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The Sons of Skyland
Seamus O’Brien wanted to get out from under his father’s shadow, but being twenty-two and on his own during The Great Depression meant a life of soup kitchens and bread lines. Then, Seamus learned about Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps and a chance to break free from his past in Roanoke, Virginia, to start anew.
Life in the CCCs, however, wasn’t just “three hots and a cot.” The work The Tree Army did in Shenandoah National Park and beyond was dirty, difficult, and dangerous. From a young age, Seamus had relied on his own wits and determination to see a job through. After all, being on his own gave him a sense of freedom and control, even if it was often at the cost of feeling lonely and lost.
But nature is unforgiving, and if Seamus can’t learn to work with others, including those who hate him, his life outdoors in the CCC could be just as demanding and deadly as the life he left behind.
Can Seamus survive against Mother Nature and human nature to become one of the Sons of Skyland, or will he give in to his fears and his rage and wind up following in his father’s footsteps?
Life in the CCCs, however, wasn’t just “three hots and a cot.” The work The Tree Army did in Shenandoah National Park and beyond was dirty, difficult, and dangerous. From a young age, Seamus had relied on his own wits and determination to see a job through. After all, being on his own gave him a sense of freedom and control, even if it was often at the cost of feeling lonely and lost.
But nature is unforgiving, and if Seamus can’t learn to work with others, including those who hate him, his life outdoors in the CCC could be just as demanding and deadly as the life he left behind.
Can Seamus survive against Mother Nature and human nature to become one of the Sons of Skyland, or will he give in to his fears and his rage and wind up following in his father’s footsteps?
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2023
5 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 6, 2024
The Sons of Skyland brings to life the story of the boys who shaped Shenandoah in the 1930s. It follows Seamus, a new member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (the “CCC Boys”) in his journey to break free from his past and be part of something worthwhile. Along the way he grows into someone he didn’t expect and forms a bond with the other young men who signed up for the Tree Army.
As a fan of National Parks, I always appreciated the beauty of these spaces, but never considered the people who were part of the backbreaking, dangerous labor involved in creating the roads and trails we now use almost 100 years later. As the reader follows Seamus through each assignment to make Shenandoah beautiful and safe, you grow in empathy for the men who donated a portion of their youth so that future generations could fulfill our primal need to escape into nature.
If you have ever been to Shenandoah, you know that its beauty is hard to put into words, though Richardson is as successful on paper as the real thing:
“This time, he paused at a rocky outcropping looking west into the brilliance of the sunset. A clear pumpkin-colored sky filled his horizon, but the cool fall air had kept real clouds from forming…he caught motion and then heard the distinctive cawing of the ravens in the purpling sky overhead, spiraling and riding the early evening thermals and looking for dinner” (141).
Richardson is able to both make her readers visualize Seamus’s experience throughout the seasons, and inspire them to visit the park, knowing everything Seamus describes is preserved and able to be seen today based on their hard work. Sons of Skyland is an inspiring read not only for fans of our national parks, but for those looking to escape to nature in a book, and enjoy a part-coming-of-age, part-romance historical fiction story along the way.
As a fan of National Parks, I always appreciated the beauty of these spaces, but never considered the people who were part of the backbreaking, dangerous labor involved in creating the roads and trails we now use almost 100 years later. As the reader follows Seamus through each assignment to make Shenandoah beautiful and safe, you grow in empathy for the men who donated a portion of their youth so that future generations could fulfill our primal need to escape into nature.
If you have ever been to Shenandoah, you know that its beauty is hard to put into words, though Richardson is as successful on paper as the real thing:
“This time, he paused at a rocky outcropping looking west into the brilliance of the sunset. A clear pumpkin-colored sky filled his horizon, but the cool fall air had kept real clouds from forming…he caught motion and then heard the distinctive cawing of the ravens in the purpling sky overhead, spiraling and riding the early evening thermals and looking for dinner” (141).
Richardson is able to both make her readers visualize Seamus’s experience throughout the seasons, and inspire them to visit the park, knowing everything Seamus describes is preserved and able to be seen today based on their hard work. Sons of Skyland is an inspiring read not only for fans of our national parks, but for those looking to escape to nature in a book, and enjoy a part-coming-of-age, part-romance historical fiction story along the way.
September 30, 2023
Shenandoah National Park is Waiting...
This was a bittersweet book for me because I lived in the shadow of the Shenandoah National Park for over 40 years and I miss the mountains every single day. I was pleased that the author addressed the issue of folks being forced off their land since it doesn't show the authorities in the best light. The CCC gave many young men a new start in life when they most needed one, providing skills and a sense of family. This book does real justice to the program and to the Park while providing a great read for the rest of us. (And that cover is perfection!)
This was a bittersweet book for me because I lived in the shadow of the Shenandoah National Park for over 40 years and I miss the mountains every single day. I was pleased that the author addressed the issue of folks being forced off their land since it doesn't show the authorities in the best light. The CCC gave many young men a new start in life when they most needed one, providing skills and a sense of family. This book does real justice to the program and to the Park while providing a great read for the rest of us. (And that cover is perfection!)
December 11, 2023
I did not expect to love this book, but I did. It's the story of a young man with nowhere good to go and join the CCC. He learns his true worth, makes real friends, finds meaning in his life, and the power to be a great leader. I would highly recommend this boon!
September 1, 2025
This historical, fictional work is a beautiful and gritty love letter to places dear to my heart. Well-researched and uplifting, the words transported me to the trail, the museum, the overlooks, and to times spent with the author. I feel grateful to have read such a labor of love published in durable binding that will last like the handprints on the boards.
March 6, 2025
Having lived in Virginia and enjoyed visiting Shenandoah my entire life, you would think I'd know the story of how the park was created. This book had an engaging story and so much interesting information about the CCC. I loved the evolution of the characters and the tie in with the present.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews