rehearse for the school play, she is drawn to him ... the way he is drawn to the music. Then, Ella makes a dramatic discovery---she and Holden were best friends as children. Frustrated by the way Holden is bullied, and horrified at the indifference of her peers, Ella decides to take a stand against the most privileged and popular kids at school. Including her boyfriend, Jake. Ella believes miracles can happen in the unlikeliest places, and that just maybe an entire community might celebrate from the sidelines. But will Holden's praying mother and the efforts of Ella and a cast of theater kids be enough to unlock the prison that contains Holden? This time, friendship, faith, and the power of a song must be strong enough to open the doors to the miracle Holden needs.


Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 12, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310266955
ISBN-13: 978-0310266952
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

About Karen Kingsbury
Karen is best known for her Life-Changing Fiction (TM) and for creating unforgettable characters. When speaking before women's groups - some with more than 10,000 in attendance - Karen makes audiences laugh and cry with her compelling story-telling. She likes to tell attendees they have, "One chance to write the story of their lives," and her talk focuses on reminding women to live every day loving well, laughing often, and finding true life in Jesus Christ. Karen routinely speaks before more than 100,000 women each year. Karen is also a public speaker, reaching more than 100,000 women annually through various national events. Karen and her husband, Don, live in the Pacific Northwest with their six children, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.
http://karenkingsbury.com/

My Review
I’ve read many of Karen Kingsbury’s books, but in my opinion “Unlocked” is her best yet. In this book you will read about Autism, teen suicide, bullying, such deep love for others, second chances and forgiveness.
There are many ways in our lives to be locked into ourselves. Each one of us has something that locks us in.
The main character Holden has autism and it’s neat how the author gives you his outlook on his life and the world. Holden wants everyone to look past the way he is on the outside to see the real him on the inside. I love Holden’s love of people and the way he prays for them.
Ella is another main character who is a precious girl who learns to love the so called unloved people. Ella was part of the in crowd, but hated the way her friends bully those who are smaller or those who are different than they are.
I love the way Karen shares the gospel and tells those who read her books about the Lord. She puts things very clear so anyone can understand them.
With Ella’s love and Holden’s friendship can they change the school? You will have to read this super book to find out.
This wonderful book will make you laugh, cry and just rejoice. “Unlocked” is the best book I’ve read this year. It is more than just a story, it is a book full of lessons we can learn. If you don’t buy any other book this year this is the one for you. It would make a fantastic Christmas gift. A must read. What an enjoyable book. I really LOVED reading it. So you know I highly recommend it.

Order from Amazon

Thanks to Zondervan Publishing House for giving me a review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Thanks to Zondervan for donating Unlocked to one of you, my followers. Here are the rules.
Leave a comment with your name and email address. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
Please become my follower, subscribe to my email updates and become a facebook blog follower.
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. ENTRY DEADLINE November 19,2010


55 comments:

Joanne Sher said...

This sounds WONDERFUL. My son is mildly autistic, and I would LOVE to read this book. Thanks for entering me!
joanne(at)joannesher(dot)com

rubynreba said...

I think this would be an awesome book to read. Thanks for the chance to win it. I am a follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Carmen said...

I have a sister with a child that has aspergers, and I would love to learn more about it through Karen's book. Please enter me.
I'm a follower, subscriber and friend on FB.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Cathy W said...

Sounds like a wonderful story. Thanks for the giveaway. I'm an email subscriber.
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

Charlotte Kay said...

I would be overjoyed beyond belief to win this giveaway! THANKS for the opportunity!
I am a GFC follower and subscriber.
Blessings to you!
charsaltz at yahoo dot com OR
chakasa58 at gmail dot com

kykitty said...

I have been reading Karen Kingsbury for many years now and each book is a new and wondwrful treat to her readers. Would love to have this book.

Renee
kykitty@att.net

Prolucker said...

As my son approaches the teen years, I find myself drawn to stories about teens on the Spectrum-both fiction and nonfiction. I always enjoy Karen Kingbury's books. Her stories are interesting and very well-told. I am adding this to my TBR list. Thanks for the great review! ---Lex

Anonymous said...

I Love Karen Kingsbury's books! They always make me laugh and cry, and I can never read one of her books and NOT learn something,Which is very nice!
Unlocked sounds so good! I cant wait to read it!
I am a follower and a subscriber.

Anonymous said...

Oops! I think i forgot to leave my email..
Its: dymesich(at)juno(dot)com

Patsy said...

I love all of Karen's books. They're great! She is such a talented writer. I know this one will be great as well. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the giveaway.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

karenk said...

i enjoy reading karen's novels...thanks for the opportunity to read this one :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Cindy W. said...

This book sounds like a wonderful read. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win a copy.

I am a GFC follower.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

csthankful said...

I am glad to hear that Karen Kingsbury has been able to write about this so importnatn topic. I work with several autistic persona and have some family mmebrs who also have this. "The outside world" has a hard time understanding that a person who has autism is still a person....and ones who have much to give to us. This boo sounds like a "must read". Blessings, Connie Sue

csthankful(at)midrivers(dot)com

Jan Marie said...

Hello! I am a new follower of your blog and am very impressed with what I have seen. I am a subscriber also.

I was privileged to attend the Karen Kingsbury Baxter Family Reunion in Bloomington last June and met Karen there. She is an amazing person and a fantastic writer. I also got to meet the young man who portrays Holden in this book - he too is a fine person and is Karen's daughter's boyfriend. We all had a wonderful time.

I would love to win a copy of Karen's latest book - she never fails to inspire with her words.

