Most Popular Books by Dave Jackson

DEFEAT OF THE GHOST RIDERS, Introducing Mary McLeod Bethune -- Eight-year-old Celeste Key is a mischievous girl who often gets herself into trouble. When her father's blacksmith shop is burned to the ground by the Ku Klux Klan in 1904, the family decides they must leave town before someone gets killed. They move to Florida, where a woman named Mary McLeod Bethune offers them schooling for their children. Mary has started a school for black children-one of the first in the United States. Celeste is sent to Mary's school against her will but soon finds herself enjoying what she's learning. Everything seems to be going well-until men with white hoods over their heads burn a cross on the school property. Celeste is terrified of the Klan because of what happened in Georgia, yet Mary is a stubborn woman who refuses to let them intimidate her. Celeste wants to believe the Klan can be defeated, but will their threats turn into burning more than crosses? Freedom in a new state, but will it come with a price?

THE GOLD MINERS' RESCUE, Introducing Sheldon Jackson -- As Adam Christian graduates from the famous Sitka Industrial and Training School, he dreams of one day becoming famous-like Dr. Sheldon Jackson, who started the school. The last thing Adam wants to do is return to his dull life in northern Alaska, so he asks Dr. Jackson if he can join him on his 1897 expedition to the Yukon to rescue hundreds of starving gold miners. Surprisingly, Dr. Jackson agrees, and eager to say good-bye to his home and his people, Adam sets off on what he hopes will be the adventure of a lifetime. But the excitement and fame Adam seeks soon are swallowed up in trials that not even the hardy young boy is prepared to face. Disaster seems to strike at every turn when they try to bring a herd of reindeer from Norway all the way to the Yukon in an effort to help the troubled miners. Will they reach the men before it's too late? Help is on the way, but will it be in time?

SPY FOR THE NIGHT RIDERS Introducing Martin Luther Karl Schumacher was fifteen when he came to the German city of Wittenberg in 1520 seeking an education. He had been very fortunate that the esteemed university professor Doctor Martin Luther, had taken him into his household as a servant. Luther's promise of tutoring Karl in exchange for his labor was the chance of a lifetime-until a poster on the church door declared his master a heretic! Karl is asked to travel with Doctor Luther to appear before the emperor's Imperial Council in the city of Worms. Will his life be at stake as well as Luther's? And who is the mysterious young lady who shadows their trip? Could she be a spy for Luther's enemy, Doctor Eck? Or might the night riders be secret supporters of Luther? With danger lurking on every side, who can Karl trust?

In 1843, twelve-year-old Perrin joins his aunt and uncle, well-known missionaries Dr. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, in the Oregon Territory where they live with the Nez Perce and Cayuse Indians.

Thrilling adventure stories introducing young readers (ages 8-2) to Christian heroes of the past.The two young Burmese girls had dreaded leaving their father, but he told them that the only safe thing was for the two of them to go live with the American missionaries, Adoniram and Ann Judson. May-Lo and Len-Lay really aren't sure what the danger is, and they don't know what to believe about their American foster parents. Could the accusations that the missionaries were English spies be true?When the Judsons leave the city of Rangoon to establish a mission work in Ava, the Golden City, the girls are taken along on the dangerous river trip that will separate them from their father by 350 miles. Will they ever see him again? Will they even make it to their destination? How will the emperor of Burma respond to Mr. Judson's petitions to give religious freedom to Christian converts?Their arrival is followed by eventual disaster. When the British attack the Burmese, all the white foreigners, including Adoniram Judson, are hauled off to the terrible Death Prison. Every clue indicates that the Judsons are spies, and a Burmese-English boy named Myat Rodgers is determined to prove their guilt. Should the girls tell the authorities what they know? Or will they all end up in the Death Prison?Without their father's help whom could they trust?

In 1854, a group of children who come from different circumstances to the Children's Aid Society in New York come under the care of Rev. Charles Brace, who eventually finds homes for them in Cowagiac, Michigan.

