“Susie Finkbeiner never fails to transport her readers through time and space, welcoming us into worlds we never want to leave.”–Julie Cantrell, New York Times best-selling author of Into the Free Pearl Spence has finally settled into a routine in Bliss, Michigan, far from her home in Red River, Oklahoma. Like all the other kids, she goes to school each day, plays in the woods, and does her … the woods, and does her chores. But there’s one big difference: Mama is still gone, and doesn’t seem to have a thought for the family she’s left behind.
Escaping from her worries is another part of Pearl’s new routine, whether that’s running to Aunt Carrie’s farm, listening to the radio with Ray, or losing herself in a book. In fact, a chair in the stacks, surrounded by books, might be her favorite place on earth–until she discovers swing dancing. The music transports Pearl to a whole other world.
When Mama unexpectedly returns, it isn’t the happy occasion Pearl had imagined. Mama is distant and Pearl can’t figure out how to please her. And the horrible way she treats Daddy is more than Pearl can bear. Seems life would be better if Mama would just stay away.
Finkbeiner’s portrayal of both tragedy and everyday life in times of great change is charged with a raw beauty that will haunt readers. Fans of inspirational fiction that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you feel as if you’ve finally come home will love A Song of Home and the previous Pearl Spence books.
Enjoy all the Pearl Spence Novels
1.A Cup of Dust
2. A Trail of Crumbs
3. A Song of Home
“Nobody writes like Susie Finkbeiner, nobody. Her incomparable narrative voice pulls me in, every time.” – Katherine Scott Jones, author of Her Memory of Music
more
I love this book! It was such a beautiful wrap up to the dust bowl series.
A beautiful story with honest characters
Susie Finkbeiner is a master at characterization. Few books I’ve read take me as deep into another person’s experience as this author takes me into Pearl Spence’s. As a reader, I gobbled this book up and found it completely and utterly satisfying as a book on its own, and especially as the culmination of this series. As an author, I will read it again, this time to take notes on how to draw and shade characters so richly. A Song of Home is the perfect ending to a series like none other. Original, fresh, immersive, and oh so compelling. Whatever Susie writes next will be an automatic pre-order for me.
A book that concludes this trilogy, but I could keep on reading more about this family. We have come a long way from a kidnapping, dust bowl storm, moving to Wisconsin, and then Mama leaving. Yes, you might want to start at the beginning, and I highly recommend that you do, but this can be read alone, even though I never wanted it to end.
The author helps us to understand the reasons why Mama went away, and we also get to meet prejudice head on, and yet we see those that are full of compassion for all.
Once the final pages are turned you are going to find that this is one of those books that are going to linger with you, and I am already missing being with this family.
I for one cannot wait for more by this author, and will be on the lookout!
I received this book through Kregel Book Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.
This will not be an easy story to forget. I like that in a book because the author has done their job of transporting readers back to a place some of us have only heard about. It was not easy growing up in the 1930s. . Families struggled to buy food and clothing while scrimping by on low salaries. I remember going to my granddad’s farm in Oklahoma every summer when I was little. He had over 200 acres and I loved being there. Off in the distance sometimes I saw this weird thing in the sky. The sky would turn almost brown as the dust stirred up. I ran into the house and hid under the covers. I was so scared the dust was going to suffocate me. This story stirred so many fond memories of my granddad and I savored every word written. The author is a master of storytelling and I’m sad to see the series end. For me it won’t end for awhile as I can see Pearl standing there in her house talking to Opal and dancing with a smile on her face.
Pearl is a delightful character and there were times I wanted to hug her and tell her she was the sweetest gift from God. The feeling of abandonment she felt when her mom left was devastating. A young girl who has no idea why her mom doesn’t want her is heartbreaking. The author does an excellent job of sharing the emotions Pearl goes through as she learns about prejudice. I love Pearl’s innocence and protective nature towards people she cares about.
I felt drawn to Mary the most because she had endured such heartache. I understood why she felt she needed to leave her home and family . Her pain was so unbearable she wanted to run and never look back. It must have been so hard to leave Pearl and her husband. The emotions and trauma she went through made me cry. As the story was coming to an end I sobbed. Yes I was caught up in a story that took a family through loss, prejudice and judgment. Mary reminded me of the woman who everyone wanted to throw stones at. To carry such a burden made me want to scream at the town. How dare they judge anyone when they should look at themselves first. The ending is a tear jerker and I know somewhere there is a Pearl out there finding out how to forgive . There is a Mary out there somewhere learning to let go and feel loved by her family.
I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publications. The review is my own opinion.
Author Susie Finkbeiner has hit this one out of the park! Her third book in the series, Susie does an incredible job of developing her characters (who doesn’t love Aunt Carrie!) and setting the scene. With rich historical facts, it’s simple to tell that the era has been well researched. Yet it’s not dry. She writes in such a way that you are immediately drawn into the story and lives of the people. There is a tone, a special something to her writing that few have. I held my breath, laughed, and cried through this book.
Although the main character is a 12 year old girl, this is not a child’s book in any way. Delicate adult subjects are written about and handled well. Pearl struggles with finding her way back to her mother after a series of events, and it reminded me that we all yearn for home. For that place of peace and belonging.
I was so sad to have this series end. But the wonderful thing about a book is that you can always go back and visit again.
I encourage you to read A Song of Home. In fact, I encourage you to read the entire series. You will fall in love with Pearl, Aunt Carrie, and the rest of family.