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The Guardian #1
The Guardian
When Carruthers "Danni" McAllister receives an antique pouch as a birthday gift from her grandfather, her first reaction is disappointment. "Don't assume that something is empty just because there's nothing there," her grandfather warns. Danni learns that for nearly two hundred years, the mysterious pouch--with its astonishing hidden secrets--as been handed down from generation to generation, and each new owner has had to discover how to access the power it holds, or suffer the penalty of using the pouch unwisely.
While Danni struggles to understand the power of the pouch, her father's discovery of a rhodium mine makes her family the target of a deadly extortionist plot, and the strange pouch is Danni's only hope of saving her family.
In the spirit of The Alliance, The Freedom Factor, and Leverage Point, author Gerald N. Lund blends gripping, fast-paced suspense with a timeless message for readers of all ages.
While Danni struggles to understand the power of the pouch, her father's discovery of a rhodium mine makes her family the target of a deadly extortionist plot, and the strange pouch is Danni's only hope of saving her family.
In the spirit of The Alliance, The Freedom Factor, and Leverage Point, author Gerald N. Lund blends gripping, fast-paced suspense with a timeless message for readers of all ages.
550 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
107 people are currently reading
951 people want to read
About the author
Gerald N. Lund
87 books751 followersGerald N. Lund received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He served for thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, and he served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2002 to 2008. He is a prolific and bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction and is best known for his historical novels, including The Work and the Glory series, Fire of the Covenant, The Kingdom and the Crown series, and The Undaunted. He and his late wife, Lynn, are the parents of seven children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
January 3, 2013
This book has the auspicious title of being the first I read in 2013.
So, uh. That was weird.
I have missed Lund's books. Sure, they're long winded and sometimes a little too detailed (I really don't need to know specific geography of Hanksville, sir) but they're good. For the most part.
This one was SO WEIRD.
It's not at all what I expected. Most of Lund's books are down to earth. This one is so out there and random. It's about a girl who has a magical bag. Her family gets kidnapped and the magic bag helps her to defeat the bad guys.
I mean seriously. It's a very weird plot.
I came away not knowing how to feel. It's not necessarily a bad book. It's just so weird. If you take the pouch as a semi-metaphor for the Holy Ghost, then... no, that's still weird, because the magic bag gives her gold bars while the Holy Ghost has never done that for me as far as I know. I'm not saying skip this book, but just go into it knowing how incredibly random and weird the story is. And it drags on for a long time mostly due to lengthy and unnecessary 'journal' entries (which are recapped 3 seconds later in the actual storyline), geographical descriptions, and other randomness.
Also, I know Lund is an older gentleman, and it shows in this book. Namely because it's told through the eyes of a 16 year old girl and it's very, painfully clear that it's NOT a 16 year old girl talking. Not once does it sound like a regular kid speaking. Lund should stick with narrating from the POV of men, or doing 3rd person POVs again. Because ouch, this book was ... off.
So, uh. That was weird.
I have missed Lund's books. Sure, they're long winded and sometimes a little too detailed (I really don't need to know specific geography of Hanksville, sir) but they're good. For the most part.
This one was SO WEIRD.
It's not at all what I expected. Most of Lund's books are down to earth. This one is so out there and random. It's about a girl who has a magical bag. Her family gets kidnapped and the magic bag helps her to defeat the bad guys.
I mean seriously. It's a very weird plot.
I came away not knowing how to feel. It's not necessarily a bad book. It's just so weird. If you take the pouch as a semi-metaphor for the Holy Ghost, then... no, that's still weird, because the magic bag gives her gold bars while the Holy Ghost has never done that for me as far as I know. I'm not saying skip this book, but just go into it knowing how incredibly random and weird the story is. And it drags on for a long time mostly due to lengthy and unnecessary 'journal' entries (which are recapped 3 seconds later in the actual storyline), geographical descriptions, and other randomness.
Also, I know Lund is an older gentleman, and it shows in this book. Namely because it's told through the eyes of a 16 year old girl and it's very, painfully clear that it's NOT a 16 year old girl talking. Not once does it sound like a regular kid speaking. Lund should stick with narrating from the POV of men, or doing 3rd person POVs again. Because ouch, this book was ... off.
January 17, 2013
When I read that this book was in the same vein as The Alliance and The Freedom Factor, I got really excited and immediately bought the book. Those are some of my very favorite books, and I was looking forward to more of that style from Lund. Unfortunately, what I ended up getting was kind of a mess.
So there's this girl named Danni who gets a magical pouch/purse thingy on her thirteenth birthday. She also gets a journal, so there are some scattered journal entries, but they seemed kind of pointless and redundant because the book is a first-person narrative, so we're getting Danni's perspective anyway. And the first person was horrible. Lund is old now, and he really has no idea how to write from a 16-year-old's perspective. Her language was weird. At one point she says "seriously" about a million times and at another point she's talking like she's 40. It wasn't consistent. Lund should have stuck with the third person.
