In the introduction to his humbly powerful debut work, Chris Hoke says he is trying to "paint God" through a series of wanted posters. These posters share the vulnerable and human side of individuals written off by society--cast off to prisons, deportations or even locked Dumpsters. The character sketches also illustrate Hoke's own spiritual awakening.
Drawn to prayer early in life--but not in a way that was easy to define and pursue--Hoke tried formal college studies and informal conversations with church leaders, but it wasn't until he undertook a volunteer position with Tierra Nueva, a Christian ministry in Washington State, that he found the fulfillment he sought.
At Tierra Nueva, Hoke helped migrant workers navigate the legal system and served as chaplain in a men's correctional institution. He met with hardened criminals in Bible study groups and one-on-one prayer sessions, learning more about them than what was apparent from their tattoos and rap sheets. As that young man, dubbed "pastor" by his flock, grew in the role, he experienced amazing connections--both emotionally and mystically--that drive and devastate him.
Wanted is Chris Hoke's story of self-discovery as defined by the people he has encountered. It is a beacon of faith and hope, but it's also a compelling commentary on the U.S penal system and the callous disregard for the bodies and souls crushed by it. Hoke notes a parallel between his life and that of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of safe travels, but readers are likely to identify a parallel with another famous shepherd--and wanted man--in Christianity. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts