"VALLEY OF THE SHADOW, a book by Erda's Linda Hovestadt Clark, will make you laugh and cry. But more importantly, this hot-off-the-press account of a mother's struggle to accept the reality that her beautiful teen daughter has cancer will help readers examine their own faith." --Mary Ruth Hammond, Staff Writer, TOOELE TRANSCRIPT-BULLETIN, 4/10/03. ERDA AUTHOR INSPIRED BY TEEN DAUGHTER'S BATTLE WITH CANCER VALLEY OF THE SHADOW, a book by Erda's Linda Hovestadt Clark, will make you laugh and cry. But more importantly, the hot-off-the-press account of a mother's struggle to accept the reality that her beautiful teen daughter has cancer will help readers examine their own faith. "I didn't write this book to make a profit," Linda said. "From the time Jessica was diagnosed with cancer, I kept a journal as a catharsis for keeping my own sanity. I wrote VALLEY OF THE SHADOW as a gift to Jessica; something she could tuck away and read from time to time as a reminder of how far she has come. When Linda allowed a few close friends to take a look at the intensely personal wisdom developed by a mother who stood on the brink of death with a daughter who had always been "beautiful and wise beyond her years," she was encouraged to share her heart-wrenching tale with others. VALLEY OF THE SHADOW, at a cost of $15, is available at Dave's Drug and Hallmark Store, 30 West 100 South, Tooele; Grantsville Drug, 4 Main Street, Grantsville; and Wholesome Books, 434 Weatridge Road, Stansbury Park. Readers are sure to be mesmerized from the beginning words of the book -- "Mom, I'm having trouble swallowing" -- to Linda's closing thoughts of, "Jessica is SO ready to bring on the rest of her life . . . and by God's grace, she just may have that chance." Currently a senior at Grantsville High School, Jessica was only 14 on a cold February day in 2000 when doctors broke the news that cancerous cells had invaded her body. Medical professionals were baffled how squamous cell esophageal cancer could show up in a teen who had never smoked cigarettes or even been exposed to second-hand smoke. After hearing that doctors would have to immediately operate to discover the extent of damage already done to Jessica's body, Linda and her husband Alan's journey through the darkest days of their lives began. Faithful Christians who are members of the Presbyterian church, Linda said her youngest daughter Jessica, like her two older sisters Janelle and Melissa, committed her life and heart at a young age to the Lord Jesus. "We feel strongly that God will take good care of our Jessica, whatever happens to her," Linda writes in her book. Still, with absolutely heartbreaking candor, Linda also admits in the book that there were times when she would ask the Lord: "Are You planning to give her an early ticket Home? What is your purpose in this illness? If all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, where does cancer fit in?" And, "Why her, Lord? Why us?" Finally, Linda realizes the Lord truly does have wonderful things in store for Jessica, and the teen's struggle with cancer is "only a bump in the road." Jessica, too, has come to grips with the illness that has kept her on a wild rollercoaster ride for more than three years now. Her faith and plans for the future are unwavering. Come this fall, Jessica will enter Utah State University as an "honors at entrance" scholar majoring in wildlife biology. All her life Jessica has felt a special closeness to her dad -- who moved his family from Maine to Utah in 1996 to further his career -- because of the passion they both have for the outdoors. Along with her beloved father, Jessia has participated in the transplanting of moose, black-footed ferrets, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope. At age eight, Jessica assisted her dad with tagging black bear cubs dug out from their mother's winter dens, keeping the tiny cubs warm by snuggling them inside her parka. She's helped in the collection of biological data from deep, bison and bighorn sheep. Jessica has also volunteered with her dad to do migratory bird counts along the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Currently she is involved in a project where she boils bobcat jaws, then pulls a lower tooth to determine the animal's age. Even though she has maintained an overall 3.9 GPA throughout her high school years, Jessica has also been actively involved in extracurricular activities. She has played both basketball and softball at GHS, and currently coaches a fifth and sixth-grade girls' basketball team. She is also an avid skier. At GHS, Jessica is the president of the Future Business Leaders of America. And she will represent her school in the field of science in the upcoming Sterling Scholar competition. Additionally, Jessica is a Sunday School teacher in her church. She smiles quietly and blushes just slightly when asked how she feels about her mom's book that's all about her. "I have mixed feelings," Jessica says. "It was neat that she wrote the book, but now everyone who reads it is going to know every detail of what I've been through. With a desire that no one ever "feels sorry for her," Jessica said it was actually quite enlightening when her boyfriend Kasey Cummings, Grantsville, and his family read VALLEY OF THE SHADOW. "Kasey didn't feel sorry for me, but I think he now more fully realizes what I went through," Jessica said. "He used to think, 'Oh, yeah, you had cancer,' but now he says, 'I understand how hard that must have been.'" Although Jessica still has a way to go before doctors will officially declare her cancer is cured, she says she is feeling good and more than ready to get on with her life. And in the years ahead, it's a sure bet the dynamic teen from Erda will have a great impact on other young people. "My message to other teens is this," Jessica said. "Don't take what you have in life for granted. Don't worry about stupid things. Don't be so concerned with what other people think of you. It honestly doesn't matter if you're popular or if boys think you are cool, or how many great clothes you have to wear." Jessica admits, "There was a time in my life when I wanted to look cool in front of other people, especially boys. But now, those kind of things aren't a big deal. What's important in life is that you give love to those around you, and that you set worthwhile goals and work hard to achieve them." Those are mighty impressive words coming from one so young -- but then, like Linda said in VALLEY OF THE SHADOW, Jessica is "a great kid, a ray of sunshine, with a big, bold future ahead of her." Review of Linda Hovestadt Clark's book, VALLEY OF THE SHADOW by Lee Brauman for the Lakeview Orthodox Presbyterian Church's Library Rockport, Maine March 30, 2003 Any mother would be reluctant to put this book down once she has started to read it. My experience was deeply emotional. Linda's daughter Jessica, who was diagnosed with cancer, is one of Lakeview O.P. Church's own covenant children. It had been my delight to teach her in Sunday School and Daily Vacation Bible School. I had the joy of treasure hunting on our beach with Jessica and her sisters. She was always so bright and happy. Linda's style of writing--very clear and truthful--enabled me to experience her spiritual triumphs and despair, all the while accepting God's will as the best. Jessica's faith and trust in God were very evident also. Linda Clark's own words are that she is excited that Christians enjoy reading the book. Her hope is that it might be a means of proclaiming God's faithfulness. Men will appreciate how her husband, Alan, reacts to the "monster" disease attacking his beloved daughter. Young people will be inspired by Jessica's own attitude: cancer was not going to keep her from playing basketball on the High School Varsity team with her older sister, Melissa; nor would it keep her from getting on with her school work. At seventeen, she is planning to go on to college next year. Do put this book on your "must read" list.