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Sticks in a Bundle: The Decision
"Absolutely stunning." -- The Bookouture Team.
"A richly told story vivid and unique." -- The BookLife Prize.
Sticks in a The Decision is the final piece of Eshile Mthembu’s powerful and poignant tale. Join Eshile on the bumpy road, leaving behind her teenage years and entering womanhood. On this journey, she struggles with the complications that come with maturity—love, duty, and accountability. She’s strong and resourceful yet battles self-doubt when called upon to resolve challenges greater than any she ever envisioned for her future.
The 1980s bring no relief from apartheid or the devastation it wreaks on Eshile’s family, friends, and community. Publishing her words and thoughts in South African underground newspapers places everyone she loves in harm’s way. Will she risk everything to fight prejudice and discrimination? Does she follow her dreams or accept the responsibilities asked of her? Eshile must balance what her heart craves against the safety and expectations of others. Which life will she choose to live?
Fans of historical and literary fiction are captivated by Eshile's inspiring journey of love, strength, and resilience in the face of adversity. Comparable to best-selling titles such as The Color Purple and Homegoing, this extraordinary coming-of-age saga, Sticks in a The Decision, is sure to have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Order your copy of this unforgettable story now.
"A richly told story vivid and unique." -- The BookLife Prize.
Sticks in a The Decision is the final piece of Eshile Mthembu’s powerful and poignant tale. Join Eshile on the bumpy road, leaving behind her teenage years and entering womanhood. On this journey, she struggles with the complications that come with maturity—love, duty, and accountability. She’s strong and resourceful yet battles self-doubt when called upon to resolve challenges greater than any she ever envisioned for her future.
The 1980s bring no relief from apartheid or the devastation it wreaks on Eshile’s family, friends, and community. Publishing her words and thoughts in South African underground newspapers places everyone she loves in harm’s way. Will she risk everything to fight prejudice and discrimination? Does she follow her dreams or accept the responsibilities asked of her? Eshile must balance what her heart craves against the safety and expectations of others. Which life will she choose to live?
Fans of historical and literary fiction are captivated by Eshile's inspiring journey of love, strength, and resilience in the face of adversity. Comparable to best-selling titles such as The Color Purple and Homegoing, this extraordinary coming-of-age saga, Sticks in a The Decision, is sure to have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Order your copy of this unforgettable story now.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2024
4 people want to read
About the author
Pat Spencer
9 books74 followersDr. Pat Spencer has a lifetime of experience publishing fiction and nonfiction. Her book credits include the literary and historical fiction trilogy of Sticks in a Bundle Trilogy — Sticks in a Bundle: The Early Years (Book I), Transitions (Book II), and The Decision (Book III) -; Golden Boxty in the Frypan, historical fiction; A Baker’s Dozen For Writers: 13 Tips for Great Storytelling; and Story of a Stolen Girl, an International thriller; and Sticks in a Bundle. Her textbook is published by Milady/Cengage Learning.
Pat’s short story, A Healing Place, won the 2019 Oceanside Literary Festival. Other short stories and articles are published in journals such as the Literary Yard, Scarlet Leaf Review, Potato Soup Journal, Almost an Author, Vine Leaves Press, and Academy of the Heart and Mind. Pat authored a column in the Press-Enterprise newspaper and served as a columnist and contributing editor to Inland Empire Magazine.
Pat lived in three countries and seven states. She loves to travel and spent time in Europe, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Greece, Mexico, the Galapagos, and the Bahamas, as well as Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. She has road-tripped across the continental United States several times. Pat enjoys getting to know people and learning about their culture.
Dr. Spencer, a retired professor and community college president, lives in Southern California with her husband. She speaks to service and community organizations on human trafficking, writing processes, and her books. When not writing, Pat golfs, reads, walks the beach, hangs out with family and friends, or frequents book clubs and writing critique groups.
