The Legacy of Gloria Russell Book

A poignant debut novel about a boy’s struggle with the loss of his best friend—and the truth about his small town’s ostracism of a lonely stranger.

From the moment she touched Satan, my best friend Gloria Russell was never the same.

Since the sudden death of his best friend, Billy’s tiny hometown has never seemed lonelier. Gloria wasn’t like anyone else in Kelseyville. Full of curiosity and spunk, she never cared what other people thought. But the day she befriended Satan—a hermit every kid in Kelseyville is warned to avoid—something happened to Gloria. And a few months later, she was gone.

Alone, confused, and struggling to escape conflicts in his own family, Billy sets out to discover what really happened to Gloria. And guided by Gloria’s strength, he begins to understand what the truth about Satan means for himself—and his town.

Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW wrote, "Readers will quickly adopt the 12-year-old narrator's no-nonsense take on things as he attempts to understand his best friend's death and the history of his town's prejudices. An impressive first novel." Ages 8-12. (July) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.