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Tennis Shoes #6
The Lost Scrolls
A Mission of Infinite Danger — A Rescue of Impossible Odds Join fifteen-year-old Harry Hawkins and Megan Sorenson as they face the awesome challenges of courage and survival in the hostile world of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Now in the grasp of the evil sorcerer, Simon Magus, Meagan must conquer her greatest fears to free herself and the young Jewish orphan, Jesse. In the meantime, Harry must make an impossible journey to Jerusalem with Gidgiddonihah, the Nephite warrior, as the thundering armies of Rome seek to bring about the city's fiery destruction. Harry's to recover a sacred scroll that may contain the ultimate power and mysteries of the universe — the very key to saving his friends, and perhaps even to saving himself. Journey with our young heroes as they face flames, swords, desperate villains, and perhaps the greatest loves of both of their lives in this, the sixth volume of the award-winning Tennis Shoes Adventure Series. See also Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, Gadiantons and the Silver Sword, Feathered Serpent, Part 1, Feathered Serpent, Part 2, Sacred Quest, Golden Crown, Warriors of Cumorah, Tower of Thunder, and Kingdoms and Conquerors.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
28 people are currently reading
922 people want to read
About the author
Chris Heimerdinger
42 books459 followersChris Heimerdinger is an author and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) who has presently written sixteen adult and young adult novels, most of which center on religious themes familiar to LDS members. Most are published with Covenant Communications in American Fork, Utah. One title, A Return to Christmas was also picked up by Random House/Ballantine in 1995. When the title was released by Ballantine in 2004, it was republished by Covenant Communications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
August 12, 2010
I find that Heimerdinger’s formula is starting to tire me. A significant number of the decisions that the characters make seem to have no other reason than to place them in the best position to observe some recorded historical event or meet some famous person.
Meagan now sounds exactly like Melody did in the previous books. She even says things like “the good part… that is the part about me,” which is annoying and totally out of character for the mouthy, rebellious, Goth girl of the previous book.
People in Heimerdinger’s books seem incapable of meeting a person of the opposite sex without falling hopelessly in love. Meagan meets a Centurion named Apollus Brutus Severillus (a really cool name), who happens to be the only Roman soldier who is competent, and is immediately convinced that he is the man of her dreams. In fact two days later she laments that it might tear her heart in two to leave him. At least Harry spends more than two days with Mary before he is willing to declare his undying love. This wouldn’t be so unrealistic – teenagers develop crushes on people quite frequently – if any of them ever got over it. Sometimes years will pass without any of the characters seeing or hearing from each other and they will still spend their days pining away in the hopes that they will see each other again.
I guess the whole thing just starts to feel really melodramatic and contrived to me. Nobody ever sees their old boy/girlfriend after x number of years to discover that they have moved on. Much hijinx ensue but in the end the character that is telling the story always ends up with the person whom they most obsess over.
This is getting into uncharted territory here – I really don’t remember the books from here out and the next one is the last one that I’ve read before – but it feels to me that Heimerdinger is slipping a little. The stories are still full of grand adventure and great historical and scriptural detail. This book was fun but frustrating. That frustrating bit of saccharine tidiness that puts every character where they are the happiest in the end is what I find to be the biggest detriment to these books being really good rather than generally entertaining.
Meagan now sounds exactly like Melody did in the previous books. She even says things like “the good part… that is the part about me,” which is annoying and totally out of character for the mouthy, rebellious, Goth girl of the previous book.
People in Heimerdinger’s books seem incapable of meeting a person of the opposite sex without falling hopelessly in love. Meagan meets a Centurion named Apollus Brutus Severillus (a really cool name), who happens to be the only Roman soldier who is competent, and is immediately convinced that he is the man of her dreams. In fact two days later she laments that it might tear her heart in two to leave him. At least Harry spends more than two days with Mary before he is willing to declare his undying love. This wouldn’t be so unrealistic – teenagers develop crushes on people quite frequently – if any of them ever got over it. Sometimes years will pass without any of the characters seeing or hearing from each other and they will still spend their days pining away in the hopes that they will see each other again.
