Grace House

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*Please note: This book covers mature themes including abuse, self-harm, and suicide. While such stories are not uncommon in the world today, please ensure that you and your children read with care.*

I remembered my first day at Karunai House, standing in front of this same mirror, staring at the stranger looking back at me. I had been so scared, so alone. Now, I felt the same fear, but this time it was laced with the pain of leaving behind those who had become my family…

Living in a low-caste village in India, Kashvi is expected to be an obedient Hindu daughter: follow the village customs, appease the gods, and don’t upset the balance of life. But when Kashvi and her brother are no longer safe at home, there is only one place for them to go—a local Christian orphanage.

Struggling to adapt to her new life at Karunai House, Kashvi begins to question everything she has ever known. Feeling betrayed by her parents and weighed down with the responsibility of protecting her brother, she faces doubts about her self-worth…and her old faith.

With the help of her new Christian family, Kashvi’s eyes are opened to a world of possibilities through a God of grace and love. But now Kashvi is confronted with a choice: Will she stay loyal to her family and the religion she has always known, or will she abandon it all for Jesus Christ? Can her newfound faith withstand the pressures and expectations of Hindu culture, or will everything come crashing down around her?

What others are saying about this book:

"Grace House by Lee Kamminga is a well-written and engrossing look into the life and perils of growing up as a child in India. The author doesn’t shy away from the difficult aspects, dealing with things such as abuse, death, and thoughts of suicide, yet the book is never graphic. Instead, Kamminga tells this fictional story with a great deal of empathy, and the reader can see how much heart the author put into this book for India and for the real people who inspired the fictional account. The Christian aspects, especially, are handled really well, with Kashvi’s conversion to the Christian faith and her continued wrestling with how to live that faith in her life—especially when faced with incredibly hard things—taking center stage throughout the novel. I highly recommend this book to middle schoolers who are advanced enough readers to handle it, high school students, and adults who want to learn more about what our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ face in India." —Tricia Mingerink, author of the Blades of Acktar series

"This is a marvelous and unique book. I am thankful to the Lord for giving the author the gifts and passion to write it. Grace House is no cotton candy fairy tale; it is a story of God’s redemptive work in the nitty gritty of the valley of the shadow of death. The book transports the reader to the streets of India to witness a soul-stirring deliverance from the clutches of Hindu idols into the warm embrace of the Christ of God. Even then, the book is as realistic as it is hopeful, as we watch God's children walk the same bumpy road of sanctification that all Christians know themselves. Grace House artfully weaves together the urgency of ministering to the most needy and the practical importance of doing so with sound doctrine, into an engaging, page-turning narrative. The result is that the Christian reader's love for God, the gospel, and the church increases. Youth of the church, pick it up today. Adults, this book is for you, too. Parents and grandparents, put away the phones and tablets and read it to your (of age) children or grandchildren. Readers of all ages will weep tears of sorrow and joy and will worship after reading this book!" —Prof. Cory Griess, professor of Practical Theology and New Testament Studies at Protestant Reformed Theological School (PRTS) in Grand Rapids, MI

"This book captures the reality of what it’s like living in India. It dives into the physical pain of abuse and loss, the spiritual bondage of praying to gods who can’t hear desperate pleas for help, and the emotional baggage that comes with living with the constant fear of upsetting the gods. This book follows Kashvi, a daughter who is abused, beaten, and looked down on by all around her. She starts to doubt the gods that are supposed to help her as nothing in her life seems to go right. She is eventually brought to Karunai House, where after much doubting, she finds peace like she has never felt before and love that she didn’t know existed. Throughout the book, Kashvi grows in her faith as she is surrounded by her new family, God’s children—though it is clear that she finds it hard to leave behind the traditions and superstitions of her old life." —Danielle Lubbers

"This deeply moving novel is a powerful testimony to the redemptive love of Christ and the healing that flows through a faithful, compassionate community. Grace House introduces us to some of the complexities of Indian culture, such as caste and arranged marriages. It also depicts the hopelessness of trying to appease each of the many Hindu gods to avoid being cursed by them. In this context, the loving kindness and tender mercies of the one true God are completely foreign and beyond belief. Apart from God’s grace, that is. As we follow the journey of a brave young Indian girl escaping abuse and finding refuge in a Christian foster home, we are reminded of God’s heart for the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and His call to care for the orphan and the vulnerable (James 1:27). Through every page, the story echoes the truth of Romans 8:28—that God works all things together for good to His children. This book is a stirring call to believers everywhere to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the hurting, the broken, and the lost." —Chad Noorman, member of India Mission Outreach

"A powerful novel. It is not to be missed...Kamminga does not shy away from troubling realities which Kashvi faces—abuse, self-harm, and suicide. But they are not allowed to dominate the story, which is ultimately one of hope. They serve as the darkness against which the grace of God and the faithfulness of his people shine brightly. Grace House is a gripping story, a window into another culture, and a demonstration of the power of the gospel to overcome every obstacle. Get a copy today." —P.M. Kuiper, author of Through Many Dangers

“Grace House introduces readers to the beautiful diversity of the church as we meet a family of believers in India through the eyes of two siblings from an abusive home. While exposing the empty promises of Hinduism, the story also poignantly reveals the more subtle idols that linger in our hearts regardless of where we live. Readers should be aware that Kashvi encounters intense moments of darkness throughout the book, but out of these circumstances the gospel of grace shines.” —Elizabeth VanPutten, author and former schoolteacher

"Kamminga is a very talented writer. His dialogue and descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, and events are top-notch. Overall, I say BRAVO! I read Grace House in two nights, as it was hard for me to put down, wondering what dramatic event would take place in the next chapter. Readers, especially parents, should note that the book may be challenging to follow at first due to foreign names, and the nature of the book is fairly dark. Some difficult and, at times, shocking events take place in the story. Still, this book could be a big seller in any bookstore." —Mike Velthouse, author of Journey Through the Psalms

Lee Kamminga first visited India in 2016 to volunteer at an orphanage. Upon returning to his home in Michigan, he found that he had left a part of his heart in India. Many of the stories in Grace House were inspired by his following trips to that orphanage and the interviews he conducted there with foster children and social workers.

• 304 pages
• paperback
• ISBN: 979-8-9871614-1-8
• Release date: September 5, 2025

eBook version available

*Please note: This book covers mature themes including abuse, self-harm, and suicide. While such stories are not uncommon in the world today, please ensure that you and your children read with care.*