August 31, 2009
Austin can’t seem to write a bad novel, and this one is no exception. She is winner of five Christy Awards and numerous accolades for her novels, one of which, Hidden Places
, was made into a Hallmark Channel movie. Her newest follows her typical trajectory of fine writing, an engaging story and interesting history. Harriet Sherwood longs to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps as a champion for social justice, but Harriet didn’t plan on ending up incarcerated. She spends her jail time recalling the histories of her great-grandmother Hannah, Grandma Bebe and her mother, Lucy, each of whom faced struggles and spiritual questions as they found ways to fight: Hannah participated in the Underground Railroad, Bebe fought demon rum, and Lucy fought for a woman’s right to vote. Austin weaves their stories through Harriet’s memories, creating well-honed characters before finally bringing Harriet to a place of understanding. This is an entertaining and engaging faith-based tale sure to hit bestseller lists and the awards circuit.