Lynn Austin did it again. This book really had me thinking. It is in the POV of southern families and former slaves just after the civil war. There was so much uncertainty and trying to rebuild their lives to the way they had been before the war without realizing that things will never be the same. The FREE slaves were afraid to hope for a better life and not trusting of anyone who suggested they could help them. Every character has a transformation of some kind. It is heartwarming as well as frustrating. An insightful adventure. The war has ended and not only has the South lost, but Josephine has lost, too: her father and eldest brother were killed in the war and her faith in God has been shattered. Returning home to her family's plantation, Jo finds even more losses as her family home has fallen into ruins and most of the slaves have left for good. As Jo learns how to stand up for herself and pitch in to get done what needs doing, she struggles with her brother and mother's resistance to much needed changes. Also struggling with the changes left by the war, Lizzie, a former slave, works hard to find out what freedom really means for herself and her family.I really enjoyed this sweet story as Jo tries to find herself and God when her life seems to be so off track. I especially loved the conversations between Jo and Alexander as they discussed the Bible and Job, specifically. I also liked how Austin didn't pull any punches: there was no sugarcoating of the circumstances different characters faced in the war or how the slaves were treated, either. A great read; I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys civil War or Reconstruction era stories.
