South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

South of Superior evokes the elemental pleasures of a wood stove and homemade chicken soup on a bitter winter day. But factor in eight inches of new snow to shovel and miles of cold driving before the car warms up – this is an unsentimental portrait of real life in an isolated town on the southern edge of Lake Superior.

Although she has lived in Chicago most of her life, 35-year-old Madeline’s roots are in McAllaster. Strong ties to the grandfather who refused to take her in when she was abandoned as a child make Madeline an easy target for two elderly women looking for live-in help so they can stay in their home. She wants to know more about her heritage and is ready for a drastic change after nursing her beloved godmother through terminal cancer. Although outwardly friendly, becoming an accepted member of McAllaster’s community is a journey fraught with obstacles.

If you have lived in a small town, which the author aptly compares to being a member of a tribe, this quote from the book will strike a chord: “Everybody in this tribe didn’t love each other. They disagreed and gossiped and argued: they laid traps for each other and rejoiced when the trap was sprung: they relished placing blame whenever it would stick and took pleasure in one another’s mistakes. But when there was trouble, there was help.”

Check this item out in our catalog.

Recommended by Sarah Redman.