"Born to Return the Gift" is the debut novel of Catherine E. Johnson, which deals with many harsh and difficult times in life, and how the protagonist, Nyima, deals with them. The book overall is a stunning achievement, and perfect for any fans of young adult literature. However, it comes recommended to only those over 18 because of a sexually explicit scene and some foul language, although many words are censored with hypens.
From the beginning, I felt bad for Nyima, a strong character who became a real person in my mind. I cringed at times, like when she was being insulted, along with her because I felt so sympathetic. I was impressed by how she made the best out of everything, and the tough struggles that she had to live through.
Although the book is centered on a foundation of faith, I found myself forgetting that, and just felt like I was reading an ordinary book, albeit one with an excellent storyline and plot. For me, this is a good thing because I am not an overly religious person, so it was helpful - I don't need a book that reminds me that God is great every few minutes. I can do my own worshiping during my own time, not when I'm trying to read a good book.
Reading it, I thought that it was rather addictive and hard to put down. But I also spotted some errors, which are something that bothers me a lot. A simple run through spell check would have helped, and there were simple things like missing a comma that I felt took away from the reading and presentation of the book. At some points, I also thought that italics were overused. However, none of these have anything to do with the actual story, and the content is worth reading if one can look past the grammatical and conventional errors.
My interpretation of this book is that it is one that is based on a match with fate and destiny. "Born to Return the Gift" is well written and very well thought out as well. I recommend it, with a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.
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