The New Prosperity Museum - by Edward Averett (Paperback)

About the Book

Henry James George is plunged early into the rare ways of the Skookumchuck Triangle in this saga of a small town boy with a magical gift who finds meaning via his relationship with the New Prosperity Museum

Book Synopsis

Henry James George just wants a regular Boomer life. But it's simply not in the cards. At three years old, a strange force tries to steal him from the family car; it is his first introduction to the power of Skookumchuck. At age seven, his close friend disappears while the two are on a hike and Henry is accused of murder. His life is headed for no good until he realizes he can cure people by reading to them. He is convinced this gift will change his fortunes. But he soon learns that with each cure, he loses a little of his life's spirit so that eventually he must decide to let his gift go. But while the folks around him go to war, develop technology that makes them rich, and figure out their places in the world, Henry languishes in a life half-lived. His redemption comes in the form of The New Prosperity Museum, a backroads museum hidden in a red cedar forest housing the relics of post-World War II America. Here Henry learns to love and curate not only the artifacts on display, but his own topsy-turvy existence until the day comes when he must decide to safe his best friend's life or lose his own.

Review Quotes

THREE QUOTES FROM THE KIRKUS REVIEW of The New Prosperity Museum, JANUARY, 2023; one from Readers Favorites, 2023

. . . heart-rending journey of self-discovery, blending elements of magical realism, Native American mythology and nostalgic fiction -

Kirkus Reviews.

. . .memorializes a time of hope with grace and insight - Kirkus Reviews

. . . an emotionally powerful experience - Kirkus Reviews

. . . The New Prosperity Museum is an original story, intelligent and emotional in addressing the issues besetting existence. Edward Averett brilliantly creates a protagonist with a gift to heal through reading. I have read stories about characters who can manipulate reality through writing. Healing through reading is a first for me. Averett puts emphasis on the value of reading by giving this theme a magical twist. In a way, many of us seek refuge in reading as a means of escape. It is an affordable pleasure that many people overlook. This is a story that shapes the main protagonist in detail as you follow his development from babyhood to his adult years. There is a solid, humane element to the plot that will make you examine the human condition and see how mementos can shape our future. I highly recommend The New Prosperity Museum to anyone who loves emotionally and spiritually uplifting tales. - Reader's Favorite. February, 2023