Books with author Gloria Houston

Bright Cameron has always been taught that freedom is a person's most precious right. After all, Papa came to America as a poor indentured worker from Scotland and he toiled for years until his friend Marcus, a slave, helped him to freedom. But for Bright, slavery has always been something she has only heard about. Then she discovers that Mama and Papa are hiding runaway slaves in a hidden compartment of Papa's wagon and boarding them in the barn. Soon Bright, too, becomes involved in her family's secret world. One night, when Papa falls ill, Bright discovers how dear freedom truly is--and what price it exacts from those who must struggle for it.

Littlejim Houston is the best student in his school and an excellent writer, admired by everyone in his small North Carolina mountain community everyone except for his father, Bigjim, whose respect he desires most. Rugged and stern, Bigjim is never satisfied with his son's work on the family farm and doesn't approve of Littlejim's love for writing and schoolwork.Littlejim hopes he can finally earn his father's respect and understanding by winning a local writing contest and getting his essay published in the Kansas City Star, but first he must find inspiration on the assigned topic, "What it means to be an American."With a vivid depiction of Appalachian mountain life in the early 1900s and a cast of lovingly portrayed characters, Littlejim explores the values and spirit of immigrant Americans through the unforgettable eyes of a boy seeking his father's approval.

Wings: Passage of TimeG.G. Houston Told in three parts, this entertaining young adult fantasy filled with magic, romance and danger takes readers back to 15 th century England.We meet three types of faeries in the story: Unseens (able to disappear), Lights (able to emit bright light), and Trolls (bad-tempered faeries with no special abilities). Although Lights and Trolls reside in the nearby forest, Unseens live hidden inside a large house with humans.In Part One, brother and sister Unseens, Glemce and Faze, venture into the forest and meet forest Lights, and then live among them to bridge the gap between the two types of faeries. Dirty, bug-eating Trolls, however, present a constant threat to the other tiny winged forest creatures. (Depictions of Trolls range from humorous to horrific, making them perpetual scene stealers.) Part Two takes place many years later and introduces the next generation of faeries. Sage, the new faerie queen, unites all magical forest creatures – making friends of Unseens, Lights, and Trolls. Part Three – an abrupt change in focus rather than time – emphasizes human interactions with faeries and with each other. Able to shape-shift into human and animal forms, Sage befriends Thomas, the man who owns the house in which Glemce, Faze, and other Unseens were raised, along with the land Lights and Trolls call home. Together, humans and faeries fight an evil witch with murderous intentions.The author has created an entire world of faeries that should delight young adult readers intrigued by the possibility of magical creatures living among us. The world is richly imagined, including a thorough depiction of rules, customs, and mythology. The story remains engaging throughout.Overall, readers will find an enjoyable fantasy story, sure to please.Blue ink reviews

Sage, the Faerie Queen, has to save her oak grove home from human destruction. She broke a faerie rule and allows Thomas, the land owner, to know about faeries. Her brave move not only saves her home, but saves Thomas from the evil doings of a witch. She and Thomas fall in love, marry, have a child they name Victor. While Victor's magical powers are not as great as his mothers, he has inherited her wisdom. Now at eighteen, he is in control of his powers and the time has arrived for him to be introduced to a powerful form of magic: the Book of Spells.