Halley

by Faye Gibbons

Times are hard in Depression-era Georgia mountain country. Even so, fourteen-year-old Halley Owenby, her younger brother, Robbie, and their parents, Jim and Kate, manage to get by until Jim dies suddenly in an accident, and Kate decides she and her children have no choice but to move in with her parents.

Like her father, Halley has never cared for her grandparents. Her grandfather Franklin is a fire-and-brimstone fundamentalist preacher who runs a strict and joyless household. A miserly tyrant, he claims any money the women in his household earn. Even their mail he considers his to read first.

Waiting for the Rapture, when Jesus will return, may suit her grandparents and many others of the same faith, but Halley wants more. She yearns for some control of her own life. She longs for an education, which she firmly believes would eventually allow choices. Little does she suspect that such dreams might actually come true.

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Young Adult Historical Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2014

Reviews

[Maria Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a novel set in the Deep South, it’s the best setting for a book ever! I will accept no criticism! My grandmother got this book signed to me in 2015, she just gave it to me last year and I finally got around to reading it. It’s special to me in that way, it’s the kind of book I’ll keep forever. Thank you Ebee and Big Russ for instilling a love of reading and writing in me that I’ll carry forever.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not big on historical fiction but wasn't too bad.

[Marianne Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real page turner and I felt every empathy for the characters. Rarely do I find a book that captivates my attention enough to complete it in one day but this book did just that.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pa Franklin has now taken over the responsibilities of the household and Kate is losing everything. The mound of dirt covering her husband’s body is only a few days old and now her life is drastically changing. Halley vocalizes her disapproval of her grandfather’s arrangements but he quickly squashes down her attempts to keep their family of three together on her father’s land. Moving in with Ma and Pa Franklin, watching others arrive in their wagons dissembling the life they had, and putting price tags on the items that Halley thought were priceless, Halley frustration with her mother was growing. Being fourteen, Halley has an energy and fight inside her, she has dreams and ambitions for her and her family but when she sees her mother let Pa Franklin make the decision for their family, she gets angry. Ma takes on a job to help with the finances and this worries Halley. She has heard rumors about the mill, she just wonders how long it will be before her mother starts coughing. Halley and her brother will each start a new school soon. Pa Franklin is a preacher, he likes to preach both the gospel and just preach what he thinks but he doesn’t live by what he says. Halley tries to throw his scripture passages back at him and these confrontations had me smiling, as the twisting of the words made each party a victor. Ma Franklin gets in on the action and Halley alternately takes over many of the household duties leaving me wondering what the real motive is for Ma’s actions. Halley is not able to start school now that she is busy with all the household duties and Halley’s dreams fall by the wayside. Her emotions and frustrations increase and the tension in the house are thick. Halley discovers a way to survive, a way where she can make a meager living safe from Pa Franklin, an escape from her daily responsibilities, if only she can keep it a secret. Life was hard back in the day and for Halley, she is searching for her ray of sunshine. It was a vicious cycle, her grandfather with his taunting and his relentless preaching, her grandmother and her cycles where one minute she enlightened Halley with stories and other times she seemed off-key. Her mother, it happened all so quickly, her life changed with the passing of her husband and then her father swooped in and claimed the life that was left behind. Halley is frustrated, torn and wants to escape. This cycle must end but what is cost in doing so?

[Tanita Davis]

When Halley's father dies in an accident involving an illegal moonshine still, everything changes. Halley's grandparents come immediately -- allegedly to help, but immediately Halley's grandfather insists that her father has gone to hell, because, seeing as Prohibition is alive and well during this time, only sinners have anything to do with moonshine. Rather than defend her late husband, Halley's mother crumples into the girl she grew up as, the daughter of the Baptist fundamentalist preacher who litters the countryside with signs about The Rapture. Kate becomes meek and subservient overnight -- giving up the farm, leaving their town and moving over the hill to live with he and Ma Franklin. It is, as Halley suspected it would be, miserable. Aside from the casual cruelties of a controlling man, there are the indignities of being left alone, when her mother takes a job at the Belton Mill, with Ma Franklin, who is forever nagging her to do this or get that, as if she's a surly, spoiled child. Halley's mother is a colorless shadow of the person she was, and refuses to talk about her late husband - as if he'd never existed. Even Robbie works Halley's nerves, ducking responsibility and making more work for her. But the very worst thing is having her dreams of an education totally extinguished. Pa Franklin is good at snuffing out the dreams of others - after all, the only thing in his mind everyone should be dreaming of is Heaven. His heaven, where he always gets his way, and where he has complete and total Bible-sanctioned rights over his entire family, AND his dog.

Fortunately, Pa Franklin's heaven doesn't exist -- and Halley's salvation from his rigid, joyless household is closer than she thinks... all it will take is family standing together and the word "no."

[Mrs. Strudthoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halley Owenby's family is poor, dirt poor, during the Great Depression. But they are happy at least until Halley's dad dies suddenly. Halley, her little brother, and mom have little choice but to move into her mother's parents' house. Halley's grandfather is a fire and brimstone preacher who demands hard work from everyone in the household while he's out preaching. He doesn't believe in education either; so Halley's desire to go to high school is snuffed out. Her grandma is basically a doormat and just obeys her husband no matter how much she disagrees with her his decisions. Halley's mother is no longer the happy woman she was when her husband was still alive and has no gumption to help her own children.

But Halley never loses her spirit. And things get better at home too. Grandma starts to stand up to Grandpa who is so surprised by this change of behavior that he is stunned into inaction. Her mom falls in love with a nice man at work. And Halley's dream of going to high school might become a reality after all.

Realistic historical fiction. Readers will root for Halley on every page, and they will be very thankful that the didn't live during the Great Depression.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book. Set in the mountain region of Georgia during the Great Depression, Halley Owens comes to adulthood maintaining her family closeness while still developing her independence during a time when strong women were not especially admired or encouraged by society or their families. The book unflinchingly looks at how poverty affects the choices families had to make during the era but it never resorts to clichés or pity. Halley became a real person to me while reading this book and I was sorry to have my time with her end at the conclusion of the story.

[Devera C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
A beautifully clean book about a young teenage Georgia mountain girl. Halley's father has just passed, and due to dire situations, her mother (Kate), brother (Robbie), and herself are required to move in with her exceptionally strict and fundamental baptist preacher grandfather. This book is set in the depression era and is incredibly descriptive as to the poor and sometimes shocking living conditions during the time. Looking back at what was needed just to survive was unbelievable. If you like historical fiction, you will love this book.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story sharing how things were in the late 1930's. Halley and her family suffer the unexpected death of her father. Then they suffer moving with with her maternal grandparents and they all suffer under the hands of preacher " Pa Franklin. Halley is a strong character who I enjoyed reading about.

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical read. Lots of emotion, insight, and southern flavor.

[Stacy Sorrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Very interesting and well written. The author gives a real insight to that time period! Enjoyed it!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite sad. A rough life during rough times. It ended well enough. Quick, easy read.