The Carpenter’s Son, by John Gray is an uplifting novel that confronts readers with serious themes of loss, abandonment, and finding a way home. Throughout the novel, each character is touched by one man—Christ—who helps them navigate through these difficult challenges. The catch is, everyone thinks Christ is actually Edward, a normal carpenter who doesn’t expose his divinity until later in the novel. 

In 1995, Alanis Morissette released a song titled, “What If God Was One of Us.”  She crooned, 

“What if God was one of us?

Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make His way home.”

I couldn’t get these lyrics out of my head when thinking about this book. This idea of divine ordinariness is the premise of The Carpenter’s Son. Gray brings Christ into the modern world, allowing his story to explore themes of disconnection in human experience and the longing for belonging. 

The Carpenter’s Son is an emotional story about two families who eventually connect through their relationship with Edward Manuel. Edward works as a carpenter for Gabriel Matthews, who owns a small carpentry business in the suburbs of Boston. How Edward came to Boston or what he did before becoming a young man with great skill in woodworking is never divulged, although characters like Gabriel’s daughter, Piper, try to question Edward about his mysterious origins. In response, Edward leaves clues to Biblical passages spelled out in Captain Crunch cereal.

The other family lives in another part of town where Brooklyn, a skeptical news reporter, chases down a story about street buskers faking a performance and a blind man selling pencils whom she believes can actually see. What she finds surprises her and leads her, along with her husband and daughter, on a whirlwind exploration of faith, family, and healing.

After several miracles and numerous acts of generosity, Edward’s divinity is not only revealed to both families, it connects them. This is not the frightening and apocalyptic Second Coming often described in religious circles. Rather, Christ reveals himself to the characters slowly through prophetic acts, miraculous healings, and many Biblical references to his previous time on earth, vanishing stigmata scars included. He instills faith in some of the characters who were non-believers and steers others to make better choices. In the most Catholic scene of the story, Edward heads to the altar during Mass and proclaims, “But words without action or meaning are just words.” 

Through excellent character development and a heartwarming plot, Gray weaves a story of uplifting hope. In addition, Gray includes light humor and strong story pacing that kept me turning the pages. For those who enjoy Hallmark movies and stories of that ilk, this book includes the same kind of feel-good narrative with relatable characters and a happy ending. Although there are parts of the novel that require a level of suspension of disbelief, the plot is not entirely predictable. Certain aspects such as why Edward has come or how long he’s going to stay are addressed, but never clearly answered. The enigmatic nature of Edward keeps the reader guessing, while also promising a fulfilling conclusion. Other questions such as why there is suffering in the world are also addressed through various characters’ conversations with Edward but are not explored too deeply, keeping the story optimistic. 

With characters of different faith backgrounds including atheists and Catholics, the story focuses more on the universal themes of homecoming, family love, and human connection with a unifying Christian message. The heartwarming story does not include a full range of Catholic teaching about Christ, but applies a fictional representation compatible with the Catholic faith. As Christ intervenes in specific characters’ lives, they learn more about Christianity, the Bible, and their own beliefs. Although the novel contains emotional themes, its presentation makes it both enjoyable and appropriate for adults as well as teen readers interested in such topics. Moreover, the story can be enjoyed by people of various faiths.

The Carpenter’s Son is heartfelt and inspirational as Gray brings the Lord into contemporary times.