May Davenport Publishers

A FINE LINE written by Constance D. Casserly, illus. by Patricia Neal Bechtold. Abused girl had problems after she dumped her teen boyfriend who stalked her to a traumatic ending. Supportive peers added humor to this emotional fictional novel; 216, lst. ed., paper, grs. 7-12; U.S. $7.95 (ISBN 0-943864-71-2; Teacher's Daily Lesson Plans U.S. $5. (ISBN 0-943864-94-1).

A LIFE ON THE LINE by Michael Horton, cover by Denise Alongi.
A book review: "Michael Horton has discovered a way to weave previously seldom talked about sexual abuse and incest life into a fascinating book for both adults and teenagers...It may shock the reader, however, it will relieve the misperception that healing cannot occur from incest, from abuse or from a troubled childhood...Michael Horton has been able to weave the truth about abuse secrets into an exciting adventure for readers of all ages." Jeffrey Jensen, MSW, CDC II (Washington Mental Health/Substance Abuse Counselor); 305 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 7-12; US$21.95 (0-943864-23-2).

A WARM FAMILIAR FEELING by Colby King Farley, cover by Sheri L. Fox. Alex, a young boy learns there is more to life than baseball when he can't help feeling strangely drawn to a female little leaguer named Casey, a newcomer to his neighborhood. Somewhere between Casey's battle with leukemia and Alex's own visions of baseball heaven, Alex finds strength, courage, and something unexpectedly wonderful. Emotions swing like yo-yos in this story; 180 pgs.; lst. ed. paper, grs. 6-12; U.S. $13.50 (ISBN 0943864-48-8).

BLOW AWAY SEAWEEDS! written and illustrated by May Davenport. Loving parents at birth gave this author the inner courage to leave swaying coconut trees for smokey skyscrapers in New York City. Fun-to-read nonfictional writing. Appendix has a children's story, a fictional short story, and a (closet) play--"What's The Name of The Game?"; 266 pgs., 1st ed., hardcover, grs. 9-12; U.S. $129.95 (ISBN 0-943864-60-7).

BLOW AWAY SEAWEEDS! A Sequel by May Davenport, photos and cover design by Denise Davenport. Personal letters tell a story about an American couple, Robert and May Davenport, and their life abroad. Robert, an economist, was often sent to developing countries by Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, California. Robin, one of two sons, was still in diapers when the family traveled to India; Byron, was included in Guyana, formerly British Guiana in South America. As the economic adviser to Guyana's first Prime Minister Forbes S. Burnham, Robert often left his family to travel in that capacity to international meetings. While the boys attended schools, May wrote letters and painted local scenes on 4'x6' fibreboards. Some of her paintings are reproduced in this book. And the letters still reverberate the joys, sadness, anxieties of people in different cultures at a time when a feeling of common bonds still existed; 312 pgs, 1st ed., paper, U.S.$21.95 (ISBN 0-943864-56-9).

COMIC TALE ANTHOLOGY #1. Three plays: "Pogosticks" by Andrea Ross. One Act Play—A gangly young boy's self-esteem was restored after he listened to a zookeeper praise the elegant giraffe for what leaves he could reach to feed himself; "Ginger! Poof! Bam! Growl!" by Andrea Ross. A short children's (audience-participation) skit with a mischievous candy cane, a sleepy turtle, ferocious wolf, two hungry bees, and a crying dragon; Watch Out The Tide" by May Davenport. One Act ( closet) play—A young couple seeking privacy to complain about their problems discovered an isolated beach along the rugged California coast. What they didn't know was when towering waves suddenly swooshed ashore, other adventuresome people left hurriedly, as they would, too, in the end. Once, a portable TV was swept into the brown crab family's crevice. The family fantasized whatever they saw on the picture box; Poems: California Oak, Mt. Diablo, Solitude, Mothers and Daughters by Kay Garrard—Poetic thoughts; 83 pages, 1st ed., paper, grs. 5-9; US $5.95 (ISBN 0-943864-27-5).

