“It will take time to spread the story of Our Lady of Good Help so that she is as well-known as other Marian apparitions, but Schmitt has done her part admirably with this charming book for young readers. She perfectly captures the marriage of the miraculous and the ordinary, showing how the supernatural can pierce its way into the lives of ordinary people, if only they have the faith to believe. Our Lady’s stories at Fatima, Lourdes, and Guadalupe possess a romance that we Americans may wrongly assume to be lacking within our borders, but this story demonstrates the Mother of God spreads her Son’s love everywhere…even to a simple town in the Midwest.”

– Brian Kennelly, Author of To the Heights: A Novel Based on the Life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Coauthor of Queen of Heaven

“One of the most compelling aspects in the story of Adele Brise’s apparitions was the preservation of the apparition site from the ravages of fire on October 8, 1871. Just as people gathered there that night to pray for a miracle, many people visit Champion today praying for their own personal miracle. Learn the story of Mary’s grace filled apparition and how she still wishes to fill you with grace today”

– Fr. Edward Looney, author of A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary

“This thrilling tale of adventure, danger, good and evil will capture the attention of those interested in an intriguing historical true story. A good read aloud for the whole family, that encompasses the physical and emotional reality of life in Wisconsin in the mid 1800’s. A story of faith, the Peshtigo fire, a Marian apparition, and one family’s struggles to survive. Recommended.”

-Nancy Carpentier Brown, author of The Father Brown Reader

“My oldest daughter is 10 years old. She is an avid reader and caught sight of Champions of the Rosary by Laurie J. Schmitt, which was on our dining room table. “When can I read that, Mom?” she eagerly asked.     It’s a joy to have more Catholic fiction available for children. With so many books vying for their attention, I’m grateful to have this book for my children, because Schmitt writes in a compelling way that rivals secular authors. Her story is certain to win over the hearts of young people, that they will discover a love of Mary and the Rosary.”

           – Jeannie Ewing, author of From Grief to Grace: The Journey from Tragedy to Triumph, and several other  titles

“This book is written by a homeschooling mother of nine! In this story based on real-life events you will meet three siblings who are taught the catechism by Sr. Adele Brise. These three siblings along with their older brother are witnesses of the 1871 Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin. A fire which brought devastation to over two-thousand square miles and killed over a thousand people. What will become of the chapel where these children were taught? Will they find a way to escape the fire?”

             – Susanna Parent, Blessed Is She

“A historical adventure with the faith beautifully woven in…I love that this novel not only tells a great story, but also encourages deeper devotion to the Holy Rosary, while diving into the historical context of the Marian apparition of Our Lady of Good Help. What a gift that Laurie is using her talents and creativity as a writer to bring good literature and greater faith to children!”

            – Katie Warner, author of Let Us Pray, A Child’s First Book of Prayers, and more

“Laurie Schmitt’s writing welcomes all of your senses. Through the experience of one devoted family, she pulls readers into the sulfuric stench and scourging heat of desolation—the Wisconsin wildfires of 1871—and out into the fragrant springtime of new life. Champions of the Rosary reveals why God sends Our Blessed Mother to His children: to spread His mercy and love.”

– Marlys Honeyman, author of I Am: God Shares His Name

“Champions of the Rosary, is based on the events of the Peshtigo Fire and Our Lady of Good Help, the only approved Marian Apparition in the US! Always grateful to find exciting and faithful middle school books!”

           -Katherine Bogner, author of Through the Year with Jesus, and Through the Year with Mary.

“This was the first book by Laurie Schmitt I have read but it will not be the last. This was an excellent read and hard to put down once I got going. The fire of Peshtigo Fire of 1871 which began on the same day as the Great Chicago fire, wove a vast swath of destruction in Northern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula in Michigan. This story follows a family that has already suffered tragedy. The father filled in a logging accident. The middle brother crippled, and the mother growing ever more despondent. James the oldest brother blames himself, and believes everyone would be better if he left. So he makes his way north to Peshtigo to earn a living logging and to be able so send money home. But he arrives on the night of the great fire. Father Pernin who plays a key role in the story on several occasions is a real historic figure, who served in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and was the pastor in Peshtigo the night of the fire. This story may be fictional but it revolves around real events and a true miracle. It is masterfully written. It is an excellent novel for Middle Grade readers right on up. I am in my 50’s and absolutely loved it. And I added to both my son’s and youngest daughter’s reading lists. And I have mentioned it to several friends. This is an excellent read no matter your age. A story filled with family, faith, and hope. This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!

