Reviewed by Amy Raines for Readers' Favorite

Journeys into Cassidy: Stories of a Small Town by Nancy Kasten tells the tale of Sunny, who had been adopted. Sunny was her father’s favorite. She never quite saw eye to eye with her sister Catherine and the favoritism caused friction. Would Catherine be there for her sister in her time of need? What was believed to be a crank call relating to an emergency at the fire station led to the discovery of a baby abandoned in Cassidy. Evidence suggested the baby came from a neighboring town, and an anonymous follow-up phone call implied that more than one person was involved. Would the Sheriff ever find out who abandoned Baby Noel on Christmas Eve and make them pay for such a cruel crime? Elsewhere, a young boy spending time with his friends stumbled onto something that may have been worth writing about for the local newspaper contest. Could the object be nothing more than a piece of junk, or is it something far more relevant to the history of Cassidy?

Even though the stories in this anthology are set in the same town, each one has different characters that make each individual plot smooth and interesting. I loved how each story had a sedate beginning before taking an unexpected twist that kept me hanging on to see what was coming next. I loved them all, but have to admit that my favorite was exploring the history of Cassidy in Behind a Name. This talented writer grabs your attention and keeps it from the beginning. I recommend Journeys into Cassidy by Nancy Kasten to young adults and adults that love a variety of amusing, interesting, and mysterious tales.