It’s been a long time since a book made me weep with joy, and The Raven Who Spoke with God was the book that broke the dam. This beautiful, uplifting fable about a raven in search of his purpose is one of those rare gems that gets passed along from friend to friend, loved one to loved one. It is truly a gift, perfect for children as well as adults.

The story is a simple one, about a young raven named Joshua who feels as though there is more to life than what is right in front of him. As his siblings engage their time and energy playing and eating and sleeping, Joshua’s intuition calls to him to seek for something that seems just out of his reach.

That persistent inner calling leads Joshua to leave the illusion of safety of the family nest and pursue his higher purpose, especially after he witnesses the brutal slaying of his family. His pursuit of truth carries him through one adventure after another as he struggles with his faith, his doubt and his inner fears and inadequacies. With the help of many animal and human friends along the way, Joshua learns to trust the inner voice that is urging him onto his destiny and finds the courage to follow his path. He learns that his differences are part of that destiny, and that truth does exist if he has the fortitude to seek it out.

Joshua’s call to the quest, his successes, his descent into the abyss and his arrival at his destiny makes up the classic hero’s journey of mythology, with a kind and loving raven as the spirited warrior this time around. As I read this simple, but beautifully written and stunningly visual book, I couldn’t help wondering why some savvy producer hadn’t yet snapped up the film rights. Maybe someone will read this review and get the hint!

The Raven Who Spoke with God, published by Singing Spirit Books, is one of those stories that will touch the hearts of anyone lucky enough to read it. It crosses all borders of race, religion, belief and ideology and just weaves a sweet and profound tale of love, of hope and of trusting in ourselves and in the Universe. With a touch of Native American lore and a hint of Christian spirituality, the message included in this big-hearted book is one we can all use a lot more of in these difficult times: that if we listen to the voice within us, it will never lead us astray.