FAMILY PORTRAIT - SECRETS
OF HIDDEN VALLEY - DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING
CREEK - REPLACEMENT KID - KIDD'S GRAND ADVENTURE - LUCKY IN LIFE - BEWILDERING BOND - CHIPPER OF OAKTON VILLA
The Bewildering Bond
A story of romance and a puzzling relationship.
by John Hammond and Gary HutchisonBASKET CONTENTS/check out Early in their senior year, the co-captains of a small town football team - Will and Matt, who have been bitter life-long enemies (quick to beat each other to a pulp) - are forced to cooperate as they work together to solve a mystery involving the team. Along with Will's girlfriend, Amanda, and Becky - Matt's long time best friend - they launch a fund raising campaign to purchase new athletic equipment the school cannot afford. When their funds fall short some unlikely people pitch in to help. It is a story that examines changing relationships as the boys discover those things about life that are really most important. There is lots of action (black eyes and bruises acquired on the field and off), plenty of romance, and page after page of chuckles and smiles.
Kind Words
"A wonderful book with romance, mystery and changing relationships among teens. I loved it! Rosy McDonald, Ed. High School news paper.
"A powerful story about growing up and discovering what is truly most important in life. Positive values. Tough issues. A great book."
Rev. Jay Williams, Adolescent Minister
"A beautifully written novel about the power of maturing friendships among teenagers. Wonderfully believable characters. Another wisdom-filled offering by Mr. Hammond."
Carol Crystler, High School English Teacher, mother of two teens
"A fantastic book! Great characters! Mystery and intrigue! Real-life problems solved. Exciting games! I learned a lot! (Even my parents thought it was cool.)"
Jack Puffin, H.S. Senior, Football captain.
FAMILY PORTRAIT - SECRETS OF HIDDEN VALLEY - DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING CREEK - REPLACEMENT KID - KIDD'S GRAND ADVENTURE - LUCKY IN LIFE - BEWILDERING BOND - CHIPPER OF OAKTON VILLA
The Chipper of Oakton Villa
A heartwarming story of life's contrasts: youth with age, happiness with despair, tragedy with triumph.by Gary Hutchison
BASKET CONTENTS/check out Loveable Chip, an ever-smiling, 12 1/2 year old runaway, befriends and is befriended by an interesting assortment of six unhappy residents who reside in a rundown, depressing, rural, retirement home. A blue-eyed, long haired, blond, ragamuffin in appearance, Chip shares a story of parental abuse and neglect - one that leaves several of his old friends suspicious. Together they gradually discover the secrets of happiness and learn that neither brashness nor wisdom is necessarily the sole domain of either youth or old age. There is laughter and tears. There is heart stopping adventure and heartwarming tender moments. Some stories can't be neatly drawn to a tidy conclusion; The Chipper of Oakton Villa is one of those.
Review by
Sarah Langley
Staff writer for The Center for Cross-Generational Studies
Loveable Chip, a 12 1/2 year old runaway, befriends and is befriended by an interesting assortment of six unhappy residents who reside together in a rundown, depressing, rural, retirement home. Together they gradually discover the secrets of happiness and what is truly important in life. At one point, old Ernie says, "You have to put new things on your To-Do List every single day, or life's not worth living."
Together they learn that neither brashness nor wisdom is necessarily the sole domain of either youth or old age. There is laughter and tears. There is heart stopping adventure and heartwarming tender moments. Some stories cannot - should not - be neatly drawn to a tidy conclusion; The Chipper of Oakton Villa is one of those. Cudos to the author for crafting it in that manner.
The reader will delight in the wonderfully contrasted characters and in the genuineness of the believable interplay between the boy and his elders. Chip, a blond, blue-eyed, long haired little ragamuffin in appearance, is often called The Chipper because of his usually up-beat approach to life. He tells a convincing story of a lifetime of physical abuse and neglect - but is that the whole truth? There are things that indicate it may not be. Chip has ready answers to explain away any inconsistencies. Is he the victim he suggests or a young con man without peer?
