Bren has wanted to be a cheerleader her senior year in high school for so long; she has worked hard, practicing on her own, asking friends for help, and finally her dreams are about to come true - she has made the cheer squad. There is just one catch, the cheer coach wants her to decline the position ... what? Did she just hear what was said correctly? But of course, she did, once again her life is being defined not by something she did, but by something she has no control over, her father. He is the town drunk, and abusive. Cries of Innocence is the story of Bren and her mother, when Bren finally has enough of this town and her father. It follows what happens when Bren finally trusts someone enough with the truth, and everything changes. Angela Beach Silverthorne tells a captivating story of a daughter and a mother, each surviving in their own ways, but neither really living or understanding until now.

Cries of Innocence is more than your typical abusive, drunken father story. Larry Parrot is downright evil in many ways, and he can be hard to read at times. I have read a great many books and usually have no problems, but there was something about the way that author Angela Beach Silverthorne wrote him that just made him real and scary. I found myself scared and troubled, frightened for the family and hopeful; yet at the same time feeling the same despair that Bren must have felt at times. This is an emotionally charged, but amazingly wonderful book. I definitely recommend it, but advise more mature readers. I am sure older teens would be fine with it, but I think parents should read it and decide for themselves before allowing their teens to read the book. It does have some good messages along with the frightening events that occur.

Cries of Innocence is a Christian fiction novel by Angela Beach Silverthorne. Its central character is Bren, a seventeen-year-old whose life is far from ideal. Her father is the infamous town drunk, and as a result Bren is persecuted by bullies, facing misery and discrimination every day. Her rebellious spirit pushes her to fight against the hardships of her life, but when she tries to make a break for it, disaster strikes. From that point on, Bren enters The Haven where her grandmother GG resides, and her perspective on life begins to shift away from her hometown’s darkness. If she really wants to grow up and succeed, however, Bren may need to turn and face that darkness with new found bravery.

Mixing paranormal and spiritual elements with Christian fiction is an interesting choice, and one that author Angela Beach Silverthorne pulls off with effortless style. Bren’s story is peppered with realistic characters, delightful dialogue and bittersweet samples of family life, which really ground the story in reality to make elements such as visions seem authentic and credible. I also enjoyed the varied ethnic mix of characters and the way that each one had their own story to tell amid the narrative of Bren’s journey of discovery. I think the messages of sustainability in The Haven, love, loss, and destiny within Cries of Innocence are important ones, which the author weaves into a dramatic and intriguing plot. Bren’s journey to faith will be an inspiring one for fans of Christian fiction everywhere.