Orchard of Hope

Orchard of Hope by Ann H. Gabhart is the story of Jocie Brooke and her family in the late summer of 1964. Hollyhill, Kentucky is starving for rain, and as the weather is heating up, so are tensions in the town as the schools start to desegregate and a new black family moves to town. Jocie quickly makes friends with the son Noah, and her father, Reverend David Brooke, hires him to work at the town newspaper he owns and invites the family to come to services at their Mt. Pleasant church. Tensions are also building in the Brooke's home as their friend Wes moves in with them to recover from a broken leg, elder daughter Tabitha approaches the end of her pregnancy, and their housekeeper keeps losing more of her memory. This book is packed with so many sub-plots, but Gabhart never loses track of them or makes any story seem any less important than any other. While much of the story is seen through 13 year-old Jocie's eyes, narration jumps through her family and friends. It's hard to sum up a book this powerful in just a few words. Gabhart does a phenomenal job of portraying the tautness of the Civil Rights movement, the wonder of unexpected love, the despair of love lost, and uses Jesus to ground each. I wish I had read The Scent of Lilacs, the first book in this series, because I'm sure that I would care even more about each character. I teared up in the last chapter, and I'm sure that there is more that the author has to say through the sweet, fresh voice of Jocie. It's one of those rare books where I will miss reading about the characters now that I'm done.

Like a shoot of green forcing its way in hard-packed soil is the truth behind the issues in "Orchard of Hope." Through severe and unexpected racial tension, unknown and bitter prejudices, and intense pain, hope grows, unfurls and flutters. This is a novel that gets stronger as it heads toward the conclusion. I grew to care about the characters and I found myself grieving, even aching, with them. This isn't an easy read. I don't like to be reminded, or encounter, fresh evidence of prejudice and bitterness based on the color of flesh. Nor do I like to see the ugliness of the human condition without Christ's healing and redemptive power. Gabhart handles spiritual issues with sensitivity. Story lines of unfolding love and new life add to the sweetness of the planting of hope in "Orchard."

It's 1964 and the Civil Rights Movement has come to Hollyhill. Most of the excitment has passed by this small southern town, until the Hearndon family buys a farm and moves there from Chicago. Hollyhill has blacks, but none like Myra Hearndon who has been arrested marching in civil rights protests. She isn't about to accept racial discrimination. Hollyhill is segregated, but it hasn't been a problem and it's small enough to escape the attentipn of the activists, but Myra changes all that. The woman is trouble on the hoof. David Brooke, editor of the Hollyhill Banner and pastor of the Mt. Pleasant church has his hands full. He's a single father to daughters Jocie and Tabitha. Jocie is fourteen years old and helps work at the newspaper after school. Tabitha is pregnant with no husband in sight, which doesn't set well with some of the church members. Since Myra's son, Noah works for David at the newspaper and the Hearndon family attends his all-white church, David is caught in the middle. The Orchard of Hope is a compelling story of people forced out of their comfort zone. The time has come to stand by what they believe, and they have some tough decisions to make. Will they do what is right or will they take the easy way out. the characters are so strong and so real they engage the reader's hearts and emotions. I strongly recommend this book. It's a winner.

This second book in the story of Joci Brooke is just as good as the first one. I really enjoy Gabhart's writing style and her chracter building. I hope we see a lot more from this author in the Christian Fiction aisles of bookstores.

Every person has a story, and Jocie is determined to find it out. They may live in small Hollyhill, Kentucky, where the national unrest of the 1960s leaves them mostly untouched, but that is about to change. In this sequel to The Scent of Lilacs, Jocie's story continues as she unwraps the stories of her family and friends. When a black family moves into Hollyhill from Chicago, Jocie has new stories to discover. But the racial tension won't ignore Hollyhill forever, and in the summer of 1964, Hollyhill and Jocie will be changed forever. Orchard of Hope is a great book even if you haven't read The Scent of Lilacs. The fascinating stories that make up the many characters meld to tell a compelling tale. Ann H. Gabhart expertly weaves many points of view to tell a story of one town, seemingly unaffected by the national news, and how even seemingly unconnected people can bring a community together. This is a novel that I will long remember. I genuinely cared what happened to the characters and wished the best for each of them. The book reads in an almost slow and hypnotic way, perfectly complementing the area and heat wave that lasts the duration--and yet it is a page turner. Though the many plot lines are wrapped up by the end, I really hope there is another book in the series. Armchair Interviews says: This is a novel you'll want to tell friends about.