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Tennis Shoes #3
Feathered Serpent, Part 1
A modern quest in the day of the ancient Messiah Transport yourself back in time for another adventure in the ongoing saga that began with Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites and Gadiantons and the Silver Sword. Join Jim Hawkins as he embarks upon his most difficult and perilous quest â a quest for survival against unseed enemies. A quest to solve the deepening mystery of the disappearance of his sister, Jennifer, and his old friend Garth Plimpton. Jim, now the father of two teenage daughters and a ten-year-old son â as all stubborn and self-willed as he ever was! â must battle the forces of an old and secret adversary set on destroying his very existence. Once again Jim must descend through the mysterious passages of Frost Cave and the Rainbow Room, only to emerge with his family in a land and time teetering on the brink of ultimate destruction. The time just prior to the Savior's appearance in the new world. The time of the Feathered Serpent. See also Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, Gadiantons and the Silver Sword, Feathered Serpent, Part 2, Sacred Quest, Lost Scroll, Golden Crown, Warriors of Cumorah, Tower of Thunder, and Kingdoms and Conquerors.
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
53 people are currently reading
1149 people want to read
About the author
Chris Heimerdinger
42 books461 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 162 reviews
April 19, 2008
Having looked through the reviews, all 18 pages of them, I've found only 6 reviewers that rate this book below 3. I was kind of disappointed that there weren't more. So let me just make it clear that this is a terrible book.
Heimerdinger split up the action in these books which required the use of two narrators. But he doesn't do a very good job of giving the narrators different voices. The problem is so bad that he has to use different type sets to distinguish between narrators and I still had a hard time telling them apart. What makes it worse is that Heimerdinger appears to have one writing style, and that is first person omniscient. So you get the story from the perspective of one person, but that one person knows all the details and thoughts of every person around him or her. It really isn't a very impressive writing style.
Another problem with this book is that is has the exact same plot progression as the books preceding it. It was so sadly predictable that you could guess what was going to happen 30 pages ahead of yourself.
I also had a hard time deciding if Heimerdinger was trying to write a novel, a memoir, or a sermon. And his commentary on religious topics is some of the worst I've read. It's endless babble and cliche and pure drudgery to read.
To sum up, this book is a half-decent story line wrapped up in a bunch of reference to scripture, a little creative license, and mounds of religious cliche with very little substance. Having said that, I doubt your typical 10-12 year old cares much about any of that, and it's probably a good book for kids that age to be reading. But by the time you're 16, it's probably not worth the time.
Heimerdinger split up the action in these books which required the use of two narrators. But he doesn't do a very good job of giving the narrators different voices. The problem is so bad that he has to use different type sets to distinguish between narrators and I still had a hard time telling them apart. What makes it worse is that Heimerdinger appears to have one writing style, and that is first person omniscient. So you get the story from the perspective of one person, but that one person knows all the details and thoughts of every person around him or her. It really isn't a very impressive writing style.
Another problem with this book is that is has the exact same plot progression as the books preceding it. It was so sadly predictable that you could guess what was going to happen 30 pages ahead of yourself.
I also had a hard time deciding if Heimerdinger was trying to write a novel, a memoir, or a sermon. And his commentary on religious topics is some of the worst I've read. It's endless babble and cliche and pure drudgery to read.
To sum up, this book is a half-decent story line wrapped up in a bunch of reference to scripture, a little creative license, and mounds of religious cliche with very little substance. Having said that, I doubt your typical 10-12 year old cares much about any of that, and it's probably a good book for kids that age to be reading. But by the time you're 16, it's probably not worth the time.
July 3, 2023
Been listening to this on audiobook while on a road trip. Not much to say so I’m keeping this short.
This author’s writing is always so good and the stories and characters he comes up with are crazy detailed and I don’t know how he comes up with half of what he writes about.
Always makes me feel close to the Book of Mormon and love reading (or in this case, listening to) books like this.
On to part 2!
This author’s writing is always so good and the stories and characters he comes up with are crazy detailed and I don’t know how he comes up with half of what he writes about.
Always makes me feel close to the Book of Mormon and love reading (or in this case, listening to) books like this.
On to part 2!
October 13, 2025
Such a page-turner! My favorite of the three so far. Thankfully my memory is poor and it feels almost like I’m reading them for the first time.
somnolent, flaccid, limpid, quiescent
somnolent, flaccid, limpid, quiescent
January 5, 2023
This book was definitely a part one and you can feel it. Not quite as interesting as I would like but I hope it’s payoff is good in the next book
February 25, 2014
I think this may be my favorite 2 books of the series as the family is thrust back in time to when Jesus visits the Nephites. Amazing faith building story. Do be aware that book 3 and 4 are part 1 and 2 of a story. So you finish book 3 and basically NEED to read book 4 to find out what happens.
