Andrew L. Harrell

4 booksYoung AdultLiterary FictionYA Contemporary

Mr. Harrell is a published author, retired educator and counselor. He describes himself simply as being. . . “Older than dirt!”. He thinks everyone should try to do something, or to say something, to just add smiles to the faces of other people, after all, you don’t really know what kind of day someone might be having, so it probably will help them feel better. 😃And It costs you nothing to share a smile. 😀

Books

A Seat in the Pew

A foster teen finds home

Young Adult
Literary Fiction

George has spent ten years packing light and staying small. Sixteen, quiet, and used to being a line item on someone else's paperwork, he lives with Tobias Miller, a foster parent who treats him like an obligation, not a son. When his classmate Ralph invites him to Oak Ridge Community Church, George goes. Tobias grants permission and stays home. George walks into the sanctuary alone. There he meets Reid Yates, a retired teacher who offers patience instead of pity. He also meets Cole Russell, who sees a newcomer as a threat, and Cole's sister Karla, who sees a person worth knowing. For the first time, Sunday is not just another empty hour. Then Cole's accusation puts George's placement at risk. The congregation has to decide whether a quiet boy is worth standing for. A Seat in the Pew is a tender coming-of-age novel about chosen family, the courage it takes to sit down in an unfamiliar pew, and the grace of being wanted without being asked to disappear.

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FULL COUNT

A military kid, a forgotten ballplayer, and the courage to step up

Child Books
Literary Fiction

Ten-year-old Bennie Carson has packed his life into four different states. At Oak Creek Elementary, his tortoiseshell glasses and clumsy swing make him an easy target. Gym class means getting picked last. His older brother Warren would rather pretend he does not exist. Left out and lonely, Bennie hides behind the bleachers with his model cars until Mr. Jack, the school custodian, finds him. Years ago, Jack was a minor-league infielder. A highway crash ended that dream. What he still has is patience, a worn glove, and the sense that this quiet boy might learn to see the ball the way he sees tiny plastic parts. After-school practices turn into friendship. Neighbor Martha Sutton and classmate Wally Baker pull Bennie into sandlot games. Principal Vance worries about kids on school grounds after hours. Warren, desperate to make the middle-school squad, starts to notice the little brother he pushed away. When the town tournament arrives, Bennie does not need a trophy. He needs to give his absolute best, win or lose, and prove that a steady heart can round every base.

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IN THE GRAIN OF THE WOOD

Building a sailboat, mending a family, and carving character one shaving at a time

Literary Fiction
Child Books
Young Adult

Some life lessons cannot be taught in a classroom; they must be carved by hand. When thirteen-year-old Pauley and his impulsive younger brother, Bulldog, step into their grandfather's workshop for summer vacation, they expect dusty tools and quiet days. Instead, Grandpa Garrett presents them with raw white oak and an ambitious challenge: build a seaworthy wooden sailboat from the keel up. Still mourning the passing of their beloved grandmother, the three generations settle into the patient rhythm of the craft. Between measuring twice, hand-sawing planks, and steam-bending ribs, Garrett teaches the boys that honest labor reveals the truth of who you are long before your eyes can see it. But when an unexpected accident in the workshop threatens the build and tests their resolve, the brothers must step up to prove what they are made of. In the Grain of the Wood is an unforgettable coming-of-age story about craftsmanship, grief, brotherhood, and the quiet wisdom passed across generations—one curled wood shaving and celebratory scoop of ice cream at a time.

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TO NEW HORIZONS 15

Six lifelong friends, one mystery destination, and the secrets waiting in the wild.

Literary Fiction
Adventure
Romance

For fifteen years, six best friends have upheld a sacred tradition: an annual vacation where one member secretly plans the itinerary, revealing the destination a week or two before departure. This year, architectural consultant Janet Powell desperately needs the escape. Reeling from a quiet divorce and suffocating career burnout, she clings to the trip to regain control. But fiery photojournalist Angelica Mendoza has orchestrated their most daring getaway yet—a remote expedition into the untamed cloud forests and coastal ruins of Costa Rica. As the women touch down, the carefully managed facades begin to crack. Sandra hides a betrayal that threatens their entire bond, while unexpressed grief and long-buried yearnings ripple through the circle. When transit mishaps leave them stranded deep in the rainforest, the raw wilderness strips away their defenses. Thrown together amid dangerous river crossings and lush canopies, Janet and Angelica confront an electric, oft-suppressed chemistry. Under the midnight sky, raw confessions erupt, proving that true friendship requires letting every illusion fall. TO NEW HORIZONS 15 is a novel of challenges, friendship, and the ability to overcome personal conflicts.

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