The Mysterious Worlds of Jackson Nash

The Mysterious Worlds of Jackson Nash is a young adult novel about - thirteen-year-old Jackson's journey to self-discovery. Jackson lives in the small town of Peach Grove, Georgia. He lived a somewhat normal life until the night of his thirteenth birthday. Ancient visitors reveal that he is of a special lineage, a descendant of an ageless African tribe, the Asutu. Once responsible for maintaining the balance between mankind and nature, the tribe is believed to be a myth. Jackson, however, is more than a descendant. He is the tribe's Shuntah, nature's protector. This discovery does not go without its difficulties. As Jackson develops special gifts, he begins feeling the tension of two worlds collide around and within him. An unexpected arrival from his aunt, Chrystal, helps him muddle through his dual identity. With the aid of fingerprints left behind by their ancestors, Chrystal uncovers their extraordinary family heritage. The Mysterious Worlds of Jackson Nash is a lively story about an eighth-grade boy's journey to understanding his special duty as the Shuntah. As he struggles to both embrace and hide his ancient identity, Jackson's eighth-grade year is off to a rocky start. Amid contending with the class bully, Ty, hiding his secret from his best friends, Raj and Charles, and protecting his headstrong classmate, Hannah, Jackson often finds himself in sticky situations. Instinctively he retreats to nature for strength, comfort and guidance. Although his special abilities are still in their infancy, Jackson manages to save the life of his dear friend and the town of Peach Grove from a devastating event.

About the Author :
Dr. Adele N. Norris is a lecturer and researcher in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. She lectures in the areas of Women's and Gender Studies, Social Policy, and Sociology. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Mississippi State University, as well as a Master of Science degree in International Agri-business and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Policy from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Before relocating to New Zealand, she worked as a lecturer in the Sociology department at the University of Minnesota, Rochester. Her coauthor and nephew, Alonzo Norris, is a senior at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia. They both enjoy reading fantasy and science fiction, and writing fun stories together with a hint of mystery. As Mississippi natives, they enjoy stories set in the U.S. Rural South. The Mysterious Worlds of Jackson Nash is their first young adult novel. They began writing this story when Alonzo was 13 years old. This work was accomplished by taking snippets from a host of stories passed down to them by their maternal grandmother and great grandfather, Will Thigpen, who was born in 1885 to a former slave and lived to be 101.