The Goodbye Season

The Goodbye Season
by Marian Hale
juvenile historical fiction
271 pages
New York : Henry Holt and Co., 2009

Mercy is the oldest child in a sharecropper's family. She is determined to be independent and nothing like her mother. She does not want to be poor, doing nothing but housework and having children. One year the crop totally fails forcing her father to leave home looking for work. Mercy seeks a position somewhere away from home as well so there is one less mouth to feed at home. She is lucky to find a job with a wealthy family in town caring for their young son. However it is 1918 and a deadly flu epidemic is tearing across the country. Mercy discovers that her employer has some deep, dark, mysterious secrets affecting her mentally. There is also a handsome young step-son in the home who nearly sweeps Mercy off her feet. Historical fiction at its best, death, mystery, love and a strong female character.

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