Lauren Ducommun

Katy Morgan, who is the award-winning author of The Songs of a Warrior, has written another book! The Outsider is a retelling of the story of Ruth, written for ages 8-12. This chapter book is well-written and is more like a historical fiction retelling, drawing on historical and cultural background to provide context and insight into the lives of Ruth and Naomi. But even more so, it shows God’s love and kindness towards Ruth, a Moabite woman. 

Who is This For?

While you may think this book is only for young girls, my twelve-year-old son picked up this book and remarked, “This is actually pretty good.” Which is coming from a boy who enjoys The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time series. The chapters are relatively short, and the story is engaging and well-written.

Not a Pre-Teen Romance Novel

I greatly appreciate how Morgan tells this story without it becoming a romance, and without any uncomfortable situations or “spice”. This is not meant to be a Hallmark romance novel for pre-teens, but it focuses on God and the good news of the Bible. Morgan keeps the focus on the bigger picture and the original author’s intended meaning in the book of Ruth.

Christ Connection

Morgan also includes a lengthy “Notes” section in the back of the book to explain what parts of this retelling are fact and which are fiction. I found this very helpful and enjoyed her comments! She also shares an epilogue highlighting Ruth’s inclusion into the lineage of the Messiah and pointing us to Christ. 

Fun Fact: The author, Katy Morgan, studied Classics at Cambridge University.

Conclusion

The Outsider is a wonderfully written retelling of Ruth that I’d recommend to families or churches to add to their home libraries. It’s challenging to find a Christian book for middle schoolers that doesn’t feel “forced”, too cheesy, or cliché. So Katy Morgan’s retellings are a breath of fresh air!

I received this book from The Good Book Company as a gift. All opinions are my own.

The Outsider: Ruth: A Retelling
by Katy Morgan
The Good Book Company, 2025
208 pages