This imaginative and biblically faithful retelling of the story of Ruth helps children 8+ to engage with God’s word.
Part of the Bible Retellings Collection series.
The Bible story of Ruth is imaginatively brought to life in this biblically faithful chapter book that helps kids 8+ engage with God’s word. Readers will find themselves immersed in the hearts and minds of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz as they experience difficulty, uncertainty, danger and rescue.
With an emphasis on God's relationship with his people, this retelling is careful to depict human relationships appropriately and in light of God’s love for his people. Kids will learn that God’s providence, provision and kindness extend to all kinds of people, even to those who are outsiders.
Includes notes that differentiate the known facts from the imaginative parts.
Makes a wonderful gift for children 8+ years. A discussion guide is also included, making it ideal for book clubs.
• 24 chapters, tracing the stories of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz
• Notes unpacking Bible background of each chapter
• Discussion guide for book-club groups or families
• Map
| Age range: | 8+ |
|---|---|
| Contributors | Katy Morgan |
| ISBN | 9781802542974 |
| Format | Paperback |
| First published | April 2025 |
| Dimensions | 128mm x 198mm x 18mm |
| Weight | 0.24 kg |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 192 |
| Publisher | The Good Book Company |
Katy Morgan is a richly gifted storyteller. In The Outsider, she brings her gifts to bear on what has been called the most beautiful short narrative ever written as she sensitively, faithfully and imag- inatively retells the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. Drawn into the twists and turns of their emotion-packed world, we marvel at God’s faithful care and by the end discover where their story will eventually lead. While written with young people in mind, I suspect The Outsider will be read and enjoyed by those of every age!
“A wonderful retelling of a beautiful story. Katy draws us into the drama and helps us feel the tension, fear, loss and despair of Ruth and Naomi—and their rising hope of a redeemer. The Lord’s kindness and sovereign care for his people shines through each chapter, fuelling the reader’s desire to know his love and protection themselves. Younger and older readers alike will be enthralled from start to finish.”
Katy Morgan invites readers into the world of Ruth and Naomi, enriching our understanding of God’s unwavering kindness and faithfulness to his people through their story. This engaging retelling of the book of Ruth helps children to understand and connect with God’s word in a fresh and poignant way.
If you are looking for a book for young girls, this one is a retelling of the Bible story of Ruth. The author uses her imagination at times and takes some liberties with the story while still staying faithful to the text and story. I appreciated the notes at the end of the book for each chapter you can flip and read the notes as you read the story. In the notes, she clarifies what is imaginative and what she has taken liberties with to fill in the blanks and some of the historical background as well. There are also discussion questions at the end of the book. This book makes the story more relatable for young readers and immersive. While I have mixed thoughts on adaptions such as these to the Bible stories, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this one was done and how faithfully it was executed. I enjoyed reading this one and look forward to reading this one together with my children when they are ready. I loved how at the end, the author points readers to the greater Boaz, Jesus.
My only note of concern would be one quote that was made at the end of the book that was very theologically unclear sounding.
"Jesus was born to save people. Not just to look after them in their old age, but to look after them forever. Not just to make them apart of His family, but to make them part of God's family."
While I think I know what she meant, it could sound like she is saying Jesus isn't God from the unclear wording. I would just clarify this quote with my children to make it more clear.
I can’t wait to dig into this one during read-aloud time with my girls. There’s something so special about taking a familiar story and seeing it with fresh eyes—and that’s exactly what this book promises.
Katy Morgan takes the timeless beauty of the book of Ruth and brings it to life in a way that’s both tender and powerful. From what I’ve seen so far, her writing is engaging, thoughtful, and deeply respectful of the biblical text—while also helping young readers feel the emotions, the risks, and the quiet courage woven into Ruth’s story.
I’m excited to share this journey with my daughters—not just because it’s a good story, but because it holds so many layers of faith, loyalty, and redemption. I have a feeling this retelling will spark some beautiful conversations in our home.
We have enjoyed all of Katy Morgan's books so far and of course knew this one would be no different. What we love about Morgan's works is her ability to take a biblical account and retell it in such a captivating way and completely relatable to young readers.
This book is specifically a retelling of Ruth and the journey God brought her on. Morgan stays true to the biblical account but of course elaborates with her own storytelling details in order to create a beautiful story.
The book concludes with two additional sections:
- Notes: Morgan provides extra details around each portion of the story reflected in each chapter. This includes cultural context, scripture reference, and original language.
- Book Club: Morgan provides questions for groups of chapters that a book club could discuss.
What I love most about these books is her ability to instill a desire to read the Bible. After reading her books, the Spirit works wonders in showing the reader how beautiful the Bible is for us.
We will continue to read Morgan's books and share with friends!
I received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.
