Alone Together

Alone Together

By: Jack Weyland

Pages: 231

ISBN:1590385756

Genre: Realistic Fiction dealing with Death

Setting: Madison, Duluth, MN and Josh, Muddy Gap, WY

Alone Together is a split story. Madison and Josh meet on their missions. Of course at the time they don’t know that someday they are going to fall for each other. Their last night on the mission Madison asks Josh to give her a blessing before she returns home, while Josh is giving her a blessing he has the distinct impression that someday he will Marry Madison. This is how the story begins. Then you are sent back in time to learn about Josh and Madison in high school.

You learn about Josh’s struggle with stuttering and the accident involving his best friend and sister, Hannah. You learn about the closeness of the siblings. You learn about Josh and Hannah and how they grow closer to the Lord through each other after being up rooted and moved across the country to the middle of nowhere to help their grandfather run his gas station. After the death of their grandfather they feel as if they have been sentenced to death in Muddy Gap, WY. You find the inspiration and motivation that Josh is given through his little sister heartwarming.

You learn about Madison’s struggle with weight and doubt in her own worth. She is given the opportunity to live a new life after winning a contest to have a make-over. After a series of unfortunate events Madison decides that popularity isn’t at all what she thought it was and gives up on that to serve people. She decides after helping one of her friends find the gospel that she will someday fill the role as a missionary.

The ending of the book is them coming together and adjusting to life “together.” I enjoyed reading the book. I did feel however that the points that Weyland were trying to get across a little bit obvisous and predictable. I did think that Weyland did a great job of showing families in a different way than we typically we aren’t hand roses and lily’s and everything is going to be alright. He also does a great job of showing us that we are all worthy fighting for.