Assessment:

Plot/Idea: The character Maggie, granny woman and healer, draws readers in from the start, through a sneak peak in the prologue of loss to come. Her kindness, patience, and love persevere throughout this stunning character-driven story, and her life, sorrows, and joys are perfectly punctuated by truly affecting moments—her relationship with the Cherokee, giving birth to her daughter Caroline, the profound loss of her friend Esther and her family, and the final reconciliation at the river between Maggie and Caroline.

Prose: Simple, straightforward prose highlights the novel's time and place of late 1890s North Carolina. Though the setting's natural beauty is surrendered at times, the tighter focus on the particulars of Maggie’s healing practice—and the relationships and families of rural/mountain life—are very well drawn.

Originality: Brown offers several acute shocks and harrowing episodes, but the story's originality and effectiveness lies in its emotional connection with the characters.

Character/Execution: Three outstanding characters—Maggie, Caroline, and Josie Mae—give this story enormous depth, plenty of conflict, and a striking emotional impact. Esther and her family, Daniel, and Cherokee characters Degataga and Oukonunaka, are also well-conceived, creating an overall believable and compelling cast.

Blurb: Moments of joy, devastating grief, and desperate hope make Daughters of Green Mountain Gap a moving historical fiction as well as a quiet tale of deep wisdom.

Date Submitted: May 30, 2024