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Between The Shards: A Together for Good Novel
In 1856, Western Virginia is a powder keg of tension between slavery and abolition. And in the town of Grafton, sparks are flying.
When Henry Coggs, an artist from the North with a passion for abolition, arrives in Grafton for an art commission, he begins to suspect that God’s purpose for him reaches far beyond stained glass. Reuniting with his childhood friend Seth, Henry discovers a printing press and starts creating anti-slavery leaflets under a false name.
He has no time for distractions—until he encounters the mayor’s spirited daughter, Eleanor Lockwood. Though warned by Seth to keep a safe distance from the Lockwoods, Henry is intrigued by her secret friendship with Bethany, one of her parents’ enslaved servants. He invites the two women into their hidden spiritual community, and his relationship with Ellie blossoms.
But as their wedding day approaches, so does the manhunt for the author of the abolitionist leaflets that have stirred up their town. And when an escaped slave comes knocking, the danger of the Underground Railroad presses closer. Faithfulness comes with a cost.
When Henry Coggs, an artist from the North with a passion for abolition, arrives in Grafton for an art commission, he begins to suspect that God’s purpose for him reaches far beyond stained glass. Reuniting with his childhood friend Seth, Henry discovers a printing press and starts creating anti-slavery leaflets under a false name.
He has no time for distractions—until he encounters the mayor’s spirited daughter, Eleanor Lockwood. Though warned by Seth to keep a safe distance from the Lockwoods, Henry is intrigued by her secret friendship with Bethany, one of her parents’ enslaved servants. He invites the two women into their hidden spiritual community, and his relationship with Ellie blossoms.
But as their wedding day approaches, so does the manhunt for the author of the abolitionist leaflets that have stirred up their town. And when an escaped slave comes knocking, the danger of the Underground Railroad presses closer. Faithfulness comes with a cost.
415 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 6, 2026
This book is hands down one of the best books I read in 2025, and in my lifetime.
Between the Shards is masterfully woven - the connections between *all* of the characters, their interactions, how their actions affect one another…and how God overall brings them all together, working all of the pain, sorrow, and darkness together for their good.
I could go on and on about why I loved this book, but I will focus on the primary aspect of it that resonated with me: Seth’s anxiety and distrust of God. In her Afterword, Ferguson explains how the pivotal scene of Henry and Seth (and Officer Fatberry) in jail was reminiscent of a prayer session she had with her husband. Some of Seth’s realizations about his beliefs and view of himself and God were some of her own, and they also were some of mine just this past year. To clarify, I proofread Between the Shards in October 2025. July 2024 up to that point was the season of God leading me through some epiphanies of my own - about beliefs I held of myself and of Him. I realized I didn’t trust God because I had a faulty view of Him, influenced by both my old (toxic) church, and my life experiences, primarily my PTSD.
That scene alone is a reason why this book is one of my all-time favorites, and then there’s the last 100 or so pages. I was openly weeping while reading the end of this amazing, soulful story. I am keeping this review spoiler-free, so I can’t dive into too much detail, but you’ll know when you read it for yourself.
I have been passionate about American history, specifically of slavery and how Americans manipulated God’s Word to “prove” that slavery and the treatment of slaves was biblical and permissible in God’s eyes. I focused both my bachelor’s and master’s thesis research projects and papers on this subject, and I taught high school American Literature for three years. I emphasized Frederick Douglass, who barely had a slot on the curriculum. I had my students read and analyze his speeches, watch a documentary on his life, and do a study on his beliefs and experiences with the church and God. So many of them were shocked that 1) slavery was *not* that long ago, 2) many American churches twisted Scripture to brainwash the public, placate white slave owners, and dehumanize slaves, and 3) the n-word is *not* something to be used or taken lightly.
This book 100% needs to be in schools across our nation, especially Christian schools. If I was still teaching, I would encourage my students to read this book, and would even go so far as to include it in my curriculum. It’s a gem of a story, full of God’s goodness and grace, the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of the darkest times, and the power of love between people - friends, family, spouses, church congregations…relationships and connections that all intertwine in a grand scheme of glory.
Between the Shards is masterfully woven - the connections between *all* of the characters, their interactions, how their actions affect one another…and how God overall brings them all together, working all of the pain, sorrow, and darkness together for their good.
I could go on and on about why I loved this book, but I will focus on the primary aspect of it that resonated with me: Seth’s anxiety and distrust of God. In her Afterword, Ferguson explains how the pivotal scene of Henry and Seth (and Officer Fatberry) in jail was reminiscent of a prayer session she had with her husband. Some of Seth’s realizations about his beliefs and view of himself and God were some of her own, and they also were some of mine just this past year. To clarify, I proofread Between the Shards in October 2025. July 2024 up to that point was the season of God leading me through some epiphanies of my own - about beliefs I held of myself and of Him. I realized I didn’t trust God because I had a faulty view of Him, influenced by both my old (toxic) church, and my life experiences, primarily my PTSD.
That scene alone is a reason why this book is one of my all-time favorites, and then there’s the last 100 or so pages. I was openly weeping while reading the end of this amazing, soulful story. I am keeping this review spoiler-free, so I can’t dive into too much detail, but you’ll know when you read it for yourself.