Pat’s short story, A Healing Place, won the 2019 Oceanside Literary Festival. Other short stories and articles are published in journals such as the Literary Yard, Scarlet Leaf Review, Potato Soup Journal, Almost an Author, Vine Leaves Press, and Academy of the Heart and Mind. Pat authored a column in the Press-Enterprise newspaper and served as a columnist and contributing editor to Inland Empire Magazine.
Pat lived in three countries and seven states. She loves to travel and spent time in Europe, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Greece, Mexico, the Galapagos, and the Bahamas, as well as Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. She has road-tripped across the continental United States several times. Pat enjoys getting to know people and learning about their culture.
Dr. Spencer, a retired professor and community college president, lives in Southern California with her husband. She speaks to service and community organizations on human trafficking, writing processes, and her books. When not writing, Pat golfs, reads, walks the beach, hangs out with family and friends, or frequents book clubs and writing critique groups.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 15, 2025
I welcomed the opportunity to catch up with Eshile Mthembu’s story having been both fascinated and inspired by the previous two books in the series.
We join Eshile and her family again in their home in Soweto where to a large degree they have settled back comfortably into the community with family, neighbours and their church congregation delighted to have them back. However, being a mixed race family, which had been much less of an issue whilst they had been at the safari lodge, now threatens their peace of mind and safety again. Not just from the authorities but closer to home.
The household expands over the next few years as the family suffers losses but also welcomes those into their home who are struggling. It becomes a safe haven for them and the family as the three girls grow into their teens, taking on jobs to pay for their continued education and forming further ties to the community.
The author brings this eclectic community to life; from the weekly women’s get together where gossip and personal stories are swapped and enjoyed, the celebrations, the local market and nightlife venues, and the gangs roaming the streets around them. There is comfort also to be found through the embracing of both their traditional practices and their catholic faith, which a progressive pastor also combines in his services.
There are some heart stopping moments as the family and their neighbours face danger and violence with the brutality of the governmental regime impacting everything they do. Even though this took place over 40 years ago it still evokes anger and disbelief at the appalling response to even peaceful demonstrations, or to those who have committed minor support of the growing movement towards the abolition of apartheid.
Eshile and her family have to live with the consequences of two brutal and devastating events, and in the aftermath reach some decisions that will change their lives forever.
This story over the three books has been filled with moments of great joy and devastating despair, but it has also been inspiring and motivating as we are invited into a young woman’s life. We watch as she grows up to become an accomplished writer, daring to push the boundaries to voice her opinion and a determined guardian of her family and her heritage, as she pursues a safe place for them all in their turbulent and dangerous world.
I recommend all the books in this trilogy as it covers a time in not just South Africa’s history, but in world history, and it brings to life vividly both the beautiful side of this continent and the darkness of oppression. Amazing characters and storytelling at its best.
We join Eshile and her family again in their home in Soweto where to a large degree they have settled back comfortably into the community with family, neighbours and their church congregation delighted to have them back. However, being a mixed race family, which had been much less of an issue whilst they had been at the safari lodge, now threatens their peace of mind and safety again. Not just from the authorities but closer to home.
The household expands over the next few years as the family suffers losses but also welcomes those into their home who are struggling. It becomes a safe haven for them and the family as the three girls grow into their teens, taking on jobs to pay for their continued education and forming further ties to the community.
The author brings this eclectic community to life; from the weekly women’s get together where gossip and personal stories are swapped and enjoyed, the celebrations, the local market and nightlife venues, and the gangs roaming the streets around them. There is comfort also to be found through the embracing of both their traditional practices and their catholic faith, which a progressive pastor also combines in his services.
There are some heart stopping moments as the family and their neighbours face danger and violence with the brutality of the governmental regime impacting everything they do. Even though this took place over 40 years ago it still evokes anger and disbelief at the appalling response to even peaceful demonstrations, or to those who have committed minor support of the growing movement towards the abolition of apartheid.
Eshile and her family have to live with the consequences of two brutal and devastating events, and in the aftermath reach some decisions that will change their lives forever.
