Miscellaneous Fiction

may want to classify these more specifically at some point, i.e. mystery, adventure, etc.

The Secret of Pooduck Island

Book cover: 'The Secret of Pooduck Island'
Author(s): 
Alfred Noyes

This is a story with many layers waiting to be discovered. On the surface, it's about a lonely boy who likes to spend time with his squirrel friends. The townspeople think him strange, but he is better understood by the priest. The squirrels and the boy have interesting adventures and the tale is engaging in itself. It's not hard to see, however, that there's more to the story than this - but what exactly is "the Secret"? An Indian with a beautiful old rosary and a very sad tale adds to the mystery.

The Rose and Crown

Book cover: 'The Rose and Crown'
Author(s): 
Meriol Trevor

This fourth and final book in the Letzenstein Chronicles tells of young Toby who was found - lost and orphaned - by the eccentric and mysterious Raphael le Marre in a previous book. Raphael ("Raf") seems appropriately named after one of the archangels as he has a way of coming to the rescue of children in trouble and has in fact adopted (along with his wife) some 20 children of his own. In this story Raf brings Toby back to his relatives in London in order to decide his future. Toby has no interest in staying with anyone but Raf.

The Phantom Tollbooth

Book cover: 'The Phantom Tollbooth'
Author(s): 
Norton Juster

This rather ordinary-looking book is a genuine treasure! It is the story of a bored little boy who has a mysterious tollbooth suddenly appear in his bedroom one day. He goes through the tollbooth, mostly because there is nothing better to do at that present moment. Well, a thoroughly entertaining adventure awaits our young friend, Milo. The novel is a romp through the lands of numbers and letters, the former ruled by the Mathemagician, of course!

Past Suspicion

Book cover: 'Past Suspicion'
Author(s): 
Therese Heckencamp

ISBN # 1-59286-802-9

After the death of her mother, a young woman, Robin, must travel from her home in California to a small town in Wisconsin to live with an uncle she never knew existed. She is angry and determined to escape as soon as she turns eighteen, which will be very soon. Almost immediately upon her arrival mysterious things begin to happen. She moves into the room her mother lived in as a young woman and learns a lot about her mother by going through her things. Evidently her mother kept many other secrets, besides having a brother, from her.

Miracles on Maple Hill

Book cover: 'Miracles on Maple Hill'
Author(s): 
Virginia Sorenson

Marly and Joe (ages 10 and 12) are two siblings who have always lived in the city. They and their mother had endured the apparent loss of their father during wartime (unclear which war - perhaps Korean) only to discover that he had been a prisoner of war. The family is finally reunited, but their father has changed; he is bitter, touchy, angry, always tired.

The Kitchen Madonna

Author(s): 
Rumer Godden

This is a simple, lovely work, of fine literary quality, about a thoroughly modern brother and sister and their blunt Ukrainian maid, who feels out-of-place in London and misses having a "good place" in the kitchen. A good place, according to Marta is something like this: "In my home, Ukrainian home, we make a good place...A place on top of cupboard, perhaps, or perhaps on shelf. Little place but it holy because we keep there Our Lady and Holy Child." When questioned by the children, she explained further. It wasn't a statue and not a picture. "Like picture but more beautiful.

Confusion by Cupid

Author(s): 
Janet Lambert

Continuing in the Jordon family series, this story (Book Three) is based on Peter's, Gwen's, and Alice's love lives. Though each have their own steady dates, (who all happen to be away), they go out with other people and everything ends up in one big mess! Peter goes out with the wrong girl and Gwen gets married, but not to the man she was initially engaged to marry. Alice, like a movie director, keeps everything flowing and everyone informed while her own love life is churning.

Just Jennifer

Author(s): 
Janet Lambert

Welcome to the Jordon household of "Army Brats!" Jennifer is a spunky young girl of 16 years left in charge of eight military drilled younger brothers and sisters, while their father, General Jordon, is overseas on duty.

Just David

Author(s): 
Eleanor Porter

Young David has grown up in an isolated cabin with his father (since his mother's death when he was only four) in a beautiful mountain setting. There, his father has given him an excellent but unusual education - he is fluent in several languages, knows a great deal about science and nature and plays the violin beautifully. His father has sheltered him from all evil and taught him only what is good and beautiful.