John Newton’s life was full of adventure, danger, travels, exotic places, and romance. Young readers will encounter each of these things in Simonetta Carr’s carefully narrated and charmingly illustrated book. But more importantly, readers will come to appreciate the way Newton’s life was changed for good, even when he was attempting to run as far as possible from God. In spite of Newton’s rebellion and sin, God’s grace finally won—a grace that Newton recognized as amazing, invincible, and completely undeserved.

Author and Illustrator

SIMONETTA CARR was born in Italy and has lived and worked in different cultures. A former elementary school teacher, she home-schooled her eight children for many years. She has written for newspapers and magazines around the world and has translated the works of several Christian authors into Italian. Presently, she lives in San Diego with her husband, Thomas, and family. She is a member and Sunday school teacher at Christ United Reformed Church, Santee, California.

AMAL, a native of Baltimore, is published in traditional and educational children’s books and magazines with work in international collections and museums. She is an MFA graduate from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, and teaches at the Art League of Long Island. She lives in the pleasantly strange village of Port Jefferson with her husband, daughter, and a thousand giant mushrooms.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Chapter 1 – A Boy at Sea

Chapter 2 – Seabound

Chapter 3 – God’s Hand at Work

Chapter 4 – New Start

Chapter 5 – Pastor, Hymn Writer, and Friend

Chapter 6 – Opposing the Slave Trade

Time Line

Did You Know?

From Newton’s Pen

Endorsements

“Do you love a really good story? Well, here is one! Simonetta Carr tells us about the extraordinary life of one our greatest hymn writers, John Newton. We can trace God’s hand on his path as a neglected youth, an ardent lover, an ill-treated servant, a reckless sailor, and a slave trader. At last we learn how he became one of our finest Christian preachers. Read it and find out.”

—Faith Cook, author of Our Hymn Writers and Their Hymns

“This is a well-researched and well-written summary of the colorful life of John Newton. It should capture the imagination of younger readers.”

—Jonathan Aitken, author of John Newton, From Disgrace to Amazing Grace

“John Newton called himself a spectacle of grace—a prime example to the world of God’s transforming power in the life of a hardened rebel. So I am thrilled to see the colorful drama of Newton get retold for another generation through the child-friendly storytelling skill of Simonetta Carr!”

—Tony Reinke, author of Newton on the Christian Life: To Live Is Christ