Answer My Prayer

To read a Sid Hite novel is to travel to a timeless place where miracles lie around every corner. This newest tale, as full of wit and colloquial charm as Dither Farm, takes the reader to Korasan, a land famous for its jeefwood products. There artisans battle to save the precious trees from the greed of an evil regent who intends to export the lumber. At the center of the intricately plotted story is Lydia, a simple country girl who falls in love with a renowned jeefwood carver named Alderson. Distraught that the forests will soon be ravished and fearing for Alderson's safety, Lydia appeals to the heavens for aid. The sincerity of her prayers touches the heart of a rather sluggish angel, who, in a slightly haphazard fashion, attempts to settle conflicts. The author's evident pleasure in inventing and orchestrating a colorful array of characters will be readily shared. Astute observations and philosophical asides add an extra dimension to this story of love and courage. Ages 12-up. (May)