Gloria Whelan Books In Order

Next Spring Oriole

In 1837, ten year old Libby and her parents journey by covered wagon to the Michigan frontier, where they make themselves a new home near friendly Indians and other pioneers.

Night Of The Full Moon

The Night Of The Full Moon is approaching and Libby Mitchell cannot wait! Nothing will stop her from visiting her best friend, Fawn, at the nearby Indian camp and attending a special ceremony there. When soldiers rush in and order everyone at the camp to move off the land immediately they mistake Libby for a member of the tribe! As each day pas*ses, Libby wonders if she will ever see her family again. From the Trade Paperback edition.

The Shadow of the Wolf

The woods of southern Michigan are getting corwded, so Libby Mitchell andher family load up their covered wagon and move north. They settle on theshores of Lake Michigan right next to the Indian camp where Libby’s friendFawn lives! But Libby and Fawn soon find out that greedy men are trying tocheat the Indians out of their land. Now the girls must think of a way to stopthem before the people and animals who call the forest their home lose itforever. This poignant, beautifully told story concludes Gloria Whelan’sAmerican history trilogy. Publishers Weekly gave a starred review to thesecond title, Night of the Full Moon, calling it a ‘satisfying chapterbook…
as captivating as any in the Little House series.’

Once On This Island

When war erupts between England and America in 1812, it brings change and uncertainty even to Michigan’s remote Mackinac Island. For young Mary O Shea, the hardest change is the departure of her father, who leaves Mackinac to join the American Army. With her sister and brother, Mary must tend the farm, deal with the hardships of British occupation, and hope for the safe return of their father. The story, told with quiet humor, brings to life this episode in history. The readers feels the beauty of the island, the pain of separation, and the anxiety and fear produced by war. V. S mooth writing, vivid characters, and strong sense of place make this a good choice for libraries and a treasure for ones in the Great Lakes area. BL.

Farewell to the Island

The year is 1816, and the war between England and the United States has come to an end. Once again the American flag flies proudly over the remote island of Mackinac, which Mary O’Shea calls home. Now for the first time in her life, Mary is leaving that island traveling to London to visit her sister Angelique. During her voyage on the British frigate Comfort, which will carry her from New York to London, Mary does her best to be of assistance. Although the captain does not appreciate her efforts, she captures the eye of a young midshipman named James Lindsay. Upon her arrival in England, Mary finds herself swept up into society and learns that James is none other than Lord Lindsay, son of the Duke of Oakbridge. As the two tour London together, their fondness for each other grows. Soon Mary finds herself facing the most difficult decision of her life. Can she give up her island for a life in London society with James? Or does her heart belong back on Mackinac, surrounded by the land and people she loves? With masterful storytelling, accurate historical detail, and a charismatic protagonist, critically acclaimed author Gloria Whelan presents a captivating sequel to her 1996 Great Lakes Book Award winner Once On This Island.

Return to the Island

Is Mary home for good?It is the spring of 1818 and Mary O’Shea has returned from England to her beloved Mackinac Island. She loves her life on the family firm and knows that she chose wisely in declining a marriage proposal from James Lindsay, a young duke she met during her travels. She is also delighted to once again spend time with White Hawk, her dearest friend. And although he is often called away to defend Indian claims to native lands, Mary cherishes White Hawk’s visits, and hopes that one day he will stay forever. Then suddenly Mary’s future comes into question when James appears at her doorstep to ask for her hand and refuses to leave until she consents. Now it seems that the only way for Mary to discover what her future holds is to uncover the truth of her own heart.

Welcome to Starvation Lake

Starvation Lake Elementary is just a regular school…
except that it’s due north by an icy lake, lost in a swirl of snow most of the time. And it lacks one thing most schools have a decent library. The fourth grade is putting on a fund raiser, but it seems sure to fail. Can four guys in a detoured van save the show? With longer chapters and occasional black and white illustrations, Mile 5 Road to Reading books are just right for the independent reader.

