Bridge to Courage

by Ann H. Gabhart

After he fails the initiation for the Truelanders organization, Luke meets a girl whose friendship helps him find inner courage.

147 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Ann H. Gabhart grew up on a farm in Kentucky. At the age of ten, she started dreaming of writing stories others would want to read. That dream has come true as she's published over thirty-five novels. She and her husband have three children married to three beautiful in-law children who have gifted her nine grandchildren. She still lives on a farm not far from where she grew up. She loves playing with her grandkids, walking with her dogs, reading, and, of course, writing. Her Shaker books, set in her fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill in the 1800's, are popular with readers. The Outsider was a Christian Fiction Book Award Finalist in 2009. Her Heart of Hollyhill books are Small Town, America books set in the 1960's. Angel Sister, a Rosey Corner book set during the Great Depression, was a best-seller and was followed up by two more stories about the Merritt sisters. She keeps her stories in Kentucky and has enjoyed going to the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains for some stories including These Healing Hills and Along a Storied Trail. And if you like mysteries, you can try her Hidden Springs Mysteries published under the author name, A.H. Gabhart. Visit Ann's website http://annhgabhart.com to find out more. There you can sign up for her newsletter where she does giveaways several times a year.

Reviews

[Kristine Shahverdyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book because the title caught my eye, it kind of related to me because I had to make myself a "bridge to courage" not literally but I had to stand up and ace my fears. This story is about a boy named Luke that wants to join the truelanders, but was considered a chicken and a coward, for not doing their dare. He got humiliated and everyone would threat him, but he knew he could handle it. Then he met a girl named Shea that became his new friend and she was by his side, and with her help he made his own bridge to courage. My favorite quote from this book is, "My father had once accused me of being afraid of my own shadow. In a way it was true. I had been afraid the shadow might drag me over with it", out of everything in this book, this ne as my favorite because I think it gives a personal insight on him. The author wrote the story from Luke’s, point of view. At first I honestly wasn’t sure if I would like it, I just got it because of the title but I ended up enjoying it and I think other kids my age will really enjoy this book too.

[Ann Gabhart]

This story was very popular with young readers and was actually turned into a play by Scholastic. It deals with courage and fear and dealing with bullying at school. Plus a little romance and a big black dog named Shandy. My what if jump off point to the idea was a railroad bridge in my town that my father said he once walked across. No way would I ever do that.