Modern fantasy with holiday spirit that stays with you long after the last page. A teenage spelunker battles mystical forces in her search for the mother lode. Glory Alley plans to strike it rich in Queen's Mesa over winter break. The money wouldn't be just for her though. She hopes it will keep her dysfunctional family from self-imploding. Against the odds she finds a treasure beyond compare, but gets more than she bargained for when wicked creatures, thought to exist only in fairy tales, try to steal it away. Determined to hold onto the prize, she pits her wits against their otherworldly magic. As the stakes go up, and the clock ticks down, Glory must decide if her ungrateful loved ones are worth the risk. PG-13 equivalent.Add'l Info: The heroine lives on a world similar to present-day Earth with some notable differences. Her planet is two or three thousand years older than ours and Christ hasn't been born, yet. None of the characters have heard of the bible or Jesus. However, the story-beneath-the-story foreshadows His coming. Since the adventure is filtered through Glory's limited perspective, there are no direct references to Christianity in the book. All is hidden beneath the surface. It is left to the readers to find the symbols and themes that resonate with them, if they so choose. Recipient of the Readers' Favorite 5-Star Medallion. The perfect novel for Thanksgiving or Christmas . . . The ending filled me with holiday tears. --DonnaSome of the Christian symbolism seemed like a stretch to me, but people who like that sort of thing will probably love it. Not being of the faith, I chose to focus on the adventure and had a really fun time. --L.R.F.Glory Alley is a wonderfully likable character with spunk and heart. She finds herself plunged into the world she thought was only a fairy tale--the stunning other-worldly world of the Elboni with Wybbils and a Hoogula. There's a touch of humor in the story, along with a lot of emotion as Glory tries to help the dysfunctional, sad Alley family--especially Mean Dad, who clearly isn't a bad guy, but life has dealt him more blows than he can handle. I enjoyed this imaginative book tremendously, rooting for Glory and the whole family. Highly recommended. --Lucy M.Read it a second time. You will appreciate the story in a whole new light and understand why it's a good Easter story as well. --Light Reads, BloggerWhat makes this novel a standout is the way the Christian elements are so naturally woven into the fabric of the landscape, integrating into the scenes without drawing attention to themselves . . . From start to finish this book was a pleasure to read and ponder. --Jim B. Categories: Adventure, Christian Fantasy, Family Drama, Science Fiction, Upper Middle Grade, Young Adult.