Faye Gibbons

LOVE this book. Set in the mountain region of Georgia during the Great Depression, Halley Owens comes to adulthood maintaining her family closeness while still developing her independence during a time when strong women were not especially admired or encouraged by society or their families. The book unflinchingly looks at how poverty affects the choices families had to make during the era but it never resorts to clichés or pity. Halley became a real person to me while reading this book and I was sorry to have my time with her end at the conclusion of the story.… (mehr)

I really liked what this book had to say about equality and women's rights, and I liked the illustrations. That being said, this book was a little confusing at times with all of the step children, and the fact that the author separated the families by last name still even though they are now one large family. If I, at age 21, was initially a bit confused by the familial relationships and had to read the book again to fully understand them, then I imagine that those younger than I would also run in to some confusion.… (mehr)