Climbing To The Sun: A novel

by Shelley Burchfield

In the autumn of 1928, herbalist and healer Callie Beecham makes a living treating patients with plant-based medicines and therapies in her small South Carolina town. When a young man urgently knocks on her door one morning, Callie finds her world turned upside down. He begs Callie to come to the freed-slave settlement of Liberia, nestled against the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to save his wife, struggling in childbirth. On the back of a mule, Callie follows the man to Liberia and discovers a world previously unknown to her. Callie’s decision to help the residents of Liberia quickly angers the wrong people in town—important people who know a secret about her, These people threaten Callie’s livelihood, her relationships and even her life. Their goal? To remove Callie Beecham and her kind once and for all.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2023

About the author

A southerner by birth, Shelley Burchfield's love of history and all things southern is evident in her debut novel, THE EARTH REMAINS, winner of the 2023 Readers Favorite Book Awards Gold Medal in Christian Historical Fiction and named a finalist in the 2023 American Fiction Awards.

A former teacher, Burchfield enjoys writing "what-if" southern fiction that flips notorious events upside down. She enjoys mountain hikes, hot coffee, and stacks of books yet to be read on a bedside table. She lives in the beautiful mountains of north Georgia with her husband and a menagerie of animals and pulls inspiration from the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains beyond her windows.

Her second historical fiction novel, CLIMBING TO THE SUN, was published in October 2023, and recently won the Bronze Medal in the 2024 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards contest. Set in the autumn of 1928. Herbalist and healer Callie Beecham owns a shop in tiny Pickens, South Carolina, and makes a living treating people with plant-based medicines and therapies. When a young man urgently knocks on her door one morning, Callie finds her world turned upside down. He begs Callie to come to the freed-slave settlement of Liberia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to save his wife, struggling in childbirth. On the back of a mule, Callie follows the man to Liberia and discovers a world previously unknown to her, and a desire to help the people there. Her desire to help the residents of Liberia quickly angers the wrong people in town—important people who will stop at nothing to see her gone for good.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved hearing Callie's story and how her life turned out. Fun to hear about Pickens, Table Rock, Greenville and Charleston. Moncks Corner was even in there which is where I grew up. It was a fast read because I kept wanting to get back to it. I've been to Soapstone church and Mable gave us a tour of the cemetery. Great history there.

[Susan Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wine store in Seneca, South Carolina advertised this book for their monthly book club, singing its praised for being set in nearby Pickens. I didn't join the club but ordered the novel from M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, SC. I didn't have high hope, just a curiosity to read a book set in the county where I now live. Yet, from the first few pages, I was hooked on the story, engaged with the characters, and enjoying the well written accounts of fictional people and the very real places they lived and worked. Every page kept me eagerly turning to the next one. The book subtly poses important questions about race, medical practices, and even spiritual faith. I highly recommend this book.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts off like many other of these types of books out there. Everything in black and white (pun not intended). However before it could take a dark turn like these books tend to do it does keep climbing towards the sun and ends on a high note.

[Ellen Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this book in 4 days!! What a wonderful story. I loved the characters. Good history lesson.

[Diane Evatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read since 'Where the Crawdads Sing'

[mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

I liked this read.. the story keeps you intrigued, the characters are enjoyable. It was really cool to read a story set almost exactly where I live, too. Stepping back in time and learning about natural remedies as well as the social structure of the era was very mind opening.
The first half of the book had me quite nervous. The tension between white and black society was heart wrenching and uncovering the big secret about the main character had me wondering when the axe would fall.
While there were some not so happy events that took place, the story really ended up being a happy one. I can't say I'm mad about that, it was a lot easier of a story to stomach after things work out and characters are safe and cared for.
The story ends up being more about the main character finding her place in her new found comfortable life and learning more about herself and her family.
The reason I took off stars, though, is because I felt like the story was a little too safe. It would have been difficult to endure bad things happening to the characters, especially with how nasty the white supremacists acted in just the little tidbits we got, but I feel like there could have been more depth. It just felt like the author couldn't bring herself to really make those difficult decisions and opted for an "easy" death with an animal.. something I see a lot in horror movies; it's traumatic, but it's cheap, and a lot less complicated than killing off an actual character.
We love a happy ending, but it kept it from being a really impactful story. I just wish there was a little bit more balance between nerve wracking/tense and happy/easy.

[Shanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Climbing To The Sun is an exquisitely written novel with a deeply felt sense of time and place. It captivated me from page one.

Burchfield transports the reader to pre-Depression-era South Carolina and immerses so much interesting details about old medical remedies of the time. The prose is breathtakingly beautiful. And despite of her gritty and heartbreaking exploration of racial cruelty, the novel is ultimately uplifting-a story of hope and healing.

