Nancy Carabio Belanger: First Holy Communion

Monday, November 21, 2011

First Holy Communion

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Olivia's Gift: A meaningful, fun gift for the 'tween in your life!

...the sequel to Olivia and the Little Way, from Harvey House Publishing!

Celebrate modesty, the gift of life, and a wholesome childhood! Olivia's Gift continues the beloved Olivia series.

Olivia Thomas was the new girl in school when she felt St. Therese of Lisieux enter her life in a powerful way. Now, two years later, her relationship with the Little Flower has blossomed into a beautiful friendship as she prepares to follow the Little Way into the seventh grade.

School is out for the year and it is time for a fun beach adventure with family and friends. However, Olivia's summer vacation turns out to be anything but ordinary! She discovers that sometimes it can be difficult to be a good Catholic when you're in middle school—and she finds that she needs God and St. Therese now more than ever. In this beautiful novel that celebrates modesty and the precious gift of life, Olivia learns that it takes blind faith every day—and that God is never far away, even on vacation.

"I loved this story, the follow-up to Olivia and the Little Way. Mrs. Belanger tells the story so tenderly, and with such understanding of the difficulty of being a preteen, especially nowadays. The way she applies the wisdom of St. Therese to a child's life and decision-making is real and believable, as is Olivia herself. I love the insistent emphasis on modesty and obedience, without preachy overtones. It's a delightful, loving story, and I do hope we'll be hearing more from Olivia soon. I have a nine-year-old daughter who loves to read, and I know that she will find sure-footed companions in both Olivia and St. Therese!"

—Reviewer from Amazon.com

"I became closer to St. Therese by reading Olivia's Gift and felt that I am like Olivia in similar ways.

I really recommend this book because the story is so interesting, and deals with real world stuff. I asked myself, "Would I do the right thing or would I do the wrong thing, if it was me?"

The book is worth reading because it keeps you thinking. It was so good, I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to read the next book, and hope the story is made into a movie."

—Alyssa, age 11, 6th grader

"Again, Nancy Carabio Belanger has gifted the world of fiction with this gem. There are so many things that I love about this wonderful book. Not only is it filled with pro-life metaphors, it also illustrates the sacred gift of life. It deals with many relevant issues pertinent to pre-teens and teens."

—award-winning author Ellen Gable Hrkach

"Author Nancy Belanger knows that on some level, we ALL (preteens, teens, and even adults) struggle to fit in. We wonder what everyone expects from us, how to act in certain situations, and yes, often cave to satisfy the "popular norm" even though it may not be our personal choice. These little occurrences happen daily and we feel the stress of being true to our self and to our faith. Olivia's Gift and its prequel, Olivia and the Little Way take us on that journey with Olivia, a young girl tempted as we all are, by all the material things life has to offer, as well as, all the 'cool people' dictating the 'popular norm'. How does she [we] find the right path and, more challenging, the strength to walk it!

"Olivia" books will empower you to choose that path and the books are a delight to read. Entertaining and exciting with a story that conveys such a powerful message in such a subtle "little way." Tweens won't be able to put it down as each adventure draws them to the next chapter and they feel and see so much of themselves in Olivia and so much parallel in the daily pressures of growing up. Teen and adult readers will be reminded by this delightful novel, how easy it is to stray off your own course."

—A mom from New York

The Catholic Press Association says:

"Olivia and the Little Way offers a unique and fresh way to celebrate the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. It is a wonderful and engaging novel suitable for all but especially for ’tweens. They can share Olivia’s life lessons as she deals with different relationships and real challenges."

"While Olivia's Gift is a Catholic story by nature, this is a story of the human spirit and the fact that teenagers and young adults are already experiencing their own profound stories of faith and God...It is a refreshing and realistic reprieve from what teenagers today are currently very distracted by—vampires."

A Little Bit About This Blog

Please join me as we learn about the life of St. Therese of Lisieux and how she inspires my writing. I also like to write about Catholic issues and the lives of the saints.

Harvey House Publishing is dedicated to the truth of the Catholic Church and is faithful to the Magisterium, celebrating modesty, the gift of life, and a wholesome childhood for your children.

I welcome comments from fans of my work! I also encourage you to visit my website, www.littleflowerbook.com. Happy reading and may the Little Way of the Little Flower guide you always!

-Nancy Carabio Belanger

What readers of Olivia and the Little Way are saying

From Teresa Tomeo on "Catholic Connection" on EWTN Radio: "Thanks for offering a very positive, healthy, and beautiful alternative for our young girls which is so badly needed right now...a beautiful book...This is the kind of stuff we need to get into the hands of young people."

From Monsignor Jim Lisante, on "Personally Speaking," SIRIUS Radio: "Nancy has written a new novel that explores how St. Therese can be a guiding force in the lives of kids and teens...I'm an adult and I read it and I loved it."

From Catholic Author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle: "This is a really lovely book, beautifully crafted with gorgeous illustrations. It's a book that children and adults will enjoy, maybe even together."

"This is a book that nourishes the soul and teaches while it entertains." —Fran Rutherford, Tiber River reviewer

"I've been reading Olivia and the Little Way to our 7- and 11-year-old daughters and they love it and beg for more than one chapter a night. They tell me it's the best story I've ever read aloud to them and we go through a book a week. It's their top pick of about 150 books read in the last few years. I think this is the first book they have been able to identify directly with—it's a rare treat to find a book about normal little Catholic girls trying to be holy." —A Catholic mom of six

"I've searched so long for truly Catholic fiction for the preteen set: a fun story that teaches values. I have finally found it in Olivia and the Little Way! My child is now following the Little Way and loves St. Therese. Thank you!" —A mom from Rochester

"Thank you for writing such a wonderful book—it was such a breath of fresh air! A book that upheld values and devotion and not preachy." —A book buyer in St. Louis

"I had tears in my eyes. What a wonderful story for a young girl to read and what a good example Olivia sets for young readers." —A grandma in Florida

"Last night my daughter's light was on well past 10:00. She said she couldn't put the book down because it was so good. She absolutely loves it! You've made a little girl so happy, and two parents very proud that their 2nd grader loves to read so much." —A mom of three in Michigan

"It will be a perfect First Holy Communion gift for my niece." —A mom of two in Michigan

"You have me hooked. I think you definitely have a winner in this book." —A religious in Texas

"We started the book tonight as a family and it seems like it is going to be easy to relate to already! We're looking forward to our reading time tomorrow night." —A mom from Wisconsin

"Olivia's character is compelling, and her efforts to follow St. Therese's Little Way are precious." —A newspaper reporter from Texas

"I received my inscribed book and it is BEAUTIFUL! I look forward to presenting her with such a special gift." —A dad from Arizona

"My daughter finished the book in three days. She loved it and is using it for her next book report. She thinks it would make a great movie!" —A mom in Chicago

"What a wonderful read! I look forward to more of your books. I will definitely be adding this to my catalog." —A bookstore buyer in Missouri

"This book is exciting and a good lesson to all fifth-grade girls to do the right thing and to persevere, especially when things are hard. It also reminds us to keep on praying no matter what happens." —From an 11-year-old girl's book report

"We gave it to our 10-year-old daughter for Christmas. She read it cover to cover and finished it by Christmas dinner! She said it was her favorite Christmas gift." —A mom in Wisconsin

"Thank you for writing this book that helps bring an important Catholic saint to the attention and interest of our children." —Leader of a Little Flowers Girls Club

"I loved your book and hope that you are inspired to write another. I feel blessed that you shared Olivia and the life of St. Therese. It has had a great impact on my life."