COMIC TALE ANTHOLOGY #2 Short stories, plays, poems: "Darby" by James C. McCoy. A children's story—Baby Dinosaur had problems when he couldn't snort fire; "Have You Got Your Sticker Today?" by Julie Schronk. One Act Play—Boys and girls had to acquire a label marked "Normal" to feel good about themselves; "Travels Through a Pencil Scharpener" by Gene Twaronite. Short story—Daydreaming was an escape to a rain forest with indigenous animals; "Wintertime in Ranatan" by Herbert L. McClelland. Short story—Household junks spoke, walked, fought, even felt the freezing winter in this fantasy land; "The Ant and the Grasshopper" writ/illus. by L. John Cielinski. Poem — Workaholic ant was charitable to a grasshopper when winter came, despite his warnings throughout the summer for the grasshopper to quit playing his violin; 108 pgs. 1st ed., paper, grs. 5-7; U.S. $6.95 (ISBN 0-943864-53-4).

DRIVERS' ED IS DEAD written by Pat Delgado, illus. by Keith Neely. Two teenagers wrote a business plan to open a Driving School when their school dropped Drivers' Education from the curriculum. An eccentric retired stockbroker helped the boys financially with horse sense advice, and they learned about bulls, bears, and about being self-confident to start the business successfully with rickety, second-hand cars; 172 pgs., 1st ed, paper, grs.7-12; U.S. $8.95 (ISBN 0-943864-76-3); Teacher Daily Lesson Plans—U.S. $5. (ISBN 0-943864-81-X)

GRAMMA CURLYCHIEF'S PAWNEE INDIAN STORIES written by War Cry Howell, illus. by Katy Burns. Oral stories were precious memories of the Pawnee Indian life in the 1800's, their legends and their beliefs as remembered by the grandson; 85 pgs, 1st ed., paper, grs. 7-12; U.S. $4.95 (ISBN 0-943864-22-4).

JUST A LITTLE OFF THE TOP written by Linda Ropes, cover illus. by May Davenport. Beautician wrote her essays affectionately about the men, women, children who visited her Beauty Shop. One child brought a picture of Cinderella and expected to walk out of the shop looking like the picture. Another child couldn't sit still except in an upside-down position. And once a woman removed her beautiful wig and she was completely bald; humorous nonfictional writing, for teens and adult readers; 46 pgs., 1st ed., paper; U.S. $6.95 (ISBN -0-943864-89-5).

MAKING MY ESCAPE is about a teenage boy named Daniel Finn who uses his overactive imagination to escape from his problems at home and at school. He is daydreaming about an epic Science Fiction movie he is making with his friends, and the two stories, real and fantastic, begin to parallel each other. Similar to both "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, Making My Escape continually flip-flops from reality to fantasy and back again, not only for laughs, but to explore the importance of imagination, the dangers of escapism, and the power of storytelling. 284 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 5-12; U.S. $19.95 (ISBN 0-943864-46-1); Teacher's Guide is available, $7.50.

MATTHEW LIVINGSTON & THE PRISON OF SOULS by Marco Conelli is a refreshing, mesmerizing mystery. Young readers can relate to the fictional high school characters, Dennis and Sandra, who send and receive E-mails on the Internet for Matthew, a champion chess player, to solve a burglary. And the trio used their combined talent to catch a thief. They had to struggle with a maniac who wooed teenagers to a life of crime, but there were no agonizing fatalities—just a few blows on the head which knocked Dennis and Sandra unconscious, and band-aids were sufficient for Matthew's bleeding fingers. Adults can admire the teenagers' ingenuity using powerful computer discs. Tale is brief, pocket-sized, and fun-to-read; 98 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 7-12; US$5.95 (ISBN 9780979414008).

POMPEY POEMS...Celebrating a Cat written by Ellen Langill, illus. by May Davenport. Black stray kitten was adopted by a caring couple who lived in a "No Pets Allowed" apartment, and his adjustment there, as well as in a new house elsewhere with a garden, was a source of inspiration for the couple to write poems about him; 74 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 5-12; US $10.25 (ISBN 0-943864-26-7).