I guess the whole thing just starts to feel really melodramatic and contrived to me. Nobody ever sees their old boy/girlfriend after x number of years to discover that they have moved on. Much hijinx ensue but in the end the character that is telling the story always ends up with the person whom they most obsess over.
This is getting into uncharted territory here – I really don’t remember the books from here out and the next one is the last one that I’ve read before – but it feels to me that Heimerdinger is slipping a little. The stories are still full of grand adventure and great historical and scriptural detail. This book was fun but frustrating. That frustrating bit of saccharine tidiness that puts every character where they are the happiest in the end is what I find to be the biggest detriment to these books being really good rather than generally entertaining.
November 26, 2024
This was my least favorite book of the series. It was very dark & grotesque. There were parts I skipped for my kids because I was reading it out loud to them. They loved the book & can’t wait to read the next in the series, but this book is definitely for older children. I think if my kids were just a bit younger, my youngest is 8 & oldest is 12, they might have had nightmares.
October 12, 2021
Everyone gave it 5 stars except me. I gave it 4. We are enjoying listening to this series. It makes car trips much more quit and quick.
March 14, 2023
An intense follow up to the last book and I love the double narration!
April 30, 2008
OK, let me get this straight. Harry at the age of 15 goes back in time and gets stuck in ancient Greece for three years. But only 6 months has passed in modern time. So, Harry comes back after being gone for 6 months and is suddenly three years older. This doesn’t raise any eyebrows? He than decides to go serve his mission. Hold on, even though he has aged 3 years he is still only legally 15 or 16. Shouldn’t his Bishop be a little confused? Oh, and what ever happened to high school? I guess Harry has decided that he doesn’t need to go to high school. I mean, maybe his girlfriend from ancient Israel who has no education, job skills or any papers allowing her to legally work in this country can support them when they decide to get married. Come on Heimerdinger; you could drive a tank through some of these plot holes.
This book proves once and for all that Covenant Communication will publish any piece of dreck as long as it is LDS based no matter how badly written it is.
This book proves once and for all that Covenant Communication will publish any piece of dreck as long as it is LDS based no matter how badly written it is.
October 19, 2015
As always, Chris Heimerdinger does it again. I am really enjoying this series.
Read
December 9, 2019I would suggest this book to anyone who has started the series. Even if they didn’t like the ones before, they need to read this one. It changes it up a lot by doing it from Jim’s son’s perspective. I really like how the prologue started with Harry finding his dad and then disappearing again. This book moves really fast compared by the others ones because of the dire situation the characters are in. Chris Heimerdinger does a great job of splitting this story into two books. He ended it right when it seemed like it was just the beginning of the main part of the story, which it was. But Heimerdinger keeps you engaged all the way through even though the adventure was just beginning. He also really captures the attitude fo a 15 year old when he writes from Harry’s perspective. I really felt like I could relate to him and that really made the book enjoyable. The book also makes you feel like your a part of the situation too. You feel the urgency of Harry’s quest. You feel relieved when he is relieved. You feel annoyed when he is annoyed. This book really brings the excitement back to the series. It kinda renewed the series with its page turning storyline. I recommend this book to anyone who loves this series and wants to continue reading it.
January 30, 2022
I think we all need a Gid in our lives. A person with firm convictions and a heart that is always true to his testimony of God. Someone willing to fight by our sides against the adversary. I have been blessed with such in friends and family and this story reminded me how important family, friendship, and faith is. Jesse was another hero of this story. So many good characters in this book. The end is filled with loose end so on to the next book.
May 22, 2021
Finished listening to the audiobook version of the story. It was an incredible adventure, full of twists and turns as Harry and Meagan embark on an incredible experience in the land of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
They find evil villains and unexpected allies along the way, get captured and escape, finally ending with the final confrontation with the villain and his posse.
They find evil villains and unexpected allies along the way, get captured and escape, finally ending with the final confrontation with the villain and his posse.
June 15, 2022
Great! Ate it up. Felt like I was watching a movie. Didn't even notice when I turned the pages. Time flew!
