Motty's Vow: A Novel of Family, Duty, and Resilience

Roots of Resilience #1

by Diane Wahn Shotton

The asylum is one racking cough away.

Fourteen-year-old Motty knows what happens if her mother lets go — the children will be separated, and Mary, who can't always follow what people say or why they're angry, will be sent to the asylum. She won't come back from that.

Her father's gone to war. The cupboards are empty.

Motty will do whatever it takes to keep them together. She just doesn't know yet what it costs.

Motty's Vow — Civil War historical fiction inspired by a true story. A girl. Her siblings. The price of keeping them together.

For fans of Lisa Wingate and Kristin Hannah.

Includes a Book Club Guide with discussion questions and historical background.

Available to library cardholders in Phoenix, Kenton County (KY), and Cincinnati/Hamilton County (OH) — the very communities where this story was lived.

Genres: Historical Fiction

386 pages, ebook

First published November 12, 2024

About the author

For readers of Lisa Wingate, Kristin Hannah, and Diane Chamberlain who crave ordinary people facing impossible choices.

Meet strong women, complicated families, and the quiet heroism left out of textbooks. These are stories of sacrifice, legacy, and the cost of injustice—deeply human, deeply researched, set in 19th- and early 20th-century America.

MOTTI'S VOW - Book 1, Roots of Resilience series
A #1 category bestseller following a young girl determined to keep her family together during the Civil War.

LIZZIE'S OATH - Book 2, Roots of Resilience series
Arrives September 21, 2026
The story of Motty's younger sister: a woman who did everything right and lost it all, then made one mistake and got the life she dreamed of.

STANDALONE: The Dictograph Case
Reviewed by the Historical Novel Society, May 2026
Uncovers buried truths and the price of silence in a small American town.

Author of historical fiction rooted in family histories from Covington, KY. Now writing from Cave Creek, AZ.

Find Diane:
Website: DianeWahnShotton.com
Newsletter: DianeWahnShotton.Substack.com
Instagram: deshottonauthor
Facebook: dianewahnshotton

Reviews

[Amylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

emotional

This book came across my suggestions on kindle and even though its not usually what I read, I am so glad I did. The main character “Motty, is such a strong young lady who had to deal with such hard things. She did not know how strong she was until she had to be. I stayed up all night reading this. I cried do much but I also smiled a lot. I wish their was a book 2 so I can know how Mary, Lizzy And henrY was. I felt like their should be more to the story. Definitely a great read. Be prepared to cry. This is the only book I read by this author and I am glad I did.

[Earlene Click · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motty, Mary, Lizzy and Henry

This is an unusual tale, and wonderfully written. This family shows it’s broken from the beginning, the love that is shown is overwhelming. The Civil war as the background and the motivating factor for many of the happenings. Death and promises, both kept and broken are one of the major factors. You will either hate this tale and probably stop reading before the end or like it as I do and think it is one of the most riveting you’ve ever read.

[Mary Sue Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written novel about family love and sacrifice. The story is about a German immigrant family living in Ohio when the Civil War begins. A young girl, the oldest child, is faced with responsibilities no child should have to assume. The reader learns about the hardships families faced as war forged on. I highly recommend.

[Genevieve Scholl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undying Love for now!

This book rattled my cage in the way my emotions sometimes battles between pitty, rage and undying love. These children's highs and lows made me want to help them. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a meandering story of hope. Never give up and never give in. It is what it is.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. Honestly, I wouldn't have ever read it, based on the cover, but my husband loved it and highly recommended it. It's a powerful story, and every single character was so well-written. I can't wait for the next novel to come out next year.

This would be a great historical fiction read for middle school and up.

[Dorothy Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

This author captured a clear picture of lives during the years leading up to and during the Civil War. Such hardships and disappointments on families who came to America in hopes of peace and prosperity.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I feel the ending could have been written better than it was. I was a bit disappointed in the abrupt ending.

[Celia Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

review of “Mottys” Vow

Excellent telling of a girls courage in very difficult situations. The characterazions are very real for each character. The weaknesses of the parents are so real as well as a child’s need for them to be perfect. This is a book to be proud of writing.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during the Civil War, a man leaves his sick wife and four children to enlist in the union army. Motty, his young teenage daughter is in charge. Will she be able to overcome many obstacles and keep her vow to hold the family together? Historical fiction based on a true story.
"I was fourteen the day Papa rode off to fight for the Union, leaving Mama—frail, frightened, and penniless—with four children to feed. That was the day I became the one who had to hold us together.
When Mama took sick, I made a vow: I would never let us be separated. I would never let Mary go to the asylum. No matter what.
But promises don’t put food on the table. And the streets of Civil War–era Cincinnati are no place for a girl with nothing but grit, hope, and the weight of her word." synopsis copied

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical fiction.

I started reading and could not put down. It was so enjoyable reading a book that you knew was right out of history. It was so tough for the fami!ies to survive during the civil war and these children had it especially bad. I don't know that I could have done as well. My own ancestors also arrived in the beginning of our country. I wish that I could write such a great story about their experiences and trials. Congrats on such a beautiful job, Diane

[Andrea McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely read dedicated to the human spirit of resilience

I had a hard time putting this book down. I fell in love with the main character and her tenacity and perseverance to support her family through difficult times. Life wasn’t fair to Morty, but her strength and resourcefulness wove a beautiful story for her siblings.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motty's Vow broke my heart and stitched it back together again. Motty is such a powerful, believable character, so young, yet forced to shoulder impossible responsibility. The fear of her family being torn apart felt painfully real, and I was fully invested in every choice she made. A beautiful, emotional read that stayed with me long after I finished.

[Kathy Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The war women fought

This book told of the struggles of women during the civil war. We hear stories about what war is to a man but feeling and difficulty women’s face seem too. Take a second place. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to see women overcome their many challenges and fears

[Yvonne Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read

This is a new author for me, and I am so impressed. This is probably the best I have ever read and I will be looking for other books by her. I'm sure I will never forget this story.

[Dorothy Dillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

finger kisses

This was a great story although I did want to see Martha marry EB..she was one tough young lady and true to her family..

[Clover Maracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ON KINDLE

[Sandra Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read.

[Deborah Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful story

Wow should Motty betray papa or obey Mama? What a life story of this family has to endure. Loved this book.

[kathy Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

made history more real

Reading this book made history come alive. Sometimes we look at history and forget the people were real with real feelings like our own. Reading this book made me appreciate what children went through by losing parents during very hard times. Love this story.

[Diane]

From the Author:
I wrote Motty’s Vow to understand a family story that was always just out of reach. What began as a genealogical mystery—why did my ancestor fight in the Civil War, leaving his family behind?—became something more intimate: a young girl’s promise, a family fractured, and the quiet strength it takes to hold things together.

This book is deeply personal, but it’s also for anyone who has ever had to grow up too fast, shoulder responsibility beyond their years, or love someone through grief. Set in the German-American community of 1860s Cincinnati, Motty’s Vow is historical fiction rooted in real places, emotional truth, and ordinary resilience.

I hope readers find something in Motty’s journey that stays with them. I’m grateful to everyone who’s taken a chance on her story.