SENIORITIS by Tate Thompson, cover by Kara Bang, is an edgy novel about a multicultural group of misfit teenagers from different backgrounds and popularity who wind up in an after school 3-5 program for various school infractions. They have to correct their failings before they can graduate from high school. Their journals reveal their unbridled thoughts, but fortunately, a compassionate mentor encourages them to get their diplomas in hand before plotting any revenge to reveal inappropriate behavior of teachers. Story is of interest to low and high-level readers; 161 pgs., 1st. ed., grs. 7-12; U.S.$13.50 (ISBN 0-943864-47x)

SIGNIFICANT FOOTSTEPS by Ashleigh E. Grange. Nicky, a 17-yr-old handsome, affable boy had a problem. He had fallen in love with Felicia in high school and was baffled when Chloe, the girl he had known since kindergarten, declared she loved him, too. The story had fun activities plus conflicts and multifaceted problems‹at school, at parties, at home with younger siblings‹which fell on Nicky's young shoulders to some-how resolve them. The promise Nicky made to his dying father "to be the man in the family", although he was only five then, was fulfilled courageously. Nicky was able to move on in life at seventeen, too, after a fatal car accident resulted in the death of some-one he loved dearly, and only memories were left to be cherished. Story is written with compassion; 177 pgs., 1st. ed., paper, grs. 9-12; U.S. $15.95. (ISBN 0-943864-44-5).

SURVIVING SARAH by Dinah Leigh. Bringing up children was a challenge to Sarah, a strikingly beautiful, outspoken single-parent mother. Her own unhappy childhood gave her few clues about raising a family. But her two daughters, ages 6 and 7, loved her, which kept her spirits high, as she went to work five days a week in Manhattan, N.Y. The two girls adored their handsome, legally-separated father who visited them every weekend with support money. The girls were bonded with their step-brother, age 14. He had been their baby-sitter when they were born. He admired his own father who saw him four times a year. He forgot how to love Sarah. And the three children used their imagination often to avoid Sarah's spontaneous beatings to make them obey her orders. Story, set in a predominantly Italian neighbor in the Bronx, N.Y. in the early forties, is compelling; 436 pgs. , lst. ed., paper, grs. 9-12; U.S. $21.95 (ISBN 0-943864-31-3).

SURVIVING SARAH, THE SEQUEL – Brown Bug & China Doll by Dinah Leigh. Cover design by Denise Davenport. This complex saga of the Martini family in the Bronx, post WWII, continues sometimes poignantly, other times hilariously, with lovely Sarah, the manic-depressive single-parent mother who enjoyed working at Lord & Taylor in Manhattan, NYC. Sarah had been a Nanny at rich people's homes in the past, so selecting clothes for famous celebrities and wealthy customers was delightful. However, it was a challenge to raise two children in the Bronx; Suzzette, age six, was in first grade, and Delilah, age five, was in kindergarten. Billy, age thirteen, was always there to babysit them afterwards. But suddenly Billy ran away; the girls had to babysit themselves. Fortunately, handsome Charlie, the affable "separated" father faithfully visited his daughters every weekend. And as the two girls adjusted to the many frightening and challenging changes in their teen years, they realized they could survive by themselves in the future with their home, as well as their formal schooling. 352 pgs. , lst. ed., paper, grs. 9-12; U.S. $19.95 (ISBN 0-943864-08-9).

THE NEWMAN ASSIGNMENT written by Kurt Haberl, illus. by Keith Neely. Mr. Newman, an English teacher, offered an "A" to anyone finishing The Assignment. All they had to do was keep a journal of a quest they always wanted to do, and do it. The two participants— a failing high school student and the retarded self-taught school janitor—are revealing, emotional and suspenseful. The boy needed a letter grade "A" to bring up his grades to graduate; the janitor wanted an "A" though he never went to school before. Both candidate went forth like knights and returned triumphantly, though the boy suffered more than the janitor; 320 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 9-12; US $10.95 (ISBN 0-943864-78-X); Teachers' Guide $5. (ISBN 0-943864-82-8).