I laughed. I cried. I reflected. Appropriate for those ten to one hundred and ten, this is a wonderful story that will live on forever. The Chipper receives my highest recommendation.
FAMILY PORTRAIT - SECRETS OF HIDDEN VALLEY - DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING CREEK - REPLACEMENT KID - KIDD'S GRAND ADVENTURE - LUCKY IN LIFE - BEWILDERING BOND - CHIPPER OF OAKTON VILLA
Lucky In Life
A story of teenage adventure and romance.
by John Hammond
Retold by Gary Hutchison, John Hammond and David DrakeBASKET CONTENTS/check out At fifteen, Justin Fox is an excellent baseball player. As a person, he goes out of his way to be the best he can be. In most other ways he’s pretty average and the fact that he comes from a money poor home seldom enters his mind. The story takes place in a rural area of the Midwest, during Spring, near the end of his Sophomore year. His dog, Lucky, is very sick. Because of the vet’s bills, he doesn’t have money to take his girl friend to the Spring Dance. Justin enjoys the outdoors and has a terrifying - yet wonderful - encounter with a grizzly bear. He spends time talking about love and life with Billy, his best friend who describes himself as a spoiled rich brat. He spends lots of time alone with Meagan, his beautiful, understanding, girlfriend. Romance blossoms!
Review by
Karla Howard
Editor. High School Paper
This is a story of adventure, romance and the normal ups and downs of being a teenager. The two boys, Justin the main character and Billy his spoiled rotten best friend, spring to life through their several extended conversations about life, values and relationships. Meagan, Justin’s girlfriend, plays a lesser role - although Justin might not agree as he seems to love kissing her and never misses a chance. She is a strong person and sticks by her commitment to Justin even when things don’t look good.
In many ways this is a story of contrasts. Justin is poor - money wise - but comes from a wonderfully loving, church going, family. Billy is rich - money wise - but comes from a distant, disconnected, unhappy family. Justin works hard so he can become a good enough baseball player to someday win a college scholarship. Billy, a natural athlete, does not take his talent seriously. Justin is fun, but serious about life, while Billy plays the clown and gets by on as little effort as possible.And then there is Lucky, Justin’s beloved dog that experiences a serious illness and his life remains in the balance throughout the book.
Justin has to deal with the normal mood swings fifteen year old guys have. At one point he recalls a wise phrase from his pastor: “Good times show us how wonderful life can be, and bad times are just signals that better times will soon return”. The book is filled with wisdom - the kind you go back to again and again.
I believe one of the reasons the story is so realistic is that the main author - of the two co-authors - is a sixteen year old boy who clearly understands how it is to be a teenager today. I hope we see his name on many more books in the future. I’ll give Lucky In Life an A or perhaps an A+ even. It is more than just a story - although it is a great story - it is a lesson in life and how to live it.
Kidd, almost thirteen, and his adoptive father, who everyone calls Gramps, a recently retired teacher, are pursued cross-country by a wealthy scoundrel named Nivens, who falsely claims Kidd as his biological grandson and has vowed to kidnap him if necessary. The pair travels from one small town to another in Walooma Watooka, their comfortable, big, remolded, blue school bus. At every stop they find people in need of their assistance and gladly provide it. Kidd begins learning about the romantic side of life and Gramps adjusts to suddenly having a young man, rather than a little boy at his side.
Kidd's Grand Adventure
Gramps and Kidd evade a kidnap attempt in this exciting cross country adventure.
by David DrakeBASKET CONTENTS/check out
Click here to read free sample chapter.
Jay Turner, EdD
Dir. Middle School Teacher Education Program/ father/author
Bottom-line: This is a beautifully written, attention grabbing, meaningful presentation, which explores topics that have been important for 11 to 15 year olds, generation after generation. Written for young people, it is also a treasure of wisdom for parents and teachers.
The backdrop against which the Kidd’s Grand Adventure is set, is the serious cat and mouse game between Kidd and Gramps on the one hand (the good guys) and William Nivens (a rich, amoral, bad guy trying to kidnap Kidd) on the other.
Kidd is the nearly thirteen year old adopted son of Gramps, a recently retired teacher. To evade the evil Nivens, the two embark on a cross-country trip in a big blue school bus which they remolded for the purpose. The bus is named Walooma Watooka, a South American Indian phrase, which roughly translates as “your most important mission in life.” The name promotes interesting and useful discussions everywhere they stop.
The book is actually a collection of four short stories each one four chapters long, expertly woven together as if one. Each story takes place in a different small town along their way. Kidd and Gramps find a problem and help the residents - usually the youngsters - solve it.
In Comfort, Iowa, it is fear, suspicion, and misunderstanding, which are resolved during the aftermath of a devastating tornado. Lakeville, a town filled with young thugs, finds renewed pride and self-esteem during a project in which the young people band together to bring an abandoned park back to life. In Green Prairie, they find a town divided about summer baseball - should it be a serious, yell at the players, drill ‘til you drop business or a laugh ‘til you cry, roll on the ground, fun-filled game? Gramps and Kidd help them work it out. In Pecos, Montana, the story revolves around a fourteen year old, suicidal, runaway boy who Gramps and Kidd befriend and help regain a positive perspective on life and living it.
Nivens, of course, is always only one step behind them. There are lots of laughs (Kidd’s philosophical accounting to Gramps of his first, less than wonderful, experience kissing a girl), a smattering of tears, and a simple yet wonderfully effective foundation for a positive, helpful, caring, lifestyle.
Kidd and Gramps are out to make the World a wonderful place for all of us - one town, one neighborhood, one family at time. Some may call the style ’sappy’ or ‘old-fashioned’. I say who cares. It is the believably presented basic truth which counts. If ‘sappy’ means caring and love-based, then sappy it is. Others may say, “That’s not how life is.” The author would answer, “It is, however, how life can be.”
Elsewhere, the author, David Drake, has summarized his social philosophy in these words: “If mankind is to survive and flourish as a happy, safe, loving, cooperative, productive species, we each have to do our part by taking good care of each other every single day of our lives.”
Neither my fourteen year old daughter nor I could put the book down once we began reading. The Kidd’s Grand Adventure receives the highest possible rating from both of us. (We eagerly await the promised sequels.)
This is the story about three loves: A boy's first love, a couple's forever love, and a family's blossoming love. Jason and Abby, both attractive singles in their mid-thirties, are brought together by Eric, Abby's immediately loveable teenage son.
Family Portrait
A romantic novel for young people
by Bonnie BrewsterCopyright 1999 by G. F. Hutchison. All rights reserved.
ADD FAMILY PORTRAIT TO MY SHOPPING CART BASKET CONTENTS/check out
Click here to read free sample chapter.
This is a story about three lonely people: Jason, because he recently lost his wife, Abby, because she has never known the companionship of a husband, and Eric, because he longs for a relationship with a father.
This is a story about suspense, as Abby's former boyfriend systematically and viciously tries to destroy her love, her son and her new family.
This is a story about how loves can grow and mature through adversity
Review by
Margaret Czerzanof
Counselor and Newsletter Editor, with the Woman's Place, DetroitBonnie Brewster's done it again!
Jason is a ruggedly handsome, thirty-five year old restaurateur who recently lost his wife. Abby, the owner of a small café is more striking than beautiful. She is a loving, hard working, single mother who is both intrigued by and mystified by her teenage son, Eric. His all-consuming obsessions in life have only recently switched from frogs and snails to girls and centerfolds and both mother and son experience some difficulties with the transition.
Jason needs a family. Abby and Eric need a husband and father. Enter Johnny - Abby's oversized, volatile, former male interest, who greets Abby's rejection with a campaign of vengeful terror. Through all of the threats, through all of the hurting and heartache, Abby, Eric and Jason are determined to build a wonderful new life together. Of course, no relationship is a straight line toward paradise.
This is an honest story of unpolished, momentary, unpredictable passion, as a boy struggles to understand himself and his first, palm-sweating, heart pounding love affair. This is a story of tender, mature, romantic love as a man and woman, thoughtfully build together their ultimate, enduring love.
