In the Fields of Fatherless Children

by Pamela Steele

For readers of Jeannette Walls and Barbara Kingsolver, in this love story set in rural Appalachia during the Vietnam War, a young couple is torn apart by both global conflict and their families’ ancient feud

In late 1960s Appalachia, many things loom darkly over June the Vietnam War is dividing the country, and a strip mine is eating away the mountain at the head of the holler where she lives, threatening the natural landscape and the only way of life she has ever known. While still in high school, June has fallen in love. She is pregnant, and the father may be Ellis Akers. Ellis is the son of Solomon, a mortal enemy of June’s stepfather, Isom. The feud is so old it fuels two vengeful men with the power of long animosity between rival families.

June’s brother, Tom, leaves to enlist in the war, and so does Ellis. Suddenly, June is on her own, at sixteen with a newborn, and is a mother unable to protect her daughter from the wrath of Isom. Without warning, her baby is kidnapped. Guided by her love for the generations of women before her, but now desperately alone, June must carefully navigate the search for her child alongside family and strangers in a wild and disappearing landscape.

In the Fields of the Fatherless Children is a powerful story of love and perseverance, masterfully told by a writer of exquisite care who knows intimately the rural people of this time and place.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Book Club, Audiobook

336 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 2026

About the author

Pamela Steele is the author of Paper Bird (Wordcraft of Oregon, 2007), her first full-length collection of poetry, and Greasewood Creek, (Counterpoint, 2011) a novel. She earned an MFA from Spalding University in Louisville, KY and is a Fishtrap fellow, a recipient of the Kentucky Writers Coalition's Jim Wayne Miller Prize and the James Scarbrough Memorial Poetry Award. In the summer of 2007, Pamela was awarded a Jentel Artists Residency. She lives in Echo, Oregon.

PLEASE NOTE: My published works are Greasewood Creek, Paper Bird, and the forthcoming In the Fields of Fatherless Children (Counterpoint 2026). Any other books listed under my name are NOT my work. I've contacted Goodreads to have the erroneous listings removed but have been unsuccessful. Thanks!

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The haunting title caught my eye. Then the writing brought me to this place and time and into the hearts of some unforgettable characters. Multiple points of view paint a vivid picture of Appalachia in the 1960’s . There are still grudges going on in the hollers of West Virginia . If the son of a mean spirited man gets your enemy’s stepdaughter pregnant , an enemy who is cruel and prejudiced, there will be hell to pay. Not for these miserable men, but for the pregnant teenage girl. And all the while boys are sent to Vietnam ; some return alive, some do not. Families grieve and keep secrets about ancestry, about fathers of their children. The dangers of the coal mines persist and natural disasters don’t hesitate to impact lives.

Granny Justice, dead but not gone , one of the narrators can’t tell the future but most certainly gives insight into the past and present and has a presence in a touching way wanting to look out for her loved ones . Her granddaughter, June who is at the center of the story is 17 and pregnant suffers grief and loss at a young age . Bethel her mother, also pregnant as a teen - reflects how sometimes history repeats itself in families reveals the origins of the hate between the two men. June’s brother Tom as he enlists in the army reflects on the past and his loving relationship with June. The narrative in the final chapter, so beautifully written, brings the reader years ahead. Oh my heart !

A kidnapping - heartbreaking and the chase - suspenseful . A mother’s love, determination and strength in the face of grief and loss . A moving story, sometimes dark, but brightened with the love of family and friends . A few quotes from other books are interspersed throughout . This one from one of my favorite books that could not have been more perfect:

“ But love, sooner or later, forces us out of time... Of all that we feel and do, all the virtues and all the sins, love alone crowds us at last over the edge of the world.” Wendell Berry Jayber Crow

I received a copy of this book from Counterpoint through Edelweiss.

[Novel Visits · Rating 4 out of 5]

N THE FIELDS OF FATHERLESS CHILDREN by Pamela Steele [Thanks to @counterpointpress for this gifted book.]⁣⁣
⁣⁣
My mind is blown, both by this book and by the fact that despite being released six weeks ago it has had virtually no attention (52 ratings and 19 reviews on Goodreads). Almost nothing! I’ll get to that, but first just a bit of a plot summary. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In the Fields of Fatherless Children takes place in the later half of the 1960’s in the coal mining hills of WV. It’s the height of the Vietnam era and the war does play a role in the story, but its main focus is June, a high school senior, a good student, in love, and pregnant. June’s lived a rough life, as has most everyone growing up in the hollers where miners and their families live. It’s a time of change, but prejudice, hate and bitter resentments still abound. June’s pregnancy lands her firmly in the middle of it all, forcing her to grow up quickly. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I quite seriously COULD NOT put this book down. It was so compelling and June’s story, a beautiful coming-of-age journey, so powerful I was left with a bit of a book hangover. Its themes of loss, grief and resilience reminded me very much of SHINER by Mary Jo Burns and also THESE SILENT WOODS by Kimi Cunningham Grant. David Joy books also come to mind, and even Barbara Kingsolver’s DEMON COPPERHEAD. All these books share an Appalachian setting and vivid, tense stories that keep you on the edge of your seat. As with the others, Steele did a wonderful job placing me squarely in the era, the setting, and the lives of her characters.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
So, why do some books get loads of attention, while others don’t? That’s an age old question and one we can all speculate about. I’ll skip that because more than anything, I hope I’ve convinced some of you to give this book a try. I really think you’ll end up thanking me. I’m going to be the biggest cheerleader for this book. You’ll probably be sick of hearing me talk about it this year, but It was THAT good, so someone needs to do it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣⁣

[Amy]

NO: A book I borrowed from the library to try before I buy (tired buying hundreds books and hating half)

I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.

I read first ch or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:

The cover is stunning. I love small books.

Holy smokes ….southern drawl and no quotation marks! Good God no!!!

[Teresa Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books I admire, books I recommend, and then there are the rare ones that settle into my soul.

In the Fields of Fatherless Children is one of those books.

As someone born and raised in Kentucky, I am always drawn to stories rooted in Appalachia, but I also approach them with caution. Too often they're written through the lens of stereotypes or poverty tourism, reducing an entire region to hardship while overlooking the people who call it home. Pamela Steele does the exact opposite. She writes with honesty, compassion, and a deep understanding that these mountains are both breathtaking and broken. She acknowledges the lasting scars left by coal mining, poverty, racism, and war while never losing sight of the resilience, dignity, and fierce love that have always defined the people who call them home.

Please understand that this is so much more than a missing child story.

At its heart, this is a novel about inheritance. Not land or possessions, but the burdens passed from one generation to the next and the extraordinary women who continue carrying them long after everyone else has walked away. June carries more than grief. She carries impossible choices, unimaginable loss, and the weight of generations before her, yet she never loses the quiet determination that makes her impossible to forget. The men fight wars overseas while the women wage quieter battles at home, holding families together with little more than determination and hope.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was Granny Justice. Having her narrate from beyond the grave transforms the story into something almost mythical, weaving Appalachian folklore, family memory, and spirituality into a narrative that feels completely authentic. It never distracted from the realism. Instead, it reminded me that in Appalachia, our stories have always belonged as much to those who came before us as they do to those still living.

And then there are the mountains.

The strip-mined hills aren't simply a backdrop; they are living witnesses. The stripped earth, the damaged creeks, and the flooding that continues to devastate communities decades later mirror the emotional landscape of the people fighting to survive. Reading those scenes broke my heart because they are not relics of the past. Sixty years later, so much of that reality still exists. We still watch floods swallow hollers. We still see communities struggling with the consequences of decisions made generations ago.

I've read countless books set in Appalachia, but very few have felt this deeply rooted in the people who actually live there. I have known versions of nearly every character in this novel. Their voices, their struggles, their faith, their stubbornness, and their generosity reminded me of family, neighbors, and the people who shaped the place I call home. I even handed this book to my mom, and it brought her to tears. I think that's because she recognized these people, too.

One moment completely stopped me. I reached the passage where Psalm 68:5 appears: "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." Until then, I hadn't connected the title to the story. The realization hit like a gut punch. In an instant, the title carried the weight it had been quietly building all along. This isn't just about children without fathers. It's about those who have been abandoned, those left unprotected, and the women who step into the impossible spaces left behind. That single verse gave the title an entirely new meaning and made me appreciate just how thoughtfully Pamela Steele built this story.

It doesn't ask readers to pity Appalachia. It asks them to understand it. It honors the strength required to build a life in a place that has so often been overlooked and exploited, while celebrating the women who continue showing up for their families, their communities, and each other.

Some stories entertain us. Others become part of us. In the Fields of Fatherless Children belongs in the second category.

[Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stark and beautifully rendered Appalachian story of resilience, loss, and survival.

Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you. (Proverbs 23:10–11, ESV)

Set in 1960s Appalachian mining country, In the Field of Fatherless Children follows sixteen-year-old June Branham as she navigates a life shaped by poverty, family conflict, and the looming shadow of the Vietnam War. Pregnant and uncertain who the father of her child is - the boy she loves or the man who assaulted her - June is already facing impossible circumstances when both her brother and the boy she cares for leave for war. Left behind in a community defined by hardship and long-standing feuds, she must find a way to survive on her own. But when her newborn daughter is taken from her, June's story shifts into a journey shaped by grief, determination, and the enduring strength of women in the face of overwhelming odds.

