What do You think about A Searching Heart (1998)?
Virginia is growing up, graduating from high school, planning for college, and planning a life with her boyfriend, Jamison. This one was a little better than the first, maybe because it was a little more mature-sounding. Oke's books basically recount everyday people and how they cope with life, and as such, they are calming and peaceful to listen to or read. Her characters have a deep faith that grounds them and although it's discussed often, it doesn't seem too "in your face". This second book is a growing-up volume for Virginia as she learns to face loss and betrayal and comes out the other side better for it.
—Sue
Any young adult / teenager struggling with his/her "first love" should read this one. The only drawback to the book that I struggled with was my attempt to place a definite time-period to the storyline. The main character in this Oke novel is Virginia Simpson. In Chapter 8, one of Virginia's younger brothers, Danny, had a summer job with a local farmer, and Danny's days were spent driving a team of horses, first planting and then haying. Yet, telephones, cars, and elevators were mentioned throughout the novel.
—F
This is the second book in Janette Oke's Prairie Legacy series and it was just as sweet and wholesome as the first. It continues the story of Virginia through her remaining high-school year and graduation. In this book her plans for the future are disrupted by unexpected events and she must come to terms with her current situation. This book has a touch more romance than the previous one and the author keeps the reader guessing as to which boy Virginia will finally end up with. I am looking forward to reading books 3 and 4 in the series.
—Cristina
