This story dipicts life in the impoverished mountainous coal country of southeastern Kentucky during the Post Depression Era, 1940's America. It was a hard-scrabble growing up time for Mary Dannie, third born but the eldest living of three girls and four boys, who were children of married couple, Jackson and Sadie Bullins. Of course, Jackson and Sadie were known lovingly as Daddy and Mamma. The àuthor's mother was Mary Dannie and, though this book is a work of fiction, she says it is based on actual stories told to her and events her mother was old enough to remember.*
The novel is a well-written accounting of Mary Dannie's life in the small mountain cabin of her teen years. The door to her parents' room was a blanket. Yes, they grew up poor with mainly cornbread and beans to eat...but they ate! Life was simple with lots of struggles and a small measure of fun and laughter. They had love in those spare times, as well.
I recommend this poignant story to anyone who would enjoy a simple tale of family life in times gone by. It will warm your heart so be on the lookout for that...
*note: Mary Dannie ànd her siblings mentioned within these chapters and stories were no longer living by the time this book was published nor were Sadie and Jackson Bullins, of course.