AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Jungle Doctor and the Whirlwind by Paul White

Although I love reading, my least favorite genre is probably Christian Fiction.  I just can’t seem to get into it.   Jungle Doctor and the Whirlwind by Paul White is not only Christian Fiction, it’s Christian Children’s Fiction.  However, when I gave it a chance, I realized that I would be missing at least a few gems if I swore off Christian Fiction completely.

What really makes this book shine is the fact that it is based, at least in part, on White’s own adventures as a missionary doctor in Africa.  I love the descriptions of the hospital and the field clinics, which seem to be really accurate based on my own limited medical missions experience.  White is a good writer, and his prose is light yet descriptive.  Most of the book consists of conversations between the characters.

Throughout the narrative, White reveals his love for teaching biblical principles via fables and object lessons.  The titular doctor uses everyday objects and situations to share the gospel and encourage his weary nurses.  Because of the genuine emotion and setting of the story, these little “asides” seem perfectly natural with only a couple exceptions.  Some of these fables/object lessons could even be taken and used by a preacher or Sunday school teacher, giving this work of fiction a rare level of usefulness.

Paul Michael does a great job narrating the story, giving the doctor an Australian accent (even though Michael himself doesn’t have one), nailing the African words and phrases, and affecting different voices for different characters.  This is simply outstanding narration that—if you’ll pardon the cliché—really brings the story to life.

I could see this book being a really exciting read for an aspiring missionary, or perhaps even igniting that spark in a young person who is just starting to realize that God’s love and the gospel are for all people in every nation.

Please Note: This audiobook was gifted as a part of the Christianaudio Reviewers Program in exchange for my unbiased review of this work. This has in no way influenced my opinion or review of this work.  More information can be found about this and other Christian audiobooks at christianaudio.com.