Like many novels set in this region, this is not a light read. The poverty, violence, and generational trauma woven throughout the story are often heartbreaking, but they also lend the narrative a sense of authenticity and weight. Pamela Steele paints a vivid and often unflinching portrait of life in this time and place. The Appalachian setting is rendered in stark, sometimes brutal detail - strip mining scars the land, heavy rains bring disaster, and entire communities feel as though they are slowly being swallowed whole. Steele writes with an innate understanding of both that landscape and the people shaped by it.

At the center of it all is June, a character defined by her resilience. She is forced to make impossible choices at a young age, and her determination to endure - despite the forces working against her -anchors the novel. Her strength, survival, and quiet defiance run counter to the harshness surrounding her.

The novel is not without its uneven elements - in particular, a recurring perspective from June's deceased grandmother, which adds a more overtly mystical layer to the story, and one that feels somewhat at odds with the otherwise grounded narrative. As a result, those sections can feel distracting and somewhat unnecessary, particularly as they fade from the narrative without clear resolution.

The audiobook, narrated by Eleanor Caudill, is a standout. Caudill brings a grounded, emotionally resonant performance to June's story, capturing both her vulnerability and her strength. Her narration enhances the sense of place and lends added depth to the characters.

Stark, somber, and beautifully rendered, In the Field of Fatherless Children explores hardship, resilience, and the enduring strength of women in a deeply unforgiving landscape. The novel's emotional core and its portrayal of survival against the odds make it a powerful and memorable read.

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

"In the Field of Fatherless Children" is slated to be released on March 24, 2026.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Fields of Fatherless Children by Pamela Steele is a beautiful meditation on loss, grief, survival and resiliency. The story follows a sixteen year old girl named June, who lives in Appalachian mining country during the 1960s. Her life is marked by poverry, violence, and the Vietnam War. She finds herself pregnant, but is uncertain about who the father is. There is a boy she loves, and a man who sexually assaulted her. Either could be the father. Unfortunately her life only gets worse when both her brother and the boy she loves are drafted into the war.

June must find a way to survive on her own, in spite of the longstanding hardship. When June's daughter is taken from her, we get to see her determination, strength and tenacity. She faces overwhelming loss and grief, but finds a way to survive.

It is a brutal and heartbreaking story that feels completely authentic. The author creates a vivid and grim portrait of life in this stark and harsh setting. The way she painted the image of land scarred by strip mining and devastating floods added detail to the story, giving the reader a very real sense of the hardships of June's life.

I loved June. She is strong, quietly defiant, determined, loyal, and it is impossible not to root for her.

Thank you for the #gifted finished copy, @CounterpointPress. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, @EleanorTheStoryteller -- was fantastic. She showed the character's vulnerable side and allowed me to connect with the emotions of the girl.

It is a bleak, melancholic story that forced me to feel everything June felt. Beautiful.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a finely crafted novel set in 1960s Appalachian mining country. Like others set in this part of the country, I’m always in a saddened state when done. The poverty, misery and abuse that fall between the pages of these stories are heartbreaking and heart wrenching but make for some of the most insightful stories written. Such is this book.

Sixteen year old June Branham is pregnant, unsure who the father is - raped by one and loved by another. June’s brother, Tom, and June’s love, Ellis, are off to Vietnam. Her stepfather, Isom, hates Ellis for his mixed blood (but mostly because June’s mother, Bethel, had an affair with Ellis’s father. June struggles with the pregnancy and when Isom kidnaps her daughter, Grace, June is faced with dangerous choices.

The depictions in the book of the landscape of strip mining is dark. Rains make the overworked land collapse. Houses are swallowed up by floods. It’s pretty grim.

I liked June and the narrator, Granny Justice. June epitomizes the resilience and fortitude needed to survive in this landscape and time. The women in the novel are the strength - it’s never a surprise to see this in novels especially in times when people want to wipe out our contributions. Women can’t be vanquished.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Counterpoint Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Laura Chouinard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I felt like the first half and second half didn't quite match each other. The beginning drew me in with its strong character development and thoughtful exploration of the plot, and I was genuinely invested in where the story was headed.

However, the second half felt rushed and seemed to shift into an entirely different narrative. The pacing changed dramatically, and some storylines that had been carefully developed earlier felt either glossed over or abandoned. The ending, in particular, was disappointing and unfulfilling, as the main character's story seemed to end abruptly without the resolution I was expecting.