Family Portrait is a family romance written for both teenagers and the adults. If you enjoy warm, wonderful, believable, characters, and an ever-present element of suspense, woven together in a beautifully written story, you won't want to miss reading, Bonnie Brewster's, Family Portrait.
SECRETS OF THE HIDDEN VALLEY
A Sons of Inu Adventure
By David DrakeFor middle and upper readers.
Copyright 1997 by G. F. Hutchison. All rights reserved.
Printed in the U. S. A.
ADD SECRETS OF HIDDEN VALLEY TO MY SHOPPING CART
Click here for FREE Sample. A fantasy adventrue novel for middle and upper grade readers. A twelve year old boy suddenly finds himself stranded alone in a lost valley filled with ancient American Indian mysteries and magic. He is joined by two most unlikely companions. They discover special powers within themselves and vow to use them only for good. Shows how positive values can build a happy and sucessful life.
Review by
Kate Jefferson
Children's Librarian, RochesterFinding yourself alone in the World at age 12 might pose a problem for many boys but for Tripp Taylor it is just the beginning of a lifetime of fantastic adventures. In many ways this is a difficult book to review without giving away its many exciting twists and turns, but let me try.
Tripp; the son of an archeologist who just died, is suddenly left all by himself in a secret, hidden valley. There are ponies and dogs, plenty of game and fresh fruit to eat and a cool, clear stream for fishing and swimming. Two other boys “appear out of thin air” which is the start of a fantastic friendship, the source and nature of which you could never imagine.
As the story progresses, all quite amazingly, Tripp and his two new friends acquire secret identities as they come to be anointed the Sons of Inu and assigned a solemn mission in life by the spirit of Inu - a great Native American Chief who lived in the valley hundreds of years before. From that time forth the three boys, using their astonishing new powers, go about their life’s work - protecting and helping all those in need. Donning their buckskin clothing and mounting their
palomino ponies, they gallop into adventure after adventure.
The underlying philosophy is one of altruism - being willing to put the needs of others first sometimes and helping out just because it’s the right thing to do. My two sons, ages 10 and 12 love the action and even took the philosophy to heart. A neighbor girl thought the action was fine, but was obviously more interested in the strong, sensitive, handsome young heroes. In an era of blood and guts children’s offerings, this book is a breath of fresh air.
FAMILY PORTRAIT - SECRETS OF HIDDEN VALLEY - DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING CREEK - REPLACEMENT KID - KIDD'S GRAND ADVENTURE - LUCKY IN LIFE - BEWILDERING BOND - CHIPPER OF OAKTON VILLA
DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING CREEK
(Jr and Sr high - 12 to 16)
By David DrakeCopyright 1997 by G. F. Hutchison. All rights reserved.
Printed in the U. S. A.
ONLINE CATALOG LISTING OF DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING CREEK ADD DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING CREEK TO MY SHOPPING CART Click here for FREE Sample. A novel for young teenagers. Two teenage boys who are the worst of enemies, become trapped together in a deep, slick-walled, dark cave. The only escape is through a tiny, seemingly unreachable hole in the roof, a hundred feet above. As they work toward their common goal - escape - they grow to understand and appreciate each other. Action interspersed with profound dialog. Demonstrates the growth of positive values. 148 pages ISBN:1-885631-07-3 1997
Review by
Carolyn Bassey
Age 15, book reviewer for school paperIf you’re mainly into action rather than ideas, this book probably won’t appeal to you. If you are interested in suspense and occasional action, woven together by fascinating conversations between two teenage boys as they talk about life and love, I think you’ll like this one a lot. The discussions are doubly interesting because the boys are so different - one a handsome, snobbish, athletic jock from one of the rich old families in town and the other a plainer looking, kind, sort of nerdy, new kid in school. They both want the same girl.
