A Taste of Daylight

The struggle for a single woman to provide for her children has been an ongoing social problem that has never gone away. This tale is of a family's life happening in southern Indiana during September, 1937 and continuing into spring. The mother, Zel, having previously lost a son and husband by death, and a daughter because she struck out on her own, moves her remaining 2 children into town. Zel works in a hotel. She hopes to give the 2 kids a better life than the one they were experiencing in the hilly woods of the Hoosier state. Like other women, she hopes to provide better for her kids, but finds even more hardship after the relocation. The story is told by daughter Seely (17), who takes on work of her own to try and help with the needed financing of the trio's survival. Even younger brother, Robert, comes up with a plan to assist. With poverty also comes heartache, and disputes, but also the working together can bond a family in greater love. "A Taste of Daylight" (Zel's phrase for getting out of the dark woods and into the city light) is more than historical fiction. It is a story of a way of life similar to many contemporary families consisting of a single parent and child dependents. A well written story of common people facing a small town lifestyle. Author, Crystal Thrasher, a Hoosier author, wrote 5 books, this being her last. All of her stories were events surrounding this same Robinson family. The first of the series began in the Depression Years and the five books end with a true delightful 'taste of daylight' so to speak.