The Book of Seven Truths — Calvin Miller

Calvin Miller's revelatory tale is actually a story within a story linked by the desire to find personal meaning in each of these Seven Truths. Told from the perspective of Anton, a ten-year-old farm boy who has moved with his parents from Louisiana to Chicago, the main narrative begins when Anton's unemployed father moves on to Duluth seeking work. With money for only one month's rent on their apartment, Anton and his mother, Christiana, are eventually evicted and forced to take to the streets with their belongings.
Nearly starved and frozen, they are rescued by a kind man named Hajji, who offers to shelter them under his protective tarp and give them food. On the way to their new shelter, however, Anton is hit by a truck and his legs are left paralyzed. Feeling at once cursed by this handicap yet grateful for Hajji's care, Anton questions God's love and compassion.
A devout Christian, Hajji reassures Anton by relating his own story of finding God's love. Hajji begins telling his story at twilight, after they settle in. And his story continues in the form of a little red book that he leaves with Anton and his mother when he disappears the next morning - taking Christiana's diamond wedding ring with him.
Gravely disappointed, confused, and feeling betrayed, Anton and his mother are nonetheless thankful for the cart and rations that Hajji has left behind. The two survive for the next few days on food that keeps mysteriously appearing in the cart, and pass the time by reading the intriguing little red book.