The Story Keeper

September 1, 2014

Jen Gibs is finally getting her life back together after her breakup with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. She has a new job at a publishing house and is ready to dig her way out of debt and away from the clutches of her dysfunctional family. When one of the manuscripts from the "slush mountain" mysteriously shows up on her desk, Jen starts reading and is immersed in the narrative of Sarra, a mixed-race young woman living in Appalachia at the beginning of the 20th century. Written in a "story within a story" format, this novel will intrigue readers with its dual narratives: Sarra's tale and Jen's perspective as a young woman living in New York who fought her way out of those same Blue Ridge Mountains. VERDICT While this offers a different read from Wingate's typical novels (The Prayer Box), fans will not be disappointed. Light on the Christian spiritual elements, it will also appeal to readers of women's and historical fiction.--Shondra Brown, Wakarusa P.L., IN

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