        – Steven R. McEvoy. https://www.bookreviewsandmore.ca/

“I liked Champions of the Rosary because the ending was happy. I liked that there was more than one main character. Sometimes they were in different places and I got to read about the places they went to and the stuff they did. I liked how the miracle is described by the different characters.”

          – Ellen, ten year old reader and reviewer

“Highlighting a unique and relatively unknown portion of Catholic history in North America, Champions of the Rosary tells the story of faith amid tragedy, and its ultimate triumph, making it an excellent addition to any student’s bookshelf.”

– Kate, history buff

“Here is a book about Catholicism that actually helps your child’s faith in 2021!”        

            – Jenna G

“These gems — Champions of the Rosary and Lepanto’s Lady – are going into Regis Catholic Schools library. We can send our kids to private school and go to church every Sunday, but if we are not cultivating the stories and miracles of our faith in our homes we will not grow the next generation. ‘Children are great imitators – give them something great to imitate.'” 

            – Megan, Catholic convert

“Champions of the Rosary is a powerful read for any young individual. Laurie Schmitt gives a young reader a vivid description of a horrific tragedy embedded with a miracle in the midst of extreme circumstances. We also get a glimpse of the struggles in families and how God can bring people back together when we put prayer at the center of our lives.”

            – RH, DRE

“A historical fiction with an Imprimatur? Count me in! I was blessed to make a pilgrimage to the apparition site of Our Lady of Good Help a few years ago. The sacred grounds are peaceful and just as described in Laurie’s storytelling. This book brought the history of the Peshtigo fires to new life. Even though I knew the outcome of the fires and miracles going into the story, I still found myself holding my breath through every page. Highly recommended for readers young and old who desire to learn more about the history of the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the US, all while experiencing Laurie’s beautiful writing which makes you feel as if you are sitting next to Sister Adele as she recounts the apparitions.”

             – Katie Curran

“This book was so loved by my 11 year old daughter! She couldn’t put it down! Being a huge horse fan, it was even more compelling for her, not to mention the beautiful Catholic faith and rosary intertwined in the story! Definitely a must have!!”

            – TT, Amazon reviewer

“My 12 year old son loves to read and his favorite books involve action and adventure. His favorite subject is history and he’s currently obsessed with the wild west, horses, the railroad and the 1800s. He was so excited about this book, he wanted to write his own short review without help (he has some learning challenges, so it is huge for him to want to write anything :): “I really like the countryside setting and page turning advetures and horses in the story about Our Lady and Sister Adele.” Thank you, Laurie, for another wonderful Catholic book for preteens!”

           – Luke, Amazon reviewer

“Champions of The Rosary, is a great book for Catholic boys ages 8-12! My little brother enjoyed this book, and would ask me himself if I could read the next chapter to him! As someone who recently visited the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin; I am so pleased to find a book for children that is based on this lesser-known but extremely important Marian Apparition! This is a great book filled with adventure, to introduce young Catholic boys to Our Lady of Good Help, the only approved apparition of Our Blessed Mother in America. I would recommend to have this book on hand in Catholic classrooms, and homeschooling rooms.”

            – Elena, Amazon reviewer

“This is a lovely book for children, tweens and even teens. My child originally picked the book because it had a horse on the cover but she was quickly drawn into the story. It was liked so much it is now on the to read again shelf on our bookshelf.”

           – LKG, Amazon reviewer

“I’d read about Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe with my kids. All the famous apparitions. But when it came to our own country, I knew just enough to know that there had been an American apparition in Wisconsin, but that was it. If your family is like mine, you’ll be as excited as we were to learn more about the apparitions and miracles right here in our own country! In 1859, Our Lady appeared to a young girl named Adele Brise in Wisconsin.  Our Lady asked Adele to pray and teach the children in rural Wisconsin their Catechism. A convent and Chapel were eventually built to fulfil the request of Our Lady of Good Help, as this apparition was dubbed. And did she ever help the people of Wisconsin! This book recounts the miracles that occurred at the apparition site in future years such as miraculous healings. The most stunning miracle occurred during the terrible Peshtigo Fire of 1871. As thousands of acres around burned, then-Sister Adele led the local people in a rosary procession around the grounds of the convent. Miraculously, the convent acreage was completely spared: a verdant green island in the midst of hundreds of miles of devastation on all sides. This is a beautiful story about a family struggling through tough times and turning to Our Lady for hope and healing. It’s also an intense story since the backdrop is the Peshtigo Fire which ravaged the countryside (I recommend for ages 10 and up). Tweens and teens will be caught up in the drama of a natural disaster unfolding while also learning about this beautiful apparition with a message of hope for our country.” 

               – B. Inzeo, goodbooksforcatholickids.com