The Forgotten Warrior

by Kathi Oram Peterson

Sydney Morgan is no wimp. A black belt in karate, her defensive moves help keep her tough even when her mom is diagnosed with cancer and her long-lost dad shows up to play nice guy. But when an unexpected gift transports her through space and time to the land of Zarahemla, Syd just might be in over her head. Accused of being a spy, she has to prove she's no threat to the locals, including Captain Helaman himself! As war quickly approaches, Heleman calls upon Syd to help his stripling warriors prepare to fight. Torn between concern for her family and for her new friends, Syd musters her wits, strength, and faith to face the coming battle, but her feelings for the chief warrior Tarik put her heart on the line. Who will survive the Lamanites' fierce onslaught? And will Syd ever make it home again?

Genres: Lds Fiction, Lds, Fiction, Historical Fiction

257 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Kathi Oram Peterson is the Whitney Award winning author of TREACHEROUS LEGACY (2021 )A STRANGER WATCHES (2019), and A FAMILIAR FEAR (2018).

Kathi's heart-pounding suspense novels make readers double check door locks and sleep with a flashlight. Her YA Time Travels bring readers to historical events as if they are there. Her novels have richly-drawn characters and plots that hook readers and make setting the book down nearly impossible.

Keep connected with Kathi--and stay informed about special deals, new released, and other reader perks--by signing up for her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cE52Y1

Visit Kathi at:
Her website http://authorkathiorampeterson.com/
Bookbub: : https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathi...
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y65rlqtj
Tweeter: https://twitter.com/KathiOPeterson
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kathi-Oram-Pet...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kathiopeter...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkathip/


Romantic Suspense:

Shifting Sands (2023)
Danger Unknown (2022)
Treacherous Legacy (2021)
A Stranger Watches (2020) Whitney winner
Bloodline (2019)
A Familiar Fear (2018) Whitney Winner
Breach of Trust (2017)
Star Struck (2016)
Deceived (2014)
Wanted (2013)
Cold Justice (2012)
River Whispers (2011)

Novella: An Angel on Main Street (2009).

YA Time Travel Novels:

Reluctant Warrior (2017)-Previously published as The Forgotten Warrior (2009)
Stripling Warrior (2017)
Guardian of the Stone (2017) Previously published asThe Stone Traveler (2010)
Chasing the Star (2017)

Stories included in other books:

A Christmas to Remember (2011)
Life Lessons from Mothers of Faith (2013)
Remembering the Joy of Christmas (2015)

Concept and Biography Books for Children:

I Want to Be a Mathematician Like Archimedes
I Want to Be a Scientist Like Thomas Edison
I Want to Be a Scientist Like Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek
I Want to Be a Scientist Like Alexander Von Humboldt
Tyrannosaurus X 1
How Did the Chicken Cross the Road
Yangshi’s Perimeter
Lightning Bells
The Beginning of Numbers

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, there are many things I liked about this book. And especially keeping a YA audience in mind, I thought it was a fun plot. There was quite a bit of repetitiveness. When I reached the last 20 pages or so, I thought . . . how the heck is the author going to tie everything up? There are only a couple of dozen pages left? Sure enough. Nothing was tied up. So that's why I gave it 3 stars even though the writing was decent. In a series, you have to end the book so that there is satisfaction to the reader. Now if things were tied up at the end, but one or two things were left hanging--pointing to a sequel--that would have been fine. I'll be reviewing this in more depth later.

[Em7ar7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

-teenage girl gets sent back to Book of Mormon times and meets the 2000 stripling warriors-every young Mormon girl's fantasy, right?
pretty good story, some things don't make sense and aren't explained.
Most frustrating of all, it's to be continued, and there's no guarantee that the 2nd book will be published-kind of like the 10th book of the Nephites in Tennis Shoes series.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is AWESOME!!!!!! It's kind of like Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, but it's really cool:) It's about a girl named Syd (short for Sydney) who is transported back to the time of Helaman and the Stripling Warriors. Her Mom was just diagnosed with cancer, her Dad left their family when she was a kid, and her sister has some mental problems. Any way, she's transported back to those times, where she falls for this Nephite warrior guy, Tarik. She teaches black belt karate to the Nephite warriors and then learns how to handle some stuff on her own:) Then battle comes. Tarik's little brother is captured and her and Tarik go to try and get him. Battle is upon them as they get him out of there. Tarik leaves her to go fight and she carries the little boy out and takes him to his mother. She then goes back and fights in the battle. Afterwards she learns that Tarik was captured in battle. That's where it ends......can't wait for the next book!!!!!!

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Transported back in time to the days of Captain Helaman and his 2,000 stripling warriors, black belt Sydney Morgan finds herself training the faithful worriors for battle all while battling her growing feelings for one warrior in particular. With her mother suffering from cancer, her sister with a learning disability and confronting a father who walked out on her family years ago, can she find the strength to overcome her own battles? Another skipper. Sorry, just could not get past the inane idea of a black belt girl training the stripling warriors. Dumb!

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is another one of those books based on BOM stories and characters. I'm not always sure I like people making more of BOM stories, but I did enjoy this book. I did not, however, enjoy the ending that she left hanging. I always like some closure at the end of a book. Happily ever after and all that.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young woman, father deserted then when she was young, handicapped younger sister, karate black belt, is transported back in time to the Stripling Warrior days. She teaches them what she can and falls in love while trying to return to her own time. Interesting but leaves you hanging. Not my favorite ending.

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummm....just too much of a bad version of Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites. There are some new twists since the protagonist is a girl with a black belt in karate.

I skimmed a lot of it...I wouldn't bother.

[Andrea Fife · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sure wish I'd known this book wasn't going to actually end. The story was ok, although it felt like a wanna-be Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites. If I remember to care, I'll probably read the sequel when it comes out.

[Mindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok - didn't like the ending at all. There was no conclusion and it is clearly meant to have a sequel.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait until the next one comes out. This gave me an interesting perspective on the Book of Mormon.

[Kimberlayy º · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this book could be better written. The story idea and story line are great! I love thinking how it would be in Book of Mormon times.

[Kat Chaffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST BOOK EVER!!! i loved the suspense of not knowing what would come next and i would DEFINITELY recommend it!

[Suze Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this author, so I’m surprised that I’m giving this book 3 stars. But here are a few reasons why.

Um, hello? You can’t end the book on a cliffhanger! So not fair! I was wondering why I was almost finished and nothing was resolved. Ugh! Guess I’ll be reading the next in this series?

Typically I like YA books, but this one was a bit strange. There was all this character development beginning with her family and stuff, then all of a sudden she steps into Book of Mormon time and we never hear of her family again except that she misses them and hopes they’re ok? Not cool. Seriously why did you end the book without resolve?

There was a grammatical error, (“you’re” was used instead of the intended “your”) and a misspelling of Mariah’s name, (Maria). I’m not an expert on this but a simple read through during editing would’ve caught these mistakes.

Anyways I will probably read the sequel (if there is one) and hopefully be satisfied. However this wasn’t exactly one of my best books I’ve read this year

[Nanci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book and it held me invested and then it just ended. With absolutely nothing resolved. Apparently there is another book but I can't find it in my library or at Deseret Book. So, no way to get any closure. Very disappointed!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it but it didn't end

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need to read the next book

[Laramee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason this isn't a 5 star book is because the ending leaves you totally hanging.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Wondering about a sequel?

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forgotten Warrior, by Kathi Orem Peterson is a great fiction novel for teens of any religion. I say of any religion because the main character in this book, Syd, time travels back to a time in the Book of Mormon. It's not really teaching you "Mormon Principles" or trying to "convert" you to the Mormon church, but it's teaching to you the importance of family and to have faith.
Sydney Morgan is a sixteen-year-old girl with a black-belt in karate. She lives with her mom, who teaches karate classes, and her younger sister, Gracie, whom is mentally challenged. Even if her dad abandoned them ten years ago when she was six, she thinks her life is perfect... until her mom gets diagnosed with cancer.
When Syd visits her mom at the hospital, her mom asks her to look for her dad. Why? Syd doesn't know. Was her mom insane? She obediently finds him and tells him about Mom. At the hospital, her parents ask her to check on Gracie.
However, Sydney didn't get to see Gracie that night. She bumps into two strange men, who asked her to deliver a backpack to some guy named Steve. Reluctantly, she does the favor. On her way to deliver the backpack, accompanied by a Great Dane name Ximon, she drops the backpack right when she's about to deliver it to Steve. She picks up the white stone that fell out, but as she did, it started to glow and everything went black.
She wakes up and finds herself in a tent. She realizes that the man having a conversation is Captain Helaman himself. For some weird reason they didn't see her but as she got out of the tent, some guy attacks her and puts a knife to her throat. She realizes that he's one of the stripling warriors named Tarik. Being a black-belt in karate, her instincts kick in and she attacks and beats him... knocking him out. Now Captain Helaman and everybody else thinks she's a Lamanite spy... and a boy because of her short hair. The white stone that transported her to this time isn't great help either. It turns out that the stone is one of the sacred stones that the Lord touched when the brother of Jared asked for light. Helaman now thinks she's a thief and sends her to be imprisoned.
Tarik, being the second in command in the army, is furious that Syd "bested him". Captain Helaman even asked him to stay behind in camp than to go fight so that Tarik could "babysit" Syd. The next day, Captain Helaman sends for Tarik and Syd. During their journey, Tarik finds out that Syd is a girl... not a boy. While he gets a littler angrier, thinking she's not only a spy, but a liar as well, Sydney can't help but think how handsome he is.
When they arrive, they find it awkward and dangerous to be around each other when everyone else thinks Syd's a boy. She has been asked to teach the warriors karate! Now she goes crazy. This isn't her war. Her war is back home where her mom might be dying in a hospital bed and where Gracie needs her help because she's mentally challenged.
Will Sydney ever go home? And when she does, will it be harder to say good-bye to Tarik? Or will she stay in that era for the rest of her life?
This is a really interesting book because some of us can make text-to-text connections. There are some parts where it gets kind of cheesy but sometimes you can connect yourself with Sydney. I want to agree with K.L. Fogg, author of the Serpent Tide series, when she says "... [it] proves that faith can make us strong in spite of our weakness." I really like how K.O.P. shows how important family is and how everything happens for a special purpose.
This is definitely a great book you want to read in which you can relate to. Again, it teaches faith and family importance. I really enjoyed reading it. Grade: A :)

[Tristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our main character is Syd, a girl who has really struggled in her life. Her father left the family years before, and her mother has had to support Syd and her mentally challenged sister Gracie by herself. She opened a karate dojo and Syd helps her out by teaching in the afternoons and also keeping an eye on Gracie, who has a kind and tender heart but isn't able to watch over herself. Syd feels the pressure of supporting her family and holding herself together, but at times, her resolve weakens.

Gracie's favorite story in the world is found in the Book of Mormon, where we read about Helaman and the two thousand stripling warriors. She begs Syd to read her the story almost every night, until Syd practically has it memorized.

When Syd's mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, Syd nearly falls apart. She's held it together for so long, mostly by retreating behind a wall, but now she doesn't know what she's going to do. An encounter with a man she presumes to be a hospital janitor changes her life when he gives her a clear stone, and she finds herself transported back to Book of Mormon times, with no idea how she will get back home.

There were many things I enjoyed about this book, most specifically the look into Syd's emotions as she dealt with balancing school, home, and work. I, too, was thrust into an adult role as a teenager and I identified with Syd's desire to stay strong and yet also to just be a kid for once in her life. I also appreciated the influence Gracie had on the story, how it was through her example and her love of the scriptures that Syd was able to have her experience. I do echo the frustration mentioned by other reviewers, that the font was difficult to read in some places, but that's not a reflection on the story itself.

The target audience for this book is the young adult crowd, and after I finished reading it, I handed it off to my twelve-year-old daughter, to see what she thought. Here's her review:

"I loved 'The Forgotten Warrior.' It was a really fun book, and I've fallen in love with some of the characters, like the main character, sixteen-year-old Sydney, and Tarik, a stripling warrior from Book of Mormon times. It's basically about Sydney. When Sydney's mother gets breast cancer, Sydney has a hard time coping. To make matters worse, her dad, who used to be an alcoholic, was the only family support she had, not including her mentally challenged ten-year-old sister, Gracie. When Sydney picks up a huge gemstone to hand back to a friend of hers, she was instantly snapped back to Gracie's favorite story, the stripling warriors. Now not only everybody thinks Sydney is a spy, but so does Helaman himself. Back in these times, Sydney must learn to be a warrior, because her gi covered up her female shape, and her hair was short, so everybody assumed that she was a guy. The only friend she took back to this time was her 'guardian angel,' a Great Dane named Ximon. She finds a friend in Tarik, one of the two thousand young warriors. Helaman, thinking that she stole the stone, took it with him on a journey of his. Sydney wonders if she'll ever get back to the present. I loved the book because it was entertaining and it had very realistic characters."



(Is it just me, or is this a media reviewer in the making?)

[Candace Salima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life has been a little crazy lately. Two full-time jobs, working on a major project, rehearsal for my "Mama Mia" debut, reading the finalists for the Whitney Awards, preparing for the class I'm teaching and the panel I'll be on for the 6th Annual LDS Storymakers Writers Conference - The Success Within You, life ... all of it. In the midst of all that I forgot that I'd promised to review The Forgotten Warrior by Kathi Oram Peterson, published by Covenant Communications. Color me exceedingly sheepish.

