About
The Story of Katie Luther: The Nun Who Escaped to True Freedom by Gretchen Ronnevik is a brief, accessible biography of Martin Luther’s bold, resourceful, faithful wife. This book is part of Crossway’s “Lives of Faith & Grace” series, which “engages middle-grade readers (ages 8–13) with the real-life stories of Christian men and women from history.”
Having grown up reading the “Christian Heroes: Then & Now” books, I know that I would also have eagerly consumed this book, along with the rest of the series, including its companion book on Martin Luther. These books would make a great Christmas gift for middle-graders, Sunday school teachers, or whole families!
Strengths & Weaknesses
I thoroughly enjoyed this little biography, which provides a concise overview of Katie Luther’s life and personality. Having read Eric Metaxas’s captivating biography of Martin Luther a few years ago, I enjoyed learning more about the woman holding down the fort while Luther was reforming Christendom.
Although written for middle-grade readers, this book is carefully crafted to appeal to all ages. It concludes with recommendations for further reading that include children’s resources such as Katie Luther: Mother of the Reformation by Susan Leigh (a graphic novel published by Concordia, 2016) and more in-depth biographies geared toward adults such as Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk by Michelle DeRusha (Baker, 2018).
That said, The Story of Katie Luther is perhaps best suited to families and church groups that include both children and adults. It is an enjoyable and edifying read for all ages. Additionally, the review questions at the end, which focus on both recall and reflection, encourage thoughtful conversation across generations.
While I enjoyed this book and was thankful for the opportunity to read and review it, I have a few minor critiques. First, it occasionally over-simplified complex issues (such as Purgatory according to Roman Catholic teaching) while explaining other issues (such as electorates in the Holy Roman Empire) in surprising depth. This book does not shy away from big ideas, even if it is written for little readers, so I think it could have allowed more nuanced explanations throughout rather than just for a few parts here and there.
Second, I loved that, early on, the author included pronunciation guides for foreign names and difficult words. However, this stopped somewhere along the way, leaving readers to guess at words like “Schmalkaldic.” I would have preferred more consistency on pronunciation guides, especially as I imagine that this book will often be read aloud by parents to their children or even by children to their parents.
Personal Takeaways
There can be no doubt that Katie Luther was an astonishing woman. Brave, blunt, and biblically literate, I was deeply inspired by her example. I was also uniquely encouraged by her unique gift for managing a tidy, efficient, welcoming household. Sometimes I am tempted to think of my love for cleaning and baking and list-making as somehow lesser than the boots-on-the-ground ministry of my husband. But this little book reminded me that my work is actually foundational to his ability to do what he does: Without Katie, Martin would not have lived to minister with such longevity or efficacy. Her steadfast work behind the scenes was a vital force that he recognized and honored.
Conclusion
Overall, I am delighted to add this book to my library. I anticipate collecting the others in the series and highly recommend them to parents, Sunday school teachers, and developing readers. I also would recommend this book (and its sisters) to adults who are just beginning to voyage into the overwhelming waters of Church history and Christian biography. It makes for an excellent and entertaining starting point.
If this book sounds interesting to you, consider purchasing it directly from the publisher or by using the link below.
Note: I received a copy of The Story of Katie Luther from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.
Ryanne Molinari 