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A budding young geologist on a quest for a precious stone finds more than she dreamed possible. A soul-stirring fantasy adventure with a dash of holiday magic.
Glory Alley, teen caving enthusiast and rock collector, hopes to strike it rich in Queen’s Mesa over the holidays. The money wouldn’t be just for her though. She plans to use it to stop her dysfunctional family from self-imploding. Against the odds, she finds a gem beyond compare, but gets more than she bargained for when otherworldly beings arrive to take it away. Determined to hold onto the prize, she pits her wits against their alien magic. As the stakes go up, and the clock ticks down, Glory must decide if her ungrateful loved ones are worth it.
Recipient of the Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Medallion.
Categories: Adventure, Christian Fantasy, Family Drama, Science Fiction, Upper Middle Grade, Young Adult. PG-13 equivalent.
The ending filled me with holiday tears. –Donna
I wouldn’t have known the religiosity was there if it wasn’t for the author pointing it out. Some of the Christian symbolism seemed like a stretch to me, but people who like that sort of thing will probably love it. Not being of the faith, I chose to focus on the adventure and had a really fun time. –L.R.F.
Glory Alley is a wonderfully likable character with spunk and heart. She finds herself plunged into the world she thought was only a fairy tale–the stunning other-worldly world of the Elboni with Wybbils and a Hoogula. There’s a touch of humor in the story, along with a lot of emotion as Glory tries to help the dysfunctional, sad Alley family–especially Mean Dad, who clearly isn’t a bad guy, but life has dealt him more blows than he can handle. I enjoyed this imaginative book tremendously, rooting for Glory and the whole family. Highly recommended. –Lucy M.
The Wish Thief deserves to be read again and again. I recommend approaching it as a secular story the first time around. It’s an excellent adventure to go along with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then, after going through the list of symbols at the back, read it a second time. You will appreciate the story in a whole new light and understand why it’s a good Easter story as well. –Light Reads, Blogger
This book was more than I expected. First, it is a modern fantasy about a sad and sometimes violent family. Second, it is a classic “every man’s” spiritual journey, a sci-fi Pilgrim’s Progress if you will. The story begins a few years after Glory Alley’s mother had died. In the wake of this unfolding tragedy her father has become an alcoholic. Her three older brothers and a sister engage in self-destructive behavior. Everyone in the Alley family seems to have little hope for the future–that is, everyone except for Glory. Although she’s unpopular at school, overweight and the butt of jokes at home, she has a clear sense of purpose, which includes healing her broken family. The star riders arrive thinking they will take the Elboni Stone away from her without a fight, but they have met their match in Glory who is determined to use the stone’s magic in hopes of improving her family’s circumstances. The plot is unique and kept me guessing until the very end. But what makes this novel a standout is the way the Christian elements are so naturally woven into the fabric of the landscape, integrating into the scenes without drawing attention to themselves…From start to finish this book was a pleasure to read and ponder. Unfortunately, as the animosity toward Christianity grows this genre frequently gets a bashing. In my opinion, we need more stories like this one. –Jim B.
