The Earthquake Winter: Bringing Hannah Home.

By Lou Sanders. (Authorhouse, 2005). Available through authorhouse.com, Amazon, and River Oaks bookstore. $14.95. http://www.authorhouse.com/

Like many Nashville folks, Sanders, a former teacher, finally came to Texas and now resides in Houston. The Earthquake Winter is not strictly Texana, but it does provide historical background for those filtering through the early Spanish-American frontier.

"The Earthquake Winter" is a delightful, engaging tale of one of the most fascinating periods in American history. Written for children and made colorful by the carefully researched historic detail, readers of all ages will cheer the spunky young heroine, Hannah, throughout her adventures. The appealing orphan survives a cruel foster family, finds refuge and friends with the local Indians, and braves the dangers of the Old Natchez Trace (near Sanders childhood home) to return to her family.

Hannah must deal with pirates and murderers to reach the home of her family who has journeyed to Natchez, Mississippi, to bring her home. Lou Sanders has created a riveting tale of the Old Natchez Trace, using the theme of the New Madrid Earthquake of 1811-1812. The quake rivals or exceeds San Francisco’s 1906 quake in intensity and may have created Caddo Lake, Texas’ largest natural lake.

This is a story of love, faith, and family, and what a family will endure in order to recover one of its own. Children will immediately like the Indians, pirates, and particularly the plucky, inventive, and resourceful heroine who will use all her resources of heart and mind to reconnect to her family. Sanders uses adventure and a richly detailed history as the background for this story. She portrays an engaging protagonist growing up in a fascinating and under explored era of American history. All ages will cheer Hannah and her family onward in their efforts to bring Hannah home. Highly recommended! Rev: Julia de Berardinis, Librarian - sand6403@sbcglobal.net