So when I got home last night, I curled up on the couch, opened Kathi's book and began to read. Wow! The woman can write. Immediately I was caught in the astonishing adventures of Sydney Morgan, a teenager forced to face some very serious trials, not the least of which is being transported back in time, away from her hospitalized and very sick mother, to the time of the Stripling Warriors and Captain Helaman.

Sydney Morgan is no wimp. A black bet in karate, her defensive moves help keep her tough even when her mom is diagnosed with cancer and her long-last dad shows up to play nice guy. But when an unexpect gift transports her through space and time to the land of Zarahemla, Syd just might be in over her head. Accused of being a spy, she has to prove she's not a threat to the locals -- including Captain Helaman himself! As war quickly approaches, Helaman calls upon Syd to help his stripling warriors prepare to fight. Torn between concern for her family and for her new friends, Syd musters her wits, strength and faith to face the coming battle -- but her feelings for chief warrior Tarik put her heart on the line. Who will survive the Lamanites' fierce onslaught? And will Syd ever make it home again?

Now, I'm not going to tell everything that went down in the story, you have to buy the book for that. But I can assure you of this, you won't put it down. I'm tired, really tired and overworked and I couldn't put it down. I'm writing this review at 10:45 on the 17th of March, although you're not reading this until the 18th. You want this book, it's a great addition to your home library.

Let me say this, Kathi Oram Peterson does a fantastic job of bringing the story of the Stripling Warriors to life. The trials Syd faces in Book of Mormon times help her to come to a better understanding of what is going on with her mother. In the meantime, she has to fight, hand and foot (pun intended), to survive Book of Mormon times.

So here's the question. Do you know the story of the Stripling Warriors? Do you remember how not one was lost? But what happens if someone shows up from the future and changes the mix? What would happen then?

You have to read Forgotten Warrior by Kathi Oram Peterson to find out. I give this book a serious double thumbs up!

[Daron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very appreciative to Kathi and also to Tristi Pinkston (organizer of this Virtual Blog Tour) for letting me get my hands on a crisp copy so I could participate as a reviewer.

No matter how hard I tried to resist (it was an almost conscious resistance), I was pulled into story right away on account of great characters. But I resisted! I resisted because I was waiting for the "time-travel" moment with bated breath. How will Kathi pull this off? I asked myself.

Will it be a re-hash of the old get-lost-in-a-cave, then fall-into-an-underground-river, and then miraculously-fly-back-into-time trick? I have read several books in Chris Heimerdinger's "Tennis Shoes" series. For that matter, Chris and I are almost brothers. Just like Chris, I grew up in Cody, Wyoming. I have been in the Spirit Mountain Cavern (although I never got sucked back into time). Still: The cave is real. I have been there. So, I have convinced myself that Chris was sucked back into time. How else could he describe how the characters in his books traveled back in time?

This brings me to my point. I also know those clear, white stones existed. The brother of Jared had them. Does anybody know what happened to them? It seems to me that Kathi knows. She must have one of the stones. There is no other explanation.

I declare this a conspiracy! We now have another author who has a way to travel through time to visit the peoples of The Book of Mormon, and she has not volunteered to share her new vacation spot with the rest of us. I demand an investigation.

Where did she get the stone? How long has she had it? What other places has she visited? Why won't she share? I would like to go! Can we purchase time-shares?

All kidding aside, I enjoyed the book. There are some great characters set in a fun storyline. I really only had two very minor gripes with the book:

1. I found a couple of errors which were missed or introduced in typesetting. With Kathi's English degree, I am sure she was annoyed too.

2. I hated the ending. Well, hate is perhaps WAY too strong. I was "put out". I like Syd. I wanted her to march right back into the fray, kick (literally) some more Lamanite butt, and rescue Tarik.

*SIGH* I will have to wait until the next novel in the series. Want a fun read? Go get her book.

If you would like to learn more about Kathi Oram Peterson, or her book, please visit her website:

http://www.kathiorampeterson.com/

or her blogsite:

http://www.kathiswritingnook.com/

[Mary Walling · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE FORGOTTEN WARRIOR
by
Kathi Oram Peterson

the Title of Liberty
In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace,
our wives, and our children.

Nearly 10 years after Captain Moroni raised the Title of Liberty the Lamanites and Nephites were once again at war. The people of Ammon desired to help the Nephites. But they had made a vow to never to take up arms again. Their sons had not made this vow. These young men entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites.
They were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. They were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.

