Juniper Blue

by Susan Lang

Ruth Farley, the fiercely independent young woman who was the protagonist of Small Rocks Rising, is still on her homestead at the end of a rugged canyon in California's Mojave Desert, still struggling to survive on her own but now also facing the ever-growing responsibilities of motherhood. Her expanding world encompasses the vast panorama of Depression-era Southern California - isolated miners and ranchers striving to hang on until times are better; small-town gossips; Indians trying to preserve their ancient culture and identity; vagrants and breadlines; and the wealth and glitter of the movie industry.

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Ellisa Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny how writing these reviews is showing me how much I like survival stories. This book starts out with a woman giving birth alone, isolated in a storm. Apparently there's a book that goes before it, but I was fine not reading it. This book is about a woman in depression times who's husband is recently deceased and she is trying to grieve for him, raise her family, and survive alone in the mountains. There are a few parts I thought were a little contrived, but I overall liked it quite a bit.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved this book. I seem to be encountering a number of books set in Depression era USA. Ruth is young, (22?)single and alone homesteading - with infant twins. This is complicated by the fact she experienced the rare occurrence of having been impregnated by 2 different men, her son fathered by Jim, the Native American she loved, and her daughter the result of a rape.
A strong thread of her story is coming to accept and love this fascinating girl, who actually takes to the life modeled by the local Native American community. It’s not an easy journey for Ruth.
The Depression is slow to come to her hideaway, but eventually affects them with prices, shortages, and men out of work. Ruth hangs in, despite flood and fire… Her resolve to maintain her lifestyle is tested time and time again, eventually by a boyfriend who wants to take her away to town…
This is something of a coming-of-age story in her journey to hold on to what matters, setting boundaries as needed. You know the journey is not ended -as it never is - but we are left seeing hope for her future

[Mary Dayhoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept me entertained, too much modern ideology.

[Julie Lizcano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book at the LA Festival of Books from a first time author. It's the story of a woman who homesteads in the Mojave Desert in the early 1900's. She experiences intense heat, severe drought, isolation, friendships with miners and Indians. Gosh! It sounds vaguely familiar.

[Heidi Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have fallen in love with Susan Lang's writing and story-telling. As with Small Rocks Rising, this sequel gathered me in, took me to Ruth's homestead, and I lived every moment of her peaks and valleys with her. I can't wait to read the next book.