The Novel
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“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
– The Minpins, Roald Dahl
Ever since that snowy Russian winter’s night when she was born, Molly has longed to know the secret behind each of her 35 names. When Molly unearths a pair of time-worn spectacles in her garden, she is drawn into a mysterious realm of vivid, magical discoveries. Who are these women she is named for and what have they gifted her? What are those fantastic colors swirling around the people she sees and the young man she meets on her wedding day? Will she have enough time to learn all she is meant to before the soldiers of the Red Army invade her small village, exploding her world into chaos and war? Fearing for her safety, Molly must flee her family home and travel across the Atlantic to the strange and frozen New England town of Peabody. The power of the spectacles becomes Molly’s connection and her hope in her new home, as they weave her once again into a world of wonder and tiny miracles that will change her life and the lives of her community forever.
WHAT OUR READERS HAVE TO SAY
The Girl with 35 Names is an adventure that takes place in another time yet provides lessons for the present. Where love and hate meet face to face. We are taken on a mystic journey that takes us from sweet cakes to hatred beyond words. A wonderful read for all ages. I highly recommend.
– Larry D. Elmore
The “Author’s Note” really says it all. This book is not only about the main character Molly; it is about each of us. Each of our own unique lives bind together from the past and into the future. “We each have a story to tell.”
– Jayne P.
I am impressed with Colbert’s many creative metaphors and descriptive phrases that envelop the pages of The Girl with 35 Names. They bring thenstory to life and evoke an array of emotions as the pages unfold, as Molly’s life unfolds.
– Norma
An original tale that reminds us of the importance of tradition, the wonderful gifts our mothers and grandmothers
An original tale that reminds us of the importance of tradition, the wonderful gifts our mothers and grandmothers have bestowed on us, the resilience and strength that accompanies the immigrant experience, and the necessity of bringing warmth and color into our lives.
Pádraic Whyte PhD., Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in Children’s Literature at the School of English, Trinity College Dublin.
The Girl with 35 Names by DJ Colbert is a highly entertaining must-read novel that won’t disappoint. Right from the start, the reader is glued to the book. DJ Colbert does an excellent job in developing the characters who are quite credible in the story. It doesn’t take long to feel like you are living right there in the past. It’s a great feel-good story and wonderfully engaging that has broad appeal that I can unequivocally recommend to people of all ages who enjoy fiction.
– Sanford Wagenberg M.D.
The important element of Molly is what her journey teaches. The author DJ Colbert is a brilliant writer and her messages woven throughout Molly’s story are a gift that every reader will enjoy.
– Jim M.
The Girl with 35 Names was a hard-to-put-down, intriguing novel to read. The characters were well developed and I listened to it on the audiobook version and I loved the narration, such a beautiful voice. I wanted to keep listening. I highly recommend it.
– Chana Nohomovski-Ofer
Judged purely on narrative terms, The Girl with 35 Names is luminous reading experience that not only entertains but also nurtures recollection.
– Vincent Dublado
DJ Colbert’s characters remind us in no uncertain terms that there is sunshine to be found in even the direst of circumstances and that we have to give love and joy to receive it back and when we do, we receive it back in spades. Aligning with my own view of the Universe, I found this story immensely uplifting and just a fantastic read. I can highly recommend it.
– Grant Leishman
