In this wonderful young adult, Christian children's book, written by the Somewhat Mysterious Author, Honolulu Polkadot and illustrated by Aurora Pena, you will follow the young Scarecrow Straw Stickpost as he discovers that he has been chosen to do more than he ever thought himself capable of. Only if he can find courage and faith can he succeed in rising to his calling.The Christian children's book is set in a world full of the hateful doctrine of the Ashfolk, bounty-hunting Skabb pirates, ship-hungry sea creatures, and steam-powered beasts, Straw must face his most horrifying fears and rise to be what he is destined to become.This book has a timely message. The message of the Christian children's book is one of acceptance and teaches our children that by accepting others for their differences we become stronger.Top Customer Reviews5.0 out of 5 starsLemony Snicket Meets L. Frank Baum By Doug Gibson on November 24, 2016Format: Kindle Edition Verified PurchaseStraw and the Doctrine of the Ashfolk works on many levels: on one, it’s a whimsical (and resolutely American) fantasy along the lines of the Oz books, and like them. it continually invites the reader to compare what happens in the story with events in the contemporary world—while at the same time displaying a talent for invention that never allows the story to descend into mere allegory or, worse, moralizing. On another level, the narrator’s voice routinely skewers run-of-the mill approaches to storytelling in much the same way Lemony Snicket does in A Series of Unfortunate Events. Together these two streams produce a sweeping and magical story that nevertheless always manages to keep its feet on the ground and encourages the reader to apply a series of subtly delivered lessons to his or her own life. Good for readers 12 and up, but also suitable for reading aloud to younger kids, with plenty of suspense (and a few fatalities) but no terrifying scares.