Jonas Tamm is a Civil War veteran living in the untamed West. Preferring to spend his days tending to the family orchard, he is pulled away to do a little policing when the need arises, and in the wild west, there are a lot of times he has to saddle up and enforce the law. A single parent to Casey, Jonas knows a lot more about the land and its unusual history than his humble farming lifestyle reveals. Casey is now 14, so when strange things start happening in the shadow of Thunder Peak, Jonas realizes he can no longer afford to keep her true lineage a secret. Besides owing his daughter the truth, a real danger exists and knowing who she is may help save her life. A giant sentient turtle and a juvenile unicorn that can communicate with Casey are just a couple of the literary mainstays coloring the pages of this alternate-history fantasy novel. Casey will have to come to terms with a magic that permeates this gorgeous Southwestern landscape and her own dusty heritage.
Set in a distorted version of American history, Thunder Peak is an action-packed adventure that will appeal to young teen readers. The story is simplistic at its core, but is enriched by the adventurous spirits living in late 1800s Arizona. Quaint colloquialisms give Casey and her friends unique personalities that truly cast them in the firelight of a bygone era. The homesteaders face a lot of threats, from packs of hungry wolves to roaming bandits, making Casey a hearty protagonist who is accustomed to facing challenges with a stiff upper lip and a loaded weapon. One subtle danger that leaves an indelible mark on readers is the fictitious creature called a sunthorn. So much imagination and beauty are crammed into a tiny luminescent, music-charmed, deceptively dangerous insect! To round out this story about the love of family, power hungry rulemakers and forbidden relationships, a dark enemy slowly takes shape, adding a fair amount of menace to an overall tame book. Blending elements of history, folklore and imagination, Thunder Peak is a testament to the power of creativity!
