Self-esteem--Juvenile fiction; Nature--Effect of human beings on--Juvenile fiction; Diplomacy--Juvenile fiction
Razo has always thought of himself as pretty much useless—too short, too weak, too slow—only good for catching with his sling the odd squirrel for his motherís cookpot. But when he is asked to join the kingís soldiers on a peacekeeping mission and the peace they are sent to protect is being sabotaged, Razo finds that his squirrel-killing talents come in handy, and his way of noticing the unusual, thinking through to the truth, and befriending the unlikeliest of people will serve him better than anyone could have predicted.
Set in the magical lands introduced in the acclaimed novel, The Goose Girl, River Secrets is a mystery and a coming-of-age tale that is impossible to put down. Shannon Haleís lyrical writing, unforgettable, characters and intriguing setting give this book the timeless quality that any classic must have. [from publisher's web site]
Winner of the 2006 Young Adult Literature Award, Association for Mormon Letters