Here you will find information about my memoir, Jesus Land.
Jesus Land is about my close relationship with my adopted brother David. It covers our Calvinist upbringing in Indiana and our stint at a Christian reform school in the Dominican Republic as teens.
David, an African American, was adopted by my family in 1970, when he was 3. We were the same age.
The book begins with our move to rural Indiana and our transition from a tiny Christian school to a large, public school where David and my other adopted black brother were the only minority students. It ends with David and me on a beach in the Dominican Republic. It’s a pretty wild ride between these two events.
The central theme of Jesus Land is how race and religion tested our relationship. It’s a book about a couple of misfit kids learning to survive in a hostile environment, and the transcendence of sibling love.
And here’s something new I hope you enjoy, especially if you’re part of a reading group. It’s a Q&A and Reading Group Guide to use for discussions about the book and to answer some frequently asked questions.
Please click around, and feel free to contact me at julia@juliascheeres.com. I read every single email I receive from readers, but unfortunately am unable to respond to all of them. Please consider joining my mailing list for updates on my work and reading schedule.
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