In the face of overwhelming obstacles, she'll need courage, grit, and a tender heart
Worie Dressar is seventeen years old when influenza and typhoid ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1877, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie's mother has been secretly feeding several of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when tragedy strikes, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.
Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers--one greedy and the other a drunkard--Worie must fight to save her home and the children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she discovers the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma's children.
About the Author:
Cindy K. Sproles is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries. An author, storyteller, and popular speaker, Cindy teaches at writers conferences across the country and directs the Asheville Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina. Editor of ChristianDevotions.us and managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, Cindy has a BA in business and journalism and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her family.
My Thoughts:
"Truth can be hard to swaller, and right now I was chokin." (p.212)
Worrie Dressar's simple life in a remote Appalachian Mountain community was not without its problems. It turns out that the definition of family was a vast as the mountains themselves. Worrie has to go through hell and back before that truth becomes known to her. Her journey to that truth costs her more than she wants to pay, and she must decide, moment by moment, if it is worth the cost.
When I first picked up this novel, I assumed that it would address the ravages of typhoid in rural Appalachia. Technically, it does, but not in a way I'd have ever dreamed! Cindy Sproles takes the reader on a very delicate spiritual and emotional journey through the harshest physical, circumstantial circumstances imaginable! She develops her characters in such a way, that, even though the circumstances are terrible, you are able to feel the impact of the choices Worrie is forced to make as the story unfolds.
There is a strength and wisdom in Worrie's actions that is beyond her years. Yet, when it is most impactful, she is able to express her overwhelming emotions in a way that will twist your heart in two! Once I recognized what the true treasure was in the story, I found out that I'd misjudged that too. Sproles carefully weaves depth and breadth into her characters and story line that makes every chapter feel like something new.
I highly recommend this book! You will come away satisfied, challenged, and examining your own heart. I think in light of the pandemic and racial unrest in our country right now, this story packs a greater emotional punch! Enjoy this story! Prepare your heart to be touched and changed!
No comments:
Post a Comment