The whole premise of the book itself was weird, too. This wasn't an LDS novel, per se, but Lund is an LDS author, so I kept trying to figure out what his moral was with the pouch. It almost seemed like a metaphor for the Holy Ghost. It gives Danni direction and inspiration, but it also makes her invisible when needed and conjures up a toy gun that starts shooting real bullets when it's set down. If that was the metaphor Lund was going for, it just didn't work.
I couldn't bring myself to finish this book because it was so disjointed to me. I wasn't interested in the story, even when the action started to pick up. I might give this another try later on (like when I'm not in the homestretch of planning a wedding), but this time around, it just didn't do it for me.
So there's this girl named Danni who gets a magical pouch/purse thingy on her thirteenth birthday. She also gets a journal, so there are some scattered journal entries, but they seemed kind of pointless and redundant because the book is a first-person narrative, so we're getting Danni's perspective anyway. And the first person was horrible. Lund is old now, and he really has no idea how to write from a 16-year-old's perspective. Her language was weird. At one point she says "seriously" about a million times and at another point she's talking like she's 40. It wasn't consistent. Lund should have stuck with the third person.
The whole premise of the book itself was weird, too. This wasn't an LDS novel, per se, but Lund is an LDS author, so I kept trying to figure out what his moral was with the pouch. It almost seemed like a metaphor for the Holy Ghost. It gives Danni direction and inspiration, but it also makes her invisible when needed and conjures up a toy gun that starts shooting real bullets when it's set down. If that was the metaphor Lund was going for, it just didn't work.
I couldn't bring myself to finish this book because it was so disjointed to me. I wasn't interested in the story, even when the action started to pick up. I might give this another try later on (like when I'm not in the homestretch of planning a wedding), but this time around, it just didn't do it for me.
December 12, 2023
Picked this one up at a library sale, it’s borderline YA which isn’t my thing, and the main character is a 16 year-old girl but the book is penned by a man in his 70’s so there always seemed to be something a little off in her speech. That and her outbursts and impulsive tantrums were repetitive and excessive, even for a teenager.
There are some pertinent life lessons scattered throughout, and it wasn’t poorly written at all. Let’s just say once the enchanted pouch started producing millions of dollars worth of gold bars I picked up the skimming.
There are some pertinent life lessons scattered throughout, and it wasn’t poorly written at all. Let’s just say once the enchanted pouch started producing millions of dollars worth of gold bars I picked up the skimming.
December 29, 2012
This was a decent book, and a fun easy read, but it had several problems that keep me from loving it.
First of all, Lund is not a young man anymore, but the main characters in this book are 16 and 17. He said in the acknowledgments that he relied on his younger family members to help him get more in touch with "teenspeak" and stuff, but in the end we have characters who switch from ranting like 5 year olds to talking like general authorities in the same paragraph. I'm really not exaggerating here. Danni explodes when her best friend asks her why she did something, but then explains the it was because she "received a sudden inspiration in her mind, like an enlightening of the senses." Really?
That brings me to my second criticism. The book is based in modern-day Utah, it's written by a former general authority, and it is borderline fantasy. Magic pouches? I kept wondering (hoping not!!) if the characters would suddenly go to the LDS church or meet the missionaries. Honestly I don't think Lund should write fantasy. His "Magic" system worked perilously close to the way the spirit works, except that it would also give Danni things that weren't good. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and honestly the weird parallels between the gospel and the magic pouch were mildly disturbing. Not because they were bad or I don't like magic in books, but because the story was based in Utah and I kept thinking he was going to try to bring the church into it, or that his characters are secretly Mormon. Strange. Anyways.
That being said I read this book in two days, and it was engaging and fun to read. It made me want to google some of the amazing locations in Southern Utah and maybe plan a road trip.
Lastly and not really a reflection on the book itself, I found 3 blatant editorial errors where the wrong word was used. "i" instead of "a", missing a "the" in a few sentences.
Definitely not up the standard set long ago by "The Alliance" (Favorite Gerald Lund book by a mile!!)
First of all, Lund is not a young man anymore, but the main characters in this book are 16 and 17. He said in the acknowledgments that he relied on his younger family members to help him get more in touch with "teenspeak" and stuff, but in the end we have characters who switch from ranting like 5 year olds to talking like general authorities in the same paragraph. I'm really not exaggerating here. Danni explodes when her best friend asks her why she did something, but then explains the it was because she "received a sudden inspiration in her mind, like an enlightening of the senses." Really?