Rich and Famous in Starvation Lake

It’s been snowing for twenty three days in Starvation Lake, but a fourth grade contest is heating up at Starvation Lake Elementary School. It’s the boys against the girls. Who can raise the most money for a winter overnight field trip? One plan involves a new kind of candy. The other includes a trip to the local funeral home! With longer chapters and occasional black and white illustrations, Mile 5 Road to Reading books are just right for the independent reader.

Angel On the Square

It is a golden time for the aristocracy of St. Petersburg in the fall of 1914. The daughter of a lady in waiting, Katya Ivanova is safe behind palace walls. She takes her vacations on the imperial yacht and her tea with the Tsar’s daughters. The royal family feels like her own. But outside the palace, a devastating war sweeps through Europe, and deep unrest takes root in Russia. As the flame of revolution ignites in a country where the rich have always ruled, Katya’s once certain future dissolves. National Book Award winning author Gloria Whelan transports readers to a crumbling, war torn Russia, where one young woman, growing up in the shadow of a revolution, must take her future into her own hands.

The Impossible Journey

One Russian night in 1934, Marya and Georgi’s parents disappear. Despite high risks, Katya and Misha had spoken against the government. The children, alone and desperate, fear the worst. Will they ever see their parents again?But all it takes is one crumpled letter to give Marya and Georgi hope and send them on a dangerous mission to reunite their family. They must steal away in the dark of night, escape the city, and find passage to the great Siberian wilderness. And even then, if they succeed in getting away, their journey will have only just begun. In this companion novel to her breathtaking Russian epic Angel on the Square, National Book Award winning author Gloria Whelan takes readers on a remarkable journey that is both perilous and transforming.

Burying the Sun

In the glorious springtime of 1941 Leningrad seems as though it will always be bright. And then, on June 22nd, Germany turns its forces against its old friend, and all at once Russia is at war. As the enemy army draws closer, winter approaches, and with it will come a darkness and hunger that will stalk the once luminous city. At fourteen, Georgi is too young to join the army. Still, he is determined to do something anything to help his family, and his city, through this terrifying time. In this companion novel to her breathtaking Russian epics angel on the square and the impossible journey, National Book Award winning author Gloria Whelan transports readers to a gripping and treacherous time in Russian history and illuminates the power of one brave young man who, by taking action, will bring light to a city under siege.

The Turning

In the spring of 1991, a Russianballerina dreams of leaving Leningrad — forever. A member of the Kirov Ballet Corps, Tatiana hopes to be chosen for the troupe’s Paris tour. Once there, she will try to escape the watchful eye of KGB agents, defect to France, and leave the complicated politics of the Soviet Union behind.

But like ballet, leaving is harder than it looks. Tatiana becomes entangled in her country’s struggle for democracy, and her dream of a better life in Paris is soon challenged by hope for her country’s future. Tatiana must make a choice, and there will be no turning back.

This companion novel to National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan’s breathtaking epics angel on the square, the impossible journey, and burying the sun offers a riveting portrait of a nation, and a young woman, on the brink of spectacular change.

That Wild Berries Should Grow

Elsa dreads spending the summer at her grandparents’ house on Lake Huron, but she discovers the excitement of nature and the richness of friendship.

A Time to Keep Silent

Thirteen year old Clair Lothrops world is falling apart. Her mother has died, and her father spends his evenings shut in his study. In a desperate attempt to get her fathers attention, Clair stops talking. Clairs vow of silence gets her fathers attention, but not in the way she hoped. He resigns from his position as the pastor of a large metropolitan church to begin a mission in the remote woods of northern Michigan, taking Clair with him. Clair is furious at having to leave her friends. The woods are frightening, and her new house is a tumbledown shack where raccoons and mice have made their home. But everything changes when Clair discovers a wonderful new friend her own age, Dorrie, who lives alone in the woods to avoid her alcoholic father. Through this surprising friendship, Clair finds strength and courage she didnt know she had.

The Pathless Woods

Goodbye, Vietnam

‘When Mai’s family discovers that Vietnam government soldiers will soon apprehend her father and grandmother, the family slips away in the night. They trudge through the swamps of the Mekong Delta toward the sea. The gut wrenching trip to Hong Kong is just another step toward a new life, which the family eventually finds. Whelan’s characters are distinctive, and her story is riveting, haunting, and memorable, reflecting the human virtues of determination, hope, love, and courage in the face of the most devastating of circumstances and injustices.’ Booklist.

The President’s Mother

Gloria Whelan weaves an imaginatie tale of politcal intrigue that exploress the horrific consequences of misplaced power. With sweeping strokes of realism that focus on our nation’s health care reform, Whelan demonstrates how the best intentions can pave the way for great evil.

Homeless Bird

Gloria Whelan’s National Book Award winning novel, chronicles the breathtaking story of a remarkable young woman who dares to defy fate. Like many girls her age in India, thirteen year old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly’s story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she’s been horribly misled; her life has been sold for a dowry. In prose both graceful and unflinching, this powerful novel relays the story of a rare young woman, who even when cast out into a brutal current of time worn tradition, sets out to forge her own remarkable future. Inspired by a newspaper article about the real thirteen year old widows in India today, this universally acclaimed best selling novel, characterized by spare, lyrical language and remarkable detail, transports readers into the heart of a gripping tale of hope. Ages 10

Fruitlands

We are all going to be made perfect. This day we left Concord in the rain to travel by wagon the ten miles to our new home, which Father has named Fruitlands…
. In 1843, with all their possessions loaded onto a single wagon, young Louisa May Alcott and her family bravely venture into the wilderness. Louisa’s father is determined to realize his vision of a perfect life: one where people live in peace with each other and with nature, surviving off the land. Louisa keeps a journal in which she vows to try to uphold her father’s high ideals. But her family’s journey can’t erase her own dreams, doubts, frustrations, and fears. With the words ‘This is to be my secret diary,’ Louisa begins recording a very different version of events. Unfolding together, the two accounts reveal one remarkable tale of a young writer finding her voice. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s own Journals, National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan’s novel breathes new life into a forgotten chapter from the youth of the beloved author of Little Women.

Chu Ju’s House

One girl too many…

When a girl is born to Chu Ju’s family, it is quickly determined that the baby must be sent away. After all, the law states that a family may have only two children, and tradition dictates that every family should have a boy. To make room for one, this girl will have to go.

Fourteen year old Chu Ju knows she cannot allow this to happen to her sister. Understanding that one girl must leave, she sets out in the middle of the night, vowing not to return.

With luminescent detail, National Book Award winning author Gloria Whelan transports readers to China, where law conspires with tradition, tearing a young woman from her family, sending her on a remarkable journey to find a home of her own.

Listening for Lions

Historical fiction with a wicked twist.

Listening for Lions is a breathtaking story of tragedy, deception, and triumph against all odds. National Book Award winning author Gloria Whelan sets this richly historical coming of age adventure in British East Africa in the year 1918.

This irresistible novel entangles an orphaned girl in a deceit filled plot. Young Rachel Sheridan is made to leave her beloved Africa for England, where she must pose as the deceased daughter of a nefarious couple in an effort to gain them an enormous inheritance. Her irrepressible spirit and extraordinary wit turn her from victim to hero*ine in a surprising and empowering tale of a remarkable young woman.

Summer of the War

In the summer of 1942, Belle excitedly awaits the arrival of her worldly older cousin, Caroline, who will join the family at their grandparents’ island cottage in Michigan. Belle dreams of being introduced to French sophistication and style. But Carrie brings much more than that: She carries the troubling reality of the world war that is ravaging Europe. On quiet Turtle Island, a place where everything always stays the same, this one summer will bring about a world of change. Set against the backdrop of breezy island cottages and a faraway war, this heartrending tale from National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan is the story of a beautiful place and a unique friendship& 8212and how events thousands of miles away shape them both.

Parade of Shadows

Sixteen year old Julia Hamilton is restless. Determined not to be left behind again stuck in the cold house where her mother died ten years earlier, with only her dreams to keep her company Julia begs her father to take her with him on his next expedition. When he unexpectedly agrees, Julia is intrigued. Will this be her chance at adventure and romance?

Traveling across the sands of the ancient world known as the Levant, Julia meets a French antiques collector, a British horticulturist, and a dashing young student each harboring secrets as elusive as a mirage.

As she learns more about her companions and the dangerous world she’s in, Julia must decide whom she can trust…
and what she is willing to fight for.

The Disappeared

A riveting tale about love and sacrifice by a National Book Award winner. The Disappeared. Los desaparecidos. This is the name given to those who opposed Argentina’s dictatorial government and were kidnapped to ensure their silence. With her hometown of Buenos Aires ensconsced in the political nightmare, Silvia devises a plan to save her missing brother. She ll make Norberto, son of the general who arrests dissenters, fall in love with her and he ll have his father set Eduardo free. Told in alternating chapters, this powerful and poetic story follows Silvia as she spirals into Norberto s world, and Eduardo as he struggles to endure physical and emotional torture. Will Silvia s scheme reunite her family? Or will the pursuit of freedom cost these devoted siblings their lives?

After the Train

Peter Liebig can’t wait for summer. He’s tired of classrooms, teachers, and the endless lectures about the horrible Na*zis. The war has been over for ten years, and besides, his town of Rolfen, West Germany, has moved on nicely. Despite its bombed out church, it looks just as calm and pretty as ever. There is money to be made at the beach, and there are whole days to spend with Father at his job. And, of course, there’s soccer. Plenty for a thirteen year old boy to look forward to. But when Peter stumbles across a letter he was never meant to see, he unravels a troubling secret. Soon he questions everything the town’s peaceful nature, his parents’ stories about the war, and his own sense of belonging.

The Locked Garden

It’s the year 1900, the dawn of a new century and a chance for a new beginning for Verna and Carlie, whose mother died two years ago. They are headed to their new home the grounds of an asylum for the mentally ill. Their father, a doctor, has been hired to treat its patients while the girls are under the strict and watchful eye of their aunt Maude. The towering asylum, the murmuring patients with their tormented pasts, the exquisite locked garden at the center of the grounds Verna perceives forbidden mystery and enchantment everywhere. Even Aunt Maude’s temper will not keep her from striking out on her own exciting adventures.

But is Verna ready to confront all the secrets and emotions that have been locked within even those of her own heart?

See What I See

Kate Tapert sees her life in paintings. She makes sense of the world around her by relating it to what she adores-art. Armed with a suitcase, some canvases, and a scholarship to art school in Detroit, Kate is ready to leave home and fully immerse herself in painting. Sounds like heaven. All Kate needs is a place to stay.

That place is the home of her father, famous and reclusive artist Dalton Quinn, a father she hasn’t seen or heard from in nearly ten years. When Kate knocks on his door out of the blue, little does she realize what a life-altering move that will turn out to be. But Kate has a dream, and she will work her way into Dalton’s life, into his mind, into his heart…
whether he likes it or not.

Small Acts of Amazing Courage

It is 1918, six months after the end of World War I, and Rosalind awaits the return of her father from the war. While it is common practice for British children in India to be packed off to boarding school at the age of 6, Rosalind is unusual because she lives and is schooled in India because her mother insists. The heart of this penetrating story is Rosalind’s coming of age set against the hardship of life for the Indian people, Rosalind’s daily life in India, the rise of Ghandi and Rosalind’s coming to make her own decisions and become her own person.

Bringing the Farmhouse Home

A little girl recalls her grandmother’s death, when her aunts, uncles, cousins, and others converged on Grandma’s farm, and she recalls such objects as the family Bible, a little box painted with forget me nots, and Grandma’s quilt.

The Miracle of Saint Nicholas

When Alexi learns from his babuskha that a Russian village church has been closed for sixty years, the resourceful young boy decides to prepare it for a Christmas miracle.

Jam and Jelly By Holly and Nellie

Times are hard and winter is very cold in northern Michigan. Without a warm coat, Holly might not be able to start school. Can Mama figure out a solution before the spring flowers turn to winter snows? National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan’s lyrical prose is beautifully matched by detailed paintings from Michigan artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen.

Friend On Freedom River

In 1850 the Detroit River was a major track along the Underground Railroad the last step to freedom. The journey across the river was dangerous, especially in winter and especially for a 12 year old boy. When Louis’s father left him in charge of the farm he offered his son this advice, ‘If you don’t know what to do, just do what you think I would have done.’ Louis relies upon his father’s words of wisdom when a runaway slave and her two children come looking for safe passage.

