The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store has all the ingredients for a great historical novel: a tight-knit community in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, a mysterious skeleton found in a well, and 1930s setting rich with cultural and racial tensions. The story promises to explore themes of racism, love, sacrifice, and the power of community as we go back in time to Chicken Hill, a neighborhood where Jewish immigrants and African Americans live side by side. At the heart of the novel is the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, run by Moshe Ludlow and his wife, Chona. Her determination to protect Dodo, a deaf Black boy, from a cruel institution sets off a […]
Read more...Monthly Archives: August 2024
A Testament of Faith and Sacrifice
Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot is a deeply moving account of faith, courage, and sacrifice. The book chronicles the tragic yet inspiring story of five American missionaries—Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian—who were determined to reach the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador in the 1950s. Written from a deeply personal perspective, Elisabeth, the wife of Jim Elliot, recounts the events leading to the men’s deaths with compassion and insight. The narrative is enriched by personal letters and journals from the missionaries, offering an intimate glimpse into their thoughts and motivations. This adds depth to the story, highlighting the emotional weight of their journey and […]
Read more...
Fascinating History Unveiled in Armstrong’s Touching Debut
The Light of Luna Park is a historical fiction novel that intertwines the lives of two women from different eras—1926 and 1950. In 1926, Althea Anderson, a young nurse at Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital, feels horrified as she witnesses the death of a premature baby caused by the callousness of the doctors. Althea saves a baby girl by entrusting her to Dr. Martin Couney, who incubates premature infants while exhibiting them at a sideshow at Coney Island’s Luna Park. Fast forward to 1950, where we meet Stella Wright, a special-education teacher fighting for the rights of students with disabilities. When Stella discovers a hidden letter from her late mother, she unravels […]
Read more...
The Woman Who Helped Save a Nation
Becoming Madam Secretary is a terrific historical novel that brings to life the legacy of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a US Cabinet. Dray captures Frances’s journey from her early days in New York City to her pivotal role in helping the nation navigate the Great Depression. Arriving in New York at the turn of the century, Frances is determined to make a difference. She immerses herself in social work, tackling the harsh realities of Hell’s Kitchen, where the poor often lived in vermin-infested tenements. Her passion for reform drives her to fight tirelessly for better living and working conditions, marking the beginning of a career that […]
Read more...