About the book...
Fifteen-year-old Cindy worked long days beside her migrant worker family in Michigan's sugar beet fields in the early 1940s--the "war years"--until she met a dashing young man from a traveling carnival, bringing some joy and fun into her hard-scrabble life. But a tragic twist of fate--and a dead field boss--sent the two young people on the run, leaving behind family and everything she'd ever known.
Lucy Tucker, the crotchety old bag lady from the popular Yada Yada House of Hope series, is a veteran of the Chicago streets and not about to give up her independence, even as she approaches her 80th birthday. Until, that is, a young displaced woman with her gentle aging mother and a dog named Dandy seem to need her--unsettling the secretive Lucy, who doesn't let anyone get too close. But just when it seems her past is catching up with her to bring her in out of the cold...Lucy disappears again.
How these two tales intersect and intertwine between past and present gradually shines light into the dark corners of Lucy's murky past. But ...why won't Lucy come home?
My thoughts...
I've always been a fan of Dave and Neta Jackson , especially of the original Yada Yada series! It was great to read this book and hear mentioned some of my favorite characters from a previous series, names I haven't heard in a while. It was also exciting to see my name listed on the acknowledgements page at the end of the book! I was able to be a proofreader for the authors before the book was published, so I also had a sneak peak at the story before many others!
Lucy Come Home was full of excitement and adventure, and at times, nail biting suspense! The authors did an excellent job of drawing the reader in, and keeping them wanting more. You never knew what was coming around the next corner!
While reading of Cindy as a young girl, you delve a little deeper into Lucy's past, and gain a better understanding of her character. Her life was not always easy growing up, but she did try to live life to the fullest. I enjoyed learning of her family, her friends, and her love interest...and "riding" along to where ever her next adventure would take her! Yet there where struggles along the way, just begging to be shared with her loved ones, if only she would have taken the time to talk to her family, things may have turned out differently.
The diverse group of ladies staying at Manna House have so many different situations they are going through. They are as different as night and day, yet it reminds me of stories you hear from homeless shelters in our everyday lives. The stories of Manna House are believable, heart wrenching, and unique...everyday people whose path in life took an unexpected turn. Their stories leave you felling compelled to make a difference, to somehow get involved in anyway you can. You may not be comfortable volunteering at a soup kitchen, but you can collect donations, write a check, or make some phone calls. Any help you can give can make a difference in the life of a homeless stranger, one step at a time.
I give this book 5 stars, and highly suggest it's reading! If you haven't read any of their other books, that's all right, you can still enjoy this one on it's own!
**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my opinion**
Lucy Tucker's life was difficult from the beginning, traveling from field to field to harvest sugar beets and helping to care for her younger siblings during the 1940's. A young and handsome, Bo Bodeen works with a traveling circus and brings happiness to both their lives. They initially meet while both are in Lapeer, Michigan working.
ReplyDeleteWhen a tragic incident happens and there is a dead field boss. It sends the two teens on the run, leaving everything she'd ever known behind. Lucy's journey intertwines between past and present from running away as a teenager to becoming an independent and secretive 80 year old widow.