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Children's Fiction General

Amanda in Alberta

The Writing on the Stone

by (author) Darlene Foster

Publisher
Central Avenue Publishing
Initial publish date
Jul 2014
Category
General, General, Native American, Mysteries & Detective Stories
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781771680196
    Publish Date
    Jul 2014
    List Price
    $14.99

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Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 7 to 11
  • Grade: 3 to 8

Description

Amanda is delighted to show Leah around Alberta during her visit from England. They take in the Calgary Stampede, go on a cattle drive, visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, spend time with the dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum and explore the crazy Hoodoos.

When Amanda finds a stone with a unique mark on it, she doesn't think it's important until everyone seems to want it - including a very ornery cowboy. Is this stone worth ruining Leah’s holiday and placing them both in danger?

Spend time with Amanda as she explores her own country while attempting to decipher the mysterious writing on the stone and keep it from those determined to take it from her.

About the author

Excerpt: Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone (by (author) Darlene Foster)

“I feel so special,” said Leah.

“You should, you are our special guest.” Amanda gave her friend’s arm a squeeze. “I’m so glad you came for a visit. We’ll have so much fun.”

Just then a loud BOOM sounded the start of the parade. Amanda and Leah sat spellbound as marching bands in smart uniforms, fancy baton twirlers, cowboys and cowgirls wearing colourful sequinned shirts riding on decorated horses, funny floats and First Nations people wearing traditional feather headdresses passed by.

A clown stopped in front of the girls to hand out candies. He wasn’t laughing though. In fact, Amanda thought he looked quite sad. His eyes glanced into the crowd as if searching for someone. He hitched up his baggy pants and an object fell on the ground.

Suddenly, the clown turned around and ran down the street in his oversized shoes. The children laughed as he almost tripped over his feet.

Amanda shouted after him, “Hey, you dropped something.” But he was too far away to hear.

She picked up the stone object, put it in her pocket and continued to watch the parade as a bagpipe band came by.

“I can’t believe you have bagpipes over here too. My dad would be impressed. He loves them and used to play in a pipe band,” said Leah.

“I love them too,” said Amanda. “When they play Amazing Grace, I always cry.”

“Oh, you definitely would have cried when you heard my dad play. He was awful.”

Both girls giggled.

A beaming stampede princess wearing a tiara waved at them from her snow white horse.

O O O

Amanda remembered the stone later that night before she went to bed. She took the smooth flat rock out of her jeans pocket and rolled it over in her hand. It was a dark grey colour, about the size of a loonie. She noticed a faint mark on the stone in the shape of a V.

“I wonder what that means,” she mumbled.

She placed the rock on her book shelf and crawled into bed beside a jet-lagged Leah already asleep. Happy that her BFF was there with her, she soon fell asleep too.

Editorial Reviews

"It was enjoyable to read about familiar places. Foster has captured a sense of place in this novel. I liked the action and adventure that keep readers entertained at the same time as it will educate them." —dickenslibrary.blogspot.ca

What a great way for a young person to learn about a culture and to be inspired to experience other countries themselves. ~ Irene Butler, author of Trekking the Globe with Mostly Gentle Footsteps

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