Snowmageddon takes us back into the Bentley household as Estelle crusades for a group home to move into the neighborhood in hopes that her mentally challenged son can become one of the residents. But the tenuous relationships the Bentleys have developed since they moved to the neighborhood, risk coming apart as opposition to the group home uncovers age-old prejudices and fears, as well as simmering tensions between the two Jewish and Iranian families. Harry Bentley faces his own demons when he risks losing custody of his only grandson and when the young woman he promised to protect from a vengeful drug mule flees the safety of the neighborhood. After so much progress, Beecham Street faces another blizzard The fifth in the Windy City Neighbors series, Snowmageddon brings the Beecham Street neighbors full circle during a historic snowstorm that whiteouts a wedding, threatens the life of a mother and unborn child, and challenges just how much neighbors can count on each other when push comes to shove. Welcome to Beecham Street-a typical, isolated American neighborhood that was beginning to come out of its shell . . . but is about to be snowed under.

CAUGHT IN THE REBEL CAMP, Introducing Frederick Douglass -- The Civil War has just begun, and the controversy between the North and the South continues to heat up. Everybody seems to be getting into the action-except for Danny Sims. Danny wants nothing more than to fight with the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Infantry, Frederick Douglass's newly formed black regiment. But his young age and a lame foot keep Danny from enlisting. The boy feels good for nothing until Frederick Douglass recommends Danny as the caretaker of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw's horses. Danny knows the importance of this task, and he's confident he will do an excellent job. But when the colonel's own horse escapes one night, Danny goes after him, only to find himself inside the Confederate soldiers' fort. In terror, he remembers the Fifty-Fourth's plans of immediate attack-what if the battle begins while he is inside? When Danny sees that the Confederates are making their own plans for the attack, Danny realizes that the Union soldiers are being set up for a trap! Can Danny escape in time to warn his troops? A CRIPPLED BOY HAS NO PLACE IN THE WAR . . . DOES HE?

In "Sinking the Dayspring", 14-year-old Kevin Gilmore is stranded on an island of cannibals when the ship is damaged.

Part of the Recovery of Hope Network counseling program, When It's Hard to Trust offers true stories of the experiences of once disillusioned married couples who have rebuilt their relationships after having had devastating affairs.

Inspirational stories of men and women throughout history who lived, sacrificed, and many who died for their faith.

"Grounded is an uplifting, contemporary tale in an urban setting featuring characters courageously wrestling with the real spiritual and practical issues of average people"--

"Lucy Tucker, the crotchety old bag lady from the popular Yada Yada House of Hope series, is a veteran of the Chicago streets and not about to give up her independence, even as she approaches her 80th birthday. Until, that is, a young displaced woman with her gentle ageing mother and a dog named Dandy seem to need her--unsettling the secretive Lucy, who doesn't let anyone get too close. But just when it seems her past is catching up with her to bring her in out of the cold, Lucy disappears again"--Back cover.

QUEST FOR THE LOST PRINCE, Introducing Samuel Morris -- When the dying Kru king offers a ransom for his missing son, fourteen-year-old Jova determines to find Prince Kaboo, no matter what the danger. Without a prince to take the old king's place, his people will almost surely be defeated by their long-time enemies, the Grebos! And as a former captive of the cruel Grebos, there is nothing Jova fears more. But Jova has a secret advantage over the other young warriors who set out on the dangerous quest-he knows where to look for the missing prince! Only Jova followed Prince Kaboo when he miraculously escaped the Grebo village where they both were held. And only Jova knows the prince traveled to the dreaded "white man's city"-a place filled with people so strange-looking Jova was too fearful to enter. Now his search must take him right to that terrible place. What will he find when he arrives? For six long years, Jova has kept the secret. . . .

Retired Chicago cop Harry Bentley discovers he has a grandson he didn't know about. Will he find the faith to take on the boy as a "second chance" to be the father he'd failed to be to his own son?

Meet the Mary Poppins of the 90s! Based on the popular video series, these books include the complete story of each episode, plus learning activities on related biblical topics.