Light Above : A Novel of Faith and Determination

by Jean Holbrook Mathews

When the Hogge family, exhausted and covered with coal dust, made the trek up the hill to the cottage, they found the Kenny family and a few other friends from the pit gathered around the small, whitefaced form of Sandy, which lay on the kitchen table. . . . As Isabel put her arm around Carrie Kenny’s waist, Carrie laid her head on Isabel’s shoulder and whispered, “He looks like he’s sleeping.” “The lad is sleeping. He’s sleeping in the Lord,” Isabel responded, offering the only comfort she knew how to give. “And he’s free from the pits.” . . . George offered a short and simple prayer. “God take home to yourself this wee laddie and give his parents comfort, we pray, in the knowledge that he is with Thee and not in the pits.” From the dark, dangerous, and deadly pits of the Scottish coal mines, to the crowded and bustling streets of Edinburgh, to the perilous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, to the long and arduous trek across the plains to a “promised land,” The Light Above takes readers on an unforgettable journey. In this exceptionally heartfelt and moving historical novel, gifted LDS author Jean Mathews has created a riveting and well-researched story of the Scottish Saints, whose courage in the face of relentless odds lifts them from the depths of despair and guides them to triumphant faith in an eternal destiny.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Lds Fiction

302 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the first paragraph of the 'forward', I was captivated by the story of the thousands of Scottish coal miners who lived, labored and died under the conditions portrayed in the book. I rejoiced when they accepted the gospel, and I sorrowed for those who were blinded to its message. I grieved for families who were separated, and I wondered how the world could have been so conveniently ignorant of the white slavery of coal mines when it was so incensed by the simultaneous black slavery of plantations.
Perhaps, in some small way motivated by the knowledge that some of my own ancestors came from Scotland around the time of the Perpetual Emigration program, perhaps driven by my intense interest in the indomitable conquering strength of the human spirit, perhaps captivated by the tender writing style and the well researched facts incorporated into the story, perhaps due to a combination of all the above - I was hooked from the first page to the last page.

[Kathleen Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

We listened to this book from a cd and the reader was fantastic! The story opened my eyes to conditions in Scotland in the coal-mining days.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite genre; historical fiction. And how my eyes were opened to the horrid conditions of the Scottish coal-miners and their families. I could hardly wait for them to find the Gospel and head to Zion.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the coal mines in Scotland conditions are inhuman to say the least in the late 1700's and early 1800's. Men, women and children as early as age 10 are required to work for 14 hours a day 6 days a week and are forced to buy supplies from the "company store" where prices are inflated only indenturing them as slaves for longer until their dept is paid off. Robert and his family have been lucky enough to have a mother that has taught them to read and do math with a little writing and when he finds a Book of Mormon that has been thrown out by the laird of the mine; he snatches it up and reads it. It further flames the burning to get his family free and to a "promised land." He runs away to find a job where he can help pay for his family's freedom. Along the way he finds hardship and obstacles that hinder the progress to find the promise land, but through faith he pulls his family to salt lake.

[Shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows the Hogge, and Smith families as they make their way from the coal pits of Scotland across the ocean and then across the U.S. to the Salt Lake Valley. Death, and hardship go hand in hand with joy and wonder just as it was for those original immigrants. Helen, and her twin Robbie are the first of their family to make the journey only after Robbie runs away from the coal pits to make his way on his own. With help from a kindly landlady, Robbie is able to learn a trade, save money and pay down the debt his family owes to the company store. Johnny Smith marries Helen and soon the two of them make their way to America with financial help from Robbie.

At times, I felt like I was reading a journal entry rather than a fictional story. I cannot imagine the hardships those people faced in real life. Their's was a hard and perilous journey.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The part I found most interesting in this book was the descriptions of working conditions in the coal mines of Scotland, and the way that laborers were forced into the mines due to indebtedness, which ended up causing whole families to be slave laborers for generations to wealthy mine owners. The laws over centuries made is virtually impossible for these families to earn their way out of the pits, which is what was wanted by the powerful Lords, in order to have an almost free flow of labor to produce the coal used in factories and homes. The lives of the poor classes were of little value to the powerful!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fully enjoyed this book! It made me feel that I was back in the coal mining days! I felt what the characters were experiencing. I docked it a little because toward the ending I felt a little removed from the characters, however, it was interesting to read about history and the journeys our LDS people experienced. (This could just be me) This book takes place in Scottland and how the new LDS members had to face when joining the church. The history in this book was real and right on. The story is a fictious one based on real experiences that the people faced. I highly encourage the book! I have the copy if you would like to borrow it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical novels, especially about the early pioneers and saints. This was especially good I thought because it was unique in that it told of the hardships these saints had before joining the church. The characters were coal miners in Scotland and working conditions were very difficult for everyone. It's like they were prisoners to the coal mine lords. They couldn't just leave and go somewhere else. It was very interesting. It was a new twist for me and I enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to those of you who like this type of story!! Loved it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't realized that mining laws and treatment of the Scottish miners was so terrible. Yet when I got to thinking about it, some of the miners in the US were treated to many of the same practices. This is about a family of Scottish miners in the 1800s. Some join the LDS Church and their struggle to free themselves and earn the necessary funds to emigrate. A little slow and many times the story is just a cover for facts but I enjoyed it.

[Carolyn C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book on c/d on my never ending long trip to Boise, ID. The reader did a great job which can either make or break a book for me:) Families, including children working under atrocious conditions in the coal mines of Scotland in the early 1800's. Wow...what a hopeless life...and I feel put out and deprived if the store has run out of 1% milk!!! Yeeeeesshh!!

Really enjoyed this historical novel;)

[Betty Ann Baer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like books that are historical fiction. This describes the Scottish mine workers from the 1600's to the late 1800's. Also the missionary efforts of the Saints in the late 1800's. How did people listen to the missionaries for a couple of hours and choose to be baptized? Then, they were so committed to the gospel that they left their homes to go to Zion and they struggle the rest of their life for religion. What a people in those times to get the church started.

[Annissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fascinated with this book’s take on history and the characters struggle in their homeland of Scotland. I have a wee bit of Scottish blood in my veins, so the story made me think of my Scottish ancestors. At first it was a challenge keeping up with the Scottish lingo or vocabulary, but soon it was a smoother read. I didn’t give it a full five stars as I felt the book was very factual, but needed more emotion in some of its story telling.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved learning about the history of the coal miners of Scotland and the horrible treatment and inhumane conditions that they lived in. I learned so much and have a greater respect for the emigrants during this period of time. I highly recommend reading this book just for the education you receive, but I finished it feeling like I wanted more of the story in the end.

[Sherilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It sure makes you appreciate your childhood, and your ancestors. I read this right before I read The Undaunted by Gerald Lund. It was weird to read two books that both have settings from the coal mines in the UK.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The early Irish saints had more challenges than I can count, yet they remained strong and persevered. I hope to find their strength in me.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about the people in Scotland and some of the things that they went through to come to America to join the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley.

[Dixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the history of the mines in Scotland. The end of the book was too abrupt. I felt like the author had a deadline and ran through the last few chapters!!!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and well-research; history buffs will like this one.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an education about the trials of coal miners. Learning about their struggles to better their lives when all was hopeless really has given depth to reading The Undaunted by Gerald Lund.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening story and hard to put down.

[Shelle Haglund · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line wobbled towards the end, but I loved the light it shed on the conditions of Scottish coal mines of the time.

[Vera G]

Joy

Struggle seems to make families closer to each other. The families in this book were united in the struggle to survive. Their freedom came together not secretly. I really enjoyed this book.