In the 1960s, Edenville, North Carolina is full of rules. Sagging under the weight of racism and segregation the small community finds itself at a dangerous tipping point. Eleven-year-old Betty Grafton believes the world is fair. She knows there are worse places to live than Edenville. Unaware of the wars waging around her, she spends her days patting horses in the field and running errands for … errands for her mother. The world she doesn’t see, full of turmoil and unrest, is hiding just below the surface. One day, she has no choice but to see what’s been right in front of her all along.
Alma knows where to walk. She knows who to talk to and which fountain she can drink out of. Her mother, Winnie, spares no opportunity to remind her how dangerous it is to be a little black girl in the South.
When a chance encounter puts Betty face to face with the peril that exists in her own hometown, everything she knows turns upside down. The world isn’t as fair or safe as she’d imagined. Her family is the Klan. Her friends are the enemy. And nothing makes sense anymore.
Although the world demands they stay apart, Alma and Betty forge a secret friendship. One that could cost them their lives.
The Edenville Series:
Book 1: Flowers in the Snow
Book 2: Kiss in the Wind
Book 3: Stars in a Bottle
Book 4: Fire in the Heart
more
Loved it! Relevant for our times!
I was unable to put this book down. I learned a lot!!
I was very young during this time but remember how bad it was. I’m glad things are mostly better now. This was a most moving story and the twist at the end I didn’t see coming. Loved this book.
This is absolutely a marvelous story. It’s a book that should be read by everyone as we face the sadness of divisions in our country regarding equality.
It’s not often I find a fiction author I really like, but am hooked on this one and her various series. Enjoyable reading, well-developed characters.
Really enjoyed this book an sequels it kept me reading o
This book was very well written. At times I didn’t want to continue reading because I was afraid of what was going to happen, but at the same time I couldn’t put it down. Very much appreciated this book as it made me more aware of what was happening in the 60’s with segregation.
I thought much of the book was beyond reasonable possibilities. Hard to imagine children of such a young age being able to be so opposite to all they raised to be,
The entire series is worth reading and it helps to understand the characters if the Piper Anderson series is read first, but not absolutely necessary.
entertaining
I like it
It was good so beautiful about the little girl
Interesting
I remember these times and close to my heart.
I read this book long time go so I can’t remember the book. But if it had not been good I would not have read it.
I cannot imagine that time period….absolutely awful. So happy I read this story and plan on reading the second that follows.
Best written book I’ve read in a long time.
It was very sad but interesting to read what it was like for black people when the Ku Klux Klan were active. The second book was very well done also.
This is an excellent book to read. I could not put it down! Thank you, you are a great writer.
How has this story not been made into a movie? I could not stop reading! The experiences of these children are inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. The story is well-crafted, and it grabs you from the very beginning. And it leaves you shopping for Book 2.