My Marissa: Home Again in Oak Branch Woods
From All Creatures Book and Video Review Guide

Author: Kimberly Shriner

Reviewed by Frank L. and Mary T. Hoffman

r-mymar

Publisher:

1st Books Library
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
USA For best price: http://dreamvalley-mlp.com/homepage/book.html

My Marissa
259 pages
Copyright 2002, 2003 by Kimberly Shriner.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1-4033-7377-9 (e-book)
ISBN: 1-4033-7378-7 (Paperback)
ISBN: 1-4033-7379-5 (Dustjacket)
1stBooks – rev. 01/08/03

www.amazon.com $25.45

Review:

This fictional work was not only fun to read, it touched us in a way that some nonfiction books have failed to. After meeting the wonderful animal characters such as Tracker, the Tunlers, Marissa, Bobbin, and others who reside in Oak Branch Woods, we gained an even greater respect for the creatures with whom we share this earth.

We, and most of the animal caring people we know, enjoy seeing the characters of the animals expressed as they are in My Marissa.  The fact that they don't have the same character flaws as the humans, adds a wonderful twist to the story, which we believe was Kim's intent when we read the book.  It's not that Laura, the main human character in the book is secondary to the animals, it's that the animals' respective personalities are of equal importance.

The animals never seem to compromise their ethics or moral values, or make the "mistakes" that the humans do in the book, which is a challenge to all readers, that we all need to continually improve our lives to be more loving and compassionate toward the whole of creation: with our fellow human beings, with the animals, and with the environment in which we all live.

We think that My Marissa could be made into a successful movie or TV series. Marissa, Bobbin, and all their friends have an endearing quality found in the best of classic characters.

From the book:

“Life in Oak Branch Woods has never been easy for the animals living there, their home ravaged by deforestation, hunters, and trappers year after year. When another development project threatens to take away what little is left, life seems to be over.”

About the Author

“Kimberly Shriner has been devoted to her art all of her life, growing up on the Jersey Shore. She later studied teaching, but has always found her real passion in writing, creating, and issues concerning animals. In sharing her writing, she hopes to raise awareness among readers about those issues that are most important to her.”


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