Rating: 
Summary: Not up to Peretti?s regular high standards.
Review: Tilly is a short novel that will take little more than an hour of your time to read. In his usual style, Peretti combines a creative plot with real emotions and deep themes. Without giving away the twists of the story-line for new readers, it can be said that the chronicle of events is fascinating and moving. As always, Peretti crafts a suspenseful and successful story.What is not so successful however is Peretti's treatment of the theme of abortion. Admittedly there are some redeeming qualities: Peretti makes abundantly clear the Scriptural truth that an aborted fetus is a real baby. The idea that there is an after-life for all aborted babies (though the implicit assertion that all aborted babies go to heaven is questionable) is also Biblical. He also is sensitive to the post-abortion anguish and distress experienced by many mothers, a reality many pro-abortionists frequently diminish. But it is doubtful that he is sufficiently harsh on the sin of abortion, as evidenced by the fact that some pro-abortionists have remarked that this book is not overly pro-life, and have even found comfort in it! Rather than expose the seriousness of a sin which is nothing but murder, `Tilly' suggests that those guilty of abortion can find comfort in the fact that their aborted children are alive in heaven and have forgiven them. But is it true that the path to healing lies in the knowledge that all aborted babies are happy in heaven and that parents can be reconciled with them? Scripture suggests something different, as David confesses in Psalm 51: sin is first of all sin against God - `against you, you only have I sinned.' The true path to healing is to confess sin to God and find reconciliation and forgiveness from Him. Peretti implicitly advocates a different approach, where reconciliation and healing is sought in the wrong place - with the aborted child instead of with God. The danger with this approach is that it encourages a form of reconciliation without repentance. Rather than shock people guilty of abortion with the reality of their sin, it softens the blow. It may not be his intention, but the result is that Peretti implicitly suggests that there is a path to God's forgiveness independent of confession and repentance. Ultimately Peretti fails to come to grips sufficiently with abortion as a sin and so also doesn't sufficiently uncover the real solution for those guilty of this sin: confession to God and forgiveness from God through Christ. Peretti has made some brilliant contributions to contemporary Christian fiction. Unfortunately, because of its fundamental flaws, this isn't one of them.
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