The year is 1898. Heather Gibson can hardly believe her family is moving to Australia. She wonders about this land so strange, so far from home. Will she like it? Will she make any friends?

This was the time when Ellen White lived there and wrote her beautiful books on the life of Christ. Sharing books about Jesus is the job of Heather’s father. And the entire Gibson family joins in the work that will win souls for the Lord.

Meet the new friends and visit the amazing places that become part of Heather’s world, in these fun-to-read stories.

In addition to educating children about the Adventist heritage and hope, each episode in this four-book historical series will teach young readers about the land, history, wildlife, and people of Australia. Titles are: 1. Secrets and Friends; 2. A New Life Down Under; 3. A Wedding in Avondale; 4. Going Home.

Jean Pepper Boonstra was born in Alberta, Canada. Jean grew up in a loving Christian, Catholic family. When she was fifteen, her family left the wild roses of Alberta, and moved to Victoria, British Columbia.

Following high school, Jean attended the University of Victoria. Here she nurtured her passion to learn of the people and events that have shaped the world. In 1994, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science.

During her college years, Jean and her future husband, Shawn, looked for a church they could call home. Shawn felt a call to the Ministry, and prayed for God’s guidance. Almost as the prayer was uttered, Jean and Shawn were invited to an It Is Written prophecy seminar. They were baptized in February of 1993, and were married that October.

In 1994 Shawn began work for the British Columbia Conference. He served as both Pastor and Evangelist. Jean worked faithfully alongside her husband, while also working at various bookkeeping and accounting jobs.

Recently, Jean, Shawn and their two daughters have moved to Southern California where Shawn serves as the Associate Speaker/Director for It Is Written international television. Jean loves walking, cycling, reading, and wandering through musty old antique shops. Her favorite activity is teaching Natalie her ABCs!

The dream of writing history books for children has always been very close to Jean’s heart. It was out of her love of Adventist history, that the Adventist Girl series was born.

"The Adventist Girl books began as a personal journey into the past," Jean says. "I wanted to know what it would have been like to live as a Millerite. What it was like for Mrs. White, and other pioneers, to go through the disappointment. How these remarkable people kept the faith. I wrote the Adventist Girl books in an attempt to paint a picture of the faith and strength behind this movement. It is my desire that our young people embrace this pure, heart-searching Christianity and have an honest desire to follow the One who led the pioneers, and still leads us today."