Adults may not realize just how popular the "Tennis Shoes" books have been among teens and young adults. Author Chris Heimerdinger's time traveling tales of a Mormon family zapped back to the Book of Mormon era have sold 325,000 copies (books and tapes) since the series began in 1989. The books include "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites," "Gadiantons and the Silver Sword" and "Tennis Shoes and the Featured Serpent, Book One and Book Two." Add in Heimerdinger's tales about Daniel and Nephi and his nationally released "A Return to Christmas" and the Utah author has racked up a half-million books and tapes sold.
It isn't doctrine that is capturing the imagination of young readers, although Heimerdinger has been faithful to LDS Book of Mormon beliefs. The man can spin a great tale.In "Tennis Shoes and the Feathered Serpent," time-traveling Jim Hawkins is out of the action due to daughter Melody's unexpected malignant tumor. But son Harry knows that the only thing that will give Melody the will to live is the Nephite she fell in love with: Marcos.
Harry tries to ditch his inquisitive future sister-in-law, Meaghan, but her Yamaha 200 motorcycle provides the means to get to Wyoming. For there is the cave where the "Rainbow Room" awaits, promising a trip back to Ancient America and Marcos.
But the Hawkins family are not the only ones who know about the time-traveling capabilities of the cave. Harry and Meaghan run into Pochteca traders, looking for bodies to sell. In a wild dash to escape them, the two teens stumble through a different cavern and end up - not in lush jungle but an arid and desolated desert next to a brackish-looking lake.
Meaghan is the one who figures it out. They are in ancient times indeed, but not on the American continent. Meaghan cries out, "There's only three bodies of salt water like this in the whole world. One is the Great Salt Lake. The other is the Dead Sea, and the other is . . . I can't remember. Russia or China or someplace. But it's not nearly as big as the other two. So this is it!. The Middle East! We're in Israel!"
Heimerdinger has plotted out a fast-moving and fascinating adventure for Harry and Meaghan. And a recent trip to Israel with Israeli tour-guide Daniel Rona has enabled Heimerdinger's research to be more than just booklearning.
As this tale unfolds, readers will meet some truly spectacular villains. Gnostic "apostle" Simon Magus gives a quick lesson in how to twist the doctrines of Christianity for gain. Add in Roman soldiers on the prowl and readers will wish they could find their own Rainbow Cave.
In the few months that this new "Tennis Shoes" book has been out, it has sold more than 46,000 copies. The exciting story and challenging ideas of time travel make an unbeatable combination.