So Many Books — Samuel Ben White

He had never seen so many books in one room. Stacked on rickety shelves from floor to ceiling, they overwhelmed the room, and the visitor.

Chris Farmer, investigator for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, suddenly felt like he knew nothing about the person he was trying to help. But he was suddenly curious. Why would someone so young -- why would anyone -- have so many books?

Alyste Smith was a young woman who lived with an abusive step father and longed to escape. The only way she knew how was through books. So she read and read and read, hoping beyond hope that, one day, a hero like the ones in her books would walk through her door and rescue her.

Following in the footsteps of “Psalm 88” (also by Samuel Ben White), “So Many Books” is a story of the mending of two hearts some would say were beyond repair.