I also struggled to get a clear sense of the time period. While the story takes place during the Vietnam War, many of the characters and situations felt more reflective of an earlier era, which made the setting feel somewhat disconnected from the narrative. Though, then again, it takes place in rural Appalachia.

That said, it's still a decent read. My disappointment stems largely from how much I enjoyed the first half of the book and how invested I became in the story. I was hoping for a stronger payoff than what the ending ultimately delivered.

[Rickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s no question that Pamela Steele is a talented writer—her prose is often beautiful, evocative, and clearly doing a lot of heavy lifting. Unfortunately, for me, it had to do too much.

I’ve loved plenty of books that are light on plot and more interested in character sketches or atmosphere, so that in itself isn’t a drawback. But this never quite came together in a satisfying way. The narrative felt uneven, with some threads more developed than others, and long stretches where the story seemed to stall rather than deepen.

The ghostly grandmother perspective, in particular, felt like an odd fit. I understand what it was aiming for—a kind of mythic, generational lens—but it pulled me out of the story more than it added to it.

I found myself close to not finishing, which is always telling. I’m rounding up to three stars because the writing itself is undeniably strong, but overall this one didn’t fully work for me.

[Joni Greenwell Bycroft · Rating 3 out of 5]

In late 1960s Appalachia, many things loom darkly over June the Vietnam War is dividing the country, and a strip mine is eating away the mountain at the head of the holler where she lives, threatening the natural landscape and the only way of life she has ever known. While still in high school, June has fallen in love. She is pregnant, and the father may be Ellis Akers. Ellis is the son of Solomon, a mortal enemy of June’s stepfather, Isom. The feud is so old it fuels two vengeful men with the power of long animosity between rival families.

June’s brother, Tom, leaves to enlist in the war, and so does Ellis. Suddenly, June is on her own, at sixteen with a newborn, and is a mother unable to protect her daughter from the wrath of Isom. Without warning, her baby is kidnapped. Guided by her love for the generations of women before her, but now desperately alone, June must carefully navigate the search for her child alongside family and strangers in a wild and disappearing landscape.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is extremely hard in the hollers of Appalachia during the 1960’s. The Vietnam War is raging and strip mining is ruining the landscape of the countryside. June is a sixteen year old girl, in love and pregnant. She is not sure if the father of her child is her boyfriend or the boy who took advantage of her. Feuds are also commonplace. June’s cruel stepfather is crazed that the father may be the son of his mortal enemy. Shortly after the birth of the child , the baby is kidnapped. June is distraught beyond belief and is determined to get her baby back. To make it even harder her boyfriend has enlisted in the army as well as her brother.
This is a gut wrenching story that is told with a great deal of feeling and empathy for the lives of the characters.
Thank you Netgalley audio for this book.

[Bettina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Fields of Fatherless Children by Pamela Steele

What It’s About
Set in rural Appalachia during Vietnam War, the story follows 16-year old June after an unexpected pregnancy. When her stepfather kidnaps the newborn, June sets out to find her daughter while navigating family conflict, hardship and the lasting effects of war.

Why It Works
June’s determination mixed with her fear that she might not be a good mother made a compelling main character. Once I got into it, I found myself invested in her story.

What Made Me Pause
The multiple POVs didn’t always land for me. I kept wanting to stay with June’s perspective, which carried the strongest emotional pull.

I received the audiobook for In The Fields of Fatherless Children by Pamela Steele from NetGalley. Thank you!

3.75/5

[Donald Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully crafted book set in Vietnam War-era West Virginia. Steele's book is a joy to read with its careful attention to the way people talk (to the point of subtly representing the "leveling" of dialect over time) and to specifics of its Appalachian landscape. It cares deeply for the land and the generations of people it explores.

With all of this literary quality, the novel also has a propulsive plot that forever changes its characters. It also promises to change readers who think they know what Appalachian literature should be about, and to give insight into a region whose people are too often lampooned or mocked.

Most of all, it is a novel with soul and a nourishing read.

