The story of a black family's move to a small all-white Tennessee town in 1947 inspires inspirational novelist VanLiere (Christmas Hope; Christmas Shoes; etc.) to expand her fictional range while trying to expand her audience. Narrator Jane Gable recalls two critical life events on the same spring day when she was nine years old: the funeral of her alcoholic father and the arrival of a black family of sharecroppers, the first blacks Jane has ever seen in Morgan Hill. Both events converge to make life harder for the impoverished Gables; Jane's mother, Fran, is pregnant, and the black Turner family, hired to work on a tobacco farm, is slighted, harassed and threatened. When the Turners' house burns down, Milo, the only survivor, is taken in by the Gables. VanLiere uses humor, memories of growing up Southern and touching moments of family unity to enrich her story of overcoming racism and poverty. Her retreat into familiar territory (another charming Christmas pageant, another holiday full of joy and sentiment) will satisfy fans of her earlier work. Author tour. (Oct 17) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

VanLiere follows up her best-selling "Christmas Hope" series with the story of the first African American family to move into 1940s Morgan Hill, TN. Little Jane Gable notices that their presence upsets the town's delicate balance, but her family rises to the occasion when tragedy strikes the newcomers. With a national tour. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Adult/High School-In 1947, there aren't any black families in the town of Morgan Hill, TN, until the Turners arrive to help on a tobacco farm. Nine-year-old Jane Gable first sees young Milo Turner when she is on the way home from her abusive father's funeral. Although the impression is vivid, she has no idea how closely their lives will become entangled. Jane's mother, Fran, becomes friendly with Mrs. Turner and stands up against some bigoted responses from the community. When the Turners' house is set on fire, only Milo survives. His mother's dying plea is for Fran to take him in. Jane and her brother are accepting of him, but the family still has to face those who think that the boy should "live with his own kind." Fran stands firm in letting him decide. The Gables' faith and friends help them weather the insults hurled their way and give them the strength to continue without bitterness. Jane's memories capture a child's-eye view of the confusing adult world. Teens looking for a warm, gentle story that also provides food for thought will find it here. Those who enjoyed Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees (Viking, 2002) will note some of the same qualities in this novel.-Teri Titus, San Mateo County Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.