River to Redemption

June 1, 2018

Orphaned after a cholera epidemic in 1833, Adria Starr spent her childhood in Springfield, KY, with Louis, an enslaved man who gave up his chance at freedom to care for Adria, tend to the sick, and bury the dead. Now a grown woman, Adria learns that Louis is to be sold by his owners. Determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom, Adria takes on a racist culture in an uphill battle that will cost her everything yet provide an independence she's yet to realize. Partly inspired by a true story, this latest novel from Gabhart (These Healing Hills) depicts the harrowing conditions of slavery in the antebellum South as well as the dangers faced by those who helped slaves escape. Exquisitely voiced characters add a depth and richness of hope that incorporates themes of faith and justice. VERDICT Admirers of Elizabeth Byler Younts and those who appreciate historical fiction set in the South will find this an engrossing read.

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Starred review from June 1, 2018
Adria Starr was only seven when a cholera epidemic left her orphaned and in the care of a young widow, thanks to the rescuing goodness of a slave. Twelve years later, Adria is a passionate woman with strong, albeit unwelcome, abolitionist views in her southern community, while her guardian, Ruth Harmon, still grieves for her husband and longs for a family of her own. Joined by past loss and divided by future dreams, the women must rely on their strength and faith when the man who rescued Adria is threatened, and the path of least resistance is no longer an option. Gabhart's (These Healing Hills, 2017) moving and beautifully written story of faith in action is based on true events during the 1833 cholera epidemic in Springfield, Kentucky. The novel honors the real Louis Sanderson, a slave who played an integral role in Springfield's survival, and the progressive women who fought early on for civil and women's rights. Adria is a wonderfully self-aware protagonist possessing the wisdom of loss and the spirited conviction of youth, and Gabhart's deeply introspective writing brings elegance and depth to both Ruth's and Adria's griefs and desires.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)