In
Time of Trouble
Notes
from the author on writing this book
In
Time of Trouble
was my prodigal child. By choosing Shane, a troubled young man who
was well aware he was messing up his life, I was in fact choosing
an anti-hero—one most editors were just not interested in.
Early
on, one editor told me the first part of the book was depressing
and people would stop reading. Many editors told me they liked my
writing but not my book. So it was a real challenge to write about
Shane and his problems in such a way that people would keep reading.
In
Time of Trouble was my third book. It began as a short story
called “Two of a Kind” written long before my first book was published,
and later grew into a much longer work.
Authors
are a lot like parents—you love each book equally, but since each
book is different, your love for each one a little different.
I
love my first book (which has not yet been published) because it
was the first. I love Best of Friends because it was such
fun to write about Glen. But there is a special place in my heart
for In Time of Trouble. After nine books, it is still the
most difficult one I have written.
Where
did I find Shane? When I was in school, teaching, and working with
youth groups, I knew many kids just like him. They weren’t bad kids.
Just bored or frustrated—usually for reasons that had to do with
their families or relationships.
These
kids were often intelligent, but they seemed to make poor decisions—skipping
classes, failing to turn in homework, acting as if they didn’t care,
mouthing off, and raising walls between themselves and anyone who
offered to help.
It
was clear to those who cared about them that if they didn’t get
a grip, they were going to really mess up their lives. But you had
to wait and pray, and hope that if real trouble came, they would
seek help.
I
wrote In Time of Trouble in the hope that people might recognize
themselves or their friends in Shane, and realize that no matter
how badly or how often we mess up, God is always willing to give
us a second chance.
Questions to Consider
or Discuss
1.
Pretty well everything in Shane Donahue’s life is going wrong.
a.
Why do you think Shane became so upset when he saw that his
jacket was torn?
b.
Did you feel sorry for Shane, or did you think he deserved everything
he got?
c.
Can you think of a time in your life when you felt everything was
spinning out of control? If so, how did you get through it?
2.
Marietta has dated Shane for some months, but suddenly she decides
to dump him.
a.
Have you been dumped by someone you thought cared for you? If so,
how did you feel?
b.
Have you ever felt you had to end a relationship? What was the most
difficult part about doing it?
3.
Shane soon realizes the people he thought were his friends don’t
really care about him.
a.
What did you think about Shane’s decision to turn his back on Marietta
and the others?
b.
Have you ever felt the way Shane did in the playground—that you
would like to stop the world and go back in time to when life was
easier? If so, how did you handle it?
4.
Ted eventually decides to run away and Shane considers suicide.
a.
Do you know kids who have felt trapped the way Ted and Shane do?
What kind of decisions have they made?
b.
Have you ever felt this way? If so, how did you resolve your frustration?
c.
What do you think might happen to Ted if he stays away?
d.
What about Keith and Scott? What do you think of the way they are
handling their lives?
5.
Shane and Sandy seem to have nothing in common except being identical
twins.
a.
Can you think of anything Sandy could have done to keep the wall
between himself and Shane from getting so big?
b.
What could their parents have done?
c.
Have you ever drifted away from someone you used to be close to?
How did you try to resolve the situation?
d.
In the end, Shane tells Sandy that they had to drift apart so Shane
could discover who he is—and that he is different from Sandy. Can
you think of a way Shane could have discovered who he is without
going through all the pain?
6.
Janice seems to be looking for thrills more than a relationship.
a.
Do you know kids like this—who are seeking excitement and don’t
really know what they’re getting into?
b.
What do you think might satisfy Janice?
c.
Do you think Sandy was smart to date Janice to learn more about
Shane, or was he just asking for trouble?
d.
How would you compare Janice, Marietta, Alicia, and Shane’s mom?
7.
Shane basically gives his life to God because he doesn’t know what
else to do.
a.
He was already stealing from his mother, lying, and getting into
alcohol and drugs. If he hadn’t turned to God, what do you think
would have happened to him?
b.
Have you known anyone who did the same as Shane—gave their life
to God because they had nothing to lose? Do you think God honors
their decision as much as that of someone who understand what he
or she is doing?
c.
Do you know any people who would have to be at the end of their
ropes before they would turn to God? How could you reach out to
them?
8.
Shane gets frustrated with himself because even though he is trying
to change, he messes up. Then he wonders if God will turn his back
on him.
a.
Have you ever felt you had blown it and God wouldn’t want anything
more to do with you?
b.
What would you say to someone who came to you and said they can’t
be good enough for God?
c.
Can you think of a time when someone made fun of you or turned away
from you because you have a relationship with God? How did you handle
it?
9.
Shane is shocked when his mother turns to him for help, and then
later when his father forbids him to go to church.
a.
Can you think of something a member of your family said or did that
shocked you?
b.
How should we react when someone close to us says or does something
unexpected?
c.
What do you think of the way Shane handled his father’s order not
to go to church?
10.
Shane and Scott and Keith seem to take girls like Marietta and Janice
for granted.
a.
Can you think of people you know who use other people for
their own purposes and don’t seem to be bothered by it?
b.
Why do you think these people act like this? Why would the other
people allow themselves to be used?
11.
In the beginning of the book, Shane thought he was all alone. Yet
in the end, many people are there to help him.
a.
How many people can you remember who helped Shane?
b.
If you needed help, who do you think you could count on to be there
for you?
