The Faith of a Child

We grow up and we lose that wonder of childhood, the innocence and the ability to believe in magic and the unseen. In When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey, the belief of a child and unbelief of others is explored.

Leah Norcross is a shy little girl who stutters. At her birthday party, she sees the Rainbow Man. He is a man she can’t really describe to others and he sings songs to her, songs she can’t explain to others. Leah’s friend Allie believes her and a few other people when Leah paints a beautiful picture that helps one of the down-on-his luck townspeople. But the small-minded town quickly turns on Leah when another picture doesn’t produce the same results. Who is the Rainbow Man and will the town believe this little girl? Will her parents believe her?

Billy Coffey paints a wonderful picture of being an outsider in a small town. When things are new and exciting and seem to be in their favor, the town welcomes the Norcross family but when they don’t get what they believe is coming, they turn their backs on the family and a little girl. Throughout the story, Coffey weaves the importance of faith (in believing in things unseen).

Overall, I would give the book three and a half out of five stars.

****Thomas Nelson Publishing provided me with a free eCopy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. I was not compensated in any way for either a negative or a positive review.