- ASIN: B0FPPXK2RV
- Publisher: Fusion Hybrid Publishing
- Publication date: 3 Sept. 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 137 pages
- ISBN-13: 978-1637972595
- Genre: International Adoption Memoirs
The BookViral Review:
In Raising Jesca, Shana Marie Gilbert delivers a deeply personal and profoundly moving memoir that chronicles her journey from high school literature teacher and filmmaker to adoptive mother and advocate. It is not simply the story of one woman’s adoption journey—it is a testament to faith, resilience, and the transformative power of love when placed in the service of others.
The book begins with Gilbert’s travels to Uganda in 2005, where her initial goal of pursuing a documentary film is unexpectedly eclipsed by encounters that change her life’s direction. Among the many children she meets in Kampala’s street-kid communities, one little girl stands out: Jesca, a radiant, resilient child whose smile and spirit compel Gilbert to step beyond her comfort zone and embrace a future she could never have anticipated.
Gilbert recounts her early experiences in Uganda with striking honesty. She portrays not only the challenges of confronting poverty, illness, and corruption but also the extraordinary resilience and joy of the children she came to love. Her prose is frank and vivid; she does not romanticize the hardships of adoption or missionary life. Instead, she weaves together her personal doubts, cultural missteps, and moments of despair with the profound lessons she draws from faith, scripture, and the children themselves. The candor with which she describes her naïveté and mistakes—whether navigating bureaucracy, resisting bribery, or adjusting to life in harsh conditions—adds authenticity and depth.
Importantly, while Gilbert’s journey is deeply faith-led, she is careful not to label herself a formal missionary. In the preface she stresses that she is neither a theologian nor a professional missionary, but rather a teacher and filmmaker who followed what she believed was God’s call to care for orphans. This distinction gives her story an accessible, authentic tone—grounded not in institutional mission work but in lived experience as a “teacher-mom” navigating faith, hardship, and love.
The narrative is structured across three geographical and emotional landscapes—Uganda, Indonesia, and Colorado—each marking a stage in Gilbert’s evolving understanding of what it means to mother, to teach, and to follow a calling. Particularly compelling are her portraits of individuals like Wilson and David, street children whose stories illustrate both the crushing weight of systemic neglect and the astonishing capacity of young people to dream and to persevere. These vignettes broaden the scope of the book, moving it beyond a single adoption story into a meditation on education, justice, and compassion.
What sets Raising Jesca apart from many adoption memoirs is Gilbert’s willingness to acknowledge the spiritual dimension of her journey without falling into sentimentality. Her reliance on scripture, prayer, and the encouragement of mentors like Pastor Bob provides the framework through which she interprets both her setbacks and her triumphs. Yet, she remains accessible to readers who may not share her faith; her writing is driven more by a search for meaning and truth than by dogma.
The book also offers valuable insight for prospective adoptive parents, educators, and those drawn to international service work. Gilbert underscores that adoption is not a fairy tale, but rather a commitment fraught with bureaucratic hurdles, cultural complexities, and emotional upheavals. At the same time, she illuminates the profound joys—those moments when love, persistence, and grace prevail against all odds.
Ultimately, Raising Jesca is an inspiring, heartfelt memoir that captures both the pain and beauty of stepping into the unknown. It reminds us that the most transformative stories often begin when we surrender our own plans and allow love to guide us into uncharted territory. Shana Marie Gilbert’s journey with Jesca is not only a personal testament but also a broader call to compassion, reminding readers of the power of one life to touch many and the extraordinary hope that can grow from the most unlikely beginnings.
It is an unreservedly recommended Golden Quill read.
