A couple of years back, when my dad first opened John Paul II the Great book store, many a Catholic book became open to my family.
I found Jessica, my sister, reading one book in particular that caught my eye. It was entitled, Fairy Tales Retold; Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman.
I have always loved fairy tales, and not just the typical Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast ones, though I like those too, just the fairy tale genre in general. So, naturally, I asked my sister if I could read whatever it was that she was reading.
Her immediate response was to inform me that it was, in fact, her book and could only be read by persons age fourteen and up. I begged and begged, but to no avail, until... I discovered that Shadow of the Bear and itâs sequel could be found at my dadâs bookstore.
And so, devious person that I am, I snuck a peek here and there whenever I could. Shame on me, I know, but oh was it worth it.
As it turns out, Fairy Tale Novels For Teens, is an entire (work in progress) series written by Regina Doman that is to this day, one of the greatest Iâve read in my somewhat short life.
I mean, what better idea could someone have, then to reinvent fairy tale plots and turn them into stories about modern day situations in a completely Catholic aspect. Mrs. Domanâs, awe-inspiring, passionately Catholic, now five book series, has taken up a special place in my heart, right beside J.K. Rowlingâs seven book long, Harry Potter series.
Now to tell you a little about Reginaâs books, obviously I canât give away the entire story from every book, but I will tell you a bit about her latest, Alex OâDonnell and the 40 CyberThieves which is the winner of the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Award For Best Young Adult Fiction.
A much deserved prize, I assure you.
Alex OâDonnell, which just so happens to be one of my top favorites, takes place in a sleepy little town in Virginia, and is centered around Alex, a laid-back, martial artist, strong but quiet Catholic, and his sort of opposite, fiercely Catholic, half-Vietnamese, half-Polish, pro-life activist, somewhat analytical and meticulous girlfriend, Kateri Kovach.
While weâve met Alex and Kateri before, in the novel preceding this one (Waking Rose), but we donât really get to see them personally as Waking Rose is centered around another couple entirely. In this book we discover just who Alex and Kateri really are, and just what happens to them that strengthens not only their relationship, but their faith in God as well.
As much as Iâd like to gush and tell everybody exactly what happens, and render reading the book yourselves useless... I wonât.
But I will give a brief overview.
Alex OâDonnell and the 40 CyberThieves begins with 24 year old, Alex heading home after college to his dis-organized, mismatched, poor in all but love, family in Virginia. Alexâs dad, a very well-developed and interesting character, is by hobby, a hacker, who stumbled upon a very curious site while browsing on his computer, knocking down the first domino that leads to a train of results that drags his entire family and his sonâs girlfriend on an adventure that leaves us readers speechless.
After checking the post office, Alex finds a mysterious check for one million dollars, which has, unbeknown-st to him, everything to do with the sight his dad found the day before.
But how does Kateri get dragged into all this?
After thinking it through and firming her resolve, Kateri decides to go out to Virginia to see if she and Alex really should be together after all. She hasnât told Alex yet, but sheâs starting to feel some doubts about their relationship actually going anywhere... Sure theyâre both Catholic, but what else?
They had next to nothing in common. Alex, though poor, liked to shower her with extravagant gifts, Kateri preferred plain and meaningful things... simple. Affordable.
Alex practiced martial arts, and had an obsession (which Kateri letter discovers he shares with his father and brothers) with Asian weaponry, Kateri organizes pro-life movements, and rosary stand-ins at hospitals and clinics that allow abortions and illegal activities.
Kateri was hard working, clean, and neat. Alexâs house was a disorganized jumble of memories and items that were neither practical or necessary in her opinion.
And so, after much deliberation, Kateri visits her boyfriend and his family to help make up her mind, and is very much surprised to find that her boyfriendâs family has suddenly come into money.
Although Alex explains that they havenât spent a single cent of the questionable check, and that it is merely sitting in the bank collecting interest, Kateri spends much of the time battling with her conscience over the whole affair.
A couple of days into her visit Kateri goes from barely managing to understand, to being completely floored when Alexâs parents come home from their once-a-month date and announce that they have bought a hotel with a loan from the bank using the million dollars as a basis to qualify.
Alex and his family, and Kateri, despite her misgivings, throw themselves into the full time job that is running a hotel. But working and living in such close with the OâDonnells, Kateri discoverers more about Mr. OâDonnell than she wants to know when the family receives a rude and demanding call from Mr. OâDonnellâs brother, Alexâs uncle, Cass, who finds out about the money and forces Mr. OâDonnell to take him back to the site, ignoring every warning given him.
So does Kateri break it off? Or does she find that perhaps, she and Alex arenât so different after all... and did it really matter if they were? And just what, does Alexâs cruel Uncle have to do with all of this?
Well, I guess youâll just have to read and find out.
Shadow of the Bear, Black as Night, Waking Rose, Midnight Dancers, and award-winning Alex OâDonnell and the 40 CyberThieves, can all be found on Regina Domanâs website, www.fairytalenovels.com, please go check them out.
I promise, you wonât be disappointed.
