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Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Sam's Theory by Sarah Mendivel is a tale of domestic child abuse, trauma, healing, and empowerment, a story of fifteen-year-old Sam who is given away to a foster home by parents who don’t seem ready for her and her sister, and she gets horribly abused by her foster parents. When the story starts, Sam is running away from home, pursued by her abuser. Finding herself in the woods, Sam stumbles on a tree house that houses a mysterious old woman known as Theory. In Theory, she finds a friend, a teacher, and someone willing to listen to her story and protect her. Theory will help her discover her real worth and her gifts, setting her on a healing journey that restores her self-image and confidence. But what about her younger sister? How can Sam focus when she knows her sister isn’t safe? Sam starts on a journey to building “The Orphan Collective” with other kids in an effort to create something that looks like home and family. Their dream is to give kids like themselves a chance to belong, to empower them, and to help them build their own destiny. Follow this inspiring story as they deal with powerful feelings and work together to heal their world.
This is an engrossing story told in a gripping first person narrative voice, the voice of Sam, which is as compelling as it is impassioned. The reader is pulled in and invited to navigate the psyche of a child abused by foster parents. Sarah Mendivel has a great gift for character and it is delightful to see how Sam morphs into someone who takes charge and who builds her self-confidence. Theory is used to demonstrate the power of mentorship and positive influence in the life of a teenager who is searching and uncertain of the future. World building is also impeccably done and the setting reflects the story and Sam’s inner world. Sam's Theory is a tale of inner freedom and healing from abuse, a story filled with insightful lessons and what it takes to beat trauma and find purpose. It's a story that is emotionally and psychologically rich.
