The Song of Sourwood Mountain

Almira Dean has just found out that her teaching position has been eliminated.  That bit of news comes right after she finds out her landlady wants her room to give to a niece. A former classmate has come to town to promote the mission back in the Appalachians where his church is.  He asks Mira to marry him and come back into the hills with him to teach at the mission school.  

Ann H Gabhart has created a lovely story about the backwoods people of the Appalachians and their  lives in the early 1900s.  This particular novel is one that is one of the more enjoyable books I have read this year.  What begins as a marriage of convenience becomes a truly loving union.  Some of the children in the book are favorite characters.  The feels I had for Ada June were just too much at times.  She was alone in the world and was moved from pillar to post.  She spent most of her time outside in the woods or in a cave.  When Mira and Gordon offer her a bed to sleep in and regular meals, she begins to blossom in ways that are most rewarding.  Mira has a loving touch for all the children in the area and wants only the best for them--even the most misbehaved ones. 

The Song of Sourwood Mountain is populated with the churchy busy-bodies and the recalcitrant husbands who go through life just trying to live.  Most of these people don't have two pennies to rub together, but somehow they make life work.  These people are not afraid to work hard and keep goods stored up for the lean times.  The one telling point in their lives was the way they cared for others in need.  It was a beauty to watch the way they worked together.  

The book is easy to read and digest, but more importantly it is engaging to the reader.  Five Stars, Two Thumbs up and a bluebird of happiness to sing outside your window. 

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.