Under a Blackberry Moon - A Review

Moon Song is a young Chippewa widow who days after giving birth finds her way into a lumber camp. She spends the winter there and makes friends with Isaac Ross, known as Skypilot. When the summer arrives, the owner of the camp understands that for her own protection, Moon Song and her baby son need to be sent back to her people. Skypilot is asked to accompany her. While on the journey North, tragedy strikes and what was supposed to be a simple journey is now wrought with peril. As they travel together, both realize they have come to love the other. But there are obstacles in their way. Will she be forced to give up her world to live in his? Or will he give up his world to live in hers? Will they ever share the same faith?

Wow! That's really all I can say about this book. It started off rather slow, but things picked up when the tragedy struck Moon Song and Skypilot. The scenery in this book is truly breathtaking. And the way that the author has captured both of their struggles had me hoping that some way some how, the two would end up together.

Skypilot showed a strength in character that I've not seen a lot in the heroes of the books. He was determined to live his faith out. And to do all he could to obtain the trust of Moon Song's people. Moon Song for her part showed me a way of life I'm really not familiar with. The way that she went out of her way to ensure that her companions were able to survive showed the depth of her character as well.

There were many times while reading this book that I was reminded of a classic from my childhood, Island of the Blue Dolphins. I also was reminded at times of Jeanette Oke's book Drums of Change. It's been a long time since I've read either of those, but I was able to remember the struggles for survival that occurred in both books.

I really wasn't expecting to like this book the way that I did. Typically when a book starts off slow, I find myself having a hard time getting into it.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Laura Frantz, Joanne Bischof, Jody Hedlund, historical fiction

Rating - 5 stars - It truly wowed me.

Available in October, 2013 from Revell Books a division of Baker Publishing Group.