In my eyes, a good book is one where you are transported into the book and become a part of it. You not only read about the lives of the characters, they become real and you find yourself living beside them. Their worries, joy, and sadness becomes yours, and when you read that last word, you have to take a few minutes to realize that you aren't in Kansas any more. I felt all of this reading this book. And I feel a loss that the book has ended. I have left the friends I made in Kansas. ( )

LOVED the entire trilogy! ( )

Plot Summary: What happens, When & Where, Central Characters, Major Conflicts
Jarena's father is exited about the prospect of owning his own land and escaping the racist south. Jarena is not so sure about moving to the prarie's of Kansas, but has no choice but go along with the family. Her fears seem justified when the settlers arrive in Nicodemus and find nothing but a few low hills near the Solomon river. No buildings of any kind exist, and there is no place nearby to buy supplies, even if they have the money to do so. Still, the settler's dreams carry them on, as they start constructing dugouts and hunt and fish for food. Meanwhile, a white doctor and his family have moved to the nearby settlement of Hill City and provide assistance and friendship to Jarena's family.



Style Characterisics: Pacing, clarity, structure, narrative devices, etc.
Shifts from Jarena' s point of view to Macia (the daughter from the white family) and other characters often. Miller does a good job of describing the scene and making the fascinating history of the Nicodemus settler come to life. The storylines of survival and of inner change make for a compelling read. Still, it reads as a pretty typical praire romance and, despite the appeal of the setting, doesn't stand out all that much. The characters are somewhat flat the dialogue doesn't sound true at times.


How Good is it?
A nice prarie romance with historical interest, especially for Kansas readers, an ordinary read--not outstanding. ( )