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This work of historical fiction reads almost like a biography, as the events and the characters seem so true to life. The author weaves the political with the religious, the public with the personal. She expertly outlines the American political landscape as she discusses the political events associated with president after president, and she explains how the political climate of the country affected her protagonist's family for generations.
The story features a hard-working family in America that is decidedly marked by World War II and other events. It opens with Theodore Roosevelt at the helm of the country and closes in 2007 with George W. Bush in the White House. Rebelle, the main character, is one of the family’s six children. Each set of three children are essentially born into different generations. Rebelle’s story weaves through decades, marriages, jobs, motherhood, and tragedies.
The book reads as a straight account of the life of an individual, from birth to death. At times, the overall purpose of the text seems a bit lost. That is, the chronology of both political and personal events moves along promptly, but there is little time to sit with things, to wonder how Rebelle really felt when the telegram came that Nelson had died in the war, or how she slept the night after she miscarried her first child. On the plus side, pictures are scattered throughout the narrative, which further the reader’s appreciation of Rebelle’s story and upbringing. The photos add to the feeling of the text's authenticity, often allowing the reader to forget that the story is fictional. In all, the author’s tale keeps the reader engaged and is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.