This book tells a lot about Mandie's heritage. She learns about life in the past and how it was for her father to live.

The early Mandie adventures are some of the best in the series. This one is no exception! Mandie gets to meet Uncle Ned's family for the first time. She meets Morning Star, his wife; Sallie Sweetwater, his grandaughter; and Tsa'ni, Mandie's cousin. Tsa'ni leads Mandie and Sallie on an expedition into a cliffside. They find a treasure..and get lost! What follows brings a kidnapping, a new friend, and a fortune! This is one Mandie Adventure you don't want to miss!

I always like how Mandie handles her problems with her Cherokee cousin Tsa'ni. Even though he doens't like her and tries to get her lost in a cave, she still handles it like God would want her to. Read this book for another great mystery!

Dr. Gladys Hankins has done an excellent job at highlighting many of the subtle forms of racial prejudice and discrimination in corporate America. Her insight is rather compelling with documented real-life interviews and workshops with working adults of different races and gender, as well as individuals working in different capacities and corporate levels. She presents very balanced and fair perspectives of individuals of different racial backgrounds and gender. She has excellently highlighted rather destructive but subtle forms of racial prejudice and discrimination that are designed consciously or unconsciously to stifle or frustrate many talented and hardworking individuals in corporate America. She has presented these issues in a constructive and non-judgmental manner. No well-meaning company executive and leader would read this book without being propelled to "question" their own stand on fostering true diversity which must include fairness and equity in giving all deserving individuals (regardless of race and gender) equal opportunities for career development and vertical promotion. After reading this book, any well-meaning company executive and leader would be propelled to playing an imaginary role of switching places with a very qualified and hardworking woman or minority man. Such a person must then ask how they would feel if a glass or concrete ceiling were placed on them regardless of their output, productivity, talents, abilities and skills. In this book, Dr. Hankins does a terrific job of bringing out your humanity and reminding you that empowering others equates to empowering yourself, your company, your community and the country as a whole.

Dr. Hankins very nicely addresses the White Male fears of seeing any kind of advancement of women or minority men. She brings to light that the feelings and fears of the White Male must be adequately addressed before real progress in corporate diversity issues can be measured. Finally, she offers empowering statements to women and minority men reminding them that to value self from within still surpasses external value by others.

This book pierced through the very heart of many subtle forms of racial prejudice and discrimination in the workplace bringing to light the "Diversity Blues". Blues that continue to limit great minds and potentials, and essentially causing many companies to operate at 50% of their human potential. This book is a "must read" for every company executive and leader because it holds many empowering tools that can help any company maximize the potentials of their intelligent, hardworking, well-meaning and well-deserving employees of the human race. Five stars to "Diversity Blues" and congratulations to Dr. Hankins for a brilliant job!!!

Dr. Gladys Hankins has done an excellent job at highlighting many of the subtle forms of racial prejudice and discrimination in corporate America. Her insight is rather compelling with documented real-life interviews and workshops with working adults of different races and gender, as well as individuals working in different capacities and corporate levels. She presents very balanced and fair perspectives of individuals of different racial backgrounds and gender. She has excellently highlighted rather destructive but subtle forms of racial prejudice and discrimination that are designed consciously or unconsciously to stifle or frustrate many talented and hardworking individuals in corporate America. She has presented these issues in a constructive and non-judgmental manner. No well-meaning company executive and leader would read this book without being propelled to "question" their own stand on fostering true diversity which must include fairness and equity in giving all deserving individuals (regardless of race and gender) equal opportunities for career development and vertical promotion. After reading this book, any well-meaning company executive and leader would be propelled to playing an imaginary role of switching places with a very qualified and hardworking woman or minority man. Such a person must then ask how they would feel if a glass or concrete ceiling were placed on them regardless of their output, productivity, talents, abilities and skills. In this book, Dr. Hankins does a terrific job of bringing out your humanity and reminding you that empowering others equates to empowering yourself, your company, your community and the country as a whole.

Dr. Hankins very nicely addresses the White Male fears of seeing any kind of advancement of women or minority men. She brings to light that the feelings and fears of the White Male must be adequately addressed before real progress in corporate diversity issues can be measured. Finally, she offers empowering statements to women and minority men reminding them that to value self from within still surpasses external value by others.

