Pilar of Mindanao

About the Book

Meet Pilar, a captivating, feisty sixteen-year-old Filipina girl, who watches as war steadily creeps across her beloved island. When Japanese soldiers unexpectedly storm the village, Pilar escapes by hiding in a prickly pineapple plant. After witnessing the atrocities from her hiding place, she feels emotionally shattered, yet she discovers an inner strength and depth of courage she hadn’t realized she possessed. Pilar flees into the highland jungle carrying her baby sister, the only survivor she can find after the deadly attack. Despite her harrowing experiences, Pilar boldly determines that she’ll work for the resistance. She falls in love with an American soldier aiding the Filipino guerilla forces. Will her newfound love be enough to bring the emotional healing Pilar so desperately needs? And will Pilar ever resolve her struggles with her faith, sparked when God seems so conspicuously absent in this time of war?

About the Author

Sarah Halvorsen began writing stories and poetry when she was eight years old, much to her parents’ delight and amusement. By high school, the author had advanced to writing for the school newspaper and editing the yearbook. Her love of writing led her to initially choose English as her college major. Subsequently, she switched to a counseling program because of her passion for helping others. Her extensive training in counseling prepared the author for a lifelong career as a mental-health therapist. The author’s understanding of inner struggles, the effects of trauma, and the critical role of faith in healing imbues her writing with insight and sensitivity. The author’s husband has not only supported her writing efforts but has moreover graciously contributed the watercolor illustrations for the book.