That brings me to my second criticism. The book is based in modern-day Utah, it's written by a former general authority, and it is borderline fantasy. Magic pouches? I kept wondering (hoping not!!) if the characters would suddenly go to the LDS church or meet the missionaries. Honestly I don't think Lund should write fantasy. His "Magic" system worked perilously close to the way the spirit works, except that it would also give Danni things that weren't good. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and honestly the weird parallels between the gospel and the magic pouch were mildly disturbing. Not because they were bad or I don't like magic in books, but because the story was based in Utah and I kept thinking he was going to try to bring the church into it, or that his characters are secretly Mormon. Strange. Anyways.
That being said I read this book in two days, and it was engaging and fun to read. It made me want to google some of the amazing locations in Southern Utah and maybe plan a road trip.
Lastly and not really a reflection on the book itself, I found 3 blatant editorial errors where the wrong word was used. "i" instead of "a", missing a "the" in a few sentences.
Definitely not up the standard set long ago by "The Alliance" (Favorite Gerald Lund book by a mile!!)
January 10, 2013
Guardian by Gerald N. Lund
5 STARS
This is a great story. It is full of enchantment,drama,action and humor too.
The main characters are three children with two of them teenagers. Danni McAllister
at age 13 gets a birthday present from her grandfather that is an old purse or bag that has been passed down in thier family for over a 100 years. She tries to hide her disappointment in it.
Her best friend for years has been Ricky Ramirez he has to help babysit his sisters and even works with Dani's father part time. He is a year older than Dani.
Cody is 10 and Dani's sister. He is smart with numbers.
Dani & Cody's family is being held hostage for 20 million dollars that thier family is selling a mine for that price. The kidnappers know a lot about thier family and what they are up to.
Dani is a tomboy,stubborn. She gets a rifle for her 13 birthday too and her grandfather,father,Ricky and her go camping and Ricky and her get taught how to fire the rifle.
Dani gets teased about the pouch that is called the Guardian because her mother makes her take it to school in her middle school everyday. One day some interesting things happen to Dani and she learns a little more about what the pouch can do. She learns some important lessons along the way.
When thier family is kidnapped Dani and Cody get away and caught again and escape. Every time it looks bleak for them something happens to help them out of trouble. But when things are looking like they will workout something goes wrong so you are on your edge of the seat waiting for what happens next.
It is a well told story and I hated to have to put it down. The characters are exciting with flaws and good points. This is a book that a lot of different ages can read and enjoy it. Or even read it together. I loved it. Would like to read more by Gerald N. Lund.
This book makes me want to go camping and explore some of the places that the book takes place in more. Dani lives in the small town of Hanksville. They talk about a few different canyons that are close by thier. Even Lake Powell which I have not gone to for years.
I wish I had a purse that made wishes come true for me. I recommend that you read this book and be carried away with its enchantment too.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when I had read it by Netgalley.
Publication Date:December 26, 2012 Publisher: Deseret Book, Shadow Mountain Publishing File Size: 769 KB ASIN: B00A6FELP4
5 STARS
This is a great story. It is full of enchantment,drama,action and humor too.
The main characters are three children with two of them teenagers. Danni McAllister
at age 13 gets a birthday present from her grandfather that is an old purse or bag that has been passed down in thier family for over a 100 years. She tries to hide her disappointment in it.
Her best friend for years has been Ricky Ramirez he has to help babysit his sisters and even works with Dani's father part time. He is a year older than Dani.
Cody is 10 and Dani's sister. He is smart with numbers.
Dani & Cody's family is being held hostage for 20 million dollars that thier family is selling a mine for that price. The kidnappers know a lot about thier family and what they are up to.
Dani is a tomboy,stubborn. She gets a rifle for her 13 birthday too and her grandfather,father,Ricky and her go camping and Ricky and her get taught how to fire the rifle.
Dani gets teased about the pouch that is called the Guardian because her mother makes her take it to school in her middle school everyday. One day some interesting things happen to Dani and she learns a little more about what the pouch can do. She learns some important lessons along the way.
When thier family is kidnapped Dani and Cody get away and caught again and escape. Every time it looks bleak for them something happens to help them out of trouble. But when things are looking like they will workout something goes wrong so you are on your edge of the seat waiting for what happens next.
It is a well told story and I hated to have to put it down. The characters are exciting with flaws and good points. This is a book that a lot of different ages can read and enjoy it. Or even read it together. I loved it. Would like to read more by Gerald N. Lund.
This book makes me want to go camping and explore some of the places that the book takes place in more. Dani lives in the small town of Hanksville. They talk about a few different canyons that are close by thier. Even Lake Powell which I have not gone to for years.
I wish I had a purse that made wishes come true for me. I recommend that you read this book and be carried away with its enchantment too.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when I had read it by Netgalley.
Publication Date:December 26, 2012 Publisher: Deseret Book, Shadow Mountain Publishing File Size: 769 KB ASIN: B00A6FELP4
November 29, 2012
The book takes place in the slot canyons of Southern Utah, and even stretches to Lake Powell which must be one of the most unique lakes in the world. Technically it's a YA, but it’s the kind of book mothers and daughters will enjoy reading together. Fathers and sons, too, since there's a lot of action in this one. It's a hard book to put down. I also love it for very personal reasons. More on my blog here: http://rebeccabelliston.wordpress.com...
February 8, 2020
This was very well done. It was slightly different than the previous books by Lund that I've read, I think because this book was meant for a younger audience and it wasn't a strictly LDS book. It has spiritual elements to it, but nothing from a specific religion, though it still includes historical information. It was hard to get into, but once the story got going, it was a fast paced story that was easy to understand and taught a lot of good lessons. It also made me stop and reflect on myself at times. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 3, 2012
I really am not sure how to categorize this book...it has the pouch which would be ranked as fantasy, the kidnapping which would be suspense, and the kids trying to figure out the how and why which would be mystery!
The first 50 pages or so are a little slow, but keep reading! It sucks you in until you don't want to put it down until the whole mystery is resolved! Great writing and good characters make this a 3 1/2 stars!
The first 50 pages or so are a little slow, but keep reading! It sucks you in until you don't want to put it down until the whole mystery is resolved! Great writing and good characters make this a 3 1/2 stars!
November 20, 2012
If you are expecting this to be historical fiction like his Work & the Glory or Undaunted, it isn't like that at all. Think Alliance, Freedom Factor & Levrage Point even One in thine Hand which are his earlier books and that is the style of this new book by Gerald Lund. I couldn't put this book down! What a great story!
November 1, 2019
When Carruthers "Danni" McAllister received a 200 year old pouch for her 13th birthday, her first reaction was disappointment. Her grandfather told her to respect and take care of it. She didn’t really care about the pouch at all. About a year later her grandfather and father found a rhodium mine, all of the rhodium in this mine was worth about 20 million dollars. On the way bake from the mine Danni felt like her mother and brother were in danger. When they got back to the house Danni’s grandfather and father and herself were captured and held hostage by a gang. The leader was El Cobra. Danni and Cody were able to escape thanks to the pouch. They went over to Danni’s best friend, Rick’s house. Rick, Danni and Cody then had to figure out a way to save Danni’s family without calling the police or letting El Cobra know that they called the police.
One of the main themes of this book is family. Throughout the book Danni does what ever she can to free her family. She tries to keep them safe at all time and doesn’t want to put them in any more danger. Also the pouch is a family heirloom so she needed to learn to respect it and to treat it in a nice way.
I really enjoyed this book because of how well Gerald N. Lund described the characters and the places. It was a very good book and I really liked how exciting and suspenseful his book is. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure books. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is in upon our high or high school. Overall this was a very good book.
One of the main themes of this book is family. Throughout the book Danni does what ever she can to free her family. She tries to keep them safe at all time and doesn’t want to put them in any more danger. Also the pouch is a family heirloom so she needed to learn to respect it and to treat it in a nice way.
I really enjoyed this book because of how well Gerald N. Lund described the characters and the places. It was a very good book and I really liked how exciting and suspenseful his book is. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure books. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is in upon our high or high school. Overall this was a very good book.
May 1, 2018
The Guardian was not your typical Gerald Lund book. I was looking for another Work and the Glory type book with a wonderful story to follow. What I got was a teenage fantasy that was very unsatisfying. Danni, the main character, was quite a flighty, silly teenager who is following directions from a magic pouch. With Lund as an LDS author, I kept trying to find a spiritual connection with this pouch and the events that took place. But I could find none. I was very disappointed in this book, and hope that more of his writing will be as strong and uplifting as his earlier books.
May 14, 2025
3.5 stars. I liked this book. Not your average Gerald Lund book. This was a YA novel... written by a 70 year old man. Good takeaways from the book. The main character drove me crazy a little bit- super impulsive and didn't act much like a 16 year old. I loved most of the supporting characters though. My favorite parts of the book were the peaks back into her ancestor's stories.
March 27, 2019
It was a fun read, but very unrealistic.
February 18, 2022
This book was not at all what I expected. Usually this author writes historical fiction style but this was a teen adventure sort of book. It was still a really fun story and did have a touch of history tidbits here and there but some parts seemed to cater to the juvenile and I just rolled my eyes. Overall it was a fun engaging story and worth the read.
January 23, 2014
I first became aware of this book, when we attended a visitation, of a friend, who had died of cancer. A copy of this book was displayed with mementos of Ken's life. His wife said Ken really liked this book. I looked the book up on amazon, and it cost more than I was willing to pay. In December of 2013 I looked again, and the price had dropped. I bought The Guardian, and the next in the series of two books. I have read many of Gerald Lund's books, which were LDS historical fiction. As I read through the first few chapters, I had a hard time getting my mind around what the author was writing, and why Ken had enjoyed this book so much. I soon got to a point in the book, where the pages were quickly turning, and I didn't want to put it down. I would force myself to stop reading, because I was losing too much sleep.
After the ending,the author explained how he came to write this book. He used to read bed time stories to his children, and then one night he decided to make up a story. He made up the characters, and the magical pouch, as he told his children the story. He never finished that story. Later he wrote up an outline, and filed it away, to bring it out many years later.
This would be a great book to read to children, a little bit at a time. This is a clean book, with a good exciting story. The teenage characters make mistakes, and learn from them. There are great descriptions of the beautiful areas, where the story takes place. This is a great read.
After the ending,the author explained how he came to write this book. He used to read bed time stories to his children, and then one night he decided to make up a story. He made up the characters, and the magical pouch, as he told his children the story. He never finished that story. Later he wrote up an outline, and filed it away, to bring it out many years later.
This would be a great book to read to children, a little bit at a time. This is a clean book, with a good exciting story. The teenage characters make mistakes, and learn from them. There are great descriptions of the beautiful areas, where the story takes place. This is a great read.
October 3, 2013
This is not Lund's best writing and I agree with the consensus that he's showing his age. I fear the golden era of LDS fiction writing that Lund started with his groundbreaking Work and the Glory series is truly over. The whole concept of an enchanted genie/purse is a great story idea, one that Lund could've gotten a lot of milage from until it got too "cartoony". This book read like one of the more recent Chris Hemerdinger Tennis Shoes novels and not in a good way.
So, here's my two star rating laundry list:
I felt really stupid after finishing chapter one and not realizing Danni was a girl. Lund should've stuck with "Carrie" acknowledged in the end notes as Carruther's original nickname.
Long winded dialogue when characters explain stuff for the reader's benefit has been and always will be sloppy writing. This includes the journal entries which I started skipping.
I know we're scared to death of offending anyone but bad guys have to be written as believable characters. If al-Qaeda were that nice, Flight 93 would still be circling over Pennsylvania. Evil is never going to change. El Cobra and his gang could use a few lessons from the Nazis. Threats only work for so long and the number of times our heroes escaped from these Mexican "chiquitas" was ridiculous. I had Ricky and his dad pegged as the moles in the operation, now THAT would've made an intersting story.
So, here's my two star rating laundry list:
I felt really stupid after finishing chapter one and not realizing Danni was a girl. Lund should've stuck with "Carrie" acknowledged in the end notes as Carruther's original nickname.
Long winded dialogue when characters explain stuff for the reader's benefit has been and always will be sloppy writing. This includes the journal entries which I started skipping.
I know we're scared to death of offending anyone but bad guys have to be written as believable characters. If al-Qaeda were that nice, Flight 93 would still be circling over Pennsylvania. Evil is never going to change. El Cobra and his gang could use a few lessons from the Nazis. Threats only work for so long and the number of times our heroes escaped from these Mexican "chiquitas" was ridiculous. I had Ricky and his dad pegged as the moles in the operation, now THAT would've made an intersting story.
June 21, 2013
This is our bookclub read for September and I am so glad I get to be the facilitator. This was a fun read. Some reviews thought it was too wordy, other's that the villains weren't evil enough, some that it was slow. I suppose it's all in the reader's view.
For me it was just so much fun. Yes, the beginning is a bit slow but when all the symbols start to click you really just want to finish.
I was intrigued with the discussions of wealth very early on...then some quotes I hope stick with me: Intelligence is the ability to make choices that determine outcome (Danni's mom). The difference between intelligence and stupidity is that there is a limit to intelligence (Danni's grandpere).
I think there's enough evil in the world that having a villain be portrayed as nothing more than stupid was just perfect for a day like today, the first day of Summer.
I liked the sweet start of romance (yes, it's a YA book), the loyalty to family, the sense that belief in truth and in a power beyond ourselves leads me to think it is something to reflect on in my day to day life. The 4 Remembrances are 4 things really vital today:
4 Remembrances
1 Remember, you are unique
2 remember, there is a purpose to your life
3 Remember, you are free to choose what you are and what you become
4 Remember, you are not alone.
For me it was just so much fun. Yes, the beginning is a bit slow but when all the symbols start to click you really just want to finish.
I was intrigued with the discussions of wealth very early on...then some quotes I hope stick with me: Intelligence is the ability to make choices that determine outcome (Danni's mom). The difference between intelligence and stupidity is that there is a limit to intelligence (Danni's grandpere).
I think there's enough evil in the world that having a villain be portrayed as nothing more than stupid was just perfect for a day like today, the first day of Summer.
I liked the sweet start of romance (yes, it's a YA book), the loyalty to family, the sense that belief in truth and in a power beyond ourselves leads me to think it is something to reflect on in my day to day life. The 4 Remembrances are 4 things really vital today:
4 Remembrances
1 Remember, you are unique
2 remember, there is a purpose to your life
3 Remember, you are free to choose what you are and what you become
4 Remember, you are not alone.
June 17, 2014
I almost quit reading this book after reading some of the reviews on this web site. Also I wasn't that impressed with it after reading the first chapter. But on reflection and remembering the books I'd previously read by Mr. Lund, I decided to give it another chance.
