The Blue Marble

by Susan R. Lawrence

Ten-year-old Matthew longs to escape from his family. But when he finds a blue marble and winds up in an orphanage in 1946, getting what he wished is not so fun. A cruel supervisor mistreats the boys and polio paralyzes a friend. While learning to play marbles, he also learns about trusting God. Can the blue marble help him to win the National Marble Tournament? And will he ever find his family again?

140 pages, Paperback

Published March 10, 2016

About the author

Susan Lawrence has been writing stories since she could first hold a pencil. After 27 years of teaching elementary school, she retired and dove into writing novels.
Her fiction includes contemporary and historical faith-based drama. She has four books for middle grade readers including two books in the Hank, the Rescue Dog series, a humorous tale narrated by the dog.
She also has four devotionals and a picture book.
Susan lives in Iowa with her husband of over fifty years and her own rescue dog, Maggie.

Reviews

[Joy Kidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Games of marbles are woven into a story of a boy who doesn't want to care for his sister and ends up in an orphanage in a much earlier decade. It becomes a tale of friendship, trusting God, and what's really important in life. Just delightful.

[Pj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a neat story about a boy that wants to be away from his family and gets his wish. He ends up in the year of 1946 all beause of a blue marble. Many lessons are learned while he lives in a children's home. A modern Christian story that is not preachy but make it point very clear. Added attraction a local Des Moines area author wrote this book.

[Yvonne Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since Matt Freeman’s dad died in Iraq, he’s been feeling a bit lost. It doesn’t help being chained to the house, having to keep an eye on his little sister while Mom does her at-home job on the computer. He’d rather be skateboarding!

While kicking around at a local construction site, he uncovers a blue marble. On a whim, he puts it in his pocket—and is somehow immediately transported to… to where, exactly? He feels like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, but without the cyclone.

Turns out he’s right where he always was, but in 1946. What? His house isn’t where it should be—in fact, the street he lives on doesn’t exist—the phone operator has no listing for his mom, and he has nowhere to go. A neighboring farm family feeds him dinner then drives him into town. When he can’t find his house, they reluctantly take him to the orphanage, not knowing what else to do with him.

That’s where he learns what it means to be really lost.

This is a fun story with characters any kid can relate to. The history lessons go down smoothly, and the story's perspective of today's families rings true.

I would recommend this book to any middle grade boy or girl—or to anyone else who enjoys a sweet story.

[Darlene]

This is Susan's second book, the first written for a child. I thought her first-person narrative as a10-year-old boy was spot on. The story kept moving comfortably and wrapped up neatly. Good job, Susan! Looking forward to more books from you.