This story over the three books has been filled with moments of great joy and devastating despair, but it has also been inspiring and motivating as we are invited into a young woman’s life. We watch as she grows up to become an accomplished writer, daring to push the boundaries to voice her opinion and a determined guardian of her family and her heritage, as she pursues a safe place for them all in their turbulent and dangerous world.
I recommend all the books in this trilogy as it covers a time in not just South Africa’s history, but in world history, and it brings to life vividly both the beautiful side of this continent and the darkness of oppression. Amazing characters and storytelling at its best.
April 20, 2025
This is Book 3 in the Sticks in a Bundle series, and I’ll be careful not to give anything away. Eshile is 15 years old, a woman according to cultural standards. Like the previous two books, this one reads like a memoir, and though there are intense action scenes, terrible violence, and plenty of danger, it’s the family’s strength, love and care, and determination to make a good life for each other that makes this a compelling read.
Once again, the story unfolds in Eshile’s point of view. And once again, life is complicated and full of choices where she must weigh her own desires against her family’s needs, and her safety against a desire to protest the cruel ideology of apartheid. Again, the bonds of family strengthen, but also the bonds of community as neighbors support each other.
I’m not an expert on apartheid or South Africa’s cultural struggles, but I appreciated that the book seemed to avoid stereotypes. Characters are nuanced, both black and white, gang members, medical professionals, business people, and church goers. Only the police seemed entirely unreliable, from indifferent to downright murderous.
This series is beautifully written with vivid descriptions, wonderful characters, and ultimately lots of heart. It ends on a high note, though Eshile’s story certainly continues. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy memoirs and South African fiction, stories about families overcoming difficult situations, and wonderfully crafted characters. I’m sorry to see the series end.
Once again, the story unfolds in Eshile’s point of view. And once again, life is complicated and full of choices where she must weigh her own desires against her family’s needs, and her safety against a desire to protest the cruel ideology of apartheid. Again, the bonds of family strengthen, but also the bonds of community as neighbors support each other.
I’m not an expert on apartheid or South Africa’s cultural struggles, but I appreciated that the book seemed to avoid stereotypes. Characters are nuanced, both black and white, gang members, medical professionals, business people, and church goers. Only the police seemed entirely unreliable, from indifferent to downright murderous.
This series is beautifully written with vivid descriptions, wonderful characters, and ultimately lots of heart. It ends on a high note, though Eshile’s story certainly continues. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy memoirs and South African fiction, stories about families overcoming difficult situations, and wonderfully crafted characters. I’m sorry to see the series end.
February 23, 2025
Turning the final page of this captivating trilogy has left me with bittersweet emotions. Like the first two books in the Sticks in a Bundle series, Decisions is filled with heart-stopping moments, and through it all, Eshile and her family have come to feel like dear friends.
As the story reaches the end of a harrowing era of oppression against Blacks and Coloureds, Eshile must still face the most difficult challenges of her life. In the face of escalating violence and personal loss, her resolve to fight injustice only strengthens as she transitions into adulthood, ultimately standing before the most pivotal decision of her life—a choice she meets with bravery, determination, and hope.
This powerful and deeply moving trilogy is a must-read for those who appreciate historical fiction with unforgettable characters and raw emotional depth. I highly recommend it for a truly memorable reading experience.
As the story reaches the end of a harrowing era of oppression against Blacks and Coloureds, Eshile must still face the most difficult challenges of her life. In the face of escalating violence and personal loss, her resolve to fight injustice only strengthens as she transitions into adulthood, ultimately standing before the most pivotal decision of her life—a choice she meets with bravery, determination, and hope.
This powerful and deeply moving trilogy is a must-read for those who appreciate historical fiction with unforgettable characters and raw emotional depth. I highly recommend it for a truly memorable reading experience.
April 1, 2025
What a beautiful way to end a three-book story! I've got to tell you, it was a fun adventure reading these three books and having read all of them--I highly recommend you to read them too! It was more than captivating. I can't wait to read more books written by Pat Spencer! She's a gifted author!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews