Julia and the Hand of god

Publication: 1977, Dutton

Awards/Recognition:​ Horn Book (Best Books of 1977); Newsweek (Best Children's Books of 1977); FOCAL Award (1985, from the Los Angeles Public Library); ALA Notable

Working title: The Book of Strangenesses

Cover and illustrations: Gail Owens

From the flap:

"Whenever Julia Redfern went to meet Uncle Hugh in San Francisco, she thought of earthquakes, and the day of her eleventh birthday was no exception. I the midst of the elegant lunch her uncle never failed to proved, she had to hear once again the story of how he survived what her grandmother had called "the Hand of God laying low the wicked city.

That was the lunch at which Hugh presented her with the richly bound volume of blank pages for her to fill - her Book of Strangenesses. And this is the story of some of the things that would go into that book: sad, funny, eventful happenings with old friends and new that weave a memorable pattern.

Readers who have already met an older Julia in A Room Made of Windows will enjoy knowing her better; others will find this a perfect introduction to a most engaging heroine."

Paperback Editions:

• Puffin, 1989, $4.95