About the Book

Book: Reunion Crossing: The Underground Book Readers (Book Seven) Author: Terry Overton Genre: Middle Grade Fiction Release date: January 7, 2025

Leena, Kahn, Casey, and the other Underground Book Readers continue their journey to the free land. They encounter strangers in the forest, discover new mysterious towns, and face new challenges for their safety. Their travels lead them across treacherous landscapes and through enemy territory, where danger hides deep in the forest and valleys. Weathering harsh conditions, encountering unexpected allies, and enduring long, perilous paths, the Underground Book Readers rely on their faith and each other to persevere. Their goal is to reach parts of the United States not under the control of the World Force. They long to find a place to live in peace and see their families. But as they approach the mysterious Reunion Crossing, one question remains: will they finally reach the free land—and what will be waiting for them when they arrive?

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About the Author

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean. She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals. Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels. Terry’s background in teaching adults and children shine through her stories that often include a character with educational or learning challenges. Her Christmas series, The Oddball Ornaments, features a box of misfit ornaments who first learn the meaning of Christmas and then discover the meaning of forgiveness. In The Underground Book Readers series, one of the main characters is on the autism spectrum yet is one of the leaders of the group of teens. Book one of a new series, The Messiah Brigade, features an awkward middle school nerd who helps his school turn around a bully gang of kids. Adoption and family issues are the focus of her new book, Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel.

More from Terry

This book is book seven of The Underground Book Readers series. The series was inspired by talking with librarians about the concept of book banning and how Christian books are no longer predominantly displayed in school or community libraries. The series is designed to place kids in a different world where many things we take for granted or no longer available: books, schools, churches, freedom, and even parents. The book series stresses Christian family values and weaves Scripture in with the dystopian action-adventure series. This book is being used in homeschool classrooms and church schools. A learning guide and free worksheets will soon be available to guide parents and teachers through the series.

Interview with the Author

Do you read books in this genre?

Not too much these days. If so, who do you like to read? I read a few using my Kindle Unlimited subscription-usually if a new one is in the offering.

If a reader were to ask you what author you are like, what would you answer?

I would like to think I have a few bits of Judy Blume, John Grisham, Ernest Hemmingway, Beatrix Potter, and many others incorporated into how I write. Not sure if I have a particular writer’s characteristics.

What helps you to write? Do you eat snacks, listen to music?

Drink coffee, write, drink more coffee, write, listen to a movie or TV series in the background-or music, drink more coffee, write.

If you could travel back in time, what time would you go to?

The time when Jesus walked on earth-would have been interesting to see the culture and to hear Him. Second choice might be WW II time period.

What is your favorite book and why?

Favorite of course is The Bible. Also love Hemmingway and Grisham. Right now I am enjoying a very different kind of mystery book. It is called, “The Truth in True Crime” by J. Warner Wallace.

What is your favorite hymn and why?

Listening to praise music I have different favorites at different times. When my parents passed from Covid, both withing 24 hours, I listened to “Scars in Heaven” but these days I am loving “Goodness of God.” Traditional hymn favorite: “How Great Thou Art.”

What is one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?

My dog rules my house-just kidding but she kind of does! I am now a full-time caregiver for my husband and we have a tough road ahead but I am holding God’s hand along this journey.

What inspired you to write this book?

This is book seven of The Underground Book Readers series. I wanted to have the kids find their families in case this is the last book of the series-I haven’t decided that yet. If God puts another book on my heart, there will be a book eight. But for now, I am turning my thoughts to a new series and a new genre.

Share with me a few of your favorite things.

Family, time with family, laughing with my husband whenever possible. Of course, my grandkids and great granddaughter. These days, sitting by the fireplace is a favorite thing to do. We have ice on our creek waterfalls today but looking forward to spring as it is my favorite time!

What is one question you would like readers to ask you? What would be your answer?

Okay-here is a question I have never had anyone ask: Can I buy 100 of your books! And I would say “Of course!” Seriously, maybe a reader would ask for a zoom book club meeting. I have been asked to book clubs and only one was a zoom but turned out it was more like a zoom “happy hour” for that group so little discussion about the book happened. Would be fun to have a true zoom book club meeting.