When the Barred Owl Calls

When The Barred Owl Calls is a biographical novel about family values, love, heritage, and the positive role that caring grandparents play in the psychological and moral growth of their grandchildren. Thirteen-year-old Johnny, and eighty-year-old Papa are the pivotal characters. Papa's conviction is that what matters most in life is love, family and happy memories. His long-saved-for gift enabling the family to travel to Greece to tighten family ties defines and drives the story line. It is Johnny's experiences and maturation into being able to understand and benefit from Papa's philosophy that unfolds. Boy Scout Johnny anticipates a summer filled with Merit Badge activity, overnight adventures and projects with Papa who, although suffering from a heart condition and becoming more dependent on a walker, is still an active family member with wonderful interplay with his grandchildren. When Greek Uncle Demetrie's wedding invitation arrives, Johnny must weight his wants against his understanding of his mother's need to return to visit her roots in Greece, especially since Papa's gift has made it possible for the children to accompany her. Greece: We experience its blue sky, enchanting sea, mild climate, and the architecture of small villages when we stay with Yiayia and Papou. We visit Nerantia, Velo, and Athens; motor amid combatzone drivers and traffic and roads that snake around mountains; witness animated arguments about politics and the art of haggling while shopping; and fish in the Corinthian Bay. Fresh foods surround us from the sardine and herring-laden pick-up trucks and the road-side fruit stands to dinner tables of Greek salad with feta cheese, goat's milk with chocolate,koulouria, souvlakia, squid. At Uncle Demetrie's wedding we dance, laugh, eat more and talk loudly. We discover that Mama was sent to America because Aunt Sofia needed a dowry. Johnny's world crumbles when Papa dies. Only Harly,Mihevic, Demetra is the author of 'When the Barred Owl Calls', published 1995 under ISBN 9780880921312 and ISBN 0880921315.