Rising Above Shepherdsville

April 15, 2019
A 12-year-old girl who's been mute since her mother's death discovers and bonds with a family of swans and struggles to adjust to her new life. Her mother's partner, Ray, says her death was accidental. Rejecting his efforts to spare her, Dulcie knows her mother's struggle with depression defeated her. Dulcie feels responsible--she died while Dulcie competed in the 1977 state spelling-bee finals. Ray takes Dulcie to live in rural Ohio with her mother's estranged sister, Aunt Bernie, whose life revolves around Redeemer Baptist Church. Dulcie likes Rev. Love but loathes his youth group's bullies. One day Dulcie follows a swan and discovers a hidden pond containing a swan's nest with an adult pair and five cygnets, a secret known only to Reverend Love and Evangeline Tucker, the new choir director, who puts Dulcie and Faith, a homeless girl sheltered by the Loves, to work sewing choir robes. (The church plays a key role throughout.) Though Dulcie's beliefs remain ambiguous, most adults are devout. Some are racist. The only nonwhite character, saintly African-American Evangeline, has individuality but also serves as a bias-detection device. Characterization skews blunt and schematic. Secondary characters such as Ray and his new girlfriend are more nuanced. The strongest moments bring the natural world and its creatures, feathered and human, to life through Dulcie's observant eyes. An intermittently compelling debut enhanced by its rural Midwest setting. (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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June 1, 2019

Gr 3-7-This debut novel is a somber yet encouraging testament to the power of grief to break people down and of community to help rebuild. It is the summer of 1977 when, after the sudden death of her mother, 12-year-old Dulcie is dropped off in Shepherdsville, OH, to live with her aunt Bernie. Overwhelmed, Dulcie loses her ability to speak, which makes settling into her new environment all the more challenging. However, Dulcie soon discovers hope in unexpected people and places, as well as an inner strength to rise above the pain that has silenced her for so long. While often melancholic in its tone, this story radiates a sense of comfort and warmth. Schoenbohm writes with rich, emotive language that envelops readers in a cozy hug and offers safety even in the face of heavy themes like depression, suicide, and domestic abuse (some readers may benefit from being able to talk through these subjects with a trusted friend or adult). Schoenbohm deftly captures the spirit of each character, from the wise and generous Evangeline to the feisty and untrusting Faith, who feel genuine as their layers are slowly revealed. VERDICT A moving tale in the vein of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie and Clare Vanderpool's Moon over Manifest; sure to resonate with upper middle grade readers and adults.-Lauren Hathaway, University of British Columbia

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Starred review from May 1, 2019
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* After her mother's suicide, 12-year-old Dulcie is sent to live on her estranged aunt's Ohio farm, where she finds comfort in a family of swans living on a pond abutting a church. Guilt at not being able to save her mother has left the former spelling champion mute, and she becomes the butt of bullying in her church study group. Luckily, the church's awkward minister brings Dulcie together with a girl named Faith, whom he and his wife are fostering, as well as a new choir director, Evangeline, whose race incites opposition from some members of the congregation. As the three bond, events at the church come to a head when Faith runs away and a dog attacks Dulcie's beloved swans. Schoenbohm takes chances in her debut, weaving themes of spirituality and religion into a narrative about runaways and suicide. The story, set in the 1970s, is a superb balancing act, shifting effortlessly between Dulcie's heartfelt hurt, descriptions of her new environment, and her awe in the presence of swans. The book's many expressions of grace, despite the drama, are never over-the-top and always feel natural. Sensitive readers who enjoy tales of overcoming hardship will take Dulcie's plight to heart. A stunning debut, highly recommended for all libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)