Fifteen-year-old Cindy worked long days beside her migrant worker family in Michigan's sugar beet fields in the early 1940s -- the "war years" -- until she met a dashing young man from a traveling carnival, bringing some joy and fun into her hard-scrabble life. But a tragic twist of fate -- and a dead field boss-- sent the two young people on the run, leaving behind family and everything she'd ever known.
Lucy Tucker, the crotchety old bag lady from the popular Yada Yada House of Hope series, is a veteran of Chicago streets and not about to give up her independence, even as she approaches her 80th birthday.
Until, that is, a young displaced woman with her gentle aging mother and a dog named Dandy seem to need her -- unsettling the secretive Lucy, who doesn't let anyone get too close. But just when it seems her past is catching up with her to bring her in out of the cold... Lucy disappears again. How these two tales intersect and intertwine between past and present gradually shines light into the dark corners of Lucy's murky past. But... why won't Lucy come home?
My thoughts
This book started a little slow for me, but after the first several chapters, I found it difficult to put it down. I was drawn into the life of Lucy and found myself remembering that we are ALL God's children and we all have a story. It is so easy for us to pretend that those who are homeless or otherwise "undesirable", do not have a story to tell, often an story just as intriguing as our own. I also found it interesting to read about the life of a migrant in the 1940's. I know people who have worked as migrants in more recent years, and I wonder how much things have changed in the past 70 years.
I have to admit, I have not read any of the books from the Yada Yada House of Hope series, but Lucy is a recurrent and popular character from the series. Having read Lucy Come Home
, I will definitely be looking to read the books in the Yada Yada series. I found the writing style of the book to be interesting as it was told from both a 3rd person perspective and by Lucy herself. It is a different style than I am used to, but I enjoyed it none-the-less. It reminds me of my own life, when some days I am fully present living my life and other days, I feel like I am watching it from the outside as a voice narrates it in my head.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about the lives of others, those who already know who Lucy is from the Yada Yada books, and those who just enjoy a book that can transport you to a time and place through writing alone.
About the author
Dave and Neta Jackson are award-winning authors living in the Chicago area where their parallel novels from the Yada Yada House of Hope and Harry Bentley series are set.
As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books.
Visit http://www.daveneta.com for more info.
Disclaimer
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group and the author for providing me with a copy of this book for review purposes. My opinion is my own and was not influenced by anyone else.
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