Summary: Further adventures beyond the gate of the white fence where the children at “Gramgon’s” house and an older friend meet the saints after whom they are named.

In Beyond the White Fence, we are introduced to “Gramgon” and the extended family who come to visit her capacious Pittsburgh home. In that story, the children explored beyond the white fence, bordering Gramgon’s property, encountering fauns, who led them on adventures to other times where they met the saints after whom they were named, and then were escorted back by a peacock, a kind of guide and protector. On one adventure, they pick up a peacock feather, which they conceal under a rock by the gate, and take on future adventures, considering it a connection that will ensure them getting home.

Well, in this story, there are more children who have not yet encountered their saints (and lots more saints to be encountered). And there is an older neighbor boy who has been drawn to this family, but who wonders whether he is too old to meet a saint, even were he to believe. His name, fittingly is Thomas (nicknamed TJ), and he feels himself always late to the party.

Three of the boys, James, Kevin, and Isaiah are especially close, and try to keep their secrets from the girls. They call themselves “the Three Musketeers” and in the course of the book, each has an encounter with the saint for whom he is named. James, interestingly meets the Apostle James as he was finishing his letter and enlists James to carry a copy to the Apostle Paul–an interesting idea. Both James and Paul were in Jerusalem and the boys witness Paul’s close run escape from those seeking his life. Later, on his own, Isaiah encounters Isaiah the prophet just after his temple vision of God. Later Kevin meets the Irish saint, who dwells in caves and has a special bond with the animals.

Perhaps the centerpiece story belongs to young Allie, one of the younger cousins. She had been recently adopted and didn’t quite fit with the older girls, and wondered what was so interesting to her boy cousins down in the valley beyond the gate. Then she sees the bucks in the meadow and follows, but fails to take the feather. She awakens in a temple of Apollo, just when a servant, George is brought from prison and challenged to recant his faith in Christ and worship Apollo. George stands firm before Diocletian and even rebukes the demon inhabiting the statue of Apollo. Then the Empress Alexandra asks George’s God to save her and publicly repudiates her husband Diocletian’s gods. declaring “the true God is Christ.” Allie witnesses the courageous faith of George and Alexandra not only here but in the dungeon where they await execution. Allie was swept up with those arrested. Meanwhile, Naomi, Rachie, and Kevin realize Allie is missing and hadn’t taken the feather. The bucks are waiting, and we wonder how they will rescue Allie and get back.

The last adventure belongs to TJ, who with the Three Musketeers ends up in Kerala with the Apostle Thomas who he discovers has also been late to a few parties and also has struggled to believe.. The encounter, along with the embodied faith of Gramgon’s family is working on his heart and mind.

Interludes between adventures offer time not only for food and the family circle, awaiting the news of a birth. It affords time with Gramgon’s books, who like Edith Humphrey, is a seminary professor. They research the saints, and this along with the encounters, serves to tell the stories of each saint.

There was, at least for me, no discernible plot, unless it be TJ’s journey to faith. Gramgon’s valley provides the framing device for this series of encounters between the children and their saints. What we have is a great collection of adventure stories by which the children and readers learn both about the saints, and the God and Savior they trusted. And for grade school children (and maybe the parents reading aloud) this is perfect.

I’m left wondering if there are more adventures at Gramgon’s in the offing. There are more cousins, and certainly more saints. I for one will be on the lookout, even if I lack a peacock feather!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review. ( )