This one was especially lovely religion-wise. All I remember after many years is what the scrolls were, and how I felt about that. Loved it!
(If you see this review repeatedly for the other books, it is because this is how I felt about ALL those books!)
This one was especially lovely religion-wise. All I remember after many years is what the scrolls were, and how I felt about that. Loved it!
(If you see this review repeatedly for the other books, it is because this is how I felt about ALL those books!)
November 10, 2018
This is another great story in the Tennis Shoes series. Harry and Meagan wrap up their work in the Holy Land and surrounding provinces. They learn about and preserve ancient scripture. They also increase the strength of their testimonies.
May 13, 2024
I liked this book. It did end on a cliffhanger, but by now i'm completely hooked on the series and will read the next one as soon as I can. I placed this book under the prompt read a book with multiple points of view for the booklist queen Challenge 2024
May 26, 2018
Definitely the best of the three I've read. It's fun to have Meagan's perspective.
June 24, 2019
Excellent way of learning about post resurrection Israel and the Roman Empire. Phenomenal storytelling that keeps you on the edge of your seat and not wanting to stop.
January 1, 2020
My family and I are reading theses books together and we are loving them. This was another great book in the series.
May 27, 2020
Megan's story at made the one worth reading. She's really the strongest character in the series.
April 4, 2021
I love this series!
July 10, 2021
An exiting addition
Read
November 21, 2021Very good and recommended as a good book for youth
June 13, 2023
I love this series!
Read
September 22, 2023I liked this book and all the other books.It's nice to listen to the audio books too!
October 7, 2024
Interesting that these stories are broken up to keep them at a shorter length. I'm still enjoying the series, I just wish the action sections were written better.
October 16, 2024
Another awesome tennis shoes book!
March 10, 2020
Much better than the sacred quest, and I loved getting 2 perspectives at a time. The dialogue was long and a little preachy, but sincere.
October 23, 2017
This book is a continuation of the story from the previous book. Just a fun and exciting. Easy read.
July 30, 2024
The adventure in this is so good. There were so many times when I was just holding my breath, hoping for the best. So good dude. So breathtaking
January 16, 2013
AGHT. I get way too in to these books. I can't focus until I am finished, then I can't focus until I have the next one. It's not even healthy. I pretty much had a breakdown in the ten minutes between finishing this book and logging on to Goodreads to see if they do, in fact fix the space-time continuum or if they have some issues. Because that conclusion was nothing like the treat-of-death-held-for-ransom-ultimatum like the end of Sacred Quest. But it wasn't entirely fixed, either. They weren't actually back in Utah. I was very vexed. Of course, if I had calmed down for one hot second I would have remembered a couple of vague details and some resulting logical problems that would have happened if they did in fact get back home safely.
You know what the funniest part of the hysteria I am currently experiencing is? No you don't. It's embarassing. Promise you won't laugh?
I've read these books before.
More intelligent review: One of the unfortunate parts of this book is that his characters are misaged. The characters are fine, but he assigns the wrong age to them, and it is odd. It is a problem with the fact that most books are written by adults and the only people who can really effectively spot an aging error is a person who is in that age group.
Also, unfortunatley, his slang is out of date (this book is a bit old) Which is distracting, but can't be helped.
You know what the funniest part of the hysteria I am currently experiencing is? No you don't. It's embarassing. Promise you won't laugh?
I've read these books before.
More intelligent review: One of the unfortunate parts of this book is that his characters are misaged. The characters are fine, but he assigns the wrong age to them, and it is odd. It is a problem with the fact that most books are written by adults and the only people who can really effectively spot an aging error is a person who is in that age group.
Also, unfortunatley, his slang is out of date (this book is a bit old) Which is distracting, but can't be helped.
July 24, 2013
I first encountered "The Lost Scrolls" as a missionary many years ago. Arriving in a new area, I found the audiobook on cassette in a desk drawer of my apartment, presumably left there by a previous missionary serving in the area. With not a lot of fiction books allowed or available for me to read. I decided to give the book a try and started listening to it each night before going to bed. I remember finishing it rather quickly and really enjoying it.
