Thundersnow

In the Shadow of the Cedar, Book 1

By: Abagail Eldan

Narrated by: Sarah Rogers

On her family's farm in the Deep South, 14-year-old Sarah Jane clashes with her mother. At every turn, Momma crushes her daughter's dreams. Worst of all, Michael Hutchinson's warm brown eyes witness her humiliation.

Sarah Jane must find a way to survive the abuse, for her young brother's sake as well as her own.

When Michael offers her hope, will she have the strength to stand against Momma's unreasonable demands? If Sarah Jane will only learn to lean, refuge is waiting...in the shadow of the cedar.

A RONE Finalist

©2012 Sheila Odom Hollinghead (P)2015 Sheila Odom Hollinghead

Growing Up in Depression Era Alabama

Listed as a book for teens, (to which I say, NO, a book for ALL), Thundersnow is one of the most poignant and thought provoking books that I've come across in a long time . . . all through it, I wondered, what on earth is wrong with Jay and Zeke's momma? And I kept thinking, oh, thank God for their daddy . . . as the story unfolded, bit by bit, hardship by hardship and I began to see the strict code of discipline that was part of the depression era and the secretive ways of that generation, I gained a better understanding of how things were . . . that was the times that my grandparents knew so well, the same ethical standards they adhered to . . . and one that is all but lost now . . . I was thankful for the love that others bestowed on Sarah Jane and little Ezekiel . . . and for the fortitude, humility and help that they offered to Molly, their mother . . . that kind of character is as rare as hen's teeth . . . Jay's dream of going on to college to be a veterinarian was squashed at every turn, but she was relentless in pursuing her goal . . .

Not my kind of story

The story was pretty good, but it's not my kind of story. There are very touching parts in the book, but there is a lot of misunderstood things, that are never made clear. I was not made to want to go on to read the rest of the series.