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Hidden Storms
Lilli Clarke. They call her the marked girl. Beginning at her left shoulder, a pink birthmark tracks up her throat just past her jaw, like a finger pointing to her brain. Abandoned by her family, she is ostracized by everyone but her grandmother and cousin Bert, Six years of dust storms have left sixteen-year-old Lilli close to death with dust pneumonia. Now she must leave the only real home she’s ever had, or risk death when the next storm hits.
Lilli is sent to her aunt and cousins in Florida to recover. The possibility of a different life presents itself, yet circumstances snatch it away, and she flees to New York City. Unable to find a safe place, she yearns for the storm ravaged home she left. All doors appear to be closed to her, and she resigns herself to the lonely fate of a marked girl. Once again, she is close to death, this time with no one to help her. Will this storm prevail, or is there a new answer for Lilli?
Lilli is sent to her aunt and cousins in Florida to recover. The possibility of a different life presents itself, yet circumstances snatch it away, and she flees to New York City. Unable to find a safe place, she yearns for the storm ravaged home she left. All doors appear to be closed to her, and she resigns herself to the lonely fate of a marked girl. Once again, she is close to death, this time with no one to help her. Will this storm prevail, or is there a new answer for Lilli?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
140 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2015
291 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 20, 2015
Lilli Clarke, sixteen years old, and marked with an apparent skin abnormality that causes her family and even church members to shun her, lies gravely ill with dust pneumonia. The dust bowl and depression has Kansas in its grip and the only ones who love her, Gram and her adopted cousin, Bert, must send her away.
It seems that everywhere Lilli goes she brings bad luck with her just like the pastor and her father told her she would. The relatives she travels to live with in Florida think she’s brought them problems in their sponge business and send her to New York to work in a clothing shop. Through unfortunate circumstances, Lilli never gets there and she finds herself cold, alone, and starving on the street.
Stumbling into a church she discovers she has hope, love, and forgiveness and her joyous heart lets her discover her own self-worth, and she begins to wonder if Bert’s constant encouragement could mean more than she thought.
This story told almost entirely in Lilli’s narrative is well done and touches on a dark economic period for our nation and certainly the mid-west. There’s always a ray of hope for the courageous Lilli as she triumphs over those whose wrong and hurtful words shake her self-esteem. This is the second story I’ve read by Nancy Shew Bolton and I highly recommend it.
It seems that everywhere Lilli goes she brings bad luck with her just like the pastor and her father told her she would. The relatives she travels to live with in Florida think she’s brought them problems in their sponge business and send her to New York to work in a clothing shop. Through unfortunate circumstances, Lilli never gets there and she finds herself cold, alone, and starving on the street.
Stumbling into a church she discovers she has hope, love, and forgiveness and her joyous heart lets her discover her own self-worth, and she begins to wonder if Bert’s constant encouragement could mean more than she thought.
This story told almost entirely in Lilli’s narrative is well done and touches on a dark economic period for our nation and certainly the mid-west. There’s always a ray of hope for the courageous Lilli as she triumphs over those whose wrong and hurtful words shake her self-esteem. This is the second story I’ve read by Nancy Shew Bolton and I highly recommend it.
May 24, 2015
A powerful reminder that prejudice preys on more than ethnicity or societal class or position. It lands on the head of anyone for any reason when they’re different.
Such is the fate of Lilli Clarke from the moment she’s born. She’s not like others in her family or town. She’s different and people fear her. A birthmark stretches from her shoulder to her jaw. They call her cursed…evil and won’t meet her gaze. Despair beats at her like the dust eating away her lungs. And when she’s shipped away from all she knows, instead of hope, Lilli finds more of the same...intolerance, revulsion, and fear.
Nancy Shew Bolton orchestrates a gripping tale of painful discovery as Lilli fights through a world of bias and dread. Around each new corner, her path disintegrates into pieces...until she stumbles into a church. For the first time, light enters her life and a new journey begins toward home and love.
A spin of the Ugly Duckling, Ms. Bolton adapts the classic fairy tale to the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s and captures the reader with her superb first person, present tense and lyrical prose. I give Hidden Storms five stars.
Such is the fate of Lilli Clarke from the moment she’s born. She’s not like others in her family or town. She’s different and people fear her. A birthmark stretches from her shoulder to her jaw. They call her cursed…evil and won’t meet her gaze. Despair beats at her like the dust eating away her lungs. And when she’s shipped away from all she knows, instead of hope, Lilli finds more of the same...intolerance, revulsion, and fear.