This book pierced through the very heart of many subtle forms of racial prejudice and discrimination in the workplace bringing to light the "Diversity Blues". Blues that continue to limit great minds and potentials, and essentially causing many companies to operate at 50% of their human potential. This book is a "must read" for every company executive and leader because it holds many empowering tools that can help any company maximize the potentials of their intelligent, hardworking, well-meaning and well-deserving employees of the human race. Five stars to "Diversity Blues" and congratulations to Dr. Hankins for an excellent job!!!

At this crucial point in the history of the world's major organizations, when far too many are struggling for economic survival, Dr. Hankins makes it painfully clear that Diversity is often misunderstood, undervalued, and benignly, if not overtly, neglected. She goes on to make a compelling case for proactively managing diversity; not the least of her arguments is that an ongoing process for managing divesity must be built into every facet of an organization's business. Her prescription for a healthy organization is to implement ongoing diversity that affects a real change in attitudes so that its members acknowledge and respect human and cultural differences. She makes good common sense! A healthy organization is empowered and enabled to deliver critical results that assure business success and profitabilty. Finally! A book on diversity for the boardroom and the lunch bunch!

While accomplishing a clear and valid intellectual case for "principle-based diversity in today's workplace, Dr. Hankins conveys a deep understanding of the negative human emotions that foster racism and sexism. She challenged me to introspection and reflection by presenting more than statistics and scientific data alone. Personal and group interviews, along with her own personal experience and observation uncover the raw, destructive nature of racism and sexism.

Then, with style and savvy, Dr. Hankins shares a vision for a prejudice-free, discrimination free-organization and addresses key roles all of us must play to create it. Unlike any other dissertation I've read on diversity, "Diversity Blues" has inspired me to reaffirm my commitment to be part of the solution of living a principle-based diversity.

I really liked this book!! It starts out when Mandie, Jonathan, Sallie, Joe and Polly are at Mandie's house for the holidays. Then the turkey dissapeared right out of the oven. After that mysteries keep adding on and on. Like the green scarf they found in the bushes, and the old quilt and papers they found in the attic. But things get worse when Dr. Woodward is missing! But none of these things can hide the saddness Mandie will have when Joe goes of to colledge

I am probably one of the oldest Mandie Book readers around. I began reading them when I was eight years old, and now I am twenty. And I still wait in anticipation for each book to come out. This book was somewhat more suspenseful than some of her books. Joe, Jonathan, Polly, and Sallie are all part of the plot. I normally enjoy the ones in which Joe plays a prominant role better than the ones without him. And as always, she ends the book with the reader just itching to get her hands on the next one. Once again, she has written a great book for, in my opinion, readers of all ages. I cannot wait to see what happens in the books that follow as Lois Gladys Leppard reports at the front of this book that "Mandy will grow a little older and things will start moving faster in time in the coming five books."

It was fabulous! But it was sad, Joe going off to college, leaving Mandie behind. But...I didn't know Lois was still writing them! Does anyone know an e-mail adress for me to e-mail Lois?

It is summer in 1903. Mandie is returning home for summer vacation and she already has a mystery on her hands. Joining her is Joe who came home from college in New Orleans also for the summer. The two had a few advertures trying to figure out who was living in the old house on the edge of the Shaw property. However with much help from Liza, Aunt Lou, Abraham, and Uncle John the searches come to no avil. Then out of nowhere a tornado strikes and the debris is not the only thing left that will surprise Mandie and her friends.

This was another great Mandie book for kids. I can't wait for the next one. However a one year wait is way too long. Hopefully Mrs.Leppard will decide to write more Mandie books throughout the year for they are trully great books!

Mandie And The Tornado! is the latest in one of the most beloved series for children. Mandie's search for her beloved cat Snowball leads to her discovery of a mysterious secret - someone is hiding out in an old, abandoned house. The compelling mystery of who is in hiding and why, combined with the coming of a dangerous storm, makes this story a delightful page-turner especially for young people.

Hello! My name is Cecily Millen. This might sound firmiliar. If it does, its because Cecily Millen is a charactor in the latest Mandie book, Mandie and the Tornado. Ms.Leppard took part in an auction to have your name put in a book and I won it! I was very excited and couldn't wait for the book to come out. It is also dedicated to me! Thank you Ms.Leppard I feel very honored to be in your book!

Anyway, this book is great. Once again Mandie sniffs a mystery right as she returns home from Miss Heathwoods'. It seems a light has been strangely appearing everynight in an abandoned barn near the Shaw's property. With the help of Joe, and Celia, and sometimes Liza,not to mention a tornado that sends them for shelter in the secret tunnel, they figure out the mystery of the strange light. Read it!

Like a previous reviewer, Stella Gibbon's pastiche of the English rustic romance, 'Cold Comfort Farm' sprang to mind in the early stages of Mary Webb's 'Precious Bane'. But it must be borne in mind that Gibbon's book can be as easily read as a lampoon of the un-romantic no-nonsense 'bright young thing' of the twenties,as it can a pastiche of the English rustic romance. Furthermore,as I read on, this cynical thought was quickly replaced by a different one: that the book bears closer resemblence to Thomas Hardy than it does to Gibbons, or , for that matter, the works of the Brontes (the rustic romance as bestseller!)which may be hallmarks of style, but can hardly be read as sensitive examinations of the human condition. Webb writes from the heart. While the story is as romantic as a fairy tale, there is a subtltey in her writing, and a fatalistic view of the natural world that suggests a deep spirituality combined with mental resolve. The character of Gideon is comparable to Hardy's tragic figures such as Boldwood in 'Far from the Madding Crowd" or the mayor of 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'. The fact that this book was written some eighty or ninety years ago by a woman, that its central character is a woman, and that the Webb chose to write using words and phrases of indigenous dialect has probably meant that it has been treated as a quaint piece of naive rural handicraft, rather than the deceptively careful literary construction that it is. If one of Hardy's characters had written a book, this is the book they would have written.

After finishing "Precious Bane" by Mary Webb, enjoying it thoroughly, and reflecting upon the story, I came to the obvious question many people ask after finishing a good book, "What was this all about?"
Superficially, "Precious Bane" tells the story of Prudence Sarn, a poor young woman living during the late 18th century in England with her mother and brother on their farm. Prue was born with a cleft pallet and throughout the book struggles with her personal issues about her appearance and how other people outside of her countryside view her due to her "hare-shotten lip." Prue enjoys the solitude and hard work on the farm, the interactions with her neighbors, The Beguildy's, and the rare trips to the market with her brother Gideon. Though Prue rarely deals with people outside of her family, she does find the opportunity to come into contact with the Beguildy family: Jancis, who is in love with Gideon, Missis Beguildy who befriends Prue when Jancis is sent away, and the Wizard Beguildy, who teaches Prue how to read and write. Additionally, Prudence occasionally has the opportunity to spend time with women from around town on Christmas and during the cakings. As well, for a great deal of the book, Prue talks about her love affair with the weaver Kester Woodseaves who she first met when he was called to weave the wedding linens for Jancis and Gideon, and who she eventually ends up marrying by the end of the book.
The story is told through Prudence Sarn's eyes, as in the fashion of a diary or journal looking back on the events of about 10 years past. Over time, we see how Prue develops into a woman, doing manual labor on the farm, spinning, and spending time with other characters. She grows from one unaware of her appearance, to one suddenly embarrassed, and finally to one trusting of those who love her. The timelessness of this plot line, coupled with Mary Webb's writing style and dramatic emphasis on nature make "Precious Bane" a book worth reading.

I inherited a 1920's hardcover copy of this book when my Grandmother died- it had always been one of her favorite books. When I read it, I begin to see why. My Grandmother was a person whose spirituality was unconventional, and this is a theme that strongly runs through this book. Traditional Christianity is there, but so is ecstatic spirituality inspired and manifested by nature. She sees God in nature. There are many many beautiful passages where the heroine is literally transported spiritually by the slight of flowers, or the songs of birds. Traditional beliefs and local magic are explored in detail and with an amazing lack of Judgement ( folklorists take note), and the Wizard, though he is not expected to go to Heaven, is a friend to a poor disabled girl and teaches her many good things. Her struggle for a "normal" life with her disability, a hare-lip, is very touching and inspiring. The author also deals with bigotry, persecution and rejection of those who are different, and the difficult question of what truly manefests Goodness- is Goodness something people truly strive for, or do most people simply go through life follow social pressures? Is the Wizard, who reached out to Prue and helped her with and open heart, a "better" person then the hard hearted comformity driven Churchgoes who would not even allow the Wizard's ( staunchly Christian) wife to enter their homes, condeming her to a lonely life?
There is Magic here, and unearthly beauty seen though the eyes of a sensative young girl, and what must have been a very different exploration of true human nature in those rigid times. A thoughtful, highly recommended book.

In this book, the author writes about what makes a book a good book and why reading to oneself and why reading aloud is important and then provides a long bibliography of recommended books. What makes this book special and different from other books (i.e. "Read Aloud Handbook") is that this book is completely family focused. It is written for an intended audience of parents and stresses using reading as an important activity that bonds families together.

Hunt feels that good books feed the soul, teach values, and build character. When one connects with a character emotionally, lessons will naturally be learned from reading the story and getting to know and love the characters. Only good books fit the bill for nourishing the soul, only good books provide "honey". Hunt quotes Eric Fromm, who wrote that he feels that children need "milk" and "honey" to thrive: the milk is the parent providing for the child's physical needs, and the "honey" is the "sweetness of life, that special quality that gives the sparkle within a person". Hunt and Fromm agree that only a minority of children are receiving "honey" from their parents, a parent must first love honey and have it to give, and that not every parent has it to give. Hunt feels that "good books are rich in honey".

There are 124 pages of discussion about good books and the value of selecting good books. Good books make children wonder, laugh, and that contains spiritual, emotional, and intellectual dimensions. There is not much dedicated to selecting books for toddlers and preschoolers although there are plenty of books for that age range in the book list. Unlike other books, this is purely opinion and the author does not spend time discussing results from studies about reading aloud. This book does not discuss issues such as problems that schools have with teaching reading or dealing with children who are not read to, or discussing problems with illiterate children and adults, or other societal educational matters-this book is focused on the family unit and speaks to parents about using reading and books to enrich the lives of their children.

Not a lot of time is spent talking about what makes a bad book, and specific examples are not given of bad books. I was a bit disappointed that the issue of guns and violence in books for preschoolers was not mentioned. Hunt does discuss negative content in books for upper elementary grades and teens. Hunt states it is a bad idea to fashion stories around common life problems for the sake of dosing up the books with realism: no matter how sad or pointless it is. To inject these negative issues in a manner that leaves the reader feeling sad and hopeless accomplishes nothing positive, and only serves to squash the child's spirit. Hunt states that it is now common for books to feature rape, sexual problems, and illicit drug and alcohol use.

Hunt is Christian and evidence of this is speckled here and there but I don't think it will be offensive to non-Christians. There are 12 pages dedicated to a chapter about reading aloud from the Bible as a daily family experience.

This edition contains 85 pages of book lists. The books are first divided into three age ranges, then by type such as picture book or series. From there the books are arranged by complexity of content, and then alpha by author. There is an index by author name only. Trying to look up a single book title to see if Hunt recommends it is not possible. Some of the entries contain no description, most contain one sentence description, and some contain 2 or 3 sentences for a description. This book lists contain works of fiction, not non-fiction such as books about trains or other "real" things that young children do love to read about-there are plenty of other ways to find those books, though.

I loved that Hunt brings into the discussion, the role of family and creating a safe and comfortable home for the child. There is a chapter about influences in the child's life: good and bad. Television is discussed, very lightly, for its problems such as helping contribute to short attention spans in preschool aged children, squelching creativity, and that the violent content of many shows and evening news programs does nothing but corrupt the soul. Good books are often translated into movies (Disney and such) but rarely compare to the quality and depth as the story as told in the book version. Hunt basically cautions to selectively watch TV but to make sure children get a daily dose of reading good books rather than spending valuable time sitting in front of poor content television shows and commercials. There are other books on the market that cite the studies and discuss the problems with television such as "Endangered Minds", if that is something you are interested in learning more about.

I love that Hunt is writing about the importance of family life and the value of reading as a family bonding experience, rather than the more common urging of parents to read anything at all to their children just so they would be interested in reading when the time comes to teach them to read. I am sick of hearing that parents should read anything, anything at all, to their children as a way to interest them in reading-I believe that content does matter!

Hunt's analysis of what constitutes a good book and her urging to use books to elevate the child's spirit is refreshing to read about. Hunt writes with clarity and this book is quick read but the important message will stay with you and inspire you. This book would make a great gift for new parents or grandparents; it makes an easy "wish list" to use as a buying guide. The price of this book is inexpensive and will save you time searching for good books in the library or bookstores, and it will save you money when you are buying books so I recommend it for every parent and grandparent.

In this book, Gladys Hunt introduces a veritable feast in the manner of choosing and reading books to one's children. Now, I am not a parent, I am merely a teenager who loves to read. :) When I came across this book in my parents' library, like almost every other book I have read, I fell in love with it.
Mrs. Hunt shows how reading good books together and introducing children to classics will build "children who are alive emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually." I know from experience that my parents are the ones who instilled in me that reading is one of the most important things of all. Whether or not they learned that from this book or not, I am so grateful that they taught me such a wonderful thing.
Gladys Hunt states (by quoting Erich Fromm's book The Art of Loving) that "...a child's basic need for milk and honey is from his parents. Milk is the symbol of the care a child recieves for his physical needs, for his person. Honey symbolizes the sweetness of life, that special quality that gives the sparkle within a person. To give honey, one must love honey and have it to give."
In the first 124 pages she illustrates how good books have enriched her family, and how she hopes that they will enrich yours, in the latter 45 pages or so a bibliography of some truly grand books are listed.
Honey for a Child's Heart is truly magnificent, and some day, when I marry and have children I hope to utilize everything I have learned within it. :)

Honey for a Child's Heart is an outstanding guide to fine children's literature. Though Ms. Hunt writes from the perspective of a dedicated Christian, as a non-Christian parent I did not feel the least uncomfortable with her expression of her views. The subtitle of the book "the Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life" is really the major focus of the book. Recognizing good literature, and incorporating it into one's home life is a value which transcends a specific religious point of view. The author's chapter on What Makes A Good Book will be invaluable to parents attempting to locate books which will stand the test of time from among the mind-boggling swarm which one meets in any children's book section. The books highlighted for discussion by Ms. Hunt are from a broad range of authors including Kenneth Grahame, Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis, Emily Dickenson, James Thurber and Miriam Cohen. The bibliography, comprising approximatley one-third of the book, is one of most complete guides to quality children's literature available anywhere. I pack this book with me to libraries and bookstores when I'm selecting children's books. No parent who wishes to introduce their children to fine literature and/or create a reading centered environment in the home should be without this book!

This book was recommended to me and I am forever thankful that I bought it. Through the diaries of a teenage girl named Cassandra Mortmain, the reader has the opportunity to discover the Mortmain's style of living in their old, broken-down castle. James Mortmain, reknown author of Jacob Wrestling, suddenly stopped writing and spends his days in the gatehouse, reading detective novels. After Cassandra and Rose's mother died, James decided to marry a woman who was at the same time excentric, peculair and overly obsessed with nudity: Topaz. Topaz posed for artists', but did not really enjoy it and rarely received any money for posing. With no income whatsoever, it would take a miracle for the Mortmain family to continue living.

However, thing slowly changed: Stephen, the Mortmain's servant and Cassandra's admirer, received a job at Four Stones. This gave the family a bit more financial freedom, but nothing major happened until they met the Cottons'. Simon Cotton took possession of Scoatney Hall, and, in this case, the castle, since the Mortmain only had a 40 year lease on the castle. But Simon didn't mind that the Mortmain's couldn't pay their rent; in fact, he was so honoured of meeting James Mortmain that Simon frequently came to the house to talk to the family. Neil Cotton, Simon's brother, was also there, but less present then Simon was.

As the story unfolds, things seem promising for the family: Rose is engaged to Simon. However, things suddenly go wrong, as first love often does. A surprising ending, with a witty and lovable narrator and a perfect length for the book. What more can a reader ask for?

I find this is a great book for teenagers and prepares them for the often deceiving ending of their first relationship. It was very well written and inspired me to start a journal, just like Cassandra did. It makes readers who have never experienced love realize that it is not as beautiful as is often perceived to be in fairy tales. With a zest of rustic, mediaeval feel snd a modern twist, this book is something that will be cherished and passed on from generation to generation.

I found out about this book from a small catalog and bought it with my fingers crossed. And I was very impressed! Smith's character Cassandra captures the castle and the people living in it with cleverness and thoughtfulness that I could only hope to possess. She is a wonderful heroine - maybe not beautiful like her sister Rose, but she knows what she wants (at least in the end) and has a way of talking right to the reader so you can identify with her. Simon and Neil Cotton characters bring more humor to the book and bring out the Mortmain family, as seen from outsiders. Another strong point besides the characters was the foreshadowing that keeps one wanting to read on and on without stopping. Some parts, especially the "life lesson" at the end, were a little predictable, but that doesn't take very much away from this excellent story. I recommend I Capture the Castle to young adults and older adults who enjoy romance and fantasy.

I was recommended this book by a friend who is a voracious reader. I forgot about it until working at the library, a copy fell into my hands. I remembered the friend, and borrowed the book. For several days I slowly read it and was mad at myself for having neglected this fine work. The narrator, Cassandra, is a girl on the brink of womanhood in the middle of a sad and terribly amusing dysfunctional family. Her family includes her genius of a father, who spends his days teetering on the brink of mental collapse; her stepmother, Topaz, a ridiculous woman with a heart of gold; Rose, the sister, heartless until her heart breaks; and their loyal servant, Stephen, who is the only one on the premises with the brains and brawn to earn the money they so need so badly. They live together in a beautiful ruin of a castle, caught in almost a dream of poverty, until one day two vistors arrive and change their future forever. I fell in love with Stephen, and I love this book!

Gladys Alyward was rejected by the CIM because she failed on her theology test, still certain that God wanted her in China, she crosses Russia when they were at war with China over Manchuria, She makes a narrow escape from Russia,as the Russian soldiers mistake missionary for mechanic,gets to China and travels to a small city in northern Shansi. Here she learnd Chinese fluently, gets her name Ai-Wah -Deh (The Victorius One)from stopping a blooy prison riot,converts the mandarin to christianity, falls in love with Linan, a nationalist general and finally amid typhod fever and internal injuries marches to Sian with one hundred children orphaned by Japanese bombs.

I did find it a little disapointing that it does not quite finish the story...but as she was still alive when this book was written it can't be helped.

The movie made me want to read the book. I've read & re-read it. It wets your appetite for adventure in another place, another time. I've begun looking for other books about China and Gladys. I'm enjoying discovering the History, the time, the landscape, it's inhabitants and the many authors who've written about China. It has made me want to go to China to see the places she roamed and walk there. It's romance, history, adventure, so many things in one small book.

Can YOU help. Gladys Aylward's life story has been a source of insipiration for many and I'm currently researching the possibility of producing a TV documentary about her life. I'm trying to track down some of the Children who treked across the mountains with her or anyone who worked with her for a short while and can tell her story. I would love to hear from you if you could assist me in any way. Thank you

The book is reasonably good. but a bit decptive in the title. Only about 1/3 of the book is actualy about rafting on the river. The river is known as the Salmon, nicknamed the river of no return because of the rapids and waterfalls that make it a one-way river.

I spent much of my childhood in the wilderness learning the joy of nature from a woman much the same as Hattie. It was a treasured weekend spent reliving my own memories within this wonderfully descriptive tale. My "action/suspense" reading husband couldn't put it down. We eagerly await Gladys Smith's next adventure.

I could not put this book down. It caught my sense of adventure and swept me through the pages before I knew what hit me. I think this would make a great movie. I hope someone has already bought this to make the film. I would love to read more of this author's work.

The tour of Europe cut short, Mandie and Celia return home to the states. When Mandie gets back to North Carolian though, she can immediatly tell something's wrong. Who are all the people in her house, and why are they all so sad? Has something happened to Samuel? Or much worse, to Mother? And did she really see an angel? This Mandie book keeps you guessing up until the very end. All though I would have liked to read more about Mandie's adventures in Europe, this is a good (but sad) mystery for her to return home to.

This book is hard to put down because its' secrets are not revealed until the very end. Mandie returns from her trip, unaware that her mother is lying in bed, close to death and that her little brother Samuel has died. Not being able to sleep, she has a visit from an angel, who tells her "you will know, you will know". She contacts a doctor she knows, without telling the docter who is already looking after her mother. She keeps hearing this voice saying "So you are Amanda," but she does not no saying this. You have to ready this amazing book to find out what happens next. This book is perfectly written and is a heart-warming story.

When Mandie, her best friend, and her grandmother return from their trip to Europe, Mandie expects something is wrong. No one tells her anything, but when she returns home, her house is full of strangers dressed in black. When she finds that her baby brother has died, and her mother is near death, she blams her grandmother for not telling her. This book is full of emotions, but a side from those there is a thrilling mystery to be solved.