The Cry of Ramah: Book 1

This edgy young-adult novel offers an unflinching look at the complete nativity story from the perspective of families whose children were slain after Jesus’ birth. With a powerful prologue and afterword from the author, The Cry of Ramah helps readers see that hope can come out of our deepest trauma.

The Cry of Ramah reminds us that when we embrace the complete gospel narrative of the nativity story--which ends not at a peaceful stable but in the aftermath of King Herod’s order to kill the babies of Bethlehem--we can find permission to acknowledge our own traumas and move toward healing.

This authentic, fast-paced novel adopts an unflinching approach to taking the gospel text seriously and will appeal to teens and young adults who are disillusioned by the picture-perfect Christmas story that does not acknowledge the reality of pain and our need for hope. Designed with immersive graphics that serve as visual touchpoints to the text, The Cry of Ramah centers around three people:

• Chava, the daughter of a Bethlehem shepherd, who wrestles with isolation and loss in the aftermath of her younger brother’s murder at the hands of Herod’s men
• Fortis, a Roman soldier who experiences intense shame when he is unable to carry out Herod’s command
• King Herod, the despotic ruler of first-century Palestine, whose death order has far-reaching consequences over the families of Bethlehem

In this sweeping, action-filled drama, Jesus’ arrival changes the trajectory of each life--and gives each character a choice of whether to receive the hope God offers, even in the face of unresolved grief and loss.

Rick Rekedal’s award-winning career includes over twenty years with DreamWorks Animation, where he worked on films including The Prince of Egypt, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and Trolls. Rick is the executive director of the Creative Arts Collective at Belmont University, where he also holds a residency as the Senior Fellow for Storytelling. Rick is the author of the memoir One Small Step and the graphic novel Shapes. Rick and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 30 years and can usually be found on a local hiking trail.