Book Review: Beneath the Night Tree

Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart is the third book in a series following Julia, an orphaned adolescent turned college student turned single mom. I was excited to discover Nicole’s writing when I was in college, because it’s simple and engaging and, in my humble opinion, a notch above a lot of other Christian fiction.

My curiosity about this book stemmed from comparisons to the first two in the series. After the Leaves Fall got me hooked on Nicole’s writing, especially because of Julia’s compelling character. Summer Snow was a bit less eventful, not quite as engaging, but still enjoyable.

In Beneath the Night Tree, Julia comes full circle. We meet the five-year-old child she only knew as an unborn baby in Summer Snow. Julia’s motherly relationship with her younger brother is fraught with tension and confusion as she navigates her relationship with her boyfriend Michael, as well as the unexpected reappearance of her son’s father. Julia’s grandma, a sweet and stable force in the series, encounters her own battles as well.

I loved the plotlines of the story. Several unresolved relationships are addressed, and the interplay of action, thought, and dialogue is deft and believable. I was a little disappointed at the direction the story took. To me the ending was predictable a short way into the book, but I enjoyed the journey because I entered into Julia’s confusion and turmoil along with her.

Disappointingly, discussion of Christianity is muted and general. Although this is better, perhaps, than a cliched approach of injecting a sermon into the novel at a climactic moment, I would love to see Christian fiction portray Christ with broad, beautiful brushstrokes instead of in hints here and there.

However, a refreshing aspect of Nicole’s writing is her ability to be discreet – she could carry her descriptions farther and push the envelope morally, but her restraint provides a richer story that doesn’t stoop to the world’s usual smut. Beneath the Night Tree was a satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable series.

Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a review.