Books with author John McDonough

The day Asa came home at the end of first grade,his life turned upside down.When he saw the empty rooms in his houseand the suitcase by his mother's feet, the awards in his book bag were quickly forgotten. They were moving away, just the two of them, to a new city and a new dad. Since then, they have moved seven times in three years. Even worse, his stepdad is rough; he likes to push Asa around at home and on the baseball field. Asa is a bright kid, but it will take more than brains to survive- he'll need to rely on his heart, too.

In her popular Mitford series, glimmering with gentle laughter and tears, novelist Jan Karon transports you to the cozy small town of your dreams. An instant bestseller, Out to Canaan, finds Father Tim Kavanagh, the beloved Episcopal priest, confronting some unsettling trends in the village. Preparing for his retirement, Father Tim wrestles with a reluctance to release his flock to another shepherd. His difficulties multiply when the new mayoral candidate splits the town's voters with plans for aggressive development. Suddenly the rector and his vivacious wife, Cynthia, are spending their once tranquil days calming heated bickering between old friends. And after some questionable real estate deals threaten to overturn several of the villagers' plans, he wonders if Mitford and its warm-hearted way of life will survive. Narrator John McDonough perfectly voices each of the endearing townsfolk making Jan Karon's closely-knit community hum with the joys and trials of everyday life. A visit with Father Tim in his homespun world will have you packing your bags and poring over maps in search of Mitford.