The View from Half Dome

By: Jill Caugherty

Narrated by: Theresa Bakken

"Isabel will steal your heart with her hopeful spirit." (Kerry Chaput, author of Daughter of the King)

1934. Isabel longs to escape her squalid San Francisco neighborhood. While her mother struggles to make ends meet and her older brother serves with the CCC at Yosemite, she manages the household and comforts her younger sister with stories about an idyllic imaginary world. Desperate for a taste of freedom, she takes matters into her own hands-with tragic consequences.

Distraught, she flees to Yosemite, where she falls in love with its majestic beauty. Inspired by Enid Michael, the park's only female ranger-naturalist, Isabel hikes, learns new skills, and discovers an inner strength she never knew she had. But even as she relishes her independence, she hides her grief, along with a terrible secret she fears will destroy relations with her family. And when she receives upsetting news from home, Isabel must decide if she can assist her family without sacrificing her chance at a new life.

Rich with historical detail and lyrical prose, The View from Half Dome is a moving coming of age story about hope, forgiveness, nature's healing power, and the courage to overcome societal boundaries and grow, regardless of age.

©2023 Black Rose Writing (P)2023 Black Rose Writing

A remarkable read.

I could not put this book down. Ms. Caugherty’s beautifully descriptive writing captured me and kept me enthralled through the journey of young Isabel from the loss of her sweet younger sister to her own coming of age and learning to love herself again. The spectacular Yosemite setting gave a beauty to the story that was refreshing as well as compelling. I loved the glimpses of well known characters such as Ansel and Virginia Adams and Enid Michael. What a wonderfully crafted story!