River to Redemption

ANN H. GABHART

Goodreads synopsis: Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave named Louis, a man who stayed in Springfield, Kentucky, when anyone with means had fled. A man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, is being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions. Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She's determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom. But in 1840s Kentucky, she'll face an uphill battle. 

Based partly on a true story, Ann H. Gabhart's latest historical novel is a tour de force. The vividly rendered town of Springfield and its citizens immerse readers in a story of courage, betrayal, and honor that will stick with them long after they turn the last page.

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2018.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blog Tour Program.

First line: Adria Starr didn't want her mother and little brother to stop breathing the way her father had.

My thoughts: The book opens when Adria is seven years old, and has just been orphaned by a cholera epidemic. The town has been devastated by the disease, with most of the townsfolk who are healthy enough to do so leaving. Louis is a slave, property of the owner of the local hotel, who also leaves town, giving Louis his keys and instructing him to take care of things. At this point Louis could have fled “across the river” to freedom, but instead he goes around town tending to the ill and respectfully burying the dead, becoming a local hero. When he finds young Adria, he takes her back to the hotel, where he and Matilda, another slave, take care of her. Ruth is the newly widowed wife of the local schoolteacher. With the loss of her beloved husband, her life has been completely shattered, but when Louis approaches her about taking in Adria, she agrees.

Cut to twelve years later. Ruth has taken over her husband's position as schoolteacher and never remarried. Adria is a secretly budding abolitionist. Everyone, herself included, assumes she will marry her childhood sweetheart, Carlton, but despite his pushing for an answer she keeps putting him off. She and Louis have remained close, and she hates that he is a slave, that he's not free.

When the town gets a new preacher, a romance slowly builds between him and Ruth, and I really enjoyed that storyline. Neither is looking for a relationship, neither has any desire to remarry, but they are drawn to each other almost against their wills. I probably would've been content with a book just about Ruth and her preacher. But much as I enjoyed her story, I found Ruth a little hard to relate to. She loves Adria, and Adria loves her. But they never seemed to develop a mother/daughter relationship until the very end. It is mentioned more than once that while Ruth agreed to raise Adria, and took care of her and provided for her and has always put her best interests first, she was unable to be what Adria really wanted – a family. We, the reader, don't see Adria grow up with Ruth, but I got the impression that there weren't lots of hugs and kisses and I love yous exchanged. I kept reminding myself throughout the book that Ruth was devastated to lose her husband, devastated that she and her husband did not have children, that Ruth was mentally in a bad place when she took on Adria, that she had her own struggles. But I still couldn't imagine raising a little girl and not showering her with affection, regardless of whether or not she were your own biological child. It basically kept me feeling at arms length from Ruth.

A character I enjoyed is Caleb, who arrives with the drovers who pass through, and then gets a job in town. He and Carlton are complete opposites, and while Adria tells herself to have nothing to do with him, she can't help but like him. He's a bit insufferable and stalkery, and I loved their interactions. I also loved the scenes between him and a jealous Carlton.

During the first few chapters the narration, the writing, felt a little simplistic, though fitting since the point of view was from a seven year old child. But then when Adria is grown up, it still felt that way, and it took me awhile to really get into the story and stop noticing that. And the further into the book I went the more and more invested I became. As Adria felt torn between Carlton and Logan, I was rooting for Logan, and then I wasn't, and then I sort of was again.

Slavery is talked about very matter of factly and is, of course, a big theme of the book, as Adria begins to rally the townspeople to raise money to buy Louis so he can then be freed. I don't want to describe it as “feel good”, because the subject of slavery can't possibly be feel good, but seeing the reactions as money is raised was heartwarming, and I did get teary eyed.

Overall, the book was enjoyable, with a lot of sweet moments, and a wonderful resolution.