The White Dove

by Lois Thompson Bartholomew

As they take refuge in ancient caves and dense forests, cross cold rapids, and travel by the dark of night, Tasha and her companions -- the wanderer Ari, the kitchen boy Gil, and the child Raina -- flee a repressive kingdom. Their journey holds many questions for Tasha. What secrets does Ari carry? Can she and little Raina really trust him? What are the papers they must steal from The Capital? Will they safely reach the Great North River, and will Marko be waiting for them if they do? Here is a story of high adventure, set in a world removed from, but not unlike, our own.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

200 pages, Hardcover

First published April 24, 2000

About the author

I was born and raised in Central Utah and love the mountains. For many years I participated in the annual hike up to the top of Mount Timpanogos, which at 11,750 feet, is the second highest mountain in the state.

When I grew up I found that becoming a published writer is somewhat like climbing a mountain. To get to the top you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other until you finally reach the summit. You should enjoy the waterfalls, wildflowers and the lakes you find on the way, but if you stop there and forget your goal, you'll never see the magnificent view that can only be seen from the very top of the mountain.

For seven years I wrote a weekly newspaper column. While working as a full-time mom of ten children (don't ever ask a mother if she works-all mothers are working mothers!) I managed to also write many articles for both adult and children's magazines. My first novel, The White Dove, was published in 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Any success I have, I owe to the support and encouragement of my parents, my husband, and my wonderful children as well as some outstanding teachers.

I love to teach and talk about writing, about goal setting, and about reading, to both children and their parents. And I still love to climb mountains.

Reviews

[Denise R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book with a strong female character who can still love and trust. This book sucked me in and I felt like I was really there. Vivid descriptions and great characters. I've read it a few times and wish the sequel would come out.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

To me this was one of those books that sounds like it can be a good book but in its presentation it just didn't hit the mark. True it had some spots where you didn't want to set it down but to continue on reading while at other parts it was hard to even keep your eyes open.

I think the majority of the problem for the telling of this story was the actual narrative itself that was surrounding the characters. While the book is an action book in many places, the actual reading itself is like "Let's take a lazy stroll to the mailbox then back". And so you just shuffle slowly along....

What also contributed to its slow tempo was the fact that the characters were flat. Although they had some wonderful characteristics that could be brought to life, most were unfortunately not developed enough even with the protagonists. And the best developed of the character was the one they *cough* can't stay *sighs*.

Sometimes when the reading is slow I do enjoy taking a look at the reviews of others with mostly an eye to the lower end reviews to compare their reading experiences. And so it was with this where many pointed out that the ending wasn't right to the book itself while I have to agree. Either Lois should have closed her book ten pages early with the possibility of a sequel if the first did alright or she should have continued the book until the ending just felt right.

With the current ending the book reads as if the climax was somewhere in the pages you just had read while now you are being awarded with a popped balloon with no air for all your troubles. There is no cliff hanger, no "The End" and no "Until Next Time" but just "Last Stop.... Everyone off!"

I am wondering if there is a specific crowd who may be able to relate with it from another viewpoint and enjoy the action of the book. Unfortunately it just wasn't meant to be for me....

[Viola Sung · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre at most for all aspects.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the writing style of this book and I couldn't put it down until I finished it so why the two stars? I know one thing I was disappointed about was the ending. It was like I didn't end up anywhere. It was also probably a bit more serious than I enjoy in a book. If it had ended differently, I would have given it three stars.

[Angee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how this book jumped right in to the story form the get-go.
It was exciting and had good underlying principles of right and wrong, love and freedom.
The book is not very long and is pretty light reading. Still very entertaining!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like this book better if it had a better ending. I think it was a pretty good book, but I can't stand that kind of end!

[Asenath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ex-princess under confinement by the new king. She is rescued by the mysterious 'Ari'...

[Kenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story, but the ending threw me off. Where was the big wrap-up dynamic finish the plot had seemed to whisper at the reader?

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know this was written by a friend of mine but I would have loved it anyway!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book.