Louella on Fourth Street, Louisville   

 Louella's first novel for young adults, The Black Bonnet is about two sisters who escape from slavery  

  on the underground railroad in 1858.  On their way to freedom, they stop in Burlington, Vermont, where

  the story takes place.   "Bryant writes a compelling story with lively characters that will

  give young readers a new perspective on everyday life for slaves as well as the anxieties of running for

  freedom." ~ Booklist         
 

Father By Blood, Winner of the Silver Bay Children's Literature Award, is the story of Annie Brown,

daughter of the famous abolitionist John Brown, and her father's raid on the Federal armory at Harper's Ferry in his attempt to arm the slaves and help them fight their way to freedom.  Set in 1859, just before the outbreak of Civil War, the story begins in North Elba, New York, and moves to Maryland, where Brown rented a house to gather his conspirators for the fateful raid.   Visit Harpers Ferry to find out more about John Brown.

For more information on The Black Bonnet and Father By Blood, visit New England Press.

You can purchase these books on Amazon.

Louella's picture book, Two Tracks in the Snow,
is about Will, a boy who is having trouble learning to ski.
Ari, who has spina bifida and uses a monoski, not only teaches Will

how to get down the mountain gracefully, but offers him friendship.

I got the idea from this book when I visited Waterville Valley and watched

Kathy Chandler teach skiers with disabilities.  "Special equipment" is all they need,"

she said.  I saw young folks whiz down the mountain, their mouths open with glee,

and realized that a disability is just a perception.  We can do whatever we set our minds to,

no matter what limitations the rest of the world sees.

Two Tracks in the Snow is available from
Jason and Nordic publishers.