I'm glad I did. Granted, as a 65-year-old woman I wouldn't know if the slang used by the teenage protagonists is accurate (one of the complaints from other readers) and it's been too long since I was a teenager to be sure Mr. Lund had created a convincing representative of that age group. I didn't have a problem with those characters.
Obviously this book is a fantasy. Much as we might like to, none of us is going to ever have an enchanted pouch and no one previously has had one. I did find it a good metaphor for explaining the role of the Holy Ghost in our lives. But it would be nice if it had some of the powers of the pouch!
I'm glad I did. Granted, as a 65-year-old woman I wouldn't know if the slang used by the teenage protagonists is accurate (one of the complaints from other readers) and it's been too long since I was a teenager to be sure Mr. Lund had created a convincing representative of that age group. I didn't have a problem with those characters.
Obviously this book is a fantasy. Much as we might like to, none of us is going to ever have an enchanted pouch and no one previously has had one. I did find it a good metaphor for explaining the role of the Holy Ghost in our lives. But it would be nice if it had some of the powers of the pouch!
June 8, 2015
I only gave this book 2 stars because I grew up in Hanksville. As a native, his grasp of setting was ok, but there are small things he missed. My biggest problem was the editing issues in my paperback edition. Horrible, to say the least.
Which then brings me to the quality of writing. Ugh. He chose first person and he made that voice a 16 year old girl. First, he has no insight or grasp of a teenage girl and it shows. The character comes off feeling like a stereotype, much like the setting, it was a regurgitation or a recount of something he's gathered info on. Not authentic and not believable.
Speaking of unbelievable, the plot was quite far fetched. I know it was fiction, but the FBI wouldn't just throw the rule book out the window and take orders from a 16 year old girl.
Anyway, not my cup of tea. Won't be reading the next book.
Which then brings me to the quality of writing. Ugh. He chose first person and he made that voice a 16 year old girl. First, he has no insight or grasp of a teenage girl and it shows. The character comes off feeling like a stereotype, much like the setting, it was a regurgitation or a recount of something he's gathered info on. Not authentic and not believable.
Speaking of unbelievable, the plot was quite far fetched. I know it was fiction, but the FBI wouldn't just throw the rule book out the window and take orders from a 16 year old girl.
Anyway, not my cup of tea. Won't be reading the next book.
June 16, 2013
Not the usual Lund book. An easy read and definitely a fantasy book. I did enjoy his historical fiction sets more. This book is written for younger people and is also a moral tale of sorts. What was fun about it was the information that it was originally a story started many years ago as a bedtime story to be continued for his own children who are now adults with growing children of their own.
December 27, 2012
Actually I would give this book 4.5 stars. I have never given a book that many stars before. This book was a lot different than I thought it would be. It holds your interest until it is over. I have enjoyed every book that I have read written by Gerald Lund.
December 24, 2012
I love that this is a book he started as bedtime stories for his kids. The characters are great. I had some trouble with the mystic stuff in it, but it is well-written and parts are gripping.
September 2, 2013
Set in the heart of Southern Utah's beautiful redrocks, this book follows the exploits of Dani and her family dangerous run-in with kidnappers. Enjoyable quick read
May 25, 2014
Took a long time to get into the story. Very different for this author. Definitely Not His best.
January 16, 2020
Pleasantly surprised. Not your usual Gerald Lund book. Looking forward to reading the second book.
June 29, 2017
This is one of my absolute favorite books of all time. I love Danni, the protagonist, for her humor, nerdiness, impatience, stubbornness, sassiness, and especially for her love of learning. She's a fun character to read about, and she's somebody you can easily imagine yourself being friends with, so props to Mr. Lund for that. The other characters are just as easy to imagine knowing in real life, which makes them all the more human and all the more interesting. It seems to me that one of the author's talents is on point characterization. Characters: 5/5
Now for the plot. Yes, it's about a magic...or enchanted...pouch. Yes, that may seem a bit random at first. But once things started getting going, which, I'll admit, took awhile, this enchanted pouch becomes the source of a very intense plot that I couldn't put down. I would bring this book EVERYWHERE with me just because I was so hooked and I absolutely needed to know what would happen next. While the ending was, for the most part, satisfying, I think Lund made a HUGE mistake not explaining where the pouch came from or why it was enchanted. Hello! That's one of the biggest mysteries of the book! Is there a sorceress or scientist who secretly makes enchanted objects to help the virtuous in their endeavors? Was it possessed by an evil spirit until some bright person was able to reverse it? None of these questions are answered, and the reader is left to accept that there is an enchanted pouch without knowing anything of its origin. Plot: 4/5
One of the things I love best about this book is the lessons it teaches. Specifically the theme of the Four Remembers; that you are unique, that you have a purpose in life, that you are free to choose who you are and what you become, and that you are not alone. Are they true? Sure is nice to think so. Having said that, a large number of people really aren't free to choose what they become. That's a luxury of the first world. The unfortunate truth is that the only purpose most people will ever have in life is being able to feed their family and make it through another day. The fact that you are unique and that you are not alone seem pretty true for everyone, but the other two are very first world; how can you reach finding purpose in your life when you struggle to find your next meal every day? When it comes down to it, Lund got me thinking, and that is really what I look for in a good book. Lessons/Deeper Connections: 4/5
Now this doesn't really fit into a category, but one other thing Lund could work on is writing believable dialogue. There are several times where a character says something in a way that only somebody giving a sermon would say. Real people, especially teenagers, don't talk like that. If I can't imagine people saying it, it's not believable dialogue. When you're writing dialogue, it should sound natural, not like a movie script or on the nose preachy.
When it came down to it, the flaws of this book are outweighed by the simple fact that I love it. I love the characters and the plot, the way this book inspired me, and the way it made me feel. This book gets a 5 out of 5.
Now for the plot. Yes, it's about a magic...or enchanted...pouch. Yes, that may seem a bit random at first. But once things started getting going, which, I'll admit, took awhile, this enchanted pouch becomes the source of a very intense plot that I couldn't put down. I would bring this book EVERYWHERE with me just because I was so hooked and I absolutely needed to know what would happen next. While the ending was, for the most part, satisfying, I think Lund made a HUGE mistake not explaining where the pouch came from or why it was enchanted. Hello! That's one of the biggest mysteries of the book! Is there a sorceress or scientist who secretly makes enchanted objects to help the virtuous in their endeavors? Was it possessed by an evil spirit until some bright person was able to reverse it? None of these questions are answered, and the reader is left to accept that there is an enchanted pouch without knowing anything of its origin. Plot: 4/5
One of the things I love best about this book is the lessons it teaches. Specifically the theme of the Four Remembers; that you are unique, that you have a purpose in life, that you are free to choose who you are and what you become, and that you are not alone. Are they true? Sure is nice to think so. Having said that, a large number of people really aren't free to choose what they become. That's a luxury of the first world. The unfortunate truth is that the only purpose most people will ever have in life is being able to feed their family and make it through another day. The fact that you are unique and that you are not alone seem pretty true for everyone, but the other two are very first world; how can you reach finding purpose in your life when you struggle to find your next meal every day? When it comes down to it, Lund got me thinking, and that is really what I look for in a good book. Lessons/Deeper Connections: 4/5
Now this doesn't really fit into a category, but one other thing Lund could work on is writing believable dialogue. There are several times where a character says something in a way that only somebody giving a sermon would say. Real people, especially teenagers, don't talk like that. If I can't imagine people saying it, it's not believable dialogue. When you're writing dialogue, it should sound natural, not like a movie script or on the nose preachy.
When it came down to it, the flaws of this book are outweighed by the simple fact that I love it. I love the characters and the plot, the way this book inspired me, and the way it made me feel. This book gets a 5 out of 5.
March 27, 2018
Overall, 2.5 stars.
This book was recommended to me by a coworker. It's not something I would read on my own.
For the good points, this book was a good mix between fantasy and suspense. It had a sassy grandfather, which I appreciated. It had a beginning, middle, end, a conflict, a climax, and a resolution.
The points that took away stars for me are various. The first is the religious aspect. This (apparently it's not magic) magic pouch is the physical representation of the Mormon's Holy Ghost. It talks to Danni (the 16 year old main character), gives her feelings and thoughts, gives her her desires (like snide messages to other drivers), and it gives her things when she needs them. There is also praying in the book. Now, I understand that Lund usually writes a lot of religion into his books and this is definitely toned down. However, I don't like preaching in the books I read. It might be that I'm too sensitive to these things, but I've also had really negative experiences with religious people and that affects my views. But back to the pouch. This pouch was the real main character, unfortunately. It got to the point that whenever Danni had do anything, it was the pouch that takes over. And because of this, Danni decides she knows better than the FBI in kidnapping situations. But that's any normal 16 year old without a pouch, so I can't complain too much on this point.
The next thing I didn't like was the fact that Lund cannot write a 16 year old. Danni jumped between a 6 year old tantrum and then was as suddenly explaining her view like an 80 year old. Very rarely did she sound like the 16 year old she's supposed to be. And during the book there were many many times she made sure to say her best friend wasn't a romantic interest at all then out of nowhere she's goo-goo eyes for this guy and wanting to kiss him. I really hate it when authors think that in order for a main character female to seem real, she needs to be falling in love. It shouldn't be one of the defining traits, unless you're writing a romance novel. I would have liked this book a little more if the two came out of it as stronger friends instead of boyfriend/girlfriend.
