Keeper of the Doves

Keeper of the Doves

"Keeper of the Doves" (2002) is a young-adult novel by Betsy Byars. The novel is written in a series of episodes of first-person narratives about the emerging awareness of a girl, her place in her family and world, and the tremendous power of words for good and bad. Reflecting the narrator's love of words is the fact that each chapter begins with a succeeding letter of the alphabet.

Plot

Amen McBee is born in 1891, the disappointing sixth daughter of a wealthy family; but grows up well-loved and into an awareness of everyone's strengths and weaknesses. Her twin sisters Arabella and Annabella teach her boldness and humour; older sisters Augusta and Abigail inspire more kindness. Her father is stern but loving, her mother is loving but frail, and she also lives with her father's sister. Amen's maternal grandmother, a progressive spirit bearing gifts of cameras, arrives during her daughter's new pregnancy, with long-awaited arrival of a son. Amen is also learning of the more secret parts of the family's history, especially the death of an infant sister. The mysterious Mr. Tominski, who might have saved her father's life as a child, but now inspires only fear in the children. He lives as a hermit on their property, caring for trained doves, until a misunderstood word brings tragedy and changes the lives of Amen's family.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Song of Solomon 1 — 1 The song of songs, which is Solomon s. 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. 3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. 4… …   The King James version of the Bible

  • The A.K.A.s (Are Everywhere!) — Infobox musical artist Name = The A.K.A.s (Are Everywhere!) Background = group or band Origin = New York City, USA Genre = Alternative rock Garage rock Years active = 2003 ndash; present Label = Metropolis Records URL = [http://www.theakas.com… …   Wikipedia

  • The Brothers Lionheart — This article is about the novel. For the film, see The Brothers Lionheart (film). The Brothers Lionheart   …   Wikipedia

  • Debate over the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki — The Fat Man mushroom cloud resulting from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rises 18 km (11 mi, 60,000 ft) into the air from the hypocenter …   Wikipedia

  • Marriage and wedding customs in the Philippines — A Filipino wedding held in December at the Manila Cathedral in the Philippines. Traditional marriage customs in the Philippines and Filipino wedding practices pertain to the characteristics of marriage and wedding traditions established and… …   Wikipedia

  • Loyd Haberly — was a United States poet, letterpress printer, and educator. He was born in Ellsworth, Iowa on 9 December 1896 and raised in Iowa and Oregon. After studying at Reed College and Harvard, Haberly was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study Law at… …   Wikipedia

  • Betsy Byars — Infobox Writer imagesize = 150px name = Betsy Byars caption = birthdate = Birth date and age|1928|8|7|mf=y deathdate = occupation = Novelist genre = Realistic Fiction movement = notableworks = notableworks = Summer of the Swans , The Night… …   Wikipedia

  • TEMPLE — The article is arranged according to the following outline: first temple history structure the ground plan of the temple the detailed plan of the temple general description the porch THE MAIN ROOM (HEKHAL) OR HOLY PLACE …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • George McGovern — George S. McGovern United States Senator from South Dakota In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1981 Preceded by …   Wikipedia

  • City of Rocks National Reserve — There is also City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico. City of Rocks National Reserve IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”