Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind

by Jennifer J. Stewart

Twelve-year-old Annie is reluctant to travel to a village in Nepal for her father's two-month medical mission, but once there she assists at the clinic, makes friends with a local girl, and has adventures that change her life.

149 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Jennifer was born in East Patchogue, New York, to a librarian mother and a physicist father. When she was four years old, her family moved to Tucson, Arizona, where she grew up and attended Whitmore Elementary, Townsend Junior High, and Catalina High. She received an honors degree in English from Wellesley College, followed by an M.B.A. from the University of Utah. For a while she wore suits and pantyhose, but then she found out that writing for children is a lot more fun.

When Jennifer is not writing, or speaking at schools or at writing conferences, she volunteers with Make Way for Books (http://www.makewayforbooks.org), a non-profit organization which gives young children the chance to to read and succeed.

Jennifer makes her home in Tucson with her physician husband. They have three daughters and a stray dog named Hobo, who lives in their front yard. Sadly, Hissy Fit, her Madagascar hissing cockroach has passed away.

Visit Jennifer on the Web at http://www.jenniferjstewart.com.

Reviews

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The experiences of a young American girl in a Nepalese village with her father, a temporary doctor. By befriending a Nepalese girl her own age, she comes to learn about that culture, also what it's like to get lost in the country. Humorous, exciting.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Was a young person book of "Two cups of Tea". Even though it was fiction I was able to get an understanding of the life led in Napal. I highly reccommend this for young people who want to know what life is like elsewhere.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie's dad takes her (age 10) and her sister (age 5) on a medical mission trip to Nepal. Adventures ensue.

Glad for realistic description of what kids in other countries face. Has disjointed narrative -- jumps around in time a lot.