I have been passionate about American history, specifically of slavery and how Americans manipulated God’s Word to “prove” that slavery and the treatment of slaves was biblical and permissible in God’s eyes. I focused both my bachelor’s and master’s thesis research projects and papers on this subject, and I taught high school American Literature for three years. I emphasized Frederick Douglass, who barely had a slot on the curriculum. I had my students read and analyze his speeches, watch a documentary on his life, and do a study on his beliefs and experiences with the church and God. So many of them were shocked that 1) slavery was *not* that long ago, 2) many American churches twisted Scripture to brainwash the public, placate white slave owners, and dehumanize slaves, and 3) the n-word is *not* something to be used or taken lightly.
This book 100% needs to be in schools across our nation, especially Christian schools. If I was still teaching, I would encourage my students to read this book, and would even go so far as to include it in my curriculum. It’s a gem of a story, full of God’s goodness and grace, the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of the darkest times, and the power of love between people - friends, family, spouses, church congregations…relationships and connections that all intertwine in a grand scheme of glory.
January 6, 2026
This book is hands down one of the best books I read in 2025, and in my lifetime.
Between the Shards is masterfully woven - the connections between *all* of the characters, their interactions, how their actions affect one another…and how God overall brings them all together, working all of the pain, sorrow, and darkness together for their good.
I could go on and on about why I loved this book, but I will focus on the primary aspect of it that resonated with me: Seth’s anxiety and distrust of God. In her Afterword, Ferguson explains how the pivotal scene of Henry and Seth (and Officer Fatberry) in jail was reminiscent of a prayer session she had with her husband. Some of Seth’s realizations about his beliefs and view of himself and God were some of her own, and they also were some of mine just this past year. To clarify, I proofread Between the Shards in October 2025. July 2024 up to that point was the season of God leading me through some epiphanies of my own - about beliefs I held of myself and of Him. I realized I didn’t trust God because I had a faulty view of Him, influenced by both my old (toxic) church, and my life experiences, primarily my PTSD.
That scene alone is a reason why this book is one of my all-time favorites, and then there’s the last 100 or so pages. I was openly weeping while reading the end of this amazing, soulful story. I am keeping this review spoiler-free, so I can’t dive into too much detail, but you’ll know when you read it for yourself.
I have been passionate about American history, specifically of slavery and how Americans manipulated God’s Word to “prove” that slavery and the treatment of slaves was biblical and permissible in God’s eyes. I focused both my bachelor’s and master’s thesis research projects and papers on this subject, and I taught high school American Literature for three years. I emphasized Frederick Douglass, who barely had a slot on the curriculum. I had my students read and analyze his speeches, watch a documentary on his life, and do a study on his beliefs and experiences with the church and God. So many of them were shocked that 1) slavery was *not* that long ago, 2) many American churches twisted Scripture to brainwash the public, placate white slave owners, and dehumanize slaves, and 3) the n-word is *not* something to be used or taken lightly.
This book 100% needs to be in schools across our nation, especially Christian schools. If I was still teaching, I would encourage my students to read this book, and would even go so far as to include it in my curriculum. It’s a gem of a story, full of God’s goodness and grace, the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of the darkest times, and the power of love between people - friends, family, spouses, church congregations…relationships and connections that all intertwine in a grand scheme of glory.
Between the Shards is masterfully woven - the connections between *all* of the characters, their interactions, how their actions affect one another…and how God overall brings them all together, working all of the pain, sorrow, and darkness together for their good.
I could go on and on about why I loved this book, but I will focus on the primary aspect of it that resonated with me: Seth’s anxiety and distrust of God. In her Afterword, Ferguson explains how the pivotal scene of Henry and Seth (and Officer Fatberry) in jail was reminiscent of a prayer session she had with her husband. Some of Seth’s realizations about his beliefs and view of himself and God were some of her own, and they also were some of mine just this past year. To clarify, I proofread Between the Shards in October 2025. July 2024 up to that point was the season of God leading me through some epiphanies of my own - about beliefs I held of myself and of Him. I realized I didn’t trust God because I had a faulty view of Him, influenced by both my old (toxic) church, and my life experiences, primarily my PTSD.
That scene alone is a reason why this book is one of my all-time favorites, and then there’s the last 100 or so pages. I was openly weeping while reading the end of this amazing, soulful story. I am keeping this review spoiler-free, so I can’t dive into too much detail, but you’ll know when you read it for yourself.
I have been passionate about American history, specifically of slavery and how Americans manipulated God’s Word to “prove” that slavery and the treatment of slaves was biblical and permissible in God’s eyes. I focused both my bachelor’s and master’s thesis research projects and papers on this subject, and I taught high school American Literature for three years. I emphasized Frederick Douglass, who barely had a slot on the curriculum. I had my students read and analyze his speeches, watch a documentary on his life, and do a study on his beliefs and experiences with the church and God. So many of them were shocked that 1) slavery was *not* that long ago, 2) many American churches twisted Scripture to brainwash the public, placate white slave owners, and dehumanize slaves, and 3) the n-word is *not* something to be used or taken lightly.
This book 100% needs to be in schools across our nation, especially Christian schools. If I was still teaching, I would encourage my students to read this book, and would even go so far as to include it in my curriculum. It’s a gem of a story, full of God’s goodness and grace, the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of the darkest times, and the power of love between people - friends, family, spouses, church congregations…relationships and connections that all intertwine in a grand scheme of glory.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews