Tilly - a Review

Tilly is a different kind of story from Frank Peretti, well known for suspense novels such as The Oath and Monster. Only 126 pages long, Tilly is more of a novella. Deeply touching and extremely hard to put down, it is a story of God’s love and forgiveness.

Abortion is a very touchy subject with a lot of people. This book doesn’t so much deal with the act itself, nor is it a theological discussion on whether abortion is right or wrong. It deals more with the long lasting emotional effects that it has on one woman who had an abortion and how God shows her His grace and forgiveness. Whether you are for or against abortion, this is a book that will affect you deeply.

Kathy and Dan Ross appear to be just like every other young couple. When the book opens, they are at the graveyard attending a funeral. As they are leaving the graveyard, Kathy sees a woman at a gravesite. Kathy quietly approaches the woman, who is quietly praying. She is so wrapped up in her prayer that she does not realize anyone is there until Kathy reads out loud the name on the tombstone, “Tilly.” The woman turns and at the sight of Kathy, she bolts away like a frightened deer.

The tombstone has only one name and one date on it, nine years ago. The name stays with, and haunts, Kathy. Surely it couldn’t be. . . A very distracted Kathy pulls out the photo albums and pours over the pictures of her children. Has she been a good mother? Wanting the world to disappear, she goes to bed – and dreams.

She wakes up to the sound of children, hundreds of children. Still in her house, she wanders through it attempting to find her husband or one of her offspring. No one is there – no one except all of these children in her yard outside her bedroom. She tells the children it is time for them to return home, but they tell her that this is their home. Confused and upset with them, Kathy manages to send them all scurrying, all except for one little girl. Kathy begins to speak with this lost little girl, who asks to eat lunch with her.

Meanwhile, Dan begins to investigate the name on the tombstone, Tilly. He manages to find out who the woman at the tombstone was and goes to visit her. Through Kathy’s ‘dream’, through Dan’s investigation of the woman at the tombstone, through people finally meeting and talking, Kathy finds the love and forgiveness she has needed for so long.

The first time I read this book, I checked it out from the library. It impacted me so much that I went and bought my own copy of it. Knowing that I would cry when I read the book, I resisted reading it again for a while, but I finally picked it up again. Mr. Peretti did a fabulous job of writing about a touchy subject. Not everything is explained, like the reason Kathy had an abortion, but the reason isn’t important. What is important is the forgiveness she finds for an act that has eaten away at her peace and happiness for so long.

If you would like to buy your own copy of Tilly, there is a link provided below to buy this book through Amazon.