The Garden Raid is an encouraging tale about a young boy who yearns to belong and discovers his own path and inner voice, respect, acceptance and friendships follow. This story touches on the importance of community, and the value of people reaching out to care about and help others. The story reveals subtle messages of kindness, friendships are developed over time, and in giving to others we are giving to ourselves.
In The Garden Raid, John struggles to make friends in the fourth grade at Margaret Murphy Elementary School. One day, he gets the exciting chance to earn his way into his older brother Tom's sixth-grade band of buddies. The price of friendship? He has to show his bravery by participating in a secret raid on Old Man Varney's prized garden. The problem? The garden is guarded by Varney's demonic dog.
The raid goes bust, but the challenge doesn't end there. John will have to survive detention, dodge a barrage of potting scoops, tame a demon, and befriend a giant of a boy. Through all of this, he starts to question what it will take to become one of the guys.
About the Author:
John W. Nassivera grew up in Hudson Falls, New York. At night and on rainy days, my brothers, sisters, Scott, Bruce, Mark, Darf, and other childhood friends would gather on our front porch to listen to my mother tell stories. Me, my family, and friends were the characters in many of the stories. No matter the challenge, the children on William Street always came out on top. Now as I reflect back, it is apparent to me that I learned some of the most important lessons in life on my front porch. My mom shared the gifts of understanding that things aren't always what they first seem to be, friendships are made over time, we were all born with special gifts to share, when you give to others you are giving to yourself, and life is about making choices for the better of all.
The Garden Raid is Nassivera's first novel.