You asked to be told about our blogs too so I would like to invite you to come visit my blog and follow along with me on Write About Now at http://janmarienewby.blogspot.com. It is a pretty new blog and I appreciate any comments or suggestions to improve.

Thanks for this review and the opportunity to win.


janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com

TheAtticGirl said...

I would love to read this book! I am following you on facebook and Google.

donnyandshelly at yahoo dot com

Michelle said...

I LOVE Karen's books, and have read so many good things about this one! Thank you for entering me into the drawing! I am a follower.

Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Carole said...

I have loved every book of Karen's that I've read so far, so I really appreciate this giveaway and your review, Trinity. Karen doesn't hesitate to incorporate difficult topics into her books, and does so in an inspirational and challenging way.

I am a follower and also a subscriber.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Tea said...

I would love to read this book. Hearing about an autistic teen is really interesting. I have been sent by Carman.

teakettle58(at)yahoo (dot)com

Tessa Emily Hall said...

Name: Tessa

Email: CHRISTISWRITE at GMAIL dot COM

I am a follower. Thanks so much for having this giveaway, I've been really looking forward to reading this book. =)

Tessa

Norma said...

I love Karen Kingsbury's books and would love to win this one. njloewen(at)sasktel(dot)net

Pam said...

I just became a subscriber of your blog. Carman sent me to your site.
Please enter me to win a copy of "Unlocked." I always enjoy reading Karen's books and am especially interested in seeing how she treated the subject of autism since I've worked with autistic children.
Thanks.
pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Kathy Habel said...

I love Karen Kingbury. Please enter me
bkhabel at gmail dot com
I follow on GFC

Unknown said...

Please enter me.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Benita said...

Please count me in. I'm a GFC follower and an email subscriber.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I have read all her books!
tattgiff at centurytel dot net

Debbie Pitts said...

This book sounds like an inspirational and educational read. Thanks for entering me.
wpitts@columbus.rr.com

Anonymous said...

sounds like a great book... thanks!

stephanie(.)pridgen(@)gmail(.)com

Emma said...

Unlocked sound wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.
email subscriber
I'm a GFC follower

Leanne said...

I would love to win this book!

I now follow this blog.
I now am subscribed to this blog.
I now follow this blog on Facebook.

leanniegehrke(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

What a wonderful topic to write a story around. The world needs to be more aware of this type of situation. Carmen sent me and I'm glad she did. I've not read Karen's writings before and I would like to read this one. Thank you for the giveaway and the chance to win. I hope I do!

Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

I am an email subscriber.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

I am a networked blog follower.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

I follow your Facebook blog page.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Bookworm Lisa said...

This books sound great and inspiring.

I follow on GFC

ke7yca at gmail dot com

Mozi Esme said...

This is one of my favorite authors, and I haven't had a chance to read this book yet!

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/11/unlocked.html

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Nancye said...

This sounds like an awesome book! I would love to win it.

*Follower
*email subscriber
*Facebook blog follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

apple blossom said...

Love to be entered in a chance to win.


*Follower
*email subscriber

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Melissa M. said...

This sounds interesting. Please enter me--thanks!
hismercysurrounding(at)yahoo(dot)com

Debbie F said...

Please include me! I love Karen's books! thanks

I'm a follower too~!

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Giveaway Lady said...

I would love to be entered in this giveaway! Karen is one of my favorite authors:) Thanks!

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I love Ms. Kingsbury's books and would love to be entered for a chance to win this one!

ksmiley2[at]kent[dot]edu

Regina said...

I love Karen Kingsbury's books!!

americangurl05(at)gmail(dot)com

Jan Marie said...

Hi, Trinity Rose! I am commenting a second time in response to a comment that you made on my blog, Write About Now, regarding the Baxter Family Club. I don't know if you are aware or not, but Karen has changed the requirements to be a member of the Baxter family. You are no longer required to automatically order each and every new book in order to be a member. Due to financial difficulties that many of her fans expressed, she has changed it to a book-by-book basis -- you decide as each book comes out whether to purchase it and it is not mandatory in order to be a part of the Baxter family. You can see about the changes on her website.

Thanks for visiting my blog!
Jan Marie

Unknown said...

sounds like a great book.. love the topic
karl at herbolds.com

Nickie said...

Love Karen Kingsbury! Can't wait to read this one

Donna said...

Love all of your books, am looking forward to reading this. Please enter me in the contest. kendony1011@aol.com
Thank you.

Julia M. Reffner said...

Would love to read this one.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am the mother to five bio children and have been foster mom to 15 others. Our last foster child was named Holden and he has left a lasting mark on all of our hearts. Karen's book sounds amazing.. Of course all of her books are amazing!
If you want to read the article that was printed in Foster Parenting Magazine today, that my 18 yr old daughter wrote about our Holden. Here is the link to my blog and her story.
http://graciesmith.wordpress.com/2010/02/06/prince-charming/

Sclew said...

Looks like another great Kingsbury book! Hope I win it.
Carolyn sclew514@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Trinity, Thanks for a great blog! Just found you today and I'm glad I did! darlene@darleneshortridge.com

blandrews13 said...

Looks like a wonderful book. I follow with Google Friend Connect

blandrews13 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would really love to read this book. My brother has severe autism so I read every book that I can find that has a perspective on thinking by an autism. Wonderful that the author has included bullying and teenage suicide in the same book!

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Laura H. said...

Count me in! I'm a new follower via GFC and Networked Blogs, an e-mail subscriber and sent a FB friend request.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Cherie said...

Having a friend whose child is autistic has peeked my interest in this. Would love to read this!

Emily said...

(:

Emily
Horseluver120@gmail.com