Searching for Pearly : and Other Secrets

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, entertaining addition to any family's bookshelf
Review: Genre: Children/Young adult
Searching for Pearly & other secrets
AUTHOR: Donna M. Lessard
Twelve- year old Tamara is a typical curious tweener. One night she observes a mysterious light flickering in an abandoned house across the street and naturally she can't leave well enough alone. Climbing out of her bedroom window, she visits the dark, empty house and finds something very surprising-a ghost.
Searching for Pearly & Other Secrets is the story of how this curious young girl not only sees, but also communicates with, the ghost of a six-year-old girl from a Civil War family. The ghost, Sarah is searching for her doll Pearly and Tamara is determined to help her. Tamara discovers many of the secrets of the Thompson family and their house during her search. She hesitates to tell her two best friends Mary and Felicia about the ghost, wondering if they would believe her. Two mischievous boys create quite a stir during one of Tamara's visits to the haunted house that has now become an obsession.
The story moves along at a rapid pace holding the reader's interest right to the end. The author shows great insight into the psyche of the twelve year olds and how they relate to each other. The plot and vocabulary are simple to follow and easy to read, yet manage to keep the reader spellbound, making this a perfect book for children and teens. Historical facts of life from the time of the Civil War are interspersed throughout, teaching while entertaining. Busy kids will love the fact that it is only 85 pages long providing a quick but amusing read.
Author, Donna Lessard was raised in Maine and now resides in Arkansas where she spends her time writing some of her favorite bedtime stories. This reviewer would recommend this book as an enjoyable and educational addition to any family library.
Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: Searching for Pearly & Other Secrets
Author: Donna M. Lessard
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 1-4137-4576-8
Pages. 85

Rating:
Summary: A Unique Adventure
Review: This book offers an unexpected story that will surprise and delight. Tamara, the main character, is a self-sufficient girl who stumbles onto a unique adventure and learns about the Underground Railroad. Intriguing twists and turns lift the story above some usual young adult fiction, and the importance of Tamara's discoveries makes the book a very worthwhile read. The book is suitable for anyone age 10 or up, but especially for girls and boys ages 10 - 15. Well-written, well-plotted, and entertaining, Searching for Pearly and Other Secrets is an unusual story that will engage and please readers.