Burchfield is a gifted storyteller who makes her characters and their experiences come alive. I didn't know how she could follow up "The Earth Remains," but her sophomore novel was every bit as impressive.

Quite simply this is a masterpiece. It will linger with you for days.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner by Burchfield. She deftly handles sensitive racial issues - black and jews in this book. A bit shorter than her first story and wraps up a bit too tidy at the end for my taste - tho I do like a happy ending.
Main character Callie is a single young woman that does natural medicines. She is unaware of her true identity and background. Tho a few men in the town know about her (& they belong to the KKK) she has a wonderful neighbor who's really her protector until he dies. She also discovers an attraction to the newly hired Dr who is jewish and facing his own prejudices.
Already said enough. Great read and recommended. A plus that the setting takes place right in our backyard of SC

[Lisa Mcadams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!! I had never even heard of this author and I live right here in Pickens County, SC. I was so interested in all the areas that she wrote about in and close to Pickens; Greenville, Dacusville, and even the Lowcountry of SC during that time. So much history during these times in the late 1800's and early 1900's that we seem to forget about or want to forget about. I highly recommend this book so much that my book club is reading another book by Shelley Burchfield, "The Earth Remains."

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good. It is about Callie Beecham who has a small shop where she sells herbs for healing and it also a midwife. Due to prejudice she is not allowed to treat in the town where she lives. With Callies good heart she continues to help people and is treated badly by the people in town. This book is Callie's journey.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is beautiful. I didn’t know how Shelley Burchfield could follow up The Earth Remains, but she did an amazing job. Spectacularly written. Insightful. Moving. I will read anything she publishes.

[Michelle Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that leads you through what it was like to live as a mixed draft women during a time where she was not accepted either place. Think there should be a sequel to this book! I didn’t want the story to end!

[Kathy Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

South Carolina is really the main character in this story. There are plentiful references to well known towns and landmarks, with the issues of prohibition and segregation as the central theme. Enjoyable read!

[Kathryn McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked her first book, The Earth Remains, better, but this one was also good. I do wonder how authentically a white woman can put herself in the shoes of a black woman passing.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book - well written, researched and thought provoking. Wonderful characters.
I’ll be rereading this one in the future.

[Leda Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelley Burchfield did it again! I could not put it down!

[Jeri McTaggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

History Filled

I love stories about herbalism and history. The author has done her homework, it’s an enjoyable read. Look forward to more.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day. A beautiful story of kindness, love and redemption in the segregated Deep South.

[Kathy Maresca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like fresh rain on a parched garden, Climbing toward the Sun revives the reader’s soul. This divining rod of Southern history will find its place among the classics. Showing us how “the veil between this world and the next is fragile,” Shelley Burchfield’s exquisite and refreshing voice will be remembered long after the last page is read.

I had the privilege of reading this novel before it was published, and it is one of the best books ever. If you are looking for a clean read, this fits the bill. Full of suspense and tension, Climbing to the Sun is also full of love. I could not put it down.

My highest recommendation.

[Jane Bolling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it . Opened my eyes to the Jim Crow South. I grew up in Brooklyn so all kinds of people worked, lived, and played together. Came to Norfolk Virginia in the early ‘70’s and watched the evolution of the revitalization and development of integration and some white flight , the growth of private schools in a historic city.

[Jane Coward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story -

A tragic but courageous story written about a mulatto healer/nurse trying to find her place in a world where she was not accepted by either blacks or whites. The1920’s were difficult for everybody, but particularly for Callie Beecham and Dr. Sam Epstein as they eat their rightful place in the small-town South. Well written and a very good story.

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. You will not want to put it down once you start reading. This is Callie's story and it is about the struggles she had to overcome when becoming aware of who her family was. This book should be used in diversity classes everywhere. It is an eye opener.

[Ginger Barthel · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book by Shelley Burchfield

The characters in Climbing to the Sun are endearing and the story makes you want to read more. A thoroughly enjoyable description of life in the south in the 1920s and 30s for those of color as well as for whites. So very interesting.

[Victoria D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelley Burchfield

This is the 2nd book for this author that I have read. I could not put it down. Made me realize how little I know about that time in our world and happy to learn about it. Hopefully another book is in the works.

[denise airey · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written historical fiction

Touching story, that filled me with awe at Callie’s bravery and desire to heal all God’s people- as well as rage over the violence and ignorance that man has over the color of our skin…
Important story everyone should read.

[Judith Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed/was horrified reading about the struggles Callie faced in 1920s Georgia. Very interesting and enlightening. Filled with loving families and friends contrasted with the hate of the KKK. It was compelling-once I got into the story I couldn't wait to see how Callie's life turned out.

[Laura Valdes Jost]

DOA