A Song of Home

Author: Susie Finkbeiner

Series: Pearl Spence #3

Publisher: Kregel Books

Release Date: November 28, 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

An emotional conclusion to the Pearl Spence trilogy!

Pearl Spence is going through the motions of life. In 1930s Michigan, life is already hard enough with the depression.  But when her mama ran off with the newspaper owner, things got even more difficult with the town gossiping.  Fortunately, they have the help of a young woman named Opal, who is half white and half colored.  Most people don’t think of her as much, but she can sure dance to swing music.  Pearl finally manages to get her to teach her how to dance and people who she didn’t see eye to eye with before now want her to teach them what she knows.  Everything seems to be going better, until one day her mama comes home.  But it’s not the mama she remembers from Oklahoma, she is much more distant and moody.  The way her mama treats her daddy makes her wish she had never come back and with the unfortunate surprise she brought with her.  Can Pearl weather yet another storm in her young life?

I have immensely enjoyed getting to know Pearl through these three books and really hope that the trilogy turns into a series as Pearl grows older. All the historical accuracies have contributed to making each book enlightening and educational to someone who enjoys historical fiction.  Couple that with the emotional turmoil that Pearl continues to find herself in and each book becomes very personal.  I’m glad to see that Finkbeiner is writing these books on this level so that we can understand not only what kids during the depression went through, but also that several kids in today’s world are going through the exact same thing.  Seasons change but the same problems are still there.  In several instances, the reader dwells on what would be best to handle the situation.  Would he/she react like Mary Spence or more like Aunt Carrie?  Each of these books is filled with characters to aspire to be more like as well as those that should be avoided.

If you haven’t started this wonderful series, I strongly urge you to pick up A Cup of Dust first.  If has a lot of background and as each book is a continuation, you will need to read them in order.  This has quickly become one of my favorite series and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.