As the story begins the jock is hard at work beating the bejeebies out of the other boy as a wall of water rushes down the canyon and carries them both underground into a mysterious cave. The only way out is through a small hole in the roof, a hundred feet above. The cave’s walls are smooth giving no chance of climbing them. They can’t leave the way they entered, through the raging underground creek because they were both injured in the flood.
They are forced to work together as they mount their escape plan. As they live and work together, day after day, they come to appreciate each other and grow in understanding and mutual respect.
The first time through, I read it for the story - it was great! The second and third times I concentrated more on what the guys had to say about many of the important things all teens think and wonder about. It helped me see lots of things quite differently. It made me think about the true purpose my life must have. I will always be glad I read Disaster at Disappearing Creek.
FAMILY PORTRAIT - SECRETS OF HIDDEN VALLEY - DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING CREEK - REPLACEMENT KID - KIDD'S GRAND ADVENTURE - LUCKY IN LIFE - BEWILDERING BOND - CHIPPER OF OAKTON VILLA
REPLACEMENT KID
(A novel for 11 to 14 year olds)
By David DrakeCopyright 1997 by G. F. Hutchison. All rights reserved.
Printed in the U. S. A.
ADD REPLACEMENT KID TO MY SHOPPING CART
Click here for FREE Sample. It is late on a cold and blustery November evening. Zach, soon to be thirteen, is deposited - scared and angry, kicking and screaming - at the County Orphanage after his mother (and only relative) dies.
Although actually quite handsome and smart, with a great sense of humor, life has taught him, instead, that he is a worthless failure. At the Orphanage, Zach meets Rob, the old handyman with a mysterious past. Miss Fitz, the Orphanage Director, is as cold and unfeeling, as Rob is warm and accepting. The two clash, repeatedly, over what they think is best for Zach. The story develops the rocky but growing relationship between the impatient, untrusting, unhappy
young Zach and the ever-patient, totally accepting, wise old Rob. Eventually, Zach has the opportunity to be adopted by a loving, wealthy family, but that would mean leaving his dear old friend forever. What shall he do?Review by
Justin Cummings, MA
Children's Librarian, RochesterReplacement Kid is an upbeat story that reads very much like a play. It uses lively, realistic, wisdom-filled dialogue to develop the story of the growing love and mutual admiration between a sad, lonely, confused thirteen year old boy and a wise, young-at-heart, old man. The characters are developed rapidly and fully as they are introduced, a trademark of David Drake's writing, which is always appreciated by his young readers.
Just under the surface, this is an account (and evaluation) of the several ways in which people may choose to deal with tragic loss. Zach, the thirteen-year-old, becomes angry and destructive. Miss Fitz, the Administrator of the Orphanage, in her high-buttoned blouse and immaculate, tailored suit, finds her solution in establishing and enforcing long lists of rules and regulations. Bill and Mary, Zach's prospective adoptive parents, each have their own way of coping with the loss of their son to leukemia, several years earlier. Mary tries to stay busy, putting it out of her mind and Bill searches for a sports-minded duplicate to take the place of his boy. Rob, the ever loveable, wise old handyman uses his memories of the good times to overpower the sadness that naturally accompanies the untimely loss of his wife and son. Maudie, the tittering, ample figured cook, dispatches the blues by belting out rousing, old time, devil-chasing hymns.
The book explores love, trust, self-image, loyalty and tolerance - crucial topics in the lives of its intended audience (10 to 14 year-old boys and girls). The compelling, down-to-earth, meaningful dialogue propels the story more than the action. The reader will react with a wide range of emotions, sharing those of Zach and Rob as they learn to make the necessary adjustments that life requires of them. You will laugh. You will cry. You will grow in love and understanding. Replacement Kid, gets my highest rating. (Mom and Dad will enjoy it, also. My wife and I certainly did - once we finally wrestled it away from our three children!)
FAMILY PORTRAIT - SECRETS OF HIDDEN VALLEY - DISASTER AT DISAPPEARING CREEK - REPLACEMENT KID - KIDD'S GRAND ADVENTURE - LUCKY IN LIFE - BEWILDERING BOND - CHIPPER OF OAKTON VILLA
