About this item
After Nathaniel's leg is crushed in an accident, his father brings home an orphan boy, John Worth, to help work the fields. Worth has come to Nebraska from New York City on the Orphan Train, which brings homeless children west to find new lives. Nathaniel feels increasingly jealous of the boy who has taken over not only his work but the attention of his father, who has barely spoken to him since his injury. In school for the first time he is far behind even his youngest classmates, and he feels as useless there as he does at home. Meanwhile, Worth is still grieving for his family and his old life. As the farm chores prevent him from going to school, he also resents losing his dream of an education and a good job. And for all the work he does, he knows he will never inherit the farm that he's helping to save.
About the Author
when I started elementary in a small town in central Wisconsin, I discovered that I had a serious problem--I was a complete and total geek! I showed up at school with my clothes on backwards (not to start a new fashion trend, I just didn't pay a lot of attention when I was getting dressed) ; I talked to myself (why not, no one else would) ; and I was constantly making up stories.
By the time I was 8, most of the kids in school hated me. They called me names, threw things at me, and generally made my life miserable. I want to do something to make them want to get to know the real me, becuase I felt sure that they'd like me if they really got to know me.
My big plan back then was to break a World Record in the Guiness Book of World Records, then I'd become famous and everyone would want to get to know me. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a record I could break. Then I found Dorothy Straight who published a novel when she was six. I thought, "If a six year old can do it, then so can I." That's what started me on the road to becoming an author.
Since then, I've become an author and a writing teacher. I've published over a dozen books including WORTH which won the 2005 Scott O'Dell Award and I have more on the way.
More importantly, I've realized that it's wonderful to embrace your inner geek, believe in the person God made you to be, and use the gifts God gave you to try and make the world a better place. I hope my books do that.
Happy Reading!