We LOVE the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites Series. Rob and I listened to it while we drove on any road trips when we were first married and we continued the traditions as we had our boys.
We recently started re-listening to the series in November and are up to book 4. This is the first time our 8 year old remembers hearing them and he loves them. The stories are old familiar friends to our older boys, who have read the books and listened to the audio books at least 3 or 4 times.
GREAT series for young and old alike. I feel like it has helped my boys love the Gospel and really bring it to life for them.
We LOVE the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites Series. Rob and I listened to it while we drove on any road trips when we were first married and we continued the traditions as we had our boys.
We recently started re-listening to the series in November and are up to book 4. This is the first time our 8 year old remembers hearing them and he loves them. The stories are old familiar friends to our older boys, who have read the books and listened to the audio books at least 3 or 4 times.
GREAT series for young and old alike. I feel like it has helped my boys love the Gospel and really bring it to life for them.
September 28, 2025
The book's setting is laid out beautifully and makes you feel like you are actually there. The characters are enjoyable to explore and their issues feel genuine. Jim's parental struggles especially stand out as relatable and convey motes of truth as the story progresses. The introduction of Book of Mormon spiritual leaders really lifts the book from being entertainment to a fictional extrapolation on what these men might have been like. This makes the reader see such men in a very human light that is often missed when pondering scriptural knowledge, if anything encouraging the reader to read the scriptures knowing that these holy men struggled with many of the same weaknesses that they do, and yet stood as beacons for their God in a sometimes quite dark world.
June 19, 2017
6-18-2017 This is the set up to my favorite book by Heimerdinger and, with its companion, it works better than any of the others I've read so far.
November 14, 2017
In modern day Utah, a struggling widower and father, Jim Hawkins finds himself caught in a terrifying situation that could destroy him and his family. His children learn that Jim had found a portal to the times of the Book of Mormon earlier in his life. It becomes necessary that he lead his family back to the land of the Nephites. This is where the real adventure begins. Arriving in Zarahemla, the family recognizes that they have arrived in the time just before the coming of Jesus Christ to the land Bountiful. The possibility of seeing the Savior becomes even more real to Jim’s family.
This book, though it is of course not scripture, and is considered fiction, I feel is inspired. It can help young people as well as adults to be more excited about the stories in the scriptures. Within the story, testimony of the Savior and of the Book of Mormon is borne frequently. It also shows the connections of the Book of Mormon to our own time as we, like the Nephites—await the day the Messiah will come.
“How much [time] remained before the just wrath of God turned this land inside out with fire and destruction? Every rumble of thunder and jolt of lightning overhead drew this question back to the forefront of my mind.”
While reading Tennis Shoes and the Feathered Serpent, the reader wonders the same thing about the modern day: How much longer until the great and terrible day when Jesus will come again?
This book, though it is of course not scripture, and is considered fiction, I feel is inspired. It can help young people as well as adults to be more excited about the stories in the scriptures. Within the story, testimony of the Savior and of the Book of Mormon is borne frequently. It also shows the connections of the Book of Mormon to our own time as we, like the Nephites—await the day the Messiah will come.
“How much [time] remained before the just wrath of God turned this land inside out with fire and destruction? Every rumble of thunder and jolt of lightning overhead drew this question back to the forefront of my mind.”
While reading Tennis Shoes and the Feathered Serpent, the reader wonders the same thing about the modern day: How much longer until the great and terrible day when Jesus will come again?
November 16, 2018
My favorite character in this book is Harry. I think he is best because when he arrives in the Nephite, he has the same amazed reaction to the Nephite lands as his father did before him. When his father was in the same time he was amazed how happy the people were and how even without modern conveniences their lives were as happy as ever. Now that his son is in the same time same place he gets to experience all the things his dad did.
My review on this book is very positive because it perfectly follows the previous story while seamlessly adding new characters. It is able to add a son and two daughters to the original main character without taking away from the original story. It also brings to life the time of the Nephites telling the stories like you never heard them before.
My review on this book is very positive because it perfectly follows the previous story while seamlessly adding new characters. It is able to add a son and two daughters to the original main character without taking away from the original story. It also brings to life the time of the Nephites telling the stories like you never heard them before.
March 20, 2024
My Review -May Contain Spoilers, Please Be Responsible In Your Triggers
This book takes place about 16 years following "The Silver Sword" Jim and Garth are both settled in their families. Jim has three children and is a widow now. We see Garth and Jenny married and having returned to Book of Mormon times. But when Jim is framed for murder, there is obvious Gadianton work involved. He learns that his friend Garth has been captive and when one of his daughters are taken, he is brought back into the world of the Book of Mormon. This story has multiple storylines and even though that isn't my favorite thing, the way that this author writes it really just works. I really enjoyed the romance for Melody. This is the first part of this story though. This book is where we see the plot building that leads up to the finale of it. I really loved the ties with Christ and the "Feathered Serpent". There is some solid mythology in this one and great historical context being implemented throughout the story. This story also takes place weeks before the coming of the Savior.
If you loved the first book especially, you will have a blast with this first part of the adventures with Jim Garth and Jenny and their children in the times of the Book of Mormon.
This book takes place about 16 years following "The Silver Sword" Jim and Garth are both settled in their families. Jim has three children and is a widow now. We see Garth and Jenny married and having returned to Book of Mormon times. But when Jim is framed for murder, there is obvious Gadianton work involved. He learns that his friend Garth has been captive and when one of his daughters are taken, he is brought back into the world of the Book of Mormon. This story has multiple storylines and even though that isn't my favorite thing, the way that this author writes it really just works. I really enjoyed the romance for Melody. This is the first part of this story though. This book is where we see the plot building that leads up to the finale of it. I really loved the ties with Christ and the "Feathered Serpent". There is some solid mythology in this one and great historical context being implemented throughout the story. This story also takes place weeks before the coming of the Savior.
If you loved the first book especially, you will have a blast with this first part of the adventures with Jim Garth and Jenny and their children in the times of the Book of Mormon.
May 9, 2024
My Review -May Contain Spoilers, Please Be Responsible In Your Triggers
This book takes place about 16 years following "The Silver Sword" Jim and Garth are both settled in their families. Jim has three children and is a widow now. We see Garth and Jenny married and having returned to Book of Mormon times. But when Jim is framed for murder, there is obvious Gadianton work involved. He learns that his friend Garth has been captive and when one of his daughters are taken, he is brought back into the world of the Book of Mormon. This story has multiple storylines and even though that isn't my favorite thing, the way that this author writes it really just works. I really enjoyed the romance for Melody. This is the first part of this story though. This book is where we see the plot building that leads up to the finale of it. I really loved the ties with Christ and the "Feathered Serpent". There is some solid mythology in this one and great historical context being implemented throughout the story. This story also takes place weeks before the coming of the Savior.
If you loved the first book especially, you will have a blast with this first part of the adventures with Jim Garth and Jenny and their children in the times of the Book of Mormon.
This book takes place about 16 years following "The Silver Sword" Jim and Garth are both settled in their families. Jim has three children and is a widow now. We see Garth and Jenny married and having returned to Book of Mormon times. But when Jim is framed for murder, there is obvious Gadianton work involved. He learns that his friend Garth has been captive and when one of his daughters are taken, he is brought back into the world of the Book of Mormon. This story has multiple storylines and even though that isn't my favorite thing, the way that this author writes it really just works. I really enjoyed the romance for Melody. This is the first part of this story though. This book is where we see the plot building that leads up to the finale of it. I really loved the ties with Christ and the "Feathered Serpent". There is some solid mythology in this one and great historical context being implemented throughout the story. This story also takes place weeks before the coming of the Savior.
If you loved the first book especially, you will have a blast with this first part of the adventures with Jim Garth and Jenny and their children in the times of the Book of Mormon.
April 24, 2019
Way back in high school, I loved the Tennis Shoes books. They immersed me into a world I only heard about in Church and gave me an entirely different perspective on that world. Today, they still hold up pretty well. Oh, I can see the flaws: there is far too much tell and not enough show for my taste, and much of the dialogue feels fake or forced. Additionally, some of the coincidences in the stories are just too much to swallow as believable. But they still do what I think Heimerdinger intended: introduce you to the world of the Book of Mormon not as it likely was but how it possibly could have been. His blending of scripture with research on ancient Americans is impressive, and it is easy to believe that the people lived the way he portrays them--whether they actually did or not. More important, he brings Gospel lessons to his young readers. In the end, I feel that the positive aspects to this story far outweigh any negatives.
I do wish he'd just done a single book rather than the terrible cliffhanger, though.
I do wish he'd just done a single book rather than the terrible cliffhanger, though.
February 7, 2021
As this is "part 1" of a two-part series, I'm optimistic that "part 2" will make up for this rating with a four- or five-star rating. This one simply took a very long time to develop, which perhaps it had to in order to be credible. Rating is also probably affected by following after the original, awesome Tennis Shoes, which even on a re-read these many years later managed to move me to tears, as well as the very good Gadiantons and the Silver Sword sequel.
