Professional Writers of Prescott - Book Review

Spirit Jar
by Juanita Hassenstab-Alomar

Twelve-year-old, Morgan Shephard, his parents and his sister are on their way to an isolated mountain campground - where it all began. While searching for arrowheads, Morgan unearths an aged pottery jar, which spawns dreams of adventure with a Native American boy, Young Eagle.

Young Eagle guides Morgan through a dream vision quest, where Morgan meets his animal spirit guide and visualizes his Native American name, Standing Bear.

Morgan looks forward to his dreams with this boy and hopes they never end.

Mr. Harold, the owner of a local general store tells the family of a tragic legend. On the anniversary of the sorrowful event, ghostly visitations occur and explain why Morgan's mother, experiences eerie sensations around their campsite.

At home, in a dream with Young Eagle, Morgan describes the pottery jar. Young Eagle tells him that he has unearthed a jar that his tribe used to hold cremation ashes--a Spirit Jar. And must be returned to sacred ground. Morgan assures his dream brother he did not take the jar home on purpose. And agonizes over his dilemma--how to return to the campground and rebury the Spirit Jar. Finally, he confesses to his parents that he must keep a promise to Young Eagle and needs their help. After hearing their son's story, they plan a return trip to re bury the Spirit Jar.

While hiking to sacred ground, the family rescues a lost dog. They call her Annie. After an unsuccessful search for Annie's family, their wish comes true, they can claim her as their own.

The night before leaving for home, Morgan finds two arrowheads under the picnic table and believes his dream brother, Young Eagle performed magic and left them just for him.

One of Alomar's readers mailed this comment:

"I AM WRITING TO TELL YOU I ABSOLUTLY LOVED THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS SO DETAILED AND FILLED WITH SO MUCH ADVENTURE THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE BOOK. THE BEST PART TO ME WAS WHEN MORGAN WAS HAVING DREAMS WITH YOUNG EAGLE AND YOUNG EAGLE TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SPIRIT JAR AND HOW HE HAD TO PUT IT BACK WHERE IT WAS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT AND VERY DETAILED. I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A BOY'S BOOK BECAUSE WHEN I WAS READING IT I FELT LIKE I WAS MORGAN AND THAT I WAS HAVING THE SAME ADVENTURES AS MORGAN."

This young adult adventure book seems to enthrall girls and boys alike - what more could any author ask for?

Juanita Hassenstab-Alomar lives with her husband, canary, and cat in Prescott, Arizona. She says that her "writing urges began as young girl growing up in California. I remember sitting alone for hours, composing stories in my head." When her husband bought her a computer, she says, "Spirit Jar, a young adult adventure story, was born. A published novel, the story began at a flea market many years ago and soared into a life of its own."