The Tanglewoods' Secret

The Tanglewoods' Secret by Patricia St. John

This was assigned as a read-aloud for us. It was something I wouldn't have picked off the shelf, but I fell in love with the story. It is written for children, but not in a childish way. It has a beautiful story woven into it of the salvation message.

Here's the description:
Ruth and her beloved brother Philip find solace in the expanse of Tanglewoods'. There they escape into bird watching, climbing, and general misadventures with their friend Terry. But life with their Aunt is harsh and Ruth suffers from an incorrigible temper. Just when she thinks she can't take it anymore, she learns a very special secret about a very special Shepherd. When a dreadful accident hurts one they love, Ruth and Philip learn that the Tanglewoods' Secret isn't meant to be kept a secret.

We also read  Treasures of the Snow

Annette and Lucien are enemies. After Annette gets Lucien into trouble at school, he decides to get back at her by threatening the most precious thing in the world to her: her little brother Dani. But tragedy strikes. Annette is so filled with rage she sets out to alienate and humiliate Lucien at every turn. As Lucien seeks to repent and restore, light floods both of their dark hearts and Christ proves that He makes all things new.

AND

Star of Light by the same author and loved them just as much.

Hamid rubbed the light from his eyes and looked again. He was not dreaming. It was his stepfather! The man watched Kinza as a snake might watch a baby rabbit at play, waiting for the moment to strike. And for one breathless moment Hamid was sure that he would reach out and snatch her away.Hamid does not want his little blind sister, Kinza, to be sold to a beggar, by their stepfather, so he decides to rescue her. Together they escape from their mountain village to a town where there may be a new home for Kinza. But this is only the start of their adventures. Will Kinza be safe? What will happen to Hamid who dares not go back home?Set in North Africa, readers will be delighted by yet another of Patricia St. John's exciting, freshly edited, novels.

Each of these books has a beautiful salvation message woven into great moral fiber.

~Jessi H.