The Outsider

Sinclair B. Ferguson

Katy Morgan is a richly gifted storyteller. In The Outsider, she brings her gifts to bear on what has been called the most beautiful short narrative ever written as she sensitively, faithfully and imag- inatively retells the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. Drawn into the twists and turns of their emotion-packed world, we marvel at God’s faithful care and by the end discover where their story will eventually lead. While written with young people in mind, I suspect The Outsider will be read and enjoyed by those of every age!

Carolyn Lacey

“A wonderful retelling of a beautiful story. Katy draws us into the drama and helps us feel the tension, fear, loss and despair of Ruth and Naomi—and their rising hope of a redeemer. The Lord’s kindness and sovereign care for his people shines through each chapter, fuelling the reader’s desire to know his love and protection themselves. Younger and older readers alike will be enthralled from start to finish.” 

“God's kindness on display!”

“Be kind.” “Raise kind humans.” “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” These are all popular slogans of today’s culture, but what does “kind” really mean? The godly standard of kindness is much deeper and multifaceted than the worlds.

The Outsider by Katy Morgan, beautifully retells the story of Ruth, displaying God’s kindness as all-encompassing of love, mercy, generosity, and forgiveness, which leads to faith and repentance. “Could a god be so kind as that?” Ruth speculates. Ruth is not use to gods who love and care for her. “What is a redeemer,” she wonders.

We have the privilege of knowing how Ruth’s story ends, but it is important to remember that she remained faithful even though she didn’t know the outcome. Ruth is a brief four chapters of the Bible, and it is fascinating to think about what else may have been happening during this time. Katy Morgan gives her creative spin on events, while always remaining faithful to the accounts in the Bible. If Morgan took creative licenses on anything, she has included it in her notes in the back of the book. Mainly, she added characters so we might understand how Ruth may have been treated as a Moabite in Bethlehem.

This is Morgan’s third book in her Biblical fiction series geared towards ages 8-13. They are all fantastic! And while they may be for kids, I always learn something new too.

These stories help younger kids grasp harder concepts in the Bible, while making them comprehensible without watering them down. Kids will walk away with a new meaning of kindness, and an incredible example of what it looks like to trust in God and His plan.

*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“Captivating”

Captivating

I had never read anything by Katy Morgan before, and I was impressed from start to finish.
Ruth’s story has been told many times in many different ways — but the way Katy immerses you in the sights and sounds of Ruth’s life and journey is remarkable. She brings daily life and personal interactions — both the sad and the joyful — vividly to life, all while staying true to the biblical account.

I especially appreciated the pacing, which is perfectly suited to the 8+ age group.

“They were my Israelites; I’m the one who found them and brought them here.”
Wow — that’s exactly how someone like Ruth, at that age and in that setting, might think.

I initially gave the book a 4/5, but after reading it with my daughter, we upgraded it to a 5/5. Time well spent.

“Great biblical fiction”

✨Biblical Fiction for Kids ✨

The Outsider by Katy Morgan

“Don’t urge me to leave you… Don’t unge me to turn back from you….Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God… Where you die, I will die. And that’s where I’ll be buried… May the Lord deal with me severely if even death separates you and me!… Let’s go to Israel” - Ruth

🌷 About the Book…
At the boundary post of her village, Ruth makes a decision to risk everything. She chooses to leave her family, her home, and everything she has ever known. Now she is trudging towards a country she has never seen, to live among a people who almost certainly don’t want her there.

In the land where she is going, they say they know a God who is kind. But Ruth is an outsider, friendless and penniless. Would this God—or anyone else—really want to help someone like her?

💭My Thoughts
‘The Outsider’ is a faithful, imaginative, and poignant re-telling of the story of Ruth from the Bible! 👏🏻

Katy Morgan is a gifted storyteller and will draw children in with her descriptive words and totally immersive experience.

Katy’s novel is a beautiful way to connect children (and adults alike!) to this powerful story of an outsider who had no hope in her own strength, but knew the God of Israel to be a kind and compassionate God.

This story is a heartfelt reminder that God promises to care for those who love Him, and can do more than we ever imagined or hoped for!

“Relatable to children, faithful to the story, and imaginative!”

If you are looking for a book for young girls, this one is a retelling of the Bible story of Ruth. The author uses her imagination at times and takes some liberties with the story while still staying faithful to the text and story. I appreciated the notes at the end of the book for each chapter you can flip and read the notes as you read the story. In the notes, she clarifies what is imaginative and what she has taken liberties with to fill in the blanks and some of the historical background as well. There are also discussion questions at the end of the book. This book makes the story more relatable for young readers and immersive. While I have mixed thoughts on adaptions such as these to the Bible stories, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this one was done and how faithfully it was executed. I enjoyed reading this one and look forward to reading this one together with my children when they are ready. I loved how at the end, the author points readers to the greater Boaz, Jesus.

My only note of concern would be one quote that was made at the end of the book that was very theologically unclear sounding.

"Jesus was born to save people. Not just to look after them in their old age, but to look after them forever. Not just to make them apart of His family, but to make them part of God's family."

While I think I know what she meant, it could sound like she is saying Jesus isn't God from the unclear wording. I would just clarify this quote with my children to make it more clear.

“A Story We Know, Told in a Way We’ll Never Forget”

I can’t wait to dig into this one during read-aloud time with my girls. There’s something so special about taking a familiar story and seeing it with fresh eyes—and that’s exactly what this book promises.

Katy Morgan takes the timeless beauty of the book of Ruth and brings it to life in a way that’s both tender and powerful. From what I’ve seen so far, her writing is engaging, thoughtful, and deeply respectful of the biblical text—while also helping young readers feel the emotions, the risks, and the quiet courage woven into Ruth’s story.

I’m excited to share this journey with my daughters—not just because it’s a good story, but because it holds so many layers of faith, loyalty, and redemption. I have a feeling this retelling will spark some beautiful conversations in our home.