A Small Silent Ordeal

"A Small Silent Ordeal" takes place in the coal region of southwestern Pennsylvania in the 1950's. It is a book of courage and action. Michael, its teen hero, blames himself for his friend Daniel's crushed leg, because his courage failed him the day of the accident at an abandoned mine shaft. Alfie, his arch rival, supports this view. Through a series of encounters -- a stranger, who talks a down-to-earth brand of "metaphysics: " the healing of a dog's gunshot wound by the laying on of hands; an unexpected outcome from a visit to Daniel; Michael's cousin, Kate's, snakebite, and the crookedbacked mine pensioner, who administers her first aid; a dangerous climb on a waterfall; and finally a coded message left behind by the mysterious stranger -- through these encounters, Michael learns the uselessness of guilt and the rudiments of courage.