We just kind of slogged through this one, which was much more of a present-day murder mystery than another journey through Book of Mormon times as I anticipated, but the framework is in place, the second half of what would normally be one large book (and therefore probably a higher overall rating) has all the potential in the world. We look forward to getting into it.
We just kind of slogged through this one, which was much more of a present-day murder mystery than another journey through Book of Mormon times as I anticipated, but the framework is in place, the second half of what would normally be one large book (and therefore probably a higher overall rating) has all the potential in the world. We look forward to getting into it.
March 5, 2024
While at first, i found these books to be a little silly, they are quickly growing on me. this one switches back and forth between narrators. they use differant types of font depending on how is speaking though so its easy to follow. Not my favorite in the series but still a great read. I chose this book because it was next in the series. I used it for booklist queen 2024 prompt read a book with an intreging premise.
June 29, 2017
This book might have thrown me, with the two different narrations if I had been reading the book. But with the audio version it helped that it was a male and female voice. The book was exciting! I wish I would have realized there was a part 2 that was a different book, because it ended abruptly. We still enjoyed it and was able to listen to the next book too!
November 11, 2020
This is the point in the series where the author stops finishing the main story and ends the book with a cliff hanger. I only gave it 3 stars and I don’t like a story that doesn’t end. It is pretty much a continuation of the prior books so it is still good and I am already on to the next one in the series.
January 24, 2023
The addition of a female voice is welcome, but this volume falters in its sometimes rote explanation of events, during what should be the most exciting time in the series thus far. Some of the characters also seem paper-thin. More time should be spent on conversation, and character development, rather than exposition. That being said, it is still an interesting adventure.
February 13, 2024
a clean amazing book
This is a great book. In this world you can’t find a lot of wholesome books but the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series is always a good book series to turn to and fun to read. With great lessons about god and listening with peace this is a wholesome read and I’m glad to Dee that Jim, Garth, and Jenifer will never change. 🤗
This is a great book. In this world you can’t find a lot of wholesome books but the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series is always a good book series to turn to and fun to read. With great lessons about god and listening with peace this is a wholesome read and I’m glad to Dee that Jim, Garth, and Jenifer will never change. 🤗
July 1, 2024
I didn’t like this book as much as the previous books in the series. It was just almost too much. I didn’t like the writing style as Melody & Jim relaying the story & going back n forth between them wasn’t really done well so it was a bit confusing. Reading to my kids I had to tell them okay now this is Melody’s section then say okay now Jim is talking. It just didn’t flow.
July 8, 2024
I love this series. This is a reread for me, but it's been a good 10 years since I read them. I love stories where there's a modern twist in a historical timeline. It's almost like an adrenaline rush reading it. I don't know if it's a nostalgic rush or if it's because it brings a different POV to the scriptures, but there's a feeling of coming home when I read these.
October 7, 2017
think this may be my favorite 2 books of the series as the family is thrust back in time to when Jesus visits the Nephites. Amazing faith building story. Do be aware that book 3 and 4 are part 1 and 2 of a story. So you finish book 3 and basically NEED to read book 4 to find out what happens.
April 8, 2018
Easy and entertaining read. The relationships and problems between the characters seemed real and relatable. The author does a good job taking scriptural characters and expanding upon them within this fictional universe.
August 1, 2018
A good read, a nice set up for the next book. There are still some questions to be answered, and some that I didn’t think would be answered in this book. Fun, exciting and uplifting. Recommend for all ages who are looking for a little adventure.
November 6, 2018
This is another entertaining story about Jim Hawkins and his family as they interact with Nephites, Lamanites and Gadianton robbers in ancient America. They meet Samuel the Lamanite and are saved by the prophet Nephi during the time slightly before the crucifixion of Christ.
October 12, 2021
We listened to the audiobook of this back in July, but are just now reviewing it. MK gave it 5 stars. Everyone else gave it 4. MK and MD liked the story they thought it was intense. CN thought it was intriguing. It definitely kept us entertained during a long car ride.
May 25, 2017
Probably not a fair rating as this entire volume is setup for part two.
January 13, 2018
These have been so much fun to listen too in the car. They have created some good discussions. They have caused good laughter and thought.
March 18, 2019
I never really loved these books. A bit too preachy for a fiction novel and not the most amazing writing. I’d rate it a 2, but my kids love them.
February 6, 2020
Fun book can't wait for the next!
February 7, 2020
Great book can't wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews