The Disappearing Stranger by Lois Walfrid Johnson

Book one the Adventure of the Northwoods series, The Disappearing Stranger, was copyrighted by Lois Walfrid Johnson in 1990. Bethany House Publishers published it. This Christian mystery has 142 pages and is for kids ages 8-12.

Kate’s mama marries Mr. Nordstrom in 1906 and they go to his home in Wisconsin. His son, Anders, and Kate solve the mystery of the strange man and the box. When Kate first moves to Wisconsin she does not get along well with Anders. Kate comes across a man burying a box. She enlists the help of Anders to get the box and then solve the mystery when the box goes missing. When they come across a syrup pail in their well they know something is going on. They decide to stay up all night to watch to see if somebody takes the pail from its new spot. The stranger comes and Kate sneaks into his wagon. Anders comes to her rescue the next day with the help of Big Gust. They catch the thief, Mr. Eberly a traveling salesman. Kate and Anders receive an award, which enables both of them to get what they really want, Kate and organ and Anders a horse. Kate realizes that after being chased by a bull, being lost in the woods and strong winds that God is always with her. She just needs accept him, like she needs enjoy acceptance into her new blended family.

Lois Walfrid Johnson is a well-known author who has won a Gold Medallion award and her teen devotionals are bestsellers. Her setting is historically accurate as is the addition of Big Gust. At the end of the book Mrs. Johnson acknowledges the people who helped her with her book.

I, like Kate, need to make Psalm 46 my mantra. We need to all open our hearts to God and he will be there always. He is our refuge.

I liked how Mr. Nordstrom slowly made friends with Kate. I also liked how Kate realized that God is there for her. I did not like how Kate listened to Sarah and made negative assumptions about Wisconsin.

I would recommend this paperback book, because we all need to know that God is always there for us.

The Mystery of the White Elephant by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

Book one of the Three Cousins Detective Club is called The Mystery of the White Elephant and was written by Elspeth Campbell Murphy and illustrated by Joe Nordstrom. It was copyrighted in 1994 and published by Bethany House Publishers. This Christian mystery is 64 pages long and is for children ages 7-10.

Ten-year-old cousins, Timothy, Sarah-Jane and Titus need to solve the mystery of the missing cookie jar, a white elephant, before the church auction begins. The children solve the mystery by finding the missing bag. The kids begin their adventure by learning that a “white elephant” is something somebody has, but does not want or need. They need to find their “white elephant” to take to the church auction. They find that Mrs. Foster has taken a white elephant cookie jar, which they all would like to have. The cookie jar disappears after they see a lady wearing a rain poncho, sun hat and carrying a bag. They talk to Pastor Parry and they decide to search for it. They find the clothes in the lost-and-found. Timothy remembers the bag has a red maple leaf on it. The kids think it might belong to Mrs. Foster’s friend from Canada. After they children find the bag, they go tell Pastor Parry all they know and give him the bag. Pastor Parry is able to fix the problem. Mrs. Foster’s friend and Timothy, Sarah-Jane and Titus learn that God has no “white elephants.” He loves everybody and the church can love everybody, like Mrs. Foster’s friend too.

Elspeth Campbell Murphy has written more than 100 books the past years. She is a graduate of Trinity College and Moody, Bible Institute. She currently lives in Chicago and received a Gold Medallion award for Do You See Me, God?

The theme for this book is love. We must treat everyone with love, and never like “white elephants.” There was nothing to dislike in this book. I enjoyed reading all of it. I especially liked the part where everybody at church was so kind to Mrs. Foster’s friend, even though she took the cookie jar.

I would recommend this book to all to read. It is fun to with its white pages, large letters, and fun black and white illustrations.