Hope Girl (23 page)

• When River hears about the tragedy Carlos has been through, she starts to feel like her problems aren't so big. Has that ever happened to you?

• When River lies about her age in order to purchase a bus ticket, she recalls Gram's words, “One lie leads to another, causing a too-big sticky mess you can't pull yourself out of.” Has there been a time when you've lied, only to get yourself into a sticky situation?

• Carlos goes to church for the first time the same Sunday that River wears her brace there for the first time. River is worried about people staring at her. Carlos encourages River by saying, “You got this,” but then he also helps put the situation in perspective by telling her, “Now it's time to get your mind off yourself and show me around. Don't forget, I'm the new kid.” What are your thoughts about Carlos's encouragement and advice to River?

• River reaches the point when she accepts the fact that God's plans are not like hers. God answered her prayers, but differently than she expected. Instead of God providing River's original family, he gave her two families—more people for her to love and more people to love her in return. Share about a time when God answered your prayer different than what you expected.

About the Author

W
endy Dunham is a registered therapist and works with children who have special needs. Although she enjoys writing for children and adults, her passion is writing middle-grade fiction. She is the mother of two adult children, who she loves to the moon and back. She enjoys reading, writing, gardening, kayaking, repurposing old furniture, walking, and biking with friends. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), as well as the local chapter in the Rochester area (RACWI), and Word Weavers International and, again, her local Western New York Chapter.

Her desire is to honor her Creator with whatever it is she's writing about. Whether a poem, an article, a thought-provoking devotional, or a novel, her goal is to share pieces of hope, encouragement, and unconditional love—things we can all use a little bit more of.

She shares her home with Casey, Theo, Smokey, Tiny Tim, and Bentley (her four-legged friends that keep her company).

One of her favorite quotes is by Mother Teresa: “
We can do no great things–only small things with great love.
”

Visit her website at
www.wendydunham.net

About the Publisher

To learn more about Harvest House books and to read sample chapters, visit our website:

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Enjoy Another Great Book by Wendy Dunham

My Name Is River

by Wendy Dunham

It's 1983, and twelve-year-old River Starling's life is anything but normal. She was adopted on a whim and came without a birth certificate. Her adoptive parents gave her up to her grandmother when she was only two, but River is certain her parents will come back.

River's hopes fall apart when Gram uproots them from their farmhouse and decides to move to Birdsong, West Virginia. There she makes an unlikely friendship with an unusual boy and learns about acceptance, hard work, forgiveness, and her heavenly Father.

Discover the unforgettable story of one girl's search for her real family.