Flash forward over a decade later, where I discovered the book on CD during one of my many trips to the local library. Remembering how much I enjoyed the book, I checked it out to listen to it once again.
Just as before, I really had fun listening to this book. It has action, humor, romance, and heart--everything you want from a good adventure story. The performances of the narrators--Heimerdinger and Carlyn Blake--are particularly well done, with Heimerdinger's theatre background clearly showing through. The only possible downside of this book was, being the sixth book in the series, I was probably missing some important background with regards to plot and characters. However, I think the prologue and first chapter did a fine job bringing me up to speed and I really had no problem enjoying this book as a stand-alone story. Also, considering most of the negative criticisms here stem from comparisons between this book and earlier books in the Tennis Shoes series (it's too similar to earlier books, it's not as good as earlier books, etc.) it's probably good I read this story without any past experiences in the series, so as not to skew my opinion of it one way or the other.
P.S. Just a quick note to the author:
The cult you refer to in the story is Jonestown, not Jamestown. Jamestown is the first permanent English colony in America, founded in 1607.
Flash forward over a decade later, where I discovered the book on CD during one of my many trips to the local library. Remembering how much I enjoyed the book, I checked it out to listen to it once again.
Just as before, I really had fun listening to this book. It has action, humor, romance, and heart--everything you want from a good adventure story. The performances of the narrators--Heimerdinger and Carlyn Blake--are particularly well done, with Heimerdinger's theatre background clearly showing through. The only possible downside of this book was, being the sixth book in the series, I was probably missing some important background with regards to plot and characters. However, I think the prologue and first chapter did a fine job bringing me up to speed and I really had no problem enjoying this book as a stand-alone story. Also, considering most of the negative criticisms here stem from comparisons between this book and earlier books in the Tennis Shoes series (it's too similar to earlier books, it's not as good as earlier books, etc.) it's probably good I read this story without any past experiences in the series, so as not to skew my opinion of it one way or the other.
P.S. Just a quick note to the author:
The cult you refer to in the story is Jonestown, not Jamestown. Jamestown is the first permanent English colony in America, founded in 1607.
October 22, 2014
In this book Henry and Meaghan travel back in time to an ancient land. Where they encounter unfamiliar situations. Everything goes wrong and they end up in the worst case scenario.
I started reading this book when my brother recommended the series to me. Ever since I started this series I couldn't put it down.
I love the relationship between Harry and Meaghan in this book. Its funny and fits perfectly with the story.
The villain in this book was a little creepy. I didn't really like the relationship he had with Meaghan, it was disturbing.
But, overall this book was great. There were lots of great plot twists, and everything just flowed really smoothly.
This book can be read by any one. But, it might be harder to understand for younger people. I would recommend this book the teenagers and young adults.
This book is very clean there's no swearing or suggestive language. It does go along with a religion. But, even if you are not of that religion you can still follow along very easy.
I started reading this book when my brother recommended the series to me. Ever since I started this series I couldn't put it down.
I love the relationship between Harry and Meaghan in this book. Its funny and fits perfectly with the story.
The villain in this book was a little creepy. I didn't really like the relationship he had with Meaghan, it was disturbing.
But, overall this book was great. There were lots of great plot twists, and everything just flowed really smoothly.
This book can be read by any one. But, it might be harder to understand for younger people. I would recommend this book the teenagers and young adults.
This book is very clean there's no swearing or suggestive language. It does go along with a religion. But, even if you are not of that religion you can still follow along very easy.
March 31, 2008
These Tennishoe amoung the Nephites series are AWESOME! My dad read these books to me and my siblings when I was a kid and I loved them at a young age. I have read them when I was in highschool and now as a young mom I want to own the series and I would love to read them again. THis is a must have in your library. It makes the people that lived in the book of mormon time period real. YOu read the book of mormon with a new perspective that these people had lives, families and feelings too. I love the romance involved and the high adventure. The author is careful with all of his facts and he does well at putting in fun fictional characters that go through time travel and find them selves in the middle of book of mormon adventures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews