Elizabeth Gail And The Mystery At The Johnson Farm

With all her heart she wished she could stay. What good did it do to wish? She slapped snow off her mittens. Nothing ever went right in her life. Why should it now?

Book: Elizabeth Gail And The Mystery At The Johnson Farm by Hilda Stahl, Tyndale House Publishers, 1978

 

Genre: Mystery

Target Audience: Girls 11-14

Subjects: Foster Care, Friendships, Jealousy, Bullying

Summary: Elizabeth Gail is just sure this foster home will be no different than any of the others, but she’s wrong. The Johnson family is determined to love her, truly love her. They have prayed for her and are thankful for her arrival. However, not everyone is glad she’s here. A neighbor girl has taken a mean and spiteful attitude towards Elizabeth and is determined to get rid of her no matter what. Elizabeth thwarts multiple attempts to do so, but if something doesn’t change soon, the neighbor girl will get her way and Elizabeth will be gone.

Notes: This is a look at how a child would likely feel coming into a foster family at an older age, already having been through the system enough to be hardened by it. It’s also a look at what the love of Christ, working through His people can do to change a hardened heart. Elizabeth doesn’t expect the Johnsons to truly love her – or anyone to for that matter. But she can’t help but respond to the love they show. This book may be older and therefore not written with the intensity some of today’s books have, but it still does a good job covering the issues realistically, making it so you can really relate to the characters.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 21:8 – The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.