Dear Mother Teresa

(A Book for Middle Grade Readers) Tom, the father of two young daughters, is traveling back to the USA from Japan. He refuses to sit next to a poorly dressed lady, because she makes him uncomfortable. Upon deplaning, he finds out that he refused to sit with the saintly Mother Teresa. His work keeps Tom separated from his family for several months. The story is told in a series of letters exchanged between the father and his two young daughters. After confessing to them that he shunned Mother Teresa, he makes amends by studying her life. He strives to become a better person. In his letters, the father continues to tell them about the good works of Mother Teresa. At first, the daughters pay little attention to this. As they learn more about Mother Teresa, it slowly changes their lives. Finally, it changes their lives more than they could ever imagine. The father speaks with a genuine voice. The daughters have the typical sibling rivalries, with closeness at the same time. The older sister displays her "growing pains" and sensibilities of a fifth grader along with the older sister role. The younger sister shows exuberance and freedom of a spirit that is wholesome and alive. This is a heart-warming story. The story is not preachy, but carries a message of how working with the poor is rewarding.