The novel opens with The Horton Family making its annual rounds to backwoods tent meetings throughout the South where Rev. Horton hopes to redeem himself as a faith healer after a scandal during last year's Revival Season leaves his reputation in question.
The narrator is a sweet, loving 15-year-old Miriam, the oldest daughter in this tightly controlled, patriarchal household. She bears the brunt as primary caretaker to a special needs sister and helpmate to a broken, subservient mother.
When the sheltered Miriam witnesses a series of events involving her self-professed “servant of God” father, she has an awakening where the once hero-worship admiration of her father sours. She begins to question much of what she was taught and believed as “gospel truth.” She also discovers her voice, God-given talents and begins to use both in good faith with alarming results.
Part cautionary tale rife with the consequences of hubris, part coming of age amid family crisis -- this novel is packed with life lessons. While the story is set in a heavily evangelical setting and glimpses at controversial teachings and edicts, the novel is not “religious” or “preachy.” It delicately maintains a neutral tone while shedding light on some of the more questionable aspects of this lifestyle and belief system.
I’m surprised that this is a debut novel - the author handles the character development, pacing, plot (which included the taboo topic of religion) with aplomb -- definitely at a level that would imply veteran status. I’ll definitely look to read her next release!
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