Book of the Month: September 2026
Annabelle, the girl who was overlooked, unwanted, insignificant, worthless.
"I loved the way the book made me feel many different emotions and then stayed with me after I got to the end. Only truly impactful books can make you feel and remember like that." —Becky
"I was struck by the way realism and fantasy intertwine, blurring the line between survival and dreams. It’s heartbreaking, hopeful, and beautifully written a story that reminds us of resilience even in the darkest places. This book deserves to be read, shared, and remembered." —Favour Creative
"This is a great book! Sad subject though. Very well written. I couldn't put it down! Highly recommend it!!" —M. Goldie
BOOK summary:
Annabelle Fancher lives with her mother and her often-absent, alcoholic father. When he is not on the road, his presence at home creates heightened anxiety in his wife and daughter—fear caused by years of abuse. Annabelle copes with her circumstances by escaping into popular fairy tales where she dreams characters to life. When her dreams cross over into waking fantasies, and the ghostly image of a dreamed character appears before her, Annabelle begins a real struggle to separate reality from pretend and sanity from beautiful madness. This brave, young girl tenderly acquaints the reader with her lonely struggles while sharing her courage in the face of personal adversity. Hers is a story where realism and fantasy beautifully intertwine.
This fictional tale does an honest job of mirroring the unfortunate reality of many young people whose home lives are private nightmares unobserved by the outside world. Most of the events in this book were taken from the lives of individuals known by the author.
I could hear their voices carry through the bathroom wall as they discussed my situation. As soon as I’d stepped into their beautiful house, Mr. Hopkins had fallen to one knee and gripped me by both arms. His face had contorted into the same mask of horror that his wife had worn when first seeing me. “Honeygirl. Oh my… oh dear…” Looking over my neglected condition he’d been unable to utter anything more, simply gawking while his wife ushered me past him and into the bathroom for a bubble bath. I listened to their urgent conversation now—a muffled yet audible dialogue from the other room. My head rested against the inside of a curved, porcelain tub filled with sudsy, warm water that smelled strongly floral. “I’m not sure how long she’s been alone, but her odor suggests she hasn’t changed or bathed in quite a few days. I’ll have to throw out her dress. It’s stained with blood, Jim. I’d like to know exactly what happened, but I’m afraid to ask. I don’t want to upset the child any more than she already is, poor thing. She was bawling so fiercely when I found her. She just collapsed in my arms and grabbed onto me as if terrified I might disappear on her. What an awful mess! How could her parents have done this? How could they have left her unattended this way?” “Well, Mary, she did say her mother was hurt. I’m sure it must’ve been an emergency. Perhaps they felt there was no other option?” “Oh please! They could’ve called on us.” “Right, right, but… you know that Johnny would be the last to ask for help. You know how stubborn the man is.” Mary sighed loudly. “Well, apparently he took Lindsey to the hospital…”
“Not the hospital. I called like you asked me to. They have no patient by the name of Fancher. There’s no record of her being checked in.” Silence stole the conversation for a long moment. My attention shifted to my breathing—soft, moist exhales that crossed steadily over my lips. It was warm in the bath. Soothingly warm. I listened again when Jim asked his wife a serious question.
“Do you think we should call the police?” I whispered my own desire, “No,” hearing it echo lightly against the porcelain tub before hitting my ear. Mary read my mind. “No, no, don’t call the authorities just yet. That poor thing is upset enough, and we don’t really have anything to tell them.” “But they might know where Lindsey is…” “Jim, no.” Mrs. Hopkins’ voice was decisively insistent. “Look, let’s first see what we can find out on our own. I left a note for the Fanchers with our number. If they return home, they’ll know exactly where to find Annabelle. The girl needs some time to rest, to calm down. And she could use a decent meal. I noticed her ribcage poking through her skin! For the time being let’s just consider ourselves… well… adopted grandparents. If we’re unable to track down Lindsey or Jonathon, then we’ll consider involving the police.” “You may get yourself in a tight spot of trouble, Mary.” “I’ll take my chances Mr. Hopkins. No one’s going to arrest an old, well-intentioned grandmother.” I heard Mr. Hopkins chuckle. “I ’spose not. Though they may haul off your better half.” “And being my better half, I’m sure that he’s willing to suffer such an inconvenience for that poor, young girl’s benefit.” Mr. Hopkins’ lighthearted chuckle hit my ears again—a tranquil and comforting sound to hear. “You know it’s true, Mary.” “Alright then, that’s settled. I’ll see to Annabelle. You get on the phone and find out what you can about her mother. We’ll solve this mystery.” “Yes, ma’am.”
—Richelle E. Goodrich, Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher
Richelle is known worldwide for meaningful book quotes.
.jpg@webp "Illustrated Book Quote")
.jpg@webp "Illustrated Book Quote")
Love the thrill of a great crossword?
.jpg@webp "Eight Crossword puzzle books by P.G. Publications")
Dive into the puzzle-packed world of P.G. Publications! With over 600 titles to choose from, there’s a crossword adventure for everyone! Pick from seasonal and holiday favorites, world countries, world cities, U.S. states, U.S. cities, Canadian provinces, national parks, the sprirt of each month, and more. Each book is bursting with fascinating fun and facts, turning every puzzle into a mini journey through culture, history, traditions, and celebrations from around the globe. These crossword books promise hours of delightful play and learning. Grab one for yourself—or surprise a friend—and let the puzzling fun begin! Find these various crossword puzzle books on Amazon.