A Flight of Storks and Angels

Rating:
Summary: whimsical fantasy
Review: Everyone who resides in Auroville, California from Mayor Porter to the town bum believes that the Keeshan brood is a bunch of lunatics. That opinion holds though the elderly patriarch is a bestselling author making millions per book but that is because visitors seeing him are forced to buy the book by cult members. Residents rationalize their belief based on his weird novels, his semi-comatose spouse, and his grandson thirteen year old Ward, who is often seen holding animated discussions with himself while insisting that an angel is his companion. Even the parents of Ward's best friend June prefer their daughter find a new pal as they believe Ward is a nut.

Though he would prefer chess with his invisible friend Timothy, Walt's insistence that he has a guardian angel opens the floodgates. The world descends on Auroville. As the town divides between religious believers, agnostic skeptics, and hostile atheists, Ward and his grandpa encouraged by angels begin a quest for a better world. Today Auroville, tomorrow the UN, but none of the in crowd wants to give up their entitlements.

This whimsical fantasy will provide plenty of delight for fans of angels or those who really care about the downtrodden. The story line moves slowly forward at first as the personalities of the key players (including Timothy) are established. Once the plot goes into gear buoyed by the angels, readers will hope for the best for the Keeshans and their supporters. The character names pay homage to heroes while the dedication sums up the book best as the author states that "May Miss Francis, Mr. Rogers, and Captain Kangaroo always prevail over Hoover, McCarthy, and Ashcroft".

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: whimsical fantasy
Review: Everyone who resides in Auroville, California from Mayor Porter to the town bum believes that the Keeshan brood is a bunch of lunatics. That opinion holds though the elderly patriarch is a bestselling author making millions per book but that is because visitors seeing him are forced to buy the book by cult members. Residents rationalize their belief based on his weird novels, his semi-comatose spouse, and his grandson thirteen year old Ward, who is often seen holding animated discussions with himself while insisting that an angel is his companion. Even the parents of Ward's best friend June prefer their daughter find a new pal as they believe Ward is a nut.

Though he would prefer chess with his invisible friend Timothy, Walt's insistence that he has a guardian angel opens the floodgates. The world descends on Auroville. As the town divides between religious believers, agnostic skeptics, and hostile atheists, Ward and his grandpa encouraged by angels begin a quest for a better world. Today Auroville, tomorrow the UN, but none of the in crowd wants to give up their entitlements.

This whimsical fantasy will provide plenty of delight for fans of angels or those who really care about the downtrodden. The story line moves slowly forward at first as the personalities of the key players (including Timothy) are established. Once the plot goes into gear buoyed by the angels, readers will hope for the best for the Keeshans and their supporters. The character names pay homage to heroes while the dedication sums up the book best as the author states that "May Miss Francis, Mr. Rogers, and Captain Kangaroo always prevail over Hoover, McCarthy, and Ashcroft".

Harriet Klausner