About an hour later Faith kisses her grandmother goodbye, and raises her back to life. This exchange later leads to Millie having a heart attack and upon arriving at the hospital being pronounced dead. Ian shows up at the Whites' house, where he has a confrontation with Millie Epstein, Faith's grandmother. News of Faith's visions (or images of God) reach Ian Fletcher, a 'Teleatheist', who is travelling around the United States to debunk 'miracles' that feature God. The therapist finds that Faith may in fact be seeing God. It's at this point that her mother takes her to see a therapist, fearing for her sanity. Not long after, Faith begins to quote passages from the Bible, which she has never read.

After the divorce, Mariah becomes deeply depressed, while Faith develops an imaginary friend called her 'Guard'. When Mariah White catches her husband, Colin White, having an affair with another woman for the second time in their marriage, he files for divorce and gives her full custody of their child, Faith.

The book is about a custody battle involving a seven-year-old girl, Faith White, who may be seeing God. Keeping Faith (1999) is the sixth novel by the bestselling American author Jodi Picoult.

Mercy jodi picoult summary