All Because of Addie Elsewhere

Shannon Stevens is an eleven-year-old girl living in a restored log cabin just outside of Townsend, Tennessee. Her peaceful summer spent reading, hiking and "soakin' up God's creation" is interrupted by whining city girl, Kelsey Winchester, who is moving to the area with her family. Shannon and the Stevens family discover Kelsey is the great-great-granddaughter of famed local mountain woman Addie Elsewhere and that Addie's old broken-down cabin still belongs to Kelsey's family. Together they all pitch in to help the Winchesters restore the cabin and rediscover their heritage.

Kelsey reacts oddly to the fact that Addie Elsewhere couldn't read or write. Shannon is confused by Kelsey's strange behavior. Finally, Kelsey tells Shannon the truth: like Addie, she can't read. Shannon struggles with Kelsey's secret, then asks God to show her how to help her new friend. Soon Shannon has just the plan. She will use Kelsey's art talent to teach her to read.

While exploring the old hillside dairy on Addie's homestead, Shannon and Kelsey make an unexpected discovery in a buried wooden box. Old papers written by Addie claim she learned to read and write from a traveling book rider not long before she died. Three weeks after school begins, Shannon and Kelsey have lead roles in the Fall Heritage Festival play, telling the story of Addie's life. They plan to share Addie's secret after the performance, but will Kelsey share her secret as well?

Readers will love this touching story of friendship and determination, as Kelsey learns not only to believe in herself but to open her heart to God.

For readers in grades 3-5.