These 2,000 stripling soldiers had been taught by their mothers that God was with them, that He would not let them fall. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

Being led by Helaman, they were in many battles, but none died. The Lord rewarded and preserved them; for believing in Him, for having faith, for obeying His commandments, and for striving to serve others.

(Alma 53 - 57)

Sydney Morgan read the story of the 2000 Stripling Warriors to her sister Gracie every night before Gracie went to bed. It was Gracie's favorite story in the Book of Mormon. Never in her wildest dreams did Sydney ever think she would be transport though time to meet Captain Helaman or the Stripling Warriors...Tarik, Abraham, Baram, Captain Gid, Amos. Never did she think that her talents as a black belt in karate be useful in teaching the Stripling Warriors how to fight better in battle against the Lamanites. She missed her own mother who had just been diagnosed with cancer and was in the hospital, but met and loved several of the Stripling Warriors mothers. She missed her sister Gracie who was mentally challenged and depended on her, but met Lib the 8 year old brother of Tarick one of the Stripling Warriors and she met Ozi a loveable character who would do anything for her. Not to mention Ximon the mysterious Great Dane. I recommend this book to anyone who loves the Book of Mormon, the Stripling Warriors, time travel, a little fantasy. It is for any age that can read from 8-80.

[Haley Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my entire review, info. about the author, and where to purchase this book go to afuturefortomorrow.blogspot.com

From the beginning of the novel I was immediately attached to the characters that this new author created. She has a way of adding her humor into her writing making her characters charming and entertaining. The story line is unique and cleaver. I enjoyed visiting the 2000 Stripling Warriors through her eyes.

Kathi depicted clear images of the surroundings and life of the Book of Mormon times. I was then able to take those pictures with me when I read from the scriptures. It helped bring my own scripture study alive.

It is definitely a book I will encourage my children to read when they become older. I can see it opening their interest in Book of Mormon stories and hopefully intrigue them to learn more about the heroes of the Book of Mormon.

It is a book the whole family can enjoy, especially young adults.
Young women will be able to relate to the spunky main character and will love the light romance. Young men will enjoy the fighting scenes and feeling a part of the Stripling Warriors.

If you don't like being left hanging at the end of a book I would suggest to hold on to The Forgotten Warrior for its sequel and read them back to back. Kathi says the sequel gives you all the answers and ties up loose ends.

Go to www.kathiorampeterson.com to learn about a contest called Latter-day Stripling Warrior which the Author is hosting.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book about a modern teenage girl who is transported back to Book of Mormon times with Helaman and the Stripling Warriors. It was a good story and I learned a lot about Helaman and his warriors. However, I was perturbed that it had no ending. If you are going to write a series of books, at least have each book in the series have a satisfying ending. Nowhere in the book does it give any indication that this is the first book in a series. I did read on Kathi's website that she is just about finished with the sequel. This first one was published in 2009. It has taken her seven years to come up with a sequel? Anyway, the book was good until the non-existent ending.

[Loralee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, it was a fun read. There were parts (excluding the time travel thing which is entirely excusable for the story's sake) that were rather implausible. It wasn't as researched as it could have been, (faithful Nephites, for example would never consider dog as edible, since according to the Mosaic Law, dog is unclean to eat) and the plot was easy to predict with few surprises. And like Heather Moore said, a book in a series needs to have major questions answered to satisfy the reader with a few strings left hanging for the sequel to pick up. But on the whole, the story was enjoyable.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absoultely, most loved, would read it again, favorite, favorite book I've ever read. I like it almost even more than the Twilight series as it kept my very short attention span glued to the book, increased my faith, even though it is fiction, and increased my longing to read the Book of Mormon by far. The only part I don't like about this book is that there is no sequel. :'(

[Swhe641200 · Rating 3 out of 5]

GSB I reread this book because I could not remember what happended. The end truly leaves you hanging. It is about Sydney Morgan whos mother has cancer, has a handicap sister, black belt in Karate and goes back into the BOM times and trains the 2 thousans stribling warrios. I cannot see another book from the library to continue the story.

[Olivia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot like The Stone Traveler except with a girl and a different story. I love the story of The Stripling Warriors so this was fun to read.
When i got towards the end of the book, i started to wonder how the author could possibly sum up the book in such a little amount of pages. It left me hanging and i hope there will be a second book... soon

[Jennifer McNeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very easy read and a great book. I can't wait for the next book to come out. I really need to stop reading books like this that aren't a part of a complete series. I just don't have the patience or memory to wait. :O)