Mackinac Bridge

Set in the late 1950s, this is the moving story of a young boy whose father operates a ferryboat between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. As young Mark witnesses the building of the new Mackinac Bridge, he is awestruck by the majesty of the five mile long bridge that will connect the two peninsulas and change the lives of so many. But the Mighty Mac will also put Mark’s father out of business. As his father stuggles with the flow of progress, Mark dreams of future bridges he will build. Details of the complex construction of the bridge will fascinate children as they learn an important part of America’s history and come to understand the meaning of change. The Mackinac Bridge Authority provides history notes at the back of the book.

Yatandou

Yatandou lives in a Mali village with her family and neighbors. And though she is only eight years old and would much rather play with her pet goat, she must sit with the women and pound millet kernels. To grind enough millet for one day?s food, the women must pound the kernels with their pounding sticks for three hours. It is hard work, especially when one is eight years old. But as they work, the women dream of a machine that can grind the millet and free them from their pounding sticks. But the machine will only come when the women have raised enough money to buy it. Yatandou must help raise the money, even if it means parting with something she holds dear. Through the eyes and voice of a young girl, award winning author Gloria Whelan brings to life one village’s dream of a better future. Atmospheric paintings from artist Peter Sylvada capture the landscape and spirit of this inspiring story of sacrifice and hope.

K Is for Kabuki

Judo, origami, sushi with just a few words an immediate landscape is conjured: the country of Japan. In K Is for Kabuki: A Japan Alphabet, young readers are invited to travel to faraway Japan and explore its rich history, traditions, and role in today’s world. Evocative artwork captures the spirit of each letter topic.O is for OrigamiA paper frog, a paper tree,a paper sunfl ower just for me,a paper fox, a paper shrew,a paper tiger just for you. From the comic relief of Kyogen theater to the meditative powers of a Zen garden, K Is for Kabuki brings the past, present, and pageantry of Japan to life.

Silver

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Even though he is the runt of the litter from her father’s prize sled racing dog, ten year old Rachel plans to train her puppy to become a champion racer and determines to track him down when he mysteriously disappears.

Hannah

Nine year old Hannah would do almost anything to go to school with all the other children in town. But Hannah is blind and her parents keep her at home where she is ‘safe.’ Then Lydia Robbin comes to town. She’s a strong willed teacher who accomplishes a small miracle: she convinces Hannah‘s parents to send her to school. At first Hannah is overjoyed. But she soon learns that there are many obstacles and people that stand in the way of her education. Hannah will need tremendous courage to prove to her classmates, her parents and herself that Miss Robbin was right to believe in her.

The Indian School

When shy, ten year old Lucy comes to live with her aunt and uncle at their mission school, she’s surprised at the number of harsh rules and restrictions imposed on the children. Why, she wonders, should the Indians have to do all the changing? And why is her aunt so strict with them? Then a girl called Raven runs away in protest, and Lucy knows she must overcome her timidity and stand up to her aunt no matter what the consequences. Once again Gloria Whelan has taken a chapter from our past and transformed it into gripping, accessible, historically accurate fiction. 1996 Pick of the Lists ABA

Forgive the River, Forgive the Sky

When Lily Star’s father dies while fishing on the river, her family is forced to move into town, abandoning their cabin in the woods. By turns poignant and funny, this beautifully told story introduces readers to a young girl with a tender heart who learns that loss is an inevitable part of love.

Are There Bears in Starvation Lake?

The kids from Starvation Lake are all excited about their trip to the ecology center…
all of them, that is, except Baylor. Just the thought of being outdoors makes Baylor sick. The cold and the germs are bad enough, but no one said anything about the bears!

A Haunted House in Starvation Lake

Dawn Zonder is finally starting to feel at home in Starvation Lake with all her new friends when she finds out she might have to move again. If only Dawn could convince her family to stay in Starvation Lake for good. But the only house the Zonders can afford is the old Grader place. It’s more than just run down it s haunted!