A House in the Sky

by Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett
A House in the Sky cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Technical:
  • ID: 2017
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
Without Maps · Daniel Scheffler · 2025-10-11
poignant 4.50

They praise the authors for crafting a narrative that balances the sweetness of life with the sourness of destruction, creating a deeply moving and poignant story.

Daniel Scheffler is struck by the alchemy of life and destruction that Lindhout and Corbett weave into the narrative. They highlight how the authors manage to pour sweetness into the sour wounds of Amanda's experiences, creating a story that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Scheffler appreciates the emotional depth and the way the authors bring Amanda's journey to life, making it a poignant and unforgettable read. The reviewer is particularly moved by the way the book explores the human capacity for resilience and the power of forgiveness.

Quick quotes

    Lindhout, and of course Corbett, crafts an alchemy of life. A sweetness that pours deep into the sour wounds of the destruction of one person.

    The book is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the power of storytelling.

    The narrative is both heartbreaking and hopeful, exploring the depths of human suffering and the heights of spiritual triumph.

School Library Journal · 2013-10-04
compelling 4.00

They commend the authors for handling difficult subjects with sensitivity, making the book a compelling and intense read without being gratuitous.

The reviewer is impressed by how Lindhout and Corbett manage to convey the horrors of captivity, including rape and torture, without making it unbearable or gratuitous. They feel the authors strike a delicate balance, allowing the reader to understand the gravity of the events while maintaining a respectful and sensitive approach. This makes the book both intense and deeply moving, leaving a lasting impact on the reader. The reviewer appreciates the emotional depth and the careful storytelling that makes the narrative so powerful.

Quick quotes

    There was rape and torture involved. But somehow, the way Lindhout and Corbett tell it, it is not unbearable (or at all gratuitous or detailed).

    The book is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the power of storytelling.

    Lindhout and Corbett's skillful description of Amanda's captivity enables the reader to experience the events with Amanda.

The New York Times · 2013-09-06
harrowing 4.50

They found the memoir to be a harrowing coming-of-age story that ultimately triumphs through its narrative of forgiveness and spiritual growth. The writing is described as extraordinary.

The reviewer highlights how this memoir is a deeply personal and intense account of Amanda Lindhout's experiences. They appreciate the raw and unflinching portrayal of her captivity and the emotional journey that follows. The reviewer is particularly moved by the themes of forgiveness and spiritual resilience, which they feel elevate the narrative beyond a mere recounting of events. The writing is praised for its ability to immerse the reader in Lindhout's experiences, making it a powerful and unforgettable read.

Quick quotes

    A young woman's harrowing coming-of-age story and an extraordinary narrative of forgiveness and spiritual triumph.

    A House in the Sky is a searingly intimate story of an intrepid young woman.

    The book is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and redemption.

Appears in Lists