For Us...: A Farm Boy, A Persian Princess, An Island

by Lew Anderson

An adventure story with intrigue, romance, and a spritzing of fairy tale. Shipwrecked, stranded, desolate, pursued… When Jake jumped from the sinking ship, he plunged into more than just a dark stormy sea. Stranded alone with a Muslim princess, the two must work together to survive the dangers of a desolate island, and those that pursue them. Chivalry, endurance, the pain of courage, and the price of enduring love, For Us is about staying true to one’s conviction, even when trapped beneath the ominous eye of Death.

137 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2022

About the author

Lew Anderson is the author of The Lorian Stones Trilogy and other novels. He likes to write family-friendly, yet intense and engaging adventure fantasy for MG & YA readers. His books are action-based with heroic types using swords and bows. He and his family spent six years in Asia helping impoverished schools, returning to then pastor in his home state of MN. Lew has an M.A. in cultural studies, is happily married with four adult children, and enjoys mountains and lakes, especially with skis, bikes, and kayaks.

“I like stories where the heroes are heroes—refined in the fires of adversity, pushed beyond limits, the world’s fate teetering on their battered shoulders… and of course, a budding romance to muddle things up.”

Reviews

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob “Jake” Conner, originally from Bozeman, MT, probably in his twenties, is on a small cruise ship, just under 400 passengers, traveling the South Pacific seas from Funafuti on Tuvalu to Vanuatu, when there is an explosion and the ship begins to sink. Jake escapes by jumping into the sea and hanging on to a big yellow wine cask and rescues a beautiful young girl whom he learns is a princess, Misha Kamineh Parim Mehrak, nineteen year old daughter of Persian sheikh Fariborz Rahbar, ruler of the lands of Lahar. The two drift in the barrel for some days and then are cast ashore on a deserted island. Do they survive the dangers of their ordeal? Will they be rescued? Is anybody even out looking for them?

I am a sucker for any story about being stranded on a desolate tropical island. I really didn’t care for Lord of the Flies, but I often read Robinson Crusoe as a boy, and, silly as it was, Gilligan’s Island was my favorite television show when growing up. Therefore, when I was reviewing another book by author Lew Anderson, I saw that he had written this novella and felt that I must read it. It was originally published in 2019 as The Fire Between Us: A Farm Boy, A Persian Princess, An Island, but Lew told me, “Though initially written for guys, I wanted to tone things down in case a younger reader picked it up,” so he did a rewrite. It would be interesting to compare the original.

There are a few common euphemisms (darn, heck) and childish slang (“pee”), but, while people are said to curse, no actual cursing or swearing is found. The term “hell” is used a few times, but not as a curse word. Initially, Jake does not think that God exists but through his experiences comes to a newfound belief. This adventure story is filled with both intrigue and romance, along with chivalry, endurance, the pain of courage, and the price of enduring love. For Us is about staying true to one’s convictions even when facing great trials and temptations. Someone said, “Written with integrity so if your teen should read it, you wouldn’t object.” And there is a big surprise at the ending.