Nancy Shew Bolton orchestrates a gripping tale of painful discovery as Lilli fights through a world of bias and dread. Around each new corner, her path disintegrates into pieces...until she stumbles into a church. For the first time, light enters her life and a new journey begins toward home and love.
A spin of the Ugly Duckling, Ms. Bolton adapts the classic fairy tale to the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s and captures the reader with her superb first person, present tense and lyrical prose. I give Hidden Storms five stars.
May 23, 2015
This was a very touching read about a young lady who has been told all of her life that because of her birthmark she in incapable of being loved and that all she brings on others around her is hurt and misfortune. The author pictures so clearly her journey from the dust bowl drought in the 1930's to the streets of New York. I couldn't help but hurt with her as she was rejected and made to feel so unloved so many times. The story is also a beautiful story of her finding those who loved her and guided her in finding God's love and the freedom it brought in her life and the door it opened to finding that the love she was so desperately seeking had been there all along. I really did enjoy this one and highly recommend it.
May 26, 2015
The obvious storms of the Dust Bowl era in US history, the burden of a dysfunctional family and emotionally frail mother, topped by a prominent, distracting mark, Lilli has always believed the worst of herself and coincidental events, despite a loving grandmother and neighbor. The depths of superstition and despair brings out the depravity of people, and Bolton shows us no mercy. Lilli winds her way through too many unfortunate events starting with family members who take her in and try to help, and ending broken and living on the streets of a merciless New York City. Lilli is broken before realizing she's always been loved, most of all by the Father who never leaves us, and a neighbor who never gives up.
Lovely tale. Deeply emotional. Satisfying.
Lovely tale. Deeply emotional. Satisfying.
May 25, 2015
Hidden Storms' premise is like all of the battles we fight and how simple it is to lose sight of hope. You instantly connect to Lilli, who's already been through so much with the dust storms of the Dust Bowl era. Your heart lifts as she finds new hope, then must again battle inner demons as she navigates her way around her own inadequacies and other people's prejudices. After much searching, Lilli realizes God's love transcends any human barriers and His redemption sets one free. This author makes it so real for you with vivid descriptions and scenes. Hidden Storms is truly a heartwarming tale.
January 19, 2016
Young Lilli Clarke believes she is cursed and the cause of many misfortunes--including dust storms. Cruel and suspicious people have told her the birthmark on her shoulder and neck is the "Mark of Cain." Though her grandmother and Bert love her dearly, Lilli's unfortunate experiences only seem to reinforce the negative opinion she has of herself. She does not believe even God could love her. The story highlights how far-reaching hurtful remarks can be as Lilli wanders on her sad, introspective journey from the Dust Bowl, to Florida, to New York where her situation becomes desperate. I recommend this remarkable tale. It was one I couldn't put down.
July 17, 2015
The first person point of view is usually not my favorite, but it really worked for this story. I loved how Nancy took the story of the Ugly Duckling and brought it to life, weaving it together with an inspirational message of God's love for us as sinners, and even for Cain who was a murderer.
There were a couple of places were the story seemed a little slow to me, and so depressing I almost put it down, but in the end, God's love wins. I loved that.
I greatly enjoyed this book and would highly recommended it.
There were a couple of places were the story seemed a little slow to me, and so depressing I almost put it down, but in the end, God's love wins. I loved that.
I greatly enjoyed this book and would highly recommended it.
May 25, 2015
Scarred by rejection more than the marks on her neck, a young woman is spurned by her parents and feared by strangers. She feels unworthy of love, even the love of God. Almost poetry, this is a novella to be savored. The words roll in the mouth and find their way to the heart. Go with her on the search for life, for the validation to be happy. Hidden Storms will stay with the reader long after the last page.
October 19, 2015
I can honestly say I couldn't put this one down. I read it in two,sittings. The story kept engaged all the way through. The author's pace and descriptions placed me right in that time period, but the tale of how unfounded prejudices can bruise a soul and love heal it is timeless. Great book!
February 3, 2016
I loved this book! A great reminder of how we can let what others think about us dictate who we are rather than trusting ourselves enough to just be!
Note: I did receive this book for free through a GOODREADS giveaway!
Note: I did receive this book for free through a GOODREADS giveaway!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews