A New Dawn

by Jack Weyland

Meet Lisa Dawn Salinger, a prize-winning, eccentric graduate student and physicist who finds answers to problems that even Albert Einstein couldn't surmise. She's in the limelight and frustrated with it. In an attempt to escape her popularity, she pretends to be a Mormon and escapes to BYU where she finds a new life and a new love. But her new love finds out she's been lying. What happens to a famous Nobel-prize winner with a broken heart?

Genres: Lds Fiction, Lds, Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Religion, Church

181 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Jack Weyland is the best-selling author of young-adult fiction for the Latter-day Saint market. In fact, the modern genre of Latter-day Saint-themed popular fiction is one he is largely responsible for creating with his overwhelmingly popular novel Charly. His interest in fiction began with a correspondence course in creative writing taken during a summer at BYU where he was doing research work. Since then he has published more than two dozen books, and over fifty of his short stories have been published by the LDS Church magazine The New Era.

Born in Butte, Montana, Jack received a B.S. degree in physics from Montana State University and a Ph.D. in physics from BYU. Currently he teaches physics at BYU-Idaho. He formerly taught physics at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Jack and his wife, Sheryl, are the parents of five children and have four grandchildren. His hobbies include racquetball and singing.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that Jack Weyland is one of the least complicated, easy and shallow authors to read, but I absolutely love this book. I was always reading difficult books for school and Jack Weyland's novels were an easy escape for my mind. This was one of his earlier novels and the whole story is just fun and interesting. It's very short and you could probably finish it in a day or two if you had lots of time to read, but the main character, Dawn, is just so interesting. You get to see her as two different people because she's a young scientist that has to hide out at BYU (and she's not LDS)in order to lay low from some publicity stuff and she finds a whole new her at BYU. It's really fun. I've probably read this 10 times in the last 10 years!

[Mommywest · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book many times because there's just something about it that I love. I was thrilled to find a gently used copy of the book at Deseret Industries so I could add it to my home library.

Lisa Salinger, a brilliant physics grad student at Princeton, makes an amazing discovery that Einstein wasn't able to accomplish before he died. Suddenly, Lisa is thrust into an unwanted spotlight. Wanting to escape, Lisa goes on an offhand suggestion of a fellow grad student (who happens to be a returned missionary) and decides to enroll at BYU under an assumed name and identity by hacking into their computer system. However, Lisa finds that remaining unknown at BYU is harder than she thought, and, further, that there might be more to Lisa Dawn Salinger than she realized. With loveable, outgoing roommates giving her a makeover and pushing her into a new social life; learning about the gospel; and a very special man making his way into her heart; will Lisa be able to reconcile Lisa and Dawn and understand what her place in God's plan is?

I think this is one of Jack Weyland's very best books, and it is quite different than many of his later novels. (I find some of his books to be too cheesy or to use the same formulas or situations over and over.) Published in 1984, it is a bit outdated in some respects, but for the most part, the situations ring true in today's world as well. Lisa is an intelligent, interesting character with an interesting, unpredictable story, and her journey into learning about the gospel is touching. I love how Brother Weyland weaves his incredible knowledge of physics and his testimony of God's intelligent design into the plot (he is currently a physics professor at BYU-Idaho and holds a PhD). He also manages to touch on the role of women in the Plan of Happiness--a hot topic at the time the novel was published (right after the defeat of E.R.A.)--in a way that fits well in the story and that would put women's lib arguments to rest. Great story!

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was life-changing for me. It meant that I didn't have to stay the square do-gooder that I was; I could become a cheerful, optimistic (and still square!) do-gooder! LOL!

You know how the people around you have a certain mental picture of you as they see you, whether you want that mental picture or not? You can change your self! You're not stuck with the mental picture they broadcast onto you. You can become better than the person you were.

[Camilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good, but a little unbelievable. It was worth the read though.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has not aged well.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this light read about a brilliant woman in the science field at Princeton University who learns to balance her life with regard to letting religion and love have a place with her career and woman's equality in the world. Lisa Salinger gets the Noble Prize award and lots of attention for her woman's rights use in the world of men. She gets so much publicity that she flees to BYU to become someone normal. While trying to fit in she becomes Dawn Fields the Mormon, music major and meets Cody. A guy who isn't like anyone she has ever met. He respects woman and is fun to be around. The only problem is that he is waiting for Allison, his missionary girlfriend. They still spend time together and dawn, does her own secret research to the Church's truthfulness. She wants to be baptized, but realizes in the interview with the missionaries that she can't be baptized as Dawn...she must tell the truth.
When the truth comes out, Cody is hurt by her falseness. After 10 months apart with her back at Princeton and him building highways in New Mexico, they talk again and Lisa concludes that a life with people that she loves and family is as fulfilling as a career.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Weyland. It had been laying on the floor of my room. Little did I know how that would effect the next few years of my life and even later, too. I will agree that Weyland can be quite cheesy, over-the-top, and idealistic. (I mean, I wrote a paper on this in my LDS Literature class during my last semester at BYU!) But I will also say that his books helped me develop and strengthen my morals, values, and standards. They helped me decide the kind of person I wanted to be and how I needed to live to become that person. The major downside was giving me a contorted view of real life, particularly BYU life. And this book started that whole contortion!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escaping all the media and limelight, newly published physicist and feminist, Lisa Salinger, changes her name and becomes a student at BYU. Her personal record, by hacking into the unversity's computer, lists her as a member of the Church from Nebraska. Well, living with five LDS roommates who've decided to help her improve her looks and get into the dating scene, it won't be long before she will have to make that dreaded decision to stop lying and hiding the truth. She will question whether or not a woman can be her true self, or a genius in this case, and still fulfill her roles as wife/mother? According to the Savior and His church, she can.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Salinger is a physics genius who has just discovered the solution to the problem that Einstein spent his last 20 years studying. The only trouble is that her Princeton advisor wants the credit. In the hubub that follows, Lisa runs away-- to Brigham Young University! Hiding as Dawn Fields, she discovers there's more dimension to herself than just science. She also find herself interested in religion for the first time. Now that she's found all this, will it all be taken away, including the love of her life?

This is an all-time favorite book of mine. Lisa is a very real and interesting character. (Review written 2/17/2005.)

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know, I know... it's Jack Weyland so it's supposed to be cheesy. But I read all of his books as a teen and I remember enjoying them. This is by far my favorite of his (yes, I like it more than Charly). I'm lucky to have a copy that I can reread when I'm feeling like a quick and easy pick me up because it's been out of print for quite some time. I mostly gave it 4 stars based on nostalgia and the fact that I have and will read it again, not because it's fabulously written or anything. I just really like it.

[Kim]

I wanted this story to go on forever. I could not put it down. I read it in one day. This story captures what we all want to do sometimes. Just leave our troubles at home and create another identity. It gave the main character a chance to get a new perspective on her life and discover a side of herself that she didn't even know existed. I wish that everyone could have that same opportunity. I think that the world would be a lot better off. I feel like this book is a better read for girls than for boys though. But it is a great book.

[Mandi Ellsworth]

I read this book as a teenager and picked it up again recently. There are so many happy associations with this book that I couldn't help but like it. The Utah stereotypes are all there. I actually had to roll my eyes once or twice, just because I could. The writing wasn't bad either. It was fun. I liked the way Brother Weyland said some things. If you grew up anywhere close to Utah, this book will bring it all back, baby.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a girl named Dawn who becomes famous after discovering something scientific (I can't remember what, it's not intregal to the plot though). She wants to escape and reinvent herself (a New Dawn)...and escapes to BYU (or some other similiar church school). It's about her conversion to the gospel. It's a unique idea and a fun story.

[therices1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this book after not reading it for years. It was written in 1984 before President Benson's talk on women in the home. The book has a lot of women's lib stuff in it. It is definitely dated with the concept of computers and programming which makes a blast from the past as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book by jack weyland(don't think i've ever read one by him yet that i haven't liked). i really liked this one because it deals w/science & math(ie. intellect) and how intellect doesn't have to compete with ones' faith.

[Megan Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

so i'm reading this book at the moment and will probably be done by tomorrow...but it's a really random good book!! quick read seeing as i started it sunday evening and am already halfway done with it!!!

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally changed my life! :) Cheesy I know - but this light book by teen LDS author Jack Weyland answered so many of the questions I had before joining the church. It was uncanny! I still like to re-read this to remember all of the feelings I had when I read it for the first time!

[Shelleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it. First time it occured to me that the whole Intelligent design verses evolution dispute, did not have to be a dispute. Why can't an Intelligent Designer use principles of evolution to create some of His creations?

[Amber Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Jack Weyland book of all time. There's something about picking up and re-inventing yourself that appeals to me.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Jack Weyland stories, though not many people have read it.

[Janna]

Typical Jack Weyland, but a nice easy read.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Weyland books--if not my very favorite! Its an easy read and very cute.

[Coral · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Jack Weyland as a teenager. This was one of my favorite books growing up. It's a fun story about trying to find yourself, and learning that appearance aren't always what they seem.

[Kjerstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by Jack Weyland. It is definetly my favorite as well!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one is soooooooooo CUTE!!! it makes you so happy!! its wonderful!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only Weyland worth reading in my opinion. And I have read most of his.

[Haley]

read this a long time ago would like to read it again

[Laceymorris1]

loved it

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't have access to Jack Weyland books as a youth. A friend lent this to my daughter, so I thought I would give it a try. It was a quick read and kinda funny with a good message.

[Maggie Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book about finding yourself and finding truth.