First published 2000
Addie grows up in the Kahawha Valley of West Virginia as the country recovers from World War I. The young girl watches her family and community navigate the changing times that follow the war's end. Economic hardship arrives with the Great Depression, reshaping daily life in ways both subtle and dramatic. Through these challenging years, Addie finds refuge and wonder in books and music. Literature opens new worlds beyond the valley's borders, while melodies provide comfort during difficult moments. The acclaimed author of The Beulah Quintet draws from her own childhood memories to create this portrait of a girl discovering art's power to sustain the human spirit during uncertain times.
Genres: family-life, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Kahawha Valley, West Virginia
Period: World War I, Great Depression
304 pages · Paperback · Berkley Books