Where Would Cows Hide?
By D.C. Stewart
Synopsis from the back of the book: Twins Brad and Charlie, didn’t want to join their parents on vacation in Hawaii. A little sister can be annoying, but there little sister, Zoey, was over the top. “The three of us aren’t going to Hawaii.” She told them. Her parents were shocked by her statement even though it was true. This was not the first time Zoey offered surprising knowledge of future events, nor would it be the last. Arriving at their grandparent’s cattle ranch in Oklahoma, the twins learn of the disappearance of cattle from the ranch. This knowledge would set off a series of events that would challenge any detective. There were the mysterious neighbors, the strange lady at church, and a psychic lazy dog, and a weird little sister to keep the twins totally confused in their efforts to solve this strange mystery.
Review: This book was incredibly fun! For a book intended for tweens it was fun even for an adult. You were quickly led from one place to another, trying to keep up with tweenage boy twins. Between running from snakes, falling in the river, ducking baby sitting, avoiding the creepy lady at church, and mending fences on the ranch, the two boys discovery a mystery that threatens to harm their grandparents. Unless they can figure it out.
The two boys face incredible danger, from a bad guy that is all sorts of scary, but they are determined to collect the proof they need, so the adults will believe their incredible story. With limited time they don’t find all they need. One night with time so short things come to a head and the boys are forced to try and tell their story with little to no proof. When the adults don’t listen to the boys, they take matters in to their own hands, and find out that maybe their sister isn’t so crazy after all, maybe God does talk to little Zoey, and maybe God is looking out for them too. I can’t wait to get this book in to the hands of my 13 year old sister and 11 year old brother, I am certain they’ll enjoy it!
Interview with D.C. Stewart
Q: What inspired this story?
A: This story began to bloom when I found out I was pregnant with twins. I began to think about the adventures I had with my younger brother on our family's ranch, and wondered what sorts of adventures my own kids would have as they got older.
Q: Why Tween age story lines?
A: Some of my favorite books remain with me to this day from that period in my life. Those stories during my tween years inspired my love of adventure books and movies, and made me want to write that kind of book.
Q: How difficult was it to write realistic tween's and their thought processes vs. adults?
A: Since most people who know me would tell you I never really grew up, it wasn't a stretch to get into the mindset of a tween. I grew up a tomboy, with a brother, boy cousins we played with all the time, and all my brother's friends, so keeping true to a tween boy's perspective wasn't too hard either.
Plus, kids today have a much more mature thought process than adults want to give them credit for. Working with the youth in our church taught me that kids hanging out with their friends may not act like they have a clue, or talk like they have a clue, but when they are talking with you one on one, they know exactly what's going on.
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover; there were moments when I was forced to put the book down due to real life. I can tell you, I was about ready to pull my hair out at times. I was infuriated by what happened, and things only ever got worse before they got better. When things don’t seem like they can get worse, they do. This was certainly a turbulent trip, but well worth it!
