Lexi

Lexi awakens in a forest, dirty, disheveled and scratched up, and has no idea who or where she is. She wanders out of the forest, following a bird that seems to be leading the way, and discovers a town nearby. She is led to a shelter where she is provided with warmth, safety and necessities, and then sets out to discover who she is and where she belongs. In the process she meets some delightful - and not so great - characters along the way. I enjoyed reading this book, and was particularly impressed by the authors' imaginative attention to detail, which really pulls the reader into the story. I recommend this book - it's a great read! Reviewed by: Kimberly Shults

A young girl wakes up in the middle of the forest, completely lost and not knowing how she got there. And that's not the only thing she doesn't recall. In fact, she doesn't remember anything at all --- not her name or who she is or where she belongs. Unsure of what else to do, she struggles to her feet and begins walking. After a long time, she spies the lights of a town and heads toward them. Still disorientated and very scared, she almost gets run over by a speeding car. But a kind man named Joe pulls her out of the way just in time. He takes her to a nearby shelter and hands her over to the two women in charge, Sarah and Beatrice. They feed her, put her to bed and call a doctor to examine the big bump on her head. She has no identification or anything to hint at who she could be except a silver key hanging on a necklace. Then Sarah and Beatrice begin to check out the missing persons and police reports to figure out who she is. In the meantime, this lost girl makes some new friends --- young people who have horrible stories to tell, yet somehow they manage to find a smile to put in their hearts. All the while, something nags at Beatrice's memory; she is positive that she has seen this child before, and then finally a name clicks into place: Lexina. A while back, a young girl named Lexina and her grandmother stayed at the shelter. Beatrice tracks down the grandmother and asks her to pick up Lexi. When she shows up, a long-buried secret reveals itself and shocks everyone. Lexi begins to piece her life back together and, in the process, is inspired to pass on some of the kindness that has been showered on her. A handful of people working together can indeed change the world for the better. L. S. Matthews brings us a warm and emotional tale guaranteed to inspire all who read it. It is about love and generosity, hope and kindness, all of which our world is desperate for more. She writes with a colorful and childlike style that connects with readers and brings her story to life ("The big man smiled and the many lines and folds had to travel up out of the way of it, and ended up crinkled around his eyes. It was like the sun coming out, even here in the dark night on the cold street."). May this author continue to share her gift of writing with us, for she helps to make the world a better place. --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND