Judith Ormand was the only Black – and the only Jew — in a small Pennsylvania mountain village, where she was raised by her white Christian grandparents. Now, as a young woman, she must break her vow to never return to the town she learned to hate. In the single week, she buries and mourns for her beloved grandmother, confronts the white boy who broke her heart, has a brutal run-in with a violent bully from her youth, and uncovers a long buried secret that makes her question the fundamental “truths” of who she is and what she believes. You can find more information about “Jo Joe” at http://www.pixelhallpress.com/jo_joe.html.
My Review
This was truly a very emotional novel. There were happy moments when she reflected on memories of time spent with her grandparents or Joe, then tear jerking moments when you read all that she’d been through. My favorite character is Joe. Even though she openly made known how much she disliked him, he took it, never setting the record straight because it would have made her grandmother look bad. That takes a lot of strength and character. This was a wonderful book, one I’m thrilled that I had a chance to read!
About the Author
Whether she is writing books or taking photographs, Sally Wiener Grotta is the consummate storyteller. Her words and pictures reflect her deep humanism and appreciation for the poignancy of life. As an award-winning journalist, she has authored many hundreds of articles, columns and reviews for scores of glossy magazines, newspapers and online publications. She has also co-authored numerous non-fiction books with her husband, Daniel Grotta; her next novel (which will be published in autumn 2013) will be The Winter Boy.
You can also connect with her onFacebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and/or her blog.
Available in paperback, eBook and hardbound at all bookstores, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.