Treasure of Panther Peak Book

A mother and daughter start a new life in the canyonlands of Texas in this novel filled with mystery, realistic family situations, and touches of magic that prove once again that Henderson--the author of "The Summer of the Bonepile Monster" and "The Monkey Thief"--is a master at combining high adventure and mystery with psychological realism and the sort of characters who live on long after the book has ended. 12 illustrations.

Children's Literature

This is a fresh, original, coming-of-age story, a tale that springs apparently from the author's heart. Page is twelve years old, and we first join her as she moves to Texas with her mother in the mid- nineteen-fifties. Starting a new life far from an abusive father and husband, Page and her mother must learn to live in a strange world full of snakes, panthers and mountain storms. The region of Big Bend National Park and Panther Flat, set in the shadow of the Chisos Mountains and the Mexican border, is full of history, legendary treasure, and ghosts. The wildness of the natural world is healing to both Page and her mother, while the strong characters living amongst them encourage their own inner strength and individuality to blossom. When Page inadvertently reveals their whereabouts to her father by the postmark on a birthday card, he comes looking for them. Their emotional turmoil is relieved and they come to realize the true treasure, courage and grace of spirit that imbues the land here and those that inhabit it. This is a wonderful story, set against a background rich in history, written in an authentic voice.