Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Set in a small Alabama coal mining town, The Well and the Mine wastes no time grabbing the reader's attention. It's the summer of 1931, and nine-year-old Tess Moore is relaxing on her family's back porch. Suddenly a strange woman appears from the black night, carrying a bundled up baby. Not seeing Tess, she climbs the stairs to the porch and splash! The stranger tosses the baby into the family's well and disappears into the night.
Tess and her sister Virgie make it their mission to determine the mysterious woman's identity. The family is forced to explore the darker side of their tight-knit community and question their previously held assumptions regarding their neighbors.
Gin Phillips masterfully paints a picture of life during the Great Depression and the struggles faced by a coal mining family. You can smell the heavy sulfur of the mine, taste the sweet peach pies, and feel the cool creek water around your ankles. Through vivid and poetic writing, Phillips transports readers to a time when oranges were considered delicacies, electricity was a luxury, and hardship translated to neighbors and relatives banding together.
Each character takes a turn narrating the story from their perspective. Phillips does an impressive job of creating characters so distinct and realistic that they leap off the page. Whether it's adventurous Tess or beautiful Virgie, readers are sure to connect with at least one member of the Moore family.
Phillips addresses issues of race and poverty while weaving a mesmerizing tale of survival, charity, and hope. While the story begins with a shocking act of violence, it ends with a message of love. The conclusion of The Well and the Mine leaves the reader feeling satisfied, but wishing there was more to read!
Set in a small Alabama coal mining town, The Well and the Mine wastes no time grabbing the reader's attention. It's the summer of 1931, and nine-year-old Tess Moore is relaxing on her family's back porch. Suddenly a strange woman appears from the black night, carrying a bundled up baby. Not seeing Tess, she climbs the stairs to the porch and splash! The stranger tosses the baby into the family's well and disappears into the night.
Tess and her sister Virgie make it their mission to determine the mysterious woman's identity. The family is forced to explore the darker side of their tight-knit community and question their previously held assumptions regarding their neighbors.
Gin Phillips masterfully paints a picture of life during the Great Depression and the struggles faced by a coal mining family. You can smell the heavy sulfur of the mine, taste the sweet peach pies, and feel the cool creek water around your ankles. Through vivid and poetic writing, Phillips transports readers to a time when oranges were considered delicacies, electricity was a luxury, and hardship translated to neighbors and relatives banding together.
Each character takes a turn narrating the story from their perspective. Phillips does an impressive job of creating characters so distinct and realistic that they leap off the page. Whether it's adventurous Tess or beautiful Virgie, readers are sure to connect with at least one member of the Moore family.
Phillips addresses issues of race and poverty while weaving a mesmerizing tale of survival, charity, and hope. While the story begins with a shocking act of violence, it ends with a message of love. The conclusion of The Well and the Mine leaves the reader feeling satisfied, but wishing there was more to read!
Definitely adding this one to my Nook!! I seriously can't wait to read it. I love books set during the Great Depression.
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