Another small point I didn't like was the inconsistent magic system in the book. If you say something works one way (it doesn't matter what way) KEEP IT CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THE BOOK! Lastly, I really hated how these bad guys (that seemed semi smart to begin with) went straight to dumb neanderthal right at the end.
While I could read it all the way through and appreciate what Lund was aiming for, I wouldn't want to read this again.
This book was recommended to me by a coworker. It's not something I would read on my own.
For the good points, this book was a good mix between fantasy and suspense. It had a sassy grandfather, which I appreciated. It had a beginning, middle, end, a conflict, a climax, and a resolution.
The points that took away stars for me are various. The first is the religious aspect. This (apparently it's not magic) magic pouch is the physical representation of the Mormon's Holy Ghost. It talks to Danni (the 16 year old main character), gives her feelings and thoughts, gives her her desires (like snide messages to other drivers), and it gives her things when she needs them. There is also praying in the book. Now, I understand that Lund usually writes a lot of religion into his books and this is definitely toned down. However, I don't like preaching in the books I read. It might be that I'm too sensitive to these things, but I've also had really negative experiences with religious people and that affects my views. But back to the pouch. This pouch was the real main character, unfortunately. It got to the point that whenever Danni had do anything, it was the pouch that takes over. And because of this, Danni decides she knows better than the FBI in kidnapping situations. But that's any normal 16 year old without a pouch, so I can't complain too much on this point.
The next thing I didn't like was the fact that Lund cannot write a 16 year old. Danni jumped between a 6 year old tantrum and then was as suddenly explaining her view like an 80 year old. Very rarely did she sound like the 16 year old she's supposed to be. And during the book there were many many times she made sure to say her best friend wasn't a romantic interest at all then out of nowhere she's goo-goo eyes for this guy and wanting to kiss him. I really hate it when authors think that in order for a main character female to seem real, she needs to be falling in love. It shouldn't be one of the defining traits, unless you're writing a romance novel. I would have liked this book a little more if the two came out of it as stronger friends instead of boyfriend/girlfriend.
Another small point I didn't like was the inconsistent magic system in the book. If you say something works one way (it doesn't matter what way) KEEP IT CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THE BOOK! Lastly, I really hated how these bad guys (that seemed semi smart to begin with) went straight to dumb neanderthal right at the end.
While I could read it all the way through and appreciate what Lund was aiming for, I wouldn't want to read this again.
November 9, 2023
This book shows Lund's blend of fantasy and coming of age, with religious themes and lessons along the way of this long story. It is supposed to be young adult, and includes 19th Century and World War II narratives, but I wonder how many young people have put in the time to read it through. It centers around a well told modern adventure, but this narrative doesn't begin until about half through the novel. As an editor, I think I would have condensed some of the middle background material, which could have set up the characters more quickly to move to the adventure. Once the modern adventure begins (punctuated a bit awkwardly by the rest of the WWII narrative), the story moves more quickly and is more involving. The book is well worth reading, with a sympathetic (mostly) teen protagonist and intriguing fantasy artifact that allows the protagonist to direct and escape the jeopardy in the adventure.
August 9, 2018
I have mixed feelings about Gerald Lund books. I love his earlier works like The Work and the Glory and the Kingdom and the Crown... I haven't loved his later books at all because I feel like they start slow and I'm not really engaged into the story until about the middle. I also feel like his later books are missing that editorial quality that you'd expect with experienced authors. There were several typos and some idioms that missed the mark.
The story was kind of fantastical and unbelievable. I couldn't ever get past the magic pouch. After it got about halfway through, I became more engaged in the storyline. I did look forward to finding out what happened.
All in all, I think the book was...ok... My 14 year old read it in a day and loved it. So, maybe that's the age group that could relate.
The story was kind of fantastical and unbelievable. I couldn't ever get past the magic pouch. After it got about halfway through, I became more engaged in the storyline. I did look forward to finding out what happened.
All in all, I think the book was...ok... My 14 year old read it in a day and loved it. So, maybe that's the age group that could relate.
December 28, 2018
I really like Gerald Lund's books, but after reading this one, I think he should stick to historical novels. I liked the way he writes and I thought his teen-age jargon was true to life, but the pouch business requires a suspension of belief that I just couldn't maintain. When a novel involves an enchanted pouch, readers should expect a degree of mystery and marvelous events, but the events in this novel just came across as ridiculous to me. I will refrain from giving examples because I don't want to ruin it for people who like this kind of thing and haven't read the book yet. And, given that the current GR rating for this book is 3.62 and for To Run with the Swift is 3.91, there must be plenty of fans. Suffice it to say, I won't be reading The Guardian: To Run with the Swift.
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