This is a very good book. The author is obviously indebted to Johanna Spyri's Heidi, but in a good way. This book can be read aloud to children as young as 5, but young teenagers will also enjoy it. Be aware, though, that St. John's original text is out of print. What Moody and Scripture Union currently publish is an "updated" version--good if your child struggles with reading; but if your child is literate, get a used copy!

When I was 9 years old I read this book. I didn't remember much about the story, but when I saw it in a book store all the warm feelings came flooding back, and I bought it to read to my daughters.

They have so enjoyed it! Our oldest is 8, and our youngest is 5, and we've had a difficult time getting the 5-year-old to sit through "chapter books". But she was enthralled from the start, especially because of the cat and the kittens!

It's a gentle story that depicts the love of Jesus in a simple way, without forcing it. It's just part of life, exactly as it's supposed to be.

A beautiful story that I'm sure my daughters will carry with them, too!

I first read this book when I was in 3rd grade. It has always been my all time favorite book. I have now been an teacher for 14 years and it is has remained the only book I will always read to my class. It deals well with issues of pride, friendship, sacrifice, truth and growing up and draws the readers in from the very first chapter. My students always elect this as their favorite read aloud of the year - and I read a lot of classics to them! Try to read the original text. I always prefer these to the abridged versions. There is also a well done movie available! READ THIS BOOK and you will be greatly moved and impacted!

Patricia writes here an interesting story that happens in Jesus times. The book is very interesting and at the same time it brings a clear and clean message about the Lord's teachings. I would recommend this to you if you want to read a book for yourself or for your kids.

Philo is a boy in the first century (Jesus's time). His sister is posessed by a demon. Because he can't stand to be at home anymore, he runs away and he learns about Jesus and he is never the same again. This book has a great ending. (I don't want to spoil the surprise.)

This book is historical fiction. It takes place during the time of Christ's ministry in Palestine. It gives powerful imagery of those times and events. Even more powerful are inspiring insights into certain specific events such as His ministry in the regions of Samaria, Tyre and Sidon as well as the casting out of evil spirits into a herd of swine and the calming of the Sea of Galilee. I feel grateful and uplifted to have found this book.

I was given a copy of The Tanglewoods' Secret when I was probably 10 or 12. I read it and loved it then. I'm now nearly 29. I just picked it up again tonight, and read it cover to cover. The struggles of the main character, a nine-year-old girl, to learn to overcome her fiery temper and selfish spirit, and her discovery of the Shepherd who can and does teach her (and others) how to be good, can speak to anyone who ever wanted their own way over another's. If you are looking for a good, pastoral story with a truly uplifting message (so hard to find today!), then order this book.

I have never read a more meaningful and thought provoking allegory of the Saviors parable of the lost sheep. In addition the story contains very beautiful and uplifing examples of what can happen when we let ourselves be found by Him. I am very grateful that I found this book.

I read this book over and over as a child and I think it influenced my involvement in foster care now. St. John writes with a real knowledge of what a children who find themselves in trouble are like. It is realistic, and yet extremely hopeful.

I think the book is warm and shows some interesting aspects of real life and how much Jesus can change our hearts through love. I specially like the picture of Jesus being the spring of water that changes everything where it flows into green.

Star of Light is a beautiful, yet sensitive fictional book (though it seems like non-fiction) . Set in North Africa, this book is about a little boy named Hamid and his blind sister, Kinza. Because Kinza is blind and a girl, a double curse in that part of the world, Hamid's stepfather wants to sell her to a beggar who will use her to make money. But Hamid loves Kinza and is determined to save her from an inevitable life of abuse. So he steals her away and brings her to a strange English nurse who loves all children no matter how they look or what disabilities they have. Truly a spellbinding book. I liked this book because I felt like I was there, in North Africa, years before I was born. If you like this book I would also recommend The Rainbow Garden,also written by Patricia St. John, and The Hidden Jewel.

This book is very exciting and has adventure. (One of my favourite kinds of books) I also like this book because its a Christian book. It is about a boy named David and his friend, Waffi. David's parents are missionaries and came to Africa to talk about God. When David's older brother, Murray, had left, David had only Waffi to play with. Waffi was nice to David, but he was also sly and bad. Waffi made David do bad things but David had to confess it instead of Waffi. David finally got angry and told his mother about that problem. His mother said not to play with Waffi anymore, but David said he wanted to and made up his mind to be good with Waffi. However, David made many mistakes while trying to be good, like when Waffi made David steal grapes. But Waffi and David got caught by two men. What will happen to David and Waffi? Will Waffi change to be good? Will David and Waffi get away? This book will keep you interested, so you'd better read it!

As a child of 8 or so, I read this book to myself. At first read, I thought it a rather strange book. It was only after three more reads later in my life that I finally understood the plot. This book is well worth the money simply because of the beautiful images that made me cry as an 8 year old, but save your dollars until your child is old enough to sort through the images to find the plot.

I loved RAINBOW GARDEN as a little girl. As an adult, I still re-read it every couple of years. In my opinion, this beautiful story should be considered a Christian classic. Both well-written and touching, RAINBOW GARDEN is a story about how a lonely little girl finds fulness of joy. Patricia M. St. John paints wonderful pictures of happy childhood and those little incidents that have such great meaning and excitement.

This is the story of a little girl who feels lost in the world, as her mother is too busy with her own life to care for her. Her father is dead and now her mother is taking a new job in a different country, requiring lots of travelling, without Elaine. Elaine must go live with a family of six children. Through the time she spends with them, she finds Jesus and learns to love others more than herself. An excellent protrayal of real life situations, not glossed over, but told with propiety. I read this story to my four children ages 3 to 9 and they loved it.

This autobiography of the author of such classics as "Treasure in the Snow" and "Star of Light" is itself a real treasure. Patricia St. John doesn't engage in any "everything is happy happy happy" account of her life. There is a realism and depth that those who take their Christian life seriously can connect and relate to. In my own opinion, the poem near the end "The Alchemist" is in itself worth the price of the book. If you are skeptical of the popular evangelical cliches that trivialize Christian experiance and Biblical truths about the Christian life, this book will be breath of fresh air.

Christian Focus books claims that it publishes "biblically-accurate books" and while this fictional retelling of Paul's letter to Philemon may be true to the New Testament account, it is not true to the historical reality of its time. It isn't that St. John doesn't grasp the horror of slavery, in fact she plays it down a bit but this is more for children and teenagers than adults. But the period, 1st century not long after the death of Jesus, is too early for so many Christians, especially among the middle and upper classes of Rome, to be running around everywhere. The character of Onesiumus though is well done and shows complexity and conflict where it should -- other characters too are fairly done. Its a good book to preach with, just not a good both to teach history from.