Janet Muirhead Hill

Although I can't say, in any way, that my childhood ran a parallel to that of 10-year-old Kendall, I still often found myself, chapter after chapter, recalling my own childhood dreams and aspirations. That's what made 'Kendall's Storm' so powerful. Like sweat oozing from my pores, childish recollections full of fears and emotional ups and downs oozed from my memory. Kendall wanted so much to believe that his father was a great american hero, that the frequent, leave everything behind, moves were the price a dedicated FBI agent paid in service to his country. But slowly, the illusion was chipped away until all that stood before young Kendall was the bare truth, a new and wonderful adoptive family, a puppy named Storm and the memory of his twin, Kyleah, who he missed very much. I look forward to the continuing saga in 'Kendall and Kyleah' when, hopefully, the twins reunite.

This story, though written from the viewpoint of a 10-year-old boy, is not for children, but rather a story for anyone who may have had a troublesome childhood, or maybe just anyone who at one time had been a child themselves.
… (altro)

Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

Kyleah's father and twin brother had just disappeared after their parents' divorce, and then her mother died. Kyleah's life in foster homes has been lonely and she feels great despair from the loss of her family. Now she climbs her favorite tree each morning just at sunrise, because she is sure that if she makes a wish just as the sun starts to appear over the horizon, and she keeps her eyes closed until the sun is in full view, her wishes will come true.

Her main wish is to find her father and brother again.

Kyleah doesn't really feel like she fits in with her foster family, and she and her foster brother, Benjamin, plot to run away. Benjamin has a family in Moose Jaw, just across the Canadian border, and since Kyleah came from Montana, she thinks she might find family members there.

The great escape is filled with suspense and emotion, and sometimes the adventure turns dangerous as they flee from Kansas to Canada, stowing away on vehicles or catching rides when they can. Kyleah and Benjamin sometimes contradict each other as they tell lies about who they are to keep from being caught by the authorities and sent back to the Holcomb farm.

This story addresses the emotional problems of being abandoned and living within the foster care system. It shows how a child might imagine threats that either don't exist or are misinterpreted, and might be tempted to take matters into their own hands.

Herb Leonhard's black-and-white illustrations add visual depth to the story. We have come to expect great characters from Janet Muirhead Hill, and Kyleah and Benjamin are impossible to forget. This great storyteller is a master at realistic, but nearly heart-stopping excitement, in a fast-moving plot with a satisfying ending.… (altro)