Title: Turtletoes: Following the Steps of an Angel
Author: Michael Steven Purles
Publisher: ARPress
ISBN: 979-8896766186
Pages: 214
Genre: Nonfiction / Biographies & Memoirs
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
Unless a person has lived with health difficulties, no one can really understand what it is like. Going through the symptoms and difficulties which makes those illnesses unique, and finding ways of not only surviving but thriving despite those symptoms, is a daily fight so many have to go through. The ways in which people choose to handle those fights are a powerful indicator of the type of person they will be remembered as later in life.
One such story of a young girl born with debilitating disabilities is the driving force behind author Michael Steven Purles’s Turtletoes: Following the Steps of an Angel. The book follows the author’s daughter, who was born with congenital heart disease and intellectual disabilities. Rather than let the label of being “different” slow her down, the young girl faced physical and mental hurdles by putting her faith in God and her family, as well as a determination to be like everyone else and a willingness to enjoy the little pleasures in life, leaving a lasting impression on her family in the process.
Poignant and emotionally driven, this book did a perfect job of balancing the personal experiences with his daughter that drove the narrative with the lessons the author gleaned from them. The heartfelt and reflective nature of the author’s writing really hits home for most readers, as it not only emphasizes the need to take time to experience these moments with family and loved ones that will be remembered for years to come, but it highlights the ways in which things move through others, whether you call it God or faith or if you call it the Universe and the collective consciousness. The personable, conversational tone of the author’s writing will allow readers to connect with the author’s story and their experiences on a personal level.
Readers who enjoy nonfiction, especially memoirs, and who are interested in topics such as parenting and religion will absolutely love this book. The impact faith has on the author’s experiences, and the larger-than-life personality his daughter had, made her the main character of this story and allowed me to feel her strength and resilience in the face of so much hardship and struggle. The emotional foundation of this book, and the way it explores the impact of faith on families and those struggling with health concerns, will resonate with a large audience and keep readers invested in the author’s life and experiences.
As a father, Purles discovers that the lessons he learned from his daughter transformed him into a better man, husband, and human being than he could have ever become on his own. Profoundly inspiring, Turtletoes is a testament to the extraordinary impact one life can have on another and a reminder that angels sometimes walk among us in the most unexpected forms.