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Book Review: Nate the Saint

OK, I know I said before that I would be writing some movie reviews, and don't worry, I'm working on it. But here's a book review on Nate Saint for you to read in the meantime! I wrote it for my Honors English class a few weeks ago, and I want to share it with you. Hit "Continue Reading" below and enjoy.

Rating:

They were innocent. They had done nothing wrong. They were just trying to help, but the very people they came to help betrayed them. Nate Saint and four of his friends were killed by the savage Auca tribe of Ecuador, while only days earlier they had shared the gospel with them. Nate Saint: On a Wing and a Prayer, a biography written by Janet and Geoff Benge, is a powerful story of hope, love, betrayal, and forgiveness. It is interesting and well written, and, most importantly, it will keep your attention all the way through.

This book is an overall summary on the life of Nate Saint. Its main goal is to educate people on the life of Nate Saint, but also to give the reader an understanding of why people need a Savior. The book focuses mainly on Nate’s missionary years, but also addresses his life as a child and young adult. Up to the point when Nate Saint is convicted to become a missionary, the book speaks generally about his life. But when Nate Saint begins his journey as a missionary in South America, everything is mentioned in great detail. In fact, the details are so numerous that the reader can easily get lost. There are so many characters and many different events occurring at once, it’s hard to keep track of them all. But this is a small annoyance. As the book progresses, it talks of Nate’s life at home and on the field, with a distinct emphasis on the providence of God in Nate’s experiences as a missionary.

The most powerful part of this book is the description of the death of Nate Saint. The book does not delve into the gory details, but enough to leave you a little bit shaken. The “death chapter” also probes you to think, “Why did the natives betray Nate?” and, “Why didn’t Nate defend himself?” Rarely have I read a biography that provoked thinking after coming to the end. You might say that this book is emotional, but the authors don’t press it upon you so that it seems overdone.