Twisted Leaves by Chris Conrad

I really enjoyed this youth novel set around Sequoyah's Cabin, an historic site near Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

Bryan is a fifteen year old confined to a wheelchair. He and his family have moved to the area because of his FBI agent father's new assignment. His first day at school turns out to be the beginning of a mystery. The school visits Sequoyah's Cabin for a field trip. Bryan realizes he had dreamt about this very place the night before. Then a young man crashes the field trip, literally, by falling from a space above the ceiling. Nothing is determined to have been stolen but Bryan and his friends will not let the unusual event go uninvestigated.

Conrad has a given young readers a good story combining a mystery with some history and relationships between students. Bryan meets some quirky students right away. Youth readers would, I am sure, identify with the jealousy and the other intense feelings experienced by Bryan's acquaintances. There is a strong Christian theme that runs through the book too.

I like a novel in which I learn something. In this case it was about Sequoyah, also known as George Guess. He built a cabin in 1829 and it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Sequoyah developed a written alphabet for the Cherokee language, a syllabary.

I recommend this novel too young teen readers who like reading a good mystery while learning some very interesting history.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Chris Conrad lives in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, where Twisted Leaves takes place. This is his first novel.

Chris Conrad, 278 pages. You can purchase a copy here.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.