THE FORGOTTEN SPIRIT

(A Christmas Tale)

By Evie Rhodes

Reviewed by Marjorie J. Hurst

In this well-written and timeless Christmas tale that is, in my opinion, destined to become as popular as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Hartford, Connecticut author Evie Rhodes weaves a story of the true spirit of Christmas by introducing us to an ordinary family with an all-too-familiar group of members who exhibit all the character flaws and social problems of modern times. But through the main character, nine-year-old Jamie Lynn Brooks, we are reminded that if you believe, really believe, miracles do happen.

We learn early in the story that there is only one thing Jamie wants for Christmas and despite the love everyone has for her, no one seems able to get the special gift for her. After she overhears that she definitely will not get her longed for wish for Christmas, Jamie despairs.

But then she learns from her great-grandmother Hattie that “Jesus is a miracle worker and that there is nothing that he can’t do, that no job is too hard for him and that he will grant a miracle, or miracles, during the time of his birth on one condition.” Eagerly, Jamie asks what that condition is.

“The condition is that you must believe. No matter what anyone tells you, or how hard it may get. No matter how impossible it may seem, child. You’ve got to believe that whatever you ask in Jesus’ name will be. It’s called faith, Jamie. You’ve just got to believe.”

And thus begins an inspirational adventure where we witness the ongoing, ever present battle between the spiritual and the physical, between good and evil. As the angels of Discernment and Innocence watch over her and guide her path, and Lucifer continuously dogs her footsteps, the unwavering faith of young Jamie reawakens the long-buried spirits of Holiness, Peace, Love, Hope, Redemption, Forgiveness and, finally, Joy and helps the adult members of the family remember what Christmas is really all about.

Evie Rhodes is a prolific and accomplished author. A former gospel hip-hop artist, award-winning gospel songwriter and music video scriptwriter, she just started writing novels in 2005 and in addition to the recently released, The Forgotten Spirit, has written and had published three psychological religious thrillers: Expired, Criss Cross and Out “A” Order. She is believed to be the first African-American to have written a contemporary Christmas story based on the Gospels of Jesus Christ and, perhaps, also the only African-American, or one of a very few, writing religious thrillers.

I recently attended a reading, discussion and book signing of her four books held at the Springfield Library (where all of her books are available to be loaned) and was so captivated after hearing her read passages from them that I purchased all four on the spot (even though I already had a galley copy of The Forgotten Spirit).

I had all three of her previous books autographed for my son, Ashley, who reads anything he can get his hands on. But he will not get them until I read them first! I already started Expired and am finding it difficult to put it down.

Her next novel is due out in the spring of 2008. I truly believe that Evie Rhodes is well on her way to becoming as famous and as well read as James Patterson. I also will wager that her books eventually will be turned into movies and The Forgotten Spirit will become a Christmas classic.

So, during this time of increased commercialism (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Early Bird and Last Minute Specials), if you need to be reminded that Christmas is more than “buy, buy, buy,” then pick up a copy of The Forgotten Spirit and be prepared to be richly rewarded.

Along with being available at the Springfield Library, The Forgotten Spirit can be purchased locally at Olive Tree Books-N-Voices, 97 Hancock Street, Springfield (see article on page 12) and at Barnes & Noble in Holyoke. And if you, too, would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see our Community Calendar on page 36 for two of Evie’s closest December book signing locations and visit her website at www.evierhodes.com for more information on this accomplished author. n