About the Author

Cindy Lovell, Ph.D. is a former classroom teacher. She is an associate professor of education at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois and serves as the executive director of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, Missouri. She has published numerous articles and textbook chapters about teaching Mark Twain, English as a new language, and gifted education.

In these two children’s novels, Cindy invites you to join Rachel, Kenny, and their classmates as they sort through the challenges of childhood under the watchful eye of their favorite teacher, Mrs. Juarez. Although a “happily ever after” ending is not always possible in life – or in books – these stories offer the reader the element of hope. Many readers identify with the two main characters, Rachel and Kenny, while others find themselves identifying with the classroom teacher. Although geared for intermediate readers, these books have been used in college classrooms showcasing the excellent teaching methods employed by the fictional Mrs. Juarez.