Historical Fiction – Guarding What Remains
“…this historical novel is more than a struggle to survive. It is a story of love, redemption, and resilience and readers will readily identify with the experiences the characters face.” Historical Novel Society
“This one of those stories that reaches out and tugs at your heart…a novel that is good for your soul…” Panner, Bookbub
“You can’t see today’s beauty when you’re always looking at yesterday’s storm.”
Idaho, 1931. The United States is in the depths of an economic depression. Hundreds-of-thousands of Americans are out of work and homeless, drifting, and struggling to stay afloat. Nestled on their north Idaho dairy farm, Eleanor and her family are sheltered from the effects of the Great Depression.
Until a cruel act by strangers plunges the family into the trial of their lives. Now, ten-year-old Eleanor is determined to do all it takes to guard what remains of her family. She has to—it’s her fault they are in this unimaginable nightmare.
The complex forces of the Great Depression stack against Eleanor and her family as they struggle to survive. Hunger, homelessness, harassment, brutal cold, and mental illness threaten to break them, both as a family and individuals.
A powerful story of love, redemption, and one family’s resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. If you liked Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds, Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train, and Elizabeth Hardinger’s All the Forgivenesses, you’ll enjoy Guarding What Remains.
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What Readers are saying about Guarding What Remains.
“What a roller coaster ride of emotions this book evoked in me! I went from calm & peaceful to sad, angry, happy, joyful in parts, plumbing the depths of despair in others, gratitude, despair, shame at my complaints, REPENTANCE of some of my (hopefully) former attitudes in my own trials; emotions too numerous to name, from one end of the spectrum to the other!…It’s a literal life changer if one allows it to be…an unforgettable read!” — Marge K, Amazon
“…a powerful story of pain and forgiveness, human frailty and resilience, temptation and grace, hopelessness and steadfast love. I absolutely recommend this book.” — Cecilia, Goodreads
“Poignant❣️ Heart wrenching❣️ Must read.” — Ann Webb
“…My heart was in my mouth for this poor family whose world is ripped apart by the great depression. The author reels you in from the start and does not let go until the last page. A great variety of believable characters that you can’t help but root for them, and you need to keep turning the page every time there is disaster looming and hoping they come through against all odds. It is superbly written and obviously a great deal of research has gone into this to make it realistic and to give an insight into how families fared during this dark time in our history.” — Gillian Mulligan
“…The novel is full of heartwarming scenes of a tightknit family who lean on one another when the world seems set against them, and the work strongly emphasizes themes of forgiveness and generosity…the narrative is uplifting and true to the characters’ struggles.” — Kirkus Reviews
“…heartbreaking, intriguing and triumphant…so well researched and well written that it came alive as I read each page…” – Linda, Bookbub
“…written with alot of heart and soul. The characters have great growth and they took me on an emotional roller coaster ride that I didn’t want to stop.” – Bobbi Wagner, Bookbub
“…I don’t often read Christian Inspirational titles but this one is right up there as an awesome read for secular readers as well as people of faith. I couldn’t put it down. Ida Smith has created a masterpiece of deep empathy (without being saccharine) about what it was like to suffer intense poverty and homelessness through the Great Depression of 1929-39. Both dramatic and inspiring, as well as well-written and carefully researched.” – Robyn Pearce, Amazon