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Appalachian Jack Tales
Told by Hicks, Ward, and Harmon Families

by Lynn Salsi

Genre: Middle grade - adult

This is a story collection that is excellent for classroom learning as well as for family reading. Lynn collected stories from the late Ray Hicks and combined them with her knowledge of mythology, her research of Appalachian history, and her research of early Hicks, Ward, and Harmon family members who have recordings in various archives and libraries.

Using her gift for storytelling, she has created a treasure trove of Jack tales for everyone to read and re-tell. At the beginning of each chapter (or story), she sets the scene by cluing readers into why the stories were told, different ways they might have been told, and history about the mountains.

Best of all, the stories themselves are framed in the old traditional storytelling manner in the way that Ray Hicks told them all his life, the way his son, Ted Hicks, continues to tell them, with a few hints from their cousin Jerry Harmon who relates how his granddaddy, Ben Harmon told them.

This is a fascinating collections with illustrations by well-known children's illustrator, James Young. The artwork is indicative of his style and lends a cheerful look to Jack, the trickster hero of Appalachia.

Firefight on Vietnam Brown Water

by Lynn Salsi

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction Novel

Eighteen year old Al Lupo is suddenly faced with the biggest decision of his life after he is drafted to serve in the United States military in 1965. This novel is a coming-of-age saga of Al dealing with his relationship with his father, dealing with the authority of officers, and learning to survive.

The book covers highly detailed information about what it was like in the late 1960s for a young man serving in the Navy. Al is ultimately assigned to a five-man crew on a SWIFT boat (shallow water inshore fire team). He sees war first hand as he shoots a gun at another human being for the first time in his life.

Al forms close friendships and is forced to take a leadership role under the worst possible circumstances while in a remote jungle area in the Delta of South Vietnam.

The book is packed with exciting firefight scenes. It is emotionally draining at times, but the ending brings the story and the character full circle.

Forthcoming:

Appalachian Cookin', Big Eatin', Plus a Little Farmin' Advice

by Amy Michels

Amy Michels brings her yummy recipes to a cookbook with additional directions for the wood cookstove. There is more to her cookin' than a little cornmeal and butter. She grows the cane that makes the molasses, that goes into her molasses cookies.

An added feature includes Amy's farming advice.

Jack and the Dragon

(Children's picture book)

by Lynn Salsi and James Young