Enemy Or Friend?

American Adventure #20

by Norma Jean Lutz

History comes alive for eight-to-twelve year olds in this close-up, fun-to-read, multi-generational story of a fictional family spanning three centuries of actual historical events. God's hand is seen at work in people's lives and in the events that shaped our nation.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Historical

Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

About the author

Norma Jean Lutz’s writing career began when she enrolled in a writing correspondence course. Since then, she has had over 250 short stories and articles published in both secular and Christian publications. The full-time writer is also the author of over 50 published books under her own name and many ghostwritten books. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Affair de Coeur, Coffee Time Romance, Romance Reader at Heart, and The Romance Studio magazines, and her short fiction has garnered a number of first prizes in local writing contests.

Norma Jean is the founder of the Professionalism In Writing School, which was held annually in Tulsa for fourteen years. This writers' conference, which closed its doors in 1996, gave many writers their start in the publishing world.

A gifted teacher, Norma Jean has taught a variety of writing courses at local colleges and community schools, and is a frequent speaker at writers' seminars around the country. For eight years, she taught on staff for the Institute of Children's Literature. She has served as artist-in-residence at grade schools, and for two years taught a staff development workshop for language arts teachers in schools in Northeastern Oklahoma.

As co-host for the Tulsa KNYD Road Show, she shared the microphone with Kim Spence to present the Road Show Book Club, a feature presented by the station for more than a year. She has also appeared in numerous interviews on KDOR-TV.

Norma Jean has brought out past out-of-print novels to create a new series. These teen novels (which she likes to call "Clean Teen Reads") were published in the 1980s and 90s, yet the story lines are timeless. Sporting new titles and new book covers, these books will become part of the "Norma Jean Lutz Classic Collection" series.

Her newest teen offering is Brought to You By the Color Drab. A story of a young man living in the ghetto who seemingly was born in the wrong place in the wrong time. This is a story of redemption!

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under my reading level but still a good story. I loved the forgiveness that happened and how it taught to not judge someone when you don't know their story. So in other words not to judge a book by its cover or think of someone when you don't even know if your thinking about them is accurate.

[Daniel Gaul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great look at the rise of mechanical labor and the battles over slavery even in the North

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sammy Joe & Fred Allerton are working on a steam-driven engine. It nearly filled the basement of the Allerton Furniture Factory. Fred had just finished installing improvements in it. The engine helped turn out parts for the furniture, but Fred's father didn't like the noise. Fred had installed 2 fireboxes, and Sammy Joe was shoveling coal. Fred's frugal father was glad it was working properly, given what the improvements had cost. After going over the boiler, Fred went to check on the rest of the machinery. Alroy, an Irish worker, commented on how well it ran. Fred also had installed a whistle to mark the noonday break. During his break Fred did experiments with chemistry & electricity...when he knocked over a container with water & phosphorus in it, & burnt a hole in the floor! Fred's father was NOT happy!