Book Review: A Good and Perfect Gift

I just finished reading A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny, by Amy Julia Becker. This book, told in first person by the author, is the story of her first daughter's birth and subsequent diagnosis of Down syndrome. Amy Julia shares the many fears she and her husband experienced, the way their expectations were changed, and the way God worked in their hearts and has blessed them exceedingly through Penny.

I wasn't extremely familiar with Down syndrome prior to reading this book, so I appreciated Amy Julia's explaining what Penny's diagnosis entailed, and the various medical testing, physical therapy, etc. that became a part of their life after Penny was born. The book also helped me realize even more how obsessed our society is with "perfection" and how we consider babies born with physical or mental needs to be undesirable, or less than "perfect," (although in reality, we are all less than perfect!). Although I definitely would have some theological differences with the author (she mentioned preaching a sermon), this didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the book. I thought she did a great job being candid about her struggles and joys, and the book as a whole was beautifully written. It opened my eyes to see that too many times, I have viewed those with "special needs" the way most of the world sees them--and yet each one is made in God's image and is a precious soul for whom Christ died. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am glad I had the opportunity to read it.

**Disclosure: I was given a free review copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.