THE RUNAWAY GAME written by Kevin Casey, cover design by Denise Davenport, illus. by May Davenport, was written with the target audience in mind‹the 15-18 -years-old high school students who would rather surf the web than read a book. In this interactive novel, teenagers vicariously experience the thrill and consequences of running away from home. While the book avoids gratuitously depicting the graphic realities of teen prostitution and drug use, the psychological transition from naive runaway to hardened street kid is realistic; 218 pgs., 1st. ed., paper, grs. 8-12; U.S. $18.25 (ISBN 0-943864-24-0)

TO TOUCH THE SUN written by Andrea Ross, cover design by Denise Davenport from a painting by Ray Oladapo Johnson; Frontispiece drawing by Vilen Snoug Yan. The odyssey of this 14-yr-old black girl's quest for self-actualization, love, friendship and a fulfilling career in the theater as a wardrobe person is admirable. "A very sensitive journey about a young girl in touch with 'her inner life'. Every young person needs to read this story." M.Ducard; "An aspect of spirituality is presented simply and naturally." M. Hendrickson; 192 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 9-12; US $15.95 (ISBN 0-943864-99-2).

TUG OF WAR by Barbara A. Scott. A book review: This engaging novel should interest young and elderly readers. It's American History in 1854 with canon balls, rifles, too, in the streets of the abolitionist state of Kansas. There are adventuresome, some unprincipled, characters: ruthless bounty hunters from MO; idealist mummers from Philadelphia dramatizing "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in Kansas with MO ruffians terrorizing them with tragic consequences... And, besides perspiring pro and anti-slavery politicians... there are vigilantes implementing their own law and order. There's never a dull moment. There's hope for a little romance between the protagonist Simon Perry (age 13), and La Reine Sutton (age 13), but with the loss of parents, Simon and his sister Lilibeth (age 6) with La Reine have to cope with the problem of survival. While searching for values, standing up for individual beliefs, and being self-reliant, they create their own tug of war. Humor abounds. There should be a place on the shelves of libraries for another writer from MO.—Teresa A. Dickey, Marymount HS, CA Asso. of Independent Schools; 214 pgs, 1st ed., paper, grs. 7-12; US$7.95 (ISBN 0-943864-70-4).

WHEN THE DANCING ENDS written by Judy L. Hairfield, illus. by Theresa Wanex. Two Greek-American teens and their Greek-American folk dancing-English teacher wrote in their journals...why, how, what happened when a tragedy occured. Nobody was supposed to have died. But it happened. Writing was good theraphy. And practicing their Greek precision folk dancing for their annual Greek Festival, enabled them to value the old with the new culture; 163 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 7-12; US $8.95 (ISBN 0-943864-79-8); Teacher's daily lesson plans, $5. (ISBN 0-943864-80-1).

WINDRIDERS written and illustrated by Blake F. Grant. Grandfather is grief-stricken when his son is killed while testing a Navy plane. He can't get on with his life. Then Jamie—the 13-yr-old grandson he had never seen—visits him one summer. The shy, intelligent boy secretly makes a hang glider from his deceased father's diary, soars after many bruises, then cajoles the grandfather's cook's daughter, Delia, to soar. She—a black belt karata teacher—is afraid of heights, but agrees to be like a turkey vulture, if he learns to defend himself. He had been beaten twice since his arrival. The grandfather is horrified when he discovered their succesful secret flights. But they impress him with their hang gliding skills, and he teaches them how to fly an ultralight plane. The multicultural family ties in this action-prone story in the end are revealed publicly at a gala reopening of the grandfather's airfield—The program included an aerial tribute from Navy pilot friends, some daredevil sky divers, and Jamie piloting the ultralight plane, towing Delia to hang glide gracefully then together, to land side-by-side. Writer wrote this story to transfer the joy of flying. The appendix has aeronautical terms and are helpful to nonflyers; 200 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 7-12; US $12.95 (ISBN 0-943864-97-6).

WIND SHADOW written by Lynn A Morrison. Growing up in the Badlands of South Dakota was no picnic for Vernon Morrison. His father and mother with Vernon had left Nebraska to claim an acre of land in South Dakota, and the Rosebud Sioux Indians resented them. But when Kin "Kind Heart" Morrison, a Sioux Indian, became Vernon's adopted brother, both boys' lives changed. They went to school together, read books and imagined traveling beyond the Buttes to any where in the world. Vernon learned to respect Kin's beliefs and rituals after shooting a duck, and after hearing Kin's grandfather's account of what one must do to become a brave. Story is poignant, memorable; 127 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 7-12; U.S. $15.95 (ISBN 0-943864-37-2).