Tennis Shoes: Gadiantons and the Silver Sword

Years and years since the original writing of "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites", author Chris Heimerdinger decides, smartly, to write a sequel. All our beloved characters are now in college. They have no memory of the events of the first book (and in some ways it might have been best to leave the first book as itself due to that ending) but new events, such as Lamanites appearing in the modern world, brings everyone back to an adventure through Mexico. It has all the makings of a college road trip (with a clean LDS twist, of course) but it eventually turns into a veritable Lord of the Rings event as they attempt to destroy an evil sword in a volcano. It's a fun, zesty read full of lots of spirit, thought, and humor.

In this book, Jim, Garth and Jenny have grown up and gone to BYU.Jim gets a phone call from his parents tell him that "indians" were looking for him and a sword. Jim,who doesn't remember his adventure with the Nephites in the first book, doesn't know what they are talking about. Eventually he meet up with a Nephite name Muleki who tries to explain to him his situation.Jenny and Jim both lost their memory of their first adventure and have to slowly get it back. Jim, Garth and Jenny have to drive to Mexico with angry Gadiantons on their tail. They have to try to destroy the sword of Akish before it's too late.

I've read this book several times and am still amazed and delighted by it, especially the uncanny parallel to Tolkien. But even besides that, this is a great book and a great sequel to "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites".Jim, Jenny, and Garth are college students, going about their various lives. Then the past comes to meet them--literally. Jim finds himself stuck with an evil sword, so he, his girlfriend, his sister, and his best friend all take off for Mexico in an attempt to destroy the thing. Wonderful tribute to "Lord of the Rings".The plot sounds simple, and it is, but it's still very exciting and spiritual. Chris writes with such personality and humor that the writing itself is hard to resist. There's plenty of heart and meaning, but not so much as to get corny, which is often a challenge.

This is a very good sequel to "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites". Harry Hawkins, his sister, and Garth Plimpton have grown up. They are now attending BYU and are in the dating scene. When a Nephite from the past shows up, Harry has to slowly regain his memory of the events that happened to him so long ago. This Nephite is on a mission, he must regain and destroy an ancient sword that is cursed. Our three heros, along with Jim's new girlfriend, must figure out how to rely on the Lord, and each other if they want to succeed. Along the way there are many people (one also from the past) who are trying to gain power using the sword. I thought this was a very good book and would recommend it to anyone.