[Kimberley Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a well narrated, slow burn story set in early 1960s Appalachia with an unexpected pregnancy and Vietnam enlistment driving events. There are generational traumas and grudges running through the past and present. June is just 16 and not sure if the father of her child is her boyfriend or her rapist. When her boyfriend is deployed to Vietnam and her stepfather kidnaps her daughter, June is left with no good choices. The deck always seems to be stacked against many in that area but sometimes you have to make a way out of no way.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the free advance audio copy

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both epic and claustrophobic, this is an atmospheric tale of 1960s Appalachia narrated by a ghost, the grandmother of June, the teen whose pregnancy is at its heart. June doesn't know whether the father of her daughter Grace is her love or the man who assaulted her. And then there's her vicious stepfather, a kidnapping, and an ages long feud. Oh, and Vietnam, the coal fields, and natural disaster. This could have tipped over into melodrama but Steele is restrained even as she recounts the darkness. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. It's a slow burn and you might find yourself putting it aside but it's a worthy read.

[Jane Bennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit haunting. Some considerable trauma. Appalachia in the 1960's. There is some domestic violence, but it is not described in a gory way. The resilience of women is front and center. This was a quick read for me. There were a few too many characters to keep track of whilst listening, including one that reappears at the very end of the story. I searched my kindle and he was briefly mentioned 3 times in the book before his 8 mentions in the last 5% of the story. A bit odd, reaching even, but it worked. The story definitely takes place deep in the mountains, with only Mountain people figuring into the novel. It felt authentic. I would recommend it if you can stomach some dv.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the acknowledgments, the author thanks someone who encouraged her to "break the reader's heart and then make her whole again". This story sure does that! You will root for June but also be disappointed in some of her choices while still hoping she does those things. It is a heart-breaking story but also hopeful. The heartbreak has to do with the poverty in the Appalachian setting, the family dysfunction, and the Vietnam war era. The hopefulness is with caring family and friends, either present or in spirit.

[LouAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is excellent! The way Ms. Steele's writes draws the reader in so she feels like she's right there with the characters. It vividly portrays the Appalachian lifestyle during the late 60's/ early 70's. The brutality of living there is revealed with accuracy, yet a sense of hope is immeshed as well. The Applachian people have a very hard life, yet they remain hopeful. If you enjoy historical fiction, well developed characters and plot, with the dichotomy of brutality yet love and hope, this book is for you.

[Samiha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is mostly driven by the main character making a series of questionable and inconsistent decisions. Somehow she's both resolved to do certain things and paralyzed by fear, bold and meek...it just didn't make much sense. Some credit because the plot was engaging and it felt like a page turner throughout, but the trauma porn at a certain point became too much. Others characters' behaviors were also questionable and felt implausible half the time. Sure, it's a fiction, but this plot is a real eyebrow raiser for the vast majority of the journey.

[Linda Scroggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read and kept me engaged. It is about Appalachian West Virginia during the Vietnam war. June is pregnant with a very hateful step-father and a mother who is obedient to him. The story continues and at times is very sad. These people were of meager backgrounds and lived for the coal mines. I would recommend reading this story of human resilience. Let me just say that I find it difficult to read a book without quotation marks.

[Ann Arey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review based off a GoodReads Giveaway. I initially had a hard time settling in with the regional dialect, but once I did, it immensely added to the stories context. Hard living, resilience, grief and immense love are masterfully woven into June's story. Originally being from the WV/Pa landscape this really hit home for me. I don't think I normally would have found this book independently and am so thankful I was selected for an advanced read. This is a gem. The story will remain in my heart.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for my ALC.

This book is a heartbreaking story of a young girl in an Appalachian mining town during the Vietnam War. It's a harrowing look of this time period and location, as well as a show of resilience and love. I loved the Grandmother's perspective and thought that was a really creative way to show the family aspects and some of the culture.

[Alissa Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Books with dysfunctional family dynamics typically interest me and this one was no different. There was surprises and heartbreak and love stories and best friend adventures and also some violence woven throughout. The ending was very tender, yet quite abrupt. Difficult to explain but worth the read!

[Erin M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives the feeling of being small, tucked in and a loved one telling you stories of their past, that you piece together as an adult and truly understand their shape and what molded them. A love letter to Appalachia and the women who are the engines of the family, in spite of the men holding the power. Absolutely stunning read!!

[Holly Goebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved how it told stories just like we remember them, how things remind us of our past and our stories. The writing made me feel like I was listening to Granny talk when her chapters would appear. The character’s lives felt real.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of family and friends loving each other through life until death. Don’t be surprised if you do nothing else but read this charming, exciting book from beginning to end in one sitting.

[Gina Triick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked this one. Good story about gal who has a biracial baby in the late 1960’s and her family who tried to keep the baby from her.

[Jennifer Winters]

Didn’t finish. Introduced a talking deceased person a few hours in.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just kept putting it down and finally gave up.

[Bailey Story · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one packs a big emotional punch! Among my favorites of the year so far. A lot goes on here, so much loss and grief. But it felt true to the lives of the characters.