In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the father forgives his son when he returns and welcomes him alone. In the same way, God waits for humans to realize what they have done wrong and ask for forgiveness and welcomes them back when they do.

Courage to Confess by Joshua Thangaraj is based on the above mentioned parable from the Bible. Right since the first page with illustration at the beginning, it is quite an interesting short book that easily resonates with children and youngsters. For children and youngsters, this age is crucial to learn values and concepts of honesty. The novella features the story of Alex, a kind and naïve school student, however, fallen in the perception of being perfect. Though he is outwardly, but one bad day he is caught with his wrong doing…he did something unfair in his homework.

Upon facing the circumstances, he feels guilty and looks to reverse his wrong doings. But his hesitation to confront and walk the good path pulls him down…as he opens up to his parents…his life turns good once again with his friends, and teachers. However, the thought of confession was actuated upon a visit to a Church. The book holds meaningful message for all of us. A renewed sense of purpose brims when one confronts his wrong doings. So did Alex.

The first step had been earning back the trust of his teacher, Mrs Pearson. With a determination that surprised even himself, Alex had thrown himself into the task of redoing the homework assignment he had initially lied about. Night after night, he pored over the math problems, meticulously working through each step and seeking out Mrs. Pearson’s advice whenever he hit a roadblock.

Talking about visual aesthetics, the dazzling aspect of the book is the face of Alex looking beautiful, throughout the illustrations it remains same, adding uniformity to the narrative. Since the book is short, thus many characters flit by…however leaving influence on the protagonist Alex. Alex’s character is well-drawn, his journey from sin to guilt to redemption is incredible and will inspire many young hearts on the same path. The author’s dedication and knowledge about Christianity is reflected in it. In fact, the endeavor is great to impart life lessons in a religious way.

Joshua crafts a narrative filled with emotional and moral hues, weaving slightly suspense and thriller kind of twists…not of that level…yet at children’s point of view. The versatile character Alex and his interpersonal dynamics add layers to the story. Themes of honesty and faith and redemption bring the